Microsoft’s rumoured affordable Surface tablet will feature the lower-end Intel Pentium processors, according to reports.
WinFuture sources say the sub-$400 tablet will have a Pentium Silver N500 CPU on the base model, rather than the Intel Core M processor as previously rumoured.
This CPU has a quad-core, 32-bit Gemini Lake 1.1GHz processor and is much more affordable than the Core M processor. This is important, given Microsoft is working hard to make the competitive with the entry-level iPads.
If you’re seeking a little more oomph, there’ll be higher-end versions available carrying the Pentium Gold 4410Y or 4415Y platforms. These dual core chips are available at up to 1.6GHz and will offer better performance.
Related: New Surface Pro review
According to today’s report, the Windows 10 Pro devices will arrive with a choice of 4GB or 8GB RAM. The sources also say there’ll be an option for 4G LTE.
The display will be 10-inches, the report says, with a 3:2 aspect ratio. That makes it more comparable with the iPad than the higher-end Surface Pro models. Given the assumed educational focus, it’s perhaps surprising to hear Windows 10 Pro will be on board, rather than the lighter Windows 10 S.
WinFuture has a pretty solid record when it comes to Microsoft rumours so we’d be included to place a little faith in this rumour. It’s certainly more believable than the previous reports suggesting the more expensive Core M would be the go-to processor range for this device.
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The report comes as it appears as the chance of the foldable ‘Andromeda’ device arriving this year appear to be lessening. A report from ZDnet this week said Microsoft may have scrapped the idea completely.
Would you be interested in an affordable Surface device from Microsoft? Or should the company continue to focus on the cream of the crop? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
