Microsoft Sets Date For Surface Pro 4 And New Lumia Smartphones

Microsoft is set to reveal the latest additions to its growing device family, possibly including new Surface and Lumia devices, within the next few weeks.

The company has sent out media invitations (pictured below) to an event in New York on October 6 to show off its first devices running Windows 10, saying that “we have some exciting news to share”.

This could well include the rumoured Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL smartphones, and the expected update to Microsoft’s business tablet range, the Surface Pro 4.

Next generation

The next Lumia devices have endured a number of leaks recently, and were previously thought to have been coming to the IFA tradeshow in Berlin earlier this month, although this never occurred.

Codenamed Cityman, the Lumia 950 XL is said to feature a 5.7 inch WQHD OLED display, 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a 3,300mAh battery. There’s also a 20MP PureView rear camera with triple LED flash, a 5MP front device, wireless charging and the aforementioned iris scanner.

The Lumia 950, codenamed Talkman, will come with a 5.2 inch WQHD OLED display, a hexa-core 64-bit Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a 3,000mAh battery, along with the same 20MP and 5MP rear and front cameras.

Both devices are thought to include support for accompanying styluses and facial scanning, with an in-built iris scanner allows users to unlock their device without needing to enter a password as part of Windows Hello, Microsoft’s new facial-recognition software.

Touchy

As for the Surface Pro 4, much will depend on how Microsoft thinks it can best respond to the gauntlet thrown down by Apple’s reveal of the 12.9in iPad Pro last week.

The Surface Pro 3 debuted last year and Microsoft will be keen to show off how Windows 10 works with its portable business device, which notably included a stylus and magnetic keyboard long before Apple’s latest device did.

We may also get another look at Microsoft’s super-sized Surface Hub device at the event, following the news that the 55-inch and 84-inch screens won’t ship until next year. The Surface Hub is a large screen whiteboard style device that runs a customised version of Windows 10 and is intended to replace traditional whiteboards in schools and offices.

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