Microsoft could be preparing to expand its line of Surface tablets with a 7 inch model aimed at gamers. The Verge reports that “multiple sources” say the new tablet is under development… but there are still some things up in the air.

Microsoft Xbox logo

Microsoft recently started selling the 10 inch Surface RT tablet with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and Windows RT software. And the Surface Pro tablet with a 10 inch screen, Intel Ivy Bridge CPU, and Windows 8 software is due out in the coming months.

According to The Verge’s sources  the 7 inch tablet is expected to have a custom ARM-based processor, high-bandwidth RAM for gaming, and a custom operating system based on the Windows Kernel.

It’s also possible that the project could be retooled to use an Intel processor or the full Windows RT or Windows 8 operating system before it’s launched.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing a 7 inch tablet from Microsoft. While 10 inch and larger tablets are good for reading web pages, watching movies, or hooking up a keyboard and getting some work done, I find 7 inch models easier to hold in your hands for reading eBooks… or for gaming, which is what an Xbox Surface tablet would be designed for.

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3 replies on “Microsoft may be working on a 7 inch Xbox Surface tablet”

  1. WhatI would really lie to see is a 7/8″ tablet with cloverTrail and a full Windows in it.
    I’d be willing to pay $350-400 for that.

    1. It’s more likely they’ll either go custom or just use WP8. While MS does allow Windows 8 to be put on devices as small as 7″, the traditional desktop isn’t very usable at that size and so would likely use a pure Modern UI like WP8 solution.

      Mind, even Google makes distinctions on sizes as starting with the Nexus 7 they created a specific optimization for 7″ that’s separate from the normal Phone and Tablet size optimization for Android.

      Though, if successful, it’s possible a 3rd party may opt to put a full W8 in a similar design… Maybe Razer, since they never did get around to producing that Switchblade gaming netbook and have been considering tablet designs… We’ll have to wait and see, but it may be 2014 before we know for sure.

  2. I sincerely hope, for Microsoft’s sake, that they’re not making another OS that wouldn’t be compatible with everything else.

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