After much anticipation and plenty of rumors, Microsoft Corp. has finally announced the successor to the Surface Pro 4, which was released in October 2015.

Announced at its event in Shanghai Tuesday, Microsoft unveiled the new Surface Pro. The company has decided to lose the generational numbering and the new tablet/laptop hybrid will simply be called the Surface Pro, rather than the Surface Pro 5 as originally anticipated.

Designwise, the Surface Pro looks very similar to its predecessor, but the new device has received some new upgrades under the hood, as well as updates for the Surface Pen.

The new Surface Pro completes Microsoft’s new Surface lineup, which includes the Surface Studio and Surface Book with Performance Base, which was released in October, as well as the new Surface Laptop, a traditional clamshell device announced earlier this month.

Here’s a look at the new features for the Surface Pro, including updated processor and increased battery life:

Updated processor and fanless design

The Surface Pro has been upgraded to the latest Intel seventh-generation Kaby Lake processor. Both the Core m3 and Core i5 models have a fanless design while the Core i7 model will ship with a fan, but the i7 is also incredibly quiet at 18dB, according to Microsoft.

For the first time, Microsoft is offering a Surface Pro model with LTE connectivity, which will support micro SIM and eSIM. The LTE Surface Pro will have a slightly higher price tag. The price, release date and the processor that will power this model is yet to be announced by Microsoft.

Battery life

Microsoft claims that the Surface Pro has a battery life of up to 13.5 hours, thanks to the upgrade in processor and Windows 10 improvements. If this number is accurate, it will be a 50 percent longer battery life than its predecessor, the Surface Pro 4 and 35 percent more battery life than Apple Inc.’s iPad Pro.  

Design and display

When it comes to looks, the new Surface Pro looks very similar to its predecessor the Surface Pro 4. Both the screen size of 12.3 inches and resolution remain the same as do the ports, which includes a combination of USB-A, microSD and Mini DisplayPort connections (still no USB-C).

The body is slightly thinner and lighter, measuring 8.5 millimeters thick and weighing in at 1.69 pounds.

Another subtle change is the adoption of the new hinge design that is the same used in the Surface Studio. The kickstand allows the Surface Pro to be lowered to an angle of 165 degrees, compared with the previous 150 degrees.

Surface Pen and other accessories

The Surface Pen has also received an upgrade, which includes over 4,096 pressure points (a significant increase from the previous 1,024 levels of pressure), only 21 milliseconds of latency and a new tilt functionality.

Previously the Surface Pen used to be included when you purchased the Surface Pro, but this is no longer the case and you will need to pay an additional $99 if you want the new Pen.

The Surface Pro will ship with the latest Windows 10 Creators Update, so you can make use of the new 3D functions such as Paint 3D and various other inking tools.

To make the most of the new Surface Pro and Pen, Microsoft has also unveiled new software, including customizable pen tips across all your Office 365 apps, as well as support for tilt and shading.

Microsoft Whiteboard is a new app from the company that will allow simultaneous collaboration and live multi-device inking across the family of Surface devices. The app will also support geometry recognition, table conversion and automatic table shading. The app is currently available in a private preview on the Surface Hub and will come to other Surface devices, including the new Surface Pro, later this year.

Signature Type Covers

The new Surface Pro keyboard is covered with Alcantara material, available in cobalt blue, burgundy and platinum. The material has a polyurethane coating to resist spills.

Surface Dial

The new Surface Pro will also work with the on-screen Surface Dial, which was introduced with the Surface Studio in October. The Surface Dial is sold separately for $99.

The Surface Dial is a wireless rotational peripheral that gives users quick access to tools and shortcuts. With adaptive haptic feedback and 3,600 points of precision, the Surface Dial allows you to manipulate images, adjust volume, change color hues and create custom controls.

Price and availability

The Surface Pro is now available for pre-order from the Microsoft Store. The entry-level Surface Pro with Intel Core m3 processor, 128GB SSD and 4GB of RAM costs $799. The Intel Core i5 processor with 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM will cost $1,299. While the top-of-the-range Surface Pro with Intel Core i7 processor, 1TB SSD and 16GB of RAM will set you back $2,699.

The fabric-covered keyboard will cost an additional $160 while the Surface Pen, which is no longer included, will cost $99.   

The Surface Pro and keyboard will start shipping on June 15, while a release date for the new Surface Pen will be in “coming weeks.”

Images: Microsoft