Microsoft Surface Pro 3: What to expect…

All eyes will be on Microsoft this week with the tech giant widely expected to unveil the third generation of its Surface tablets and Surface Mini in New York on May 20.

If media speculation is proved correct and Redmond does showcase the Surface Pro 3, it will have been launched less than 12 months from its predecessor, the Surface Pro 2.

While Microsoft has yet to commit to a predictable release pattern regarding its hardware devices, rumours in the press suggest the company will reveal five versions of the device, a device expected to be powered by Intel processors - namely the 'Skylake' Intel Core i7 chip.

And according to reports from CNET, the Surface Pro 3 will have the largest Surface display to date, at 12 inches.

"There are strong indications that there is a 12-inch product coming down the pipeline," Rhoda Alexander, who directs IHS Technology's monitor and tablet research, told CNET.

Relating specifically to the Surface Mini, CNET also speculates that the device will measure 7.5-inches.

But with no word on weight and even battery life the partial specifications and pricing (US) are believed to be as follows:

• i3-4GB RAM-64GB - $799

• i5-4GB RAM-128GB - $999

• i5-8GB RAM-256GB - $1299

• i7-8GB RAM-256GB - $1549

• i7-8GB RAM-512GB - $1949

From an aesthetics perspective, new Surface colours options are expected to include Black, Red, Cyan and Purple but at present, that is purely speculation.

Billed as the "The Microsoft tablet that's got it all", the Surface Pro 2, like the Surface 2, was first revealed to the world in New Zealand, on October 22 last year.

Over six months later Microsoft now has a new product line to push, and on May 20 in front of the waiting world, we'll be best placed to judge it…