Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Release Date: Specs, Features & Price vs Toshiba Portege Z20t - Wait or Buy Now?

As presented at the Consumer Electronics Show or CES 2015, the Toshiba Portege Z20t is expected to go head-to-head against the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 this year.

Window Central reported that Toshiba announced its new Portege Z20t tablet at CES 2015. The tablet is a 2-in-1 detachable tablet that runs on Windows 8.1 and includes a high-precision pen input and LED-backlit keyboard. The Wacom digitizer pen has 2,048 sensitivity points, allowing it to recognize complex handwritings. There is a dedicated slot on the tablet to store the emergency pen, in case users lose the first one. The device features a 12.5-inch HD IPS display, Intel Core M processor, up to 8GB of RAM, options for 128GB or 256GB of memory, and a long battery life of 17 hours. The Z20t weighs about 1.6 pounds and has a thickness of 0.35 inch. It will retail at $1,399. The Toshiba Portege Z20t is expected to release late in January 2015.

More features are also present in the Toshiba Portege Z20t such as a wide array of sensors like e-compass, gyroscope, and ambient light. The tablet also has powerful wireless capabilities including Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Security and durability features will also be included such as the Kensington lock support, EasyGuard suite, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and Intel Active Management Technology (AMT).

In a Master Herald report, Microsoft will also release the 2-in-1 tablet, Surface Pro 4, towards the end of 2015. There is no official announcement from the company regarding the official launch date and features. It is expected to run on Windows 10 OS, which is set to be unveiled also in the fall of 2015.

International Business Times reported that the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 will be available in two sizes. The 14-inch version will have a display resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels while the 10-inch version will have a lower display resolution and less powerful processor. The Pro 4 will most likely include the Intel Core M processor, which allows it to provide 50 percent faster computer speed and 40 percent faster GPU performance compared to the previous Core CPU. Users will also enjoy longer battery life because of the efficient processor. All Africa wrote that the CPU can allow over eight hours of video playback.

Considering how the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 disappointed several fans upon its introduction in 2013, it may not hurt 2-in-1 tablet users to invest in the Toshiba Portege Z20t, which will release ahead with a powerful CPU and longer battery life. However, Microsoft might provide great new features on the Surface Pro 4 which it might not have included in time in its predecessor.