Since the start of a massive update to Windows 11, Microsoft has set October 12, 2022 as a big day with big announcements. It's that time of year when Microsoft launches new devices and we're expected to see new hardware from (*9*).
WinFuture (often a trusted source for all things Windows) reports that (*9*) Laptop 5 and (*9*) Pro 9 should include the latest 12th Gen Intel processors. Roland Quant, another familiar source, suggests that (*9*) Pro 9 and (*9*) Laptop 5 share some components. He suggests that the two new laptops will feature Intel Core i5-1235U and Core i7-1255U processors, not the more powerful Alder Lake P-series.
(*9*) Pro 9 5G is expected to feature a customized version of Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, Microsoft SQ3. Quant also claims that (*9*) Laptop 5 will have the same processor options.
Both models, according to (you guessed it) Quant, will be sold with storage capacities of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
Price-wise, we should be prepared to see the (*9*) Pro 9 at around €11270 (€1130 or AU$1920) and the (*9*) Pro at around €1350 (€1200 or AU$ 2040)
what we expect
While we are very excited about the new products (*9*), we do have some expectations and things we would like to see when (*9*) Pro 9 is released.
The (*9*) Pro 8 was just about perfect, so we can't wait to see how the (*9*) Pro 9 improves on all the good things about previous models, like 4K video capabilities, long battery life and the sharp screen.
However, there were some issues that we hope will be resolved with this new release (such as the included keyboard cover for the substantial price of the laptop/tablet). When we reviewed (*9*) Pro 8, we expected its successor to upgrade its processors to Intel's Alder Lake series, which, if Quant is correct, might not be the case.
The price of the (*9*) Pro 9 is critical to the reception quality of the device. While it's still the same price as its predecessor (around £1,130, £999, or AU$1,699), it may be better received even if the keyboard and keyboard cover aren't included yet (they should be, really). Any price increase could make future users reluctant to buy (*9*) Pro 9 if they consider that the 2-in-1 laptop would require a $179 (£159 or AU$270) keyboard to be a laptop so it works.
So you'd also be paying for an expensive tablet and keyboard, which is just a big question when you could get any other laptop that (most likely) comes with everything you need.
Let's hope Microsoft hears our pleas for a keyboard and trackpad combination, but we can only wait and see. If (*9*) Pro 9 builds on its standout predecessor, it could outperform many of today's tablets and laptops, and maybe even its main rival, the iPad Pro.