Microsoft who in the past has competed head on with their Windows 10 partners is set to launch a new Surface Pro 4, but this time there is some pretty formidable competition waiting to take them on.
Last night Microsoft invitations went out for an October 6th launch of the Surface Pro 4, new Lumia 950/950 XL smartphone and a new Microsoft Band fitness tracker.
Waiting in the wings to take on the Surface Pro 4 is the new Lenovo Ideapad Miix 700 which has been described as simply a Lenovo Surface – just a bit better.
Also set to take on Microsoft is Acer who have a new range of sleek two in one PC’s that won several awards recently.
ChannelNews got to play with the new Lenovo offering in Berlin earlier this month.
If you place the Lenovo device side by side with the Surface Pro from Microsoft, eliminate some of the external markings, and you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two.
The Miix 700 is a 12-inch tablet, the same form factor as the Surface Pro 3. But with processors ranging up to the new Skylake Core m7.
The Miix 700 can be configured with up to 8GB of memory, and will run Windows 10.
Microsoft has sent out invites to the event with the hashtag #Windows10devices. We’ve seen the Lumia 950 and 950 XL leak before.
They’re the first phones to run Windows 10, which is expected to land on mobiles around October.
The only problem is that consumers don’t have an appetite to invest in a Windows mobile device as the recent IDC Australia numbers revealed.
In the second quarter Microsoft only managed to sell 44,000 Windows based smartphones vs over 1.5 million for Samsung and Apple alone.
It’s been almost six months since the Surface Pro 3 launched, so Microsoft is highly likely to refresh the range with a new slate.
Dell also has a 4K-screened rival set to launch next month, so again, it’s nailed on that Microsoft’s next hybrid will have a 4K display.
It’s also thought to have a fingerprint scanner and redesigned keyboard. But don’t expect it to be too different – Microsoft has promised to keep the charging mechanism and overall form factor similar for businesses that have invested in accessories like the docking station.
The Microsoft Band which no one is buying in Australia was launched almost a year ago, so again, it’s due a refresh.
The smartwatch/fitness tracker market has moved on considerably since then, mostly because of the launch of the Apple Watch.
