Rumors indicate the Surface Pro 5 will start rolling out following the April 2017 event by Microsoft. But in case of another skip for the SP5, it's possible that the device's actual release date will happen October this year. Then the Surface Phone will come out as early as April 2018.
The timing of fresh Surface releases will be in accordance with Microsoft's confirmation that major feature upgrades for the Windows 10 OS will be deployed in two installments per year - one in April and another in September. According to WCCFTech, the Redstone 3 Update rollout will be finalized in September and then released in October.
And if indeed the rumors are correct that Microsoft plans to show off the new Redstone 3 features with a showcase device then a Surface device rollout can only be expected to immediately follow. So the Surface Pro 5 not appearing this April could mean that launch in the last months of 2017 is in the cards, alongside the Redstone 3 global rollout.
Microsoft insider Paul Thurrott, per the Express, is claiming that when the SP5 is unboxed, what will jump out is but a minor hardware upgrade. If true then it makes sense that emphasis for the device will be more of the fresh software capabilities. And all the more to believe that the Pro 5 will only be made available at the start of 2017's holiday season.
As Redstone 3 will be followed by another major Windows 10 feature bumps, it's fair to assume that the update rollout will again be accompanied by a showcase device. And the best guess for that is the Surface Phone, which Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has recently confirmed is already on the development phase.
WCCFTech said the sequel to Redstone 3 will be finalized March 2018 and the public release will happen a month after. That will position the Surface for a release date as early as April next year. Nadella said the Microsoft-made smartphone will be unique, a game-changer and is envisioned as the "ultimate mobile device."
The Surface Phone, powered by Windows 10 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chip, is said to offer desktop-class capabilities all packed in a portable device.
Meanwhile, to highlight the now rolling out Windows 10 Creators Update, also known as Redstone 3, Microsoft is rumored to push out any of the Surface Book 2 or the Surface Cloud notebook. The latter is rumored as the new rival to Google's Chromebook line.