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Microsoft Launches Surface 3, It's A Serious iPad Rival

This article is more than 8 years old.

It’s official: Microsoft is good at hardware. Given its past struggles that’s not an association that immediately springs to mind but following the superb but expensive Surface Pro 3, Microsoft has now made a new sexy hybrid laptop/tablet for the masses.

Simply called ‘Surface 3’, the new model presents a truly compelling option to shake up not just the budget laptop market, but also  Apple ’s iPad Air 2. Here’s why:

The Good Stuff

So what looks great about the Surface 3?

Build quality - For starters the Surface 3 retains the same design and premium magnesium chassis as the Surface Pro 3. It also smaller and lighter:

  • Surface 3 - 267 x 187 x 8.7mm (10.51 x 7.36 x 0.34 inches) and 622 grams (1.37 lbs)
  • Surface Pro 3 - 290 x 210 x 91mm (11.5 x 7.93 x 0.36 inches) and 800 grams (1.76 lbs)

Display -The reason for the weight loss is because the Surface 3 has a smaller 10.8-inch display. Despite that it packs a high 1920 x 1280 resolution, supports 10 finger multi-touch input and has the same web-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio as the 12-inch Surface Pro 3.

Software - Furthermore the Surface 3 is a proper full scale device. Unlike the Surface RT, It runs Windows 8.1 and is Windows 10 ready - which will launch for free in the summer.

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Battery life - Microsoft quotes “up to 10 hours” which is actually an hour longer than the Surface Pro 3.

Other niceties - the Surface 3 also offers 8MP rear and 3MP front facing cameras capable of 1080p video, speakers with Dolby Audio, 802.11ac WiFi and good connectivity: USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, a microSD slot, micro USB charging and a headset jack.

Price - 2GB and 4GB versions will offer 64GB and 128GB of storage respectively with prices starting from $499 and a 4G model (with integrated GPS) from $599. This gives it a much cheaper entry point than the Surface Pro, where the base model starts at $699, and all get one year subscriptions to Office 365 and 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage.

The Bad Stuff

CPU options - In making a smaller Surface Pro 3, Microsoft has also limited its power. Whereas the Pro 3 has Intel i3, i5 and i7 CPU options the Surface 3 is limited to an Intel Atom x7-Z8700. This is a quad core chip and should run smoothly as Microsoft doesn’t load up its Surfaces with bloatware, but it can’t become a cutting edge performer.

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Extras - While the Surface range has genuine tablet potential, the ‘Type Cover’ remains optional but essential and at $130 it is expensive. The stylus is also an optional extra so a fully loaded 4GB 4G Surface 3 will cost you north of $750.

RAM - Windows 8 and Windows 10 are fast and agile platforms (the Vista days are gone) but no 8GB option will disappoint some.

Perhaps the bigger question though is what the Surface 3 launch will mean for the Surface Pro 4...?

Implications for the Surface Pro 4?

With the Surface Pro 3 a clear hit, it makes sense for Microsoft to make a smaller, cheaper version. That said with many expecting a Surface Pro 4 in June (the anniversary of the Surface Pro 3 launch) and Windows 10 arriving around the same time now does seem a strange time to release the Surface 3.

Could that mean a Surface Pro 4 isn’t coming for some time? It’s certainly possible and there is no law which states the Surface range must follow the same annual upgrade cycle as smartphones.

Those questions aside, what Microsoft is slowly creating in the Surface and Lumia brands are credible ranges of hero products for its ecosystem. A message that should become even clearer when Windows 10 launches across PC, phone and tablet.

Whether partners will be concerned or inspired by these moves remains to be seen, but Microsoft certainly appears determined to not let Apple’s message of unified software and hardware go unanswered. For my money that’s a smart move.

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