Microsoft has a big Surface surprise in Shanghai

By JC Torres/May 5, 2017 2:30 am EST

Consumers and geeks who were disappointed by Microsoft's latest product announcements had good reason to be. Windows 10 S is not something end consumers would want to buy and the Surface Laptop is a beautiful but overpriced laptop. Where are the Surface Pros? Where are the Surface Phones? While Microsoft might not exactly have answers to those, especially the latter, it does have something prepared. You'll have to wait later this month and turn your gaze Eastward to find out.

Microsof VP of Devices Panos Panay went to Twitter and Instagram to tease an event taking place in Shanghai on 23rd May. Yes, the very same Panay who has practically become the public face of the Surface devices. Microsoft's web page for the event promises to show the world "what's next", which opens a whole lot of possibilities while answering none.

See you in Shanghai. May 23. #MicrosoftEvent #Surface https://t.co/aMgvkkqE52 pic.twitter.com/vzcK9MqIpf

— Panos Panay (@panos_panay) May 5, 2017

There will be a Surface Pro 4 successor, that much has been practically confirmed by Microsoft's own execs, but don't expect too much from it. If the rumors are correct, the Surface Pro 5, if that is what it will be called, is just a refresh of the Surface Pro 4. It might as well be called the Surface Pro 4 Plus or Second Edition.

You can also forget about a Surface Phone. CEO Satya Nadella himself implied that the company's next phone won'y be a conventional one. Which implies it's not going to happen any time soon.

That leaves very little left, so we'll have to go with a Surface Pro 5. Better to set the expectations low and be pleasantly surprised in the end. After all, it won't be the first time Microsoft drummed up hype for a non-event.