With Microsoft’s Surface 3 tablet collecting some very positive reviews, from us, and over much of the tech media – one writer going as far as to call it “the ultimate”, “superb” tablet – the company’s very affordable ($499 basic, without stylus) hybrid looks set to do very well. As Microsoft’s VP Panos Panay put it in a blog post, while the Surface 3 will suffice for regular work and play, such as working in Office, exploring the net, watching movies, playing games, etc, more, “demanding” work might better be suited to the Surface Pro 3 (starting at $799).

But no sooner than the Surface 3 is out of the door we are starting to hear more rumors about Microsoft’s successor in the Pro range, the Surface Pro 4. While there was no sign of such a thing at Microsoft’s Build 2015, reports have surfaced that we might be seeing it sometime at the end of this month, or even in July, or October, according to other sources.

As to what to expect, it wouldn’t hurt if Microsoft has extended the battery life. If the company really wants to surpass the laptop, then battery life is a major concern. We have heard that the new tablet will come in two sizes, both with a 12-inch and 14-inch screen, an Intel Core i3, i5, i7 processor, 8 megapixel primary rear camera, 3.5 megapixel front camera, and come with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage It’s also been rumored, but then it seems likely, that the new Pro will be slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor. All these rumors have not been confirmed, however, by Redmond.

The Surface Pro 3 has sold well, taking in $1.1 billion in revenue in the first fiscal quarter. The Surface 3 looks like it will also boost Microsoft’s confidence if the general public proves to be as pleased as the hybrid’s reviewers. But Microsoft will has stuff competition in bridging the gap between tablet and laptop in the iPad Pro, which, like the Surface Pro 4, is still grist for the rumor mill.

Photo credit: Microsoft