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Don’t expect a Surface Book 2 to take on Apple’s new MacBook Pro this year

Updated Nov 22nd, 2019 4:30AM EST
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Apple and Microsoft are going to unveil new computers in the coming weeks. But Windows fans hoping to see a hot new a Surface Book 2 or a Surface Pro 5 in stores this Christmas are about to be disappointed.

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According to Paul Thurrott, Microsoft will hold a major press conference on October 26th in New York City. The details are vague apparently, but he did receive an invitation to the event.

Microsoft will not refresh the Surface Pro and Surface Book lines this year, Thurrott says. The Surface Pro 5 and Surface Book 2 are only coming in Spring 2017, so they won’t be introduced at this event. Furthermore, there’s not going to be a Surface phone or Band 3 announcements. Microsoft isn’t sure about making Surface phones, and the Band wearable has been canned.

However, Microsoft will unveil new Surface products at the event, “Almost certainly,” various peripherals, and “possibly” the rumored Surface All-in-One are in the cards.

Windows will be the main focus of the event, as Microsoft will unveil the next chapter in the Windows 10 story. News about Windows 10 on PC, Xbox One, and HoloLens, and new Windows hardware from other PC makers might be unveiled.

What’s interesting about Microsoft’s Windows event is the timing. “That’s one day before Apple’s event to announce new MacBooks on Thursday 27 October — if Apple moved its earnings from the 27th to the 25th to make room for an event,” John Gruber notes (emphasis his).

Apple did recently move its earnings briefing from October 27th to October 25th, due to a conflicting schedule. The company did not explain the scheduling issue, prompting speculation that its rumored 2016 MacBook event will take place on October 27th.

Apple is expected to unveil a radical MacBook Pro redesign this year, as well as other Mac products. The 2016 MacBook Pro will be thinner and lighter than predecessors, and it’ll feature a secondary OLED display that will replace the keyboard’s first row and show context-aware shortcuts.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.