If you think your Surface Book or Pro needs a fresh look to it, or you want to upgrade it with faster download speeds, you’ll be pleased to know that Microsoft has plans with you in mind. Some patents have recently come to public light that reveals the software giant’s patients for customizable Surface plates.
What’s In Microsoft’s New Patent for Surface Devices?
While the patent has been sitting around for a little while now, it has only come to the surface after some websites took note of it. You can see the patent for yourself over on Free Patents Online.
The patent uses many wordy terms, but in essence, it describes panels that you can clip on and off a Surface Book or Pro. These panels seem to be more than just a case for your Surface; it appears to implement itself onto the device.
The panels are more than just for show, however. They will also contain special chips that allow for better internet connectivity. The patent mentions a panel that grants a Surface product the ability to connect to a cellular network, for example.
As such, this may be a handy way for Surface owners to upgrade their devices without having to buy a whole new product. Just buy a panel that gives your Surface a boost and enjoy better speeds wherever you are.
Be Patient With Microsoft’s Patents
It’s worth noting, however, that this is only a patent. Technology companies are always filing patents in order to claim a certain technology before their competitors beat them to the punch. For instance, Microsoft recently patented a keyboard that displays four languages at once but hasn’t done anything with it recently.
Therefore, this patent is by no means confirmation that Microsoft will release these panels in the future. However, it does mean that Microsoft is testing this feature and finds it worthy enough to patent, which means it’s churning through research and development at the very least.
If Microsoft does decide to produce these panels, we won’t know until the company makes an official announcement or an insider leaks production details. As such, we can only speculate for now as to how these panels will change how people use their Surface devices.
Adding a New Surface to Your Surface
While it’s by no means a confirmation of future plans, Microsoft is at least entertaining the concept of replacing the panels on your Surface Book or Pro. We’ll have to wait and see if the panels make it to our shelves in the future.
If you’re worried about your Surface Book or Pro becoming outdated, Microsoft has recently published the exact dates when it will cut support for each Surface product. For example, the Surface Pro 3-5 and the Surface Book 1 and 2 lose their support in November 2021.
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