The Microsoft Surface Book 3 appears to be imminent, according to recent rumors bolstered by leaks showing specs for Microsoft's upcoming 2-in-1 machine.

The new Energy Star certification (spotted by Windows Latest) confirms that the Surface Book 3 will come in two models. The laptop, like the Surface Book 2, will be available in 13-inch and 15-inch versions and will feature Intel's latest 10th generation Core processor and up to 32GB of RAM. There was no mention of a dedicated graphics card, but earlier leaked information indicated that it would be an option in the next-generation Surface Book.

With the new certification, both Surface Book 3 models are powered by a Core i7 processor with a base clock speed of 1.3 GHz. When running at full power, this CPU is very likely to be well above the 3 GHz mark and close to 4 GHz.

The chip referenced in this certification is likely Intel's Core i7-1065G7, an "Ice Lake" generation 10-nanometer processor. This chip combines quad-core performance with an energy-efficient design, making it suitable for laptops and hybrid devices that require performance there without draining the battery too quickly.

These models are also likely to be high-end options for the Surface Book 3, with an option for a Core i5 model with 16GB of RAM.The Core i5 and Core i7 models of the Surface Book 3 are expected to include the Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics card options are also expected, with the 13-inch Surface Book 3 likely to have a GeForce GTX 1650 Ti and the larger 15-inch model a GeForce GTX 1660 Max-Q.

With these specifications, the Surface Book 3 could challenge Windows 10 laptops as well as the MacBook Air and the upcoming MacBook Pro 2020, which will use Intel's latest processors.

Microsoft has also received Energy Star certification for the Microsoft Surface Go 2, showing off the processor that the company's next affordable 2-in-1 may feature. Therefore, Microsoft is expected to announce both the Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 at the same time, possibly at the end of May when the Microsoft Build 2020 conference takes place.

Both models will be interesting additions to Microsoft's current Surface lineup: the Surface Book 3 could be an attractive 2-in-1 device for content creators and power users, while the Surface Go 2 could be a great choice for those seeking a machine to work on the go. Surface Go 2 is likely to be a low-cost Windows 10 hybrid device for those who want a machine to work on the go.