Microsoft surface release date october 26th – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Skip to main content

Surface for Windows RT tablet to go on sale on October 26th

Microsoft says it will sell its Surface for Windows RT tablet on October 26th, the same day as the Windows 8 launch.

Microsoft says it will sell its Surface for Windows RT tablet on October 26th, the same day as the Windows 8 launch.

Steve Ballmer Microsoft Surface
Steve Ballmer Microsoft Surface
Steve Ballmer Microsoft Surface
Tom Warren
is a senior correspondent and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.

Microsoft has reaffirmed that its Surface for Windows RT tablet will go on sale at the same time as Windows 8. In an SEC filing, spotted by CNET, the software maker confirms an October 26th launch date. “The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on October 26, 2012. At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices.”

Microsoft originally revealed its Surface tablets during a special event in Los Angeles in June. Although the company didn’t price the devices at the event, Microsoft did reveal that the Surface for Windows RT variant would launch at the time of Windows 8 general availability. An Intel-based version, Surface for Windows 8 Pro, will ship 90 days after the RT version. Despite pricing rumors, a Surface for Windows RT tablet is expected to be priced competitive with a comparable ARM tablet, with Intel Ultrabook pricing for the Surface for Windows 8 Pro. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has previously described the Surface as “just a design point,” and he expects the company to “sell a few million” of its tablets over the next 12 months.

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.