Microsoft’s latest move teases a great Xbox deal this holiday season

  • Microsoft isn’t ready to reveal the Xbox Series X price, and the upcoming Xbox gaming event might not include retail availability information for the next-gen console.
  • Microsoft this week revealed various new details about its upcoming Xbox plans, including the revelation that manufacturing for the Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition was halted in anticipation of the Series X launch.
  • This move actually teases what could be an incredible Black Friday Xbox deal this holiday season: A cheaper Xbox offer than ever before.

Like Sony, Microsoft is setting the stage for the imminent arrival of its next-gen console. The Xbox Series X will launch this holiday season, and there will be no coronavirus-related delays, Microsoft said recently. This week, Microsoft revealed new details about its Xbox plans going forward. We’re yet to find out the price and release date of the Series X, and Microsoft has not confirmed the existence of the cheaper Series S. Still, Microsoft is getting its Xbox affairs in order ahead of the highly anticipated holiday season.

The company talked about backward compatibility and announced that the Project xCloud game streaming product will be available free of charge to all Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. We already explained why that may be great news to anyone looking to score a cheap next-gen console this year. On top of that, it made a huge change to its Xbox inventory that teases a massive potential deal for this holiday season.

Microsoft is widely expected to put massive pressure on Sony when it comes to pricing for the next-gen console. The Series X could be cheaper than the PS5 this fall, and the Series S is rumored to be even more affordable than all of them. Microsoft may not be ready to reveal pricing details for the new consoles, and there’s no telling whether next week’s Xbox gaming even will hold such a surprise announcement. But Microsoft is ready to “kill” the Xbox One.

“As we ramp into the future with Xbox Series X, we’re taking the natural step of stopping production on Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition,” a Microsoft spokesperson told The Verge. “Xbox One S will continue to be manufactured and sold globally.”

With a more powerful console on the way, it makes sense for Microsoft to stop making the One X. The same goes for the cheapest One S version, especially if Microsoft is looking to pitch a new cheap next-gen Xbox to buyers. It’s what happens with plenty of other products.

But what stands out in the statement above is the fact that the Xbox One S will continue to be manufactured. The regular One S has a list price of $299.99, although you can probably score better deals at various times of the year. But that’s the price before the launch of the Series X.

Once the Series X arrives, Microsoft could continue to sell Xbox One S as the absolute cheapest Xbox version. It may be old, the One S comes with a Blu-ray disc, and can still support plenty of new games. And once Series X drops, that $299.99 retail price of the One S will surely be changed.

This is all speculation at this time, as the spokesperson hasn’t said how long the One S will continue to be manufacture. But let’s not forget Microsoft’s previous statements on Series X sales. Xbox boss Phil Spencer acknowledged that 2020 is not a regular year for console sales, especially for the next-gen model, suggesting that Microsoft is ready to deal with the new conditions of the market. The novel coronavirus can impact sales, and Spencer said the company will focus on the gaming experience for all its customers, not Series X sales this year. A $199.99 or $249.99 Xbox One S, which could be sold for even less during the Black Friday 2020 season, could definitely help with that.

Retailers that still stock Xbox One X and One S All-Digital Edition versions could offer further sales on these products as we approach the holiday season. The All-Digital Edition is currently sold out on Microsoft’s online store, and it will probably not be in stock again.

The best Microsoft Surface Pro prices, deals, and bundles in September 2020

We’re here to help you find the very best Microsoft Surface Pro prices and deals. Our price comparison tools below displays the latest buying options for you across multiple Surface devices. 

If you’ve also been checking out the latest iPad deals and iPad Pro prices, you might be on the lookout for something a bit cheaper. Plus having the Windows operating system might be a better fit for your needs if that’s what you’re used to.

We’ve tracked down the best deals on the Surface Pro 7 but we’re also tracking all the latest Surface Pro deals on older models as well. Sensibly-priced stock of models older than 2018 seems to have dried up now, so we’ve decided to keep things simple so you can get the best value for money and avoid overpaying for outdated technology.

Looking for something a bit smaller? Then you’ll want to take a look at the cutest member of the Surface family, the Surface Go – a smaller and cheaper version of the Surface Pro tablet. Microsoft set forth to make a professional tablet so good, you’ll be able to replace your laptop and we believe it’s done just that with its most recent models.

Important note: Most Surface Pro deals, especially the cheaper ones, do not come with the Type Cover keyboard attachment or Surface Pen. Retailer sites can be a bit misleading as they’ll generally show the device with the keyboard, so be sure to check the full description. We’ve included a price comparison chart for the keyboard and pen below too if you need to pick them up separately. Most retailers have the option to add one to standalone deals too.

The best Surface Pro deals and prices

The best Surface Pro 7 prices

A spec bump with a punch

CPU: Intel Dual-Core i3; Quad-Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics; Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 4GB-16GB LPDDR4x | Screen: 12.3-inch, 2736 x 1,824 | Storage: 128GB-1TB SSD | Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x Surface Connect port, microSDX card reader, headphone/mic jack | Cameras: 8MP rear-facing autofocus camera (1080p full HD video); 5MP front-facing camera (1080p full HD video) | Mic: Dual far-field Studio Mics | Weight: i3 / i5, 1.7 pounds (775g); i7, 1.74 pounds (790g) | Size: 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches (292 x 201 x 8.5mm; W x D x H)Faster than ever processing speeds New and improved mics to improve Cortana’s hearing USB-C port Battery potentially doesn’t hold up against Pro 6Design remains the same 

The tradition of slight spec bumps in each new Surface model continues with the Surface Pro 7. Such spec bumps aren’t about to go unnoticed, however. Quad-core i5 and i7 processors allow the Pro 7 to handle multitasking even with more demanding programs without so much as a whimper. That means snappier wake times over the sometimes lagging Pro 6. Plus, if you know you don’t need to take advantage of these processing boosts, the basic i3 dual-core processor with 4GB of RAM is back to save you some pennies. 

