Microsoft's upcoming Surface devices including the Surface Phone and the long-awaited successor to the Surface Pro 4; simply dubbed as the Surface Pro, have been subject to all sorts of rumors and leaks.

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Release Date

Microsoft failed to sweep tech enthusiasts off their feet last year as the company remained tight-lipped about its highly anticipated Surface Book and the Surface Pro line-up despite the hype surrounding both the gadgets. Now, with the annual spring event just around the corner, industry watchers believe Microsoft could finally announce new Surface hardware.

Although the advent of a second-generation Surface Book seems out of the question, the ultraportable/tablet hybrid Surface Pro line is highly likely to make an appearance, according to ZDNet. Microsoft continues to focus on software -- not only at the OS (operating system) level on the desktop but also across competing platforms in the form of its cloud services -- the company will never cease showing off its potential and foresight through the Surface hardware division.

Aside from Microsoft, the Cupertino-based tech titan, Apple too finds itself in a similar situation with the MacBook Pro -- there's dearth of something fundamentally new in the market for the next generation of devices.

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Specifications

The rumor mill has been swirling a slew of speculations around the Surface Pro 5's specs and features. The latest report from TheVerge suggests the new Surface Pro will pack Kaby Lake, Intel's newfangled chip design for the desktop and the seventh generation of its Core processor line.

This shred of information has been rubber stamped by Microsoft watcher, Paul Thurrott, who cited unnamed sources to also confirm that the Surface Pro 5 will not oust the current power connector found on its predecessor and the Surface Book while switching to USB-C. Although this gives the Pro 5 some leading-edge hardware, it preserves as much backward capacity as attainable.

Thurrott did not divulge other details regarding the Surface Pro 5; however, Surface fans might not be in for a long wait for an official announcement with the company gearing up to hold an exclusive Surface hardware event in near future. Other reports claim that the Surface Book 2 won't be announced at the event.