Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Specs: Processor Battle Royale with Intel Kaby Lake Core i7 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 635 vs AMD Ryzen

The Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is probably one of the most talked about device lately in the tech community. There are a handful of rumors and speculations discussing the device's possible specs. Perhaps the most debated spec is whether the Surface Pro 5 will pack an Intel Kaby Lake Core i7 processor or a Qualcomm Snapdragon 635 chipset.

Several reports claim that Microsoft is all set to start the production of the Surface Pro 5. However, the Redmond-based tech giant is still at odds whether to pick the seventh-generation Kaby Lake Core i7 processor from Intel or the equally powerful Snapdragon 635 chipset from Qualcomm.

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 set for Q1 2017 launch with UHD screen, rumor has ithttps://t.co/hh1UObgVu3

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Some tech analysts have speculated that the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 was delayed due to the availability of the Intel Kaby Lake processor. Should Microsoft use the Kaby Lake i7 processor, the Surface Pro 5 will benefit from the processing power of the microchip. This will also allow the device to support up to 16GB of memory, a particular spec that will benefit the Windows 10 Creators Update.

The unavailability of the Kaby Lake i7 processor had led some tech experts to believe that Microsoft will instead use the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 635 chipset to power the Surface Pro 5, according to Droid Report. The Snapdragon 635 is at par with the Kaby Lake processor in terms of performance, but the former is significantly better in terms of power efficiency. The Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is expected to be a mobile workhorse, hence the need for extended battery life.

With the recent release of the AMD Ryzen chips, some are even contemplating that Microsoft might pick this new processor to power its upcoming flagship device. According to PC Advisor, this rumor started following the release of the "Alien: Covenant" movie trailer on YouTube. The trailer shows a Microsoft Surface device powered by an unnamed AMD processor.