Seeing demand for Microsoft's Surface-series 2-in-1 devices having been rising, several notebook brand vendors have started adjusting their 2-in-1 projects for 2016 and plan to launch products with designs similar to the Surface, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

Brand vendors including Lenovo, Asustek Computer, Acer, Dell and Hewlett-Packard (HP) are all prepared to launch 2-in-1 devices for the first quarter of 2016.

Asustek is planning to launch three new 2-in-1s in March 2016 with similar designs to Surface, but cheaper prices and is looking to snatch a good share in the 2-in-1 market, which is expected to achieve at least 30 million units in the year. Asustek has already talked to Microsoft about the projects and therefore should not have any patent infringement issues.

In addition to the upstream supply chain of the 2-in-1 devices, peripheral component suppliers are also expected to benefit from orders specifically for stylus and keyboard accessories.