Other than the USB-C port proudly sitting on the Pro 7, you won’t be able to tell the models apart. There’s still no Thunderbolt 3 in the picture though, which puts fantasies of speedy dual-screen sessions to bed. Remember, the Surface Pro 7 doesn’t come with the keyboard you’ll see in its main photography. Nevertheless, the Surface Connect Port still remains so if you already have previous accessories they will work fine. 

Then we get to the battery. Our Surface Pro 7 review found that the newest Pro tablet bowed out with two hours less battery life than its predecessor. It’s a finding that seems to have been repeated across user experience. While Microsoft has released a patch for the system we’re still waiting on a final verdict.

If you’re looking for an amazing tablet for precision multitasking and more than capable processing speeds then the Pro 7 could be for you. If you have the Surface Pro 6 already (and you’re not fussed about ports that don’t carry Thunderbolt 3), it looks like you’re most of the way there anyway. 

The best Surface Pro 6 prices

2018’s entry might see the best upcoming discounts

CPU: Intel Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB-16GB | Screen: 12.3-inch, 2,736 x 1,824 | Storage: 256GB SSD | Ports: 1 x USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort, microSDXC card reader (UHS-I), headphone/mic jack | Cameras: 8MP rear-facing, auto-focus camera (1080p HD); 5MP front-facing, 1080p HD camera | Weight: 1.7 pounds (771g) | Size: 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches (292 x 201 x 8.5mm; W x D x H)

The 2018 entry in the Surface family is the Microsoft Surface Pro 6, which follows up from 2017’s numberless Surface Pro, which itself followed the Surface Pro 4. We know, let’s just get through this. Five, Microsoft! That’s the number you couldn’t remember!

Available in a new black color for the first time (or the regular silver), the Surface Pro 6 prices should start to waver with the release of the latest Pro 7 model. The Surface Pro 6 does make some processing improvements on an already excellent line of slates, with the latest 8th-gen Kaby Lake i5 or i7 processors. Given little else has changed this year beyond the i5/i7 generational processing upgrades, there’s nothing stopping you saving money by opting for this slightly older model while stocks last – if you don’t need the added processing grunt. If you need a USB-C, however, the latest release might be better for you.

The best Surface Pro (2017) prices and bundles

Older, but still holds up well today

CPU: Intel Core m3-i7 | Graphics: Intel HD graphics 620 – Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 | RAM: 4-16GB | Screen: 12.3-inch, 2,736 x 1,824 | Storage: 128-512GB SSD | Ports: 1x USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort, microSDXC card reader (UHS-I), headphone/mic jack | Cameras: 8MP rear-facing, auto-focus camera (1080p HD); 5MP front-facing, 1080p HD camera | Weight: 1.73 pounds | Size: 11.5 x 7.93 x 0.33 inches (W x D x H)Significantly improved batteryA big step up from the Pro 4Accessories generally not included

You’d think after the Surface Pro 4 Microsoft would have gone with a Surface Pro 5? But no, just to confuse matters, and searching shoppers, this 2017 installment is simply called Surface Pro. Thankfully, we’re here to bring you the latest deals for this older version, so don’t worry about our price comparison chart showing you deals for the very first Surface Pro.

The later Surface Pro is a big improvement over previous models, perhaps justifying the reboot of the brand. The battery lasts much longer than the Pro 4 and all of the accessories (like the Surface Pen and Type Cover keyboard attachment) have also been tweaked, although we’re a bit annoyed you have to buy them separately. 

Surface Go deals

A cheap 10-inch alternative to the Pro series

CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Graphics: Intel HD 615 | RAM: 4-8GB | Screen: 10-inch, 1,800 x 1,200 | Storage: 64-128GB SSD | Ports: 1 x USB-C 3.1, MicroSDXC card reader, Surface Connect port, headset jack | Cameras: 5MP (1080p video) front-facing webcam (Windows Hello face login); 8MP (1080p video) rear-facing autofocus camera | Weight: 1.15 pounds (0.52kg) | Size: 9.6 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches (W x D x H)

The 2018 Microsoft Surface Go is a mini 10-inch version of the Surface Pro hybrids. It doesn’t pack the same punch under the bonnet with an Intel 4415Y processor paired with either a 4GB RAM 64GB SSD combo or a meatier 8GB RAM / 128GB but it is considerably cheaper than the full-sized Surface Pro options on this page. The Type Cover Keyboard and Surface Go mouse are usually sold separately sadly.

When will Surface Pro deals include the Type Cover keyboard?

Some Surface Pro deals do include the Type Cover keyboard, usually at a price of around $699 for the entry level model. These sales are usually found during traditional seasonal discount periods, so keep an eye around national holidays, Amazon Prime day and Black Friday.