Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Launches In India, But It Won't Come Cheap

Microsoft is finally releasing the Surface Pro 4 in India, nearly three months after launching in the U.S. The company is choosing select reseller stores in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to host demonstrations of the devices, with the product available for pre-order from Amazon India with a shipping date of Jan. 14.

The Surface Pro 4 is billed as a tablet that can replace a laptop. To help users achieve this, Microsoft sells a clip-on keyboard with a trackpad, available for 12,490 rupees extra ($185). The screen supports a stylus with 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, ideal for artists and note takers. That accessory will sell for 5,990 rupees ($89).

“Equipped with all the features of a fully powered laptop into a thin, light and beautifully designed device, Surface Pro 4 works in harmony with the full power of Windows 10,” Bhaskar Pramanik, chairman of Microsoft India said in a statement.

The new models are fast: Microsoft claimed at launch the Pro 4 is 50 percent faster than a MacBook Air.

All that power won't come cheap. The base model Surface Pro 4, with a Core i5 processor, 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, comes in at 89,990 rupees. That's just under $1,340, while the same device in the U.S. will cost $999 before tax.

Those who want the Core i7 model with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM will have to pay 144,990 rupees, or just under $2,160. In the U.S., the same model would cost $1,599 before tax, saving nearly $600 compared to buyers in India.

Microsoft is also releasing a Core i3 Surface Pro 3 with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This forms the budget end of the new Surface range in India, and while the Pro 3 is more than a year older than the newest model, it's still a strong competitor in the 2-in-1 hybrid space. That model will cost 73,990 rupees, or just over $1,100.