In a first, Microsoft launches new Surface Pro in China

Surface Pro, the latest version of Microsoft's iconic tablet-laptop gadget. [Photo by He Wei/CHINA DAILY]

Microsoft Corp unveiled on Tuesday the latest version of its iconic tablet-laptop gadget, Surface Pro, in Shanghai, the first-ever new product launch that took place in China.

Dubbed the New Surface Pro, the successor to the Surface Pro 4 will be powered by Intel's 7th-generation Kaby Lake processors and features an improved battery life of 13.5 hours, said Panos Panay, corporate vice president for Surface Computing at Microsoft.

As the lightest tablet produced by Microsoft, upgrades have been made to the Surface Pro's screen and are equipped with a Surface stylus pen with improved latency.

The new gadget will be available beginning June 15 in 26 markets, including China, and is priced at 5,888 yuan ($799). Microsoft also kicked off a two-week exclusive pre-sale on JD.com, the nation's second largest e-commerce platform.

China is the largest market for Surface outside Microsoft's home turf, growing at a compounded annual rate of 50 percent, Panay said.

Also being brought to China later this year is the HoloLens, Microsoft's augmented reality headset, said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Windows and Devices Group at Microsoft. Surface Studio, a device dedicated to designers or for creative purposes, is also confirmed to be making its way to the country.

Myerson also revealed that China's Lenovo Group Ltd is among Microsoft's first partners to pre-install its Windows 10 Chinese government edition to provide advanced, secure and localized operating systems.

The US technology giant said it has completed a pilot trial with China Customs, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, and Westone, a Chinese information security operator, and is aiming to serve more government customers.