Surface Pro 3

Last updated
Surface Pro 3
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Logo.jpg
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 with Type Cover.jpg
Surface Pro 3 with red Type Cover
Developer Microsoft
Manufacturer Pegatron
Product family Surface
Type 2-in-1 detachable
Generation3rd
Release dateJune 20, 2014
Introductory priceUS$799–1949
DiscontinuedNovember 1, 2016
Operating system
CPU Intel Core i3-4020Y
Intel Core i5-4300U
Intel Core i7-4650U
Memory4 or 8  GB LPDDR3 1600 MHz RAM
Storage64, 128, 256 or 512 GB
Removable storage microSD slot
Display12.0 inches (30 cm) 2160x1440 (216 ppi) eDP ClearType HD screen with 3:2 aspect ratio
GraphicsIntel integrated HD Graphics
HD 4200 in i3 CPU
HD 4400 in i5 CPU
HD 5000 in i7 CPU
SoundFront-facing stereo speakers
InputBuilt in: touchscreen, ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
Sold Separately: type cover, mouse, stylus pen
CameraFront: 5 MP
Rear: 5 MP
TouchpadOn the Surface Pro Type Cover (sold separately)
Connectivity Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, 3.5 mm audio socket, Cover port, Charging port
PowerBuilt-in rechargeable 42 W⋅h (150 kJ) lithium-ion battery
36 W proprietary external power supply with integrated USB charging port
Online services Windows Store, OneDrive, Xbox Music, Xbox Games, Xbox Video
Dimensions11.5 in × 7.93 in × 0.36 in (29.21 cm × 20.14 cm × 0.91 cm)
Mass1.76 pounds (800 g)
Predecessor Surface Pro 2
Successor Surface Pro 4
Related Surface
Website www.microsoft.com/surface

The Surface Pro 3 is the third-generation Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable, designed, developed, marketed, and produced by Microsoft. It originally ran the Windows 8.1 Pro operating system (OS), but the optional upgrade to Windows 10 Pro (OS) operating system was later added. [1]

Contents

History

The older, original Surface and Surface 2, with their ARM-based processors and Windows RT operating system, are pitched against the iPad and other tablets. The Surface Pro 3 (like the preceding Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2), with its x64 Intel CPU and Windows 8 OS, is a full-fledged PC that competes against Ultrabooks (particularly those convertible laptops with touchscreens for a tablet functionality, flexible hinges, detachable keyboards, or sliders) and other high-end sub notebooks such as the MacBook Air. [2] [3] [4]

The Surface Pro 3 was announced on May 20, 2014, at a New York City event, [5] [6] [7] pre-orders were opened on May 21, 2014, and the first models were released on June 20, 2014 in the U.S. and Canada, [5] with the Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i7 models released on August 1, 2014. [8] The Surface Pro 3 was launched in 25 additional markets on August 28. [9]

On October 6, 2015, Microsoft released its successor, the Surface Pro 4 with a bigger screen with a higher resolution and reduced bezels, faster CPU options, a thinner body and improved cooling system.

Features

Hardware

The Surface Pro 3 has a body made of magnesium alloy giving a gray matted finish to the back of the device. The charging port is magnetized and connects securely to the charger.

It comes with an improved kickstand, allowing the device to be set at any angle between 22 and 150 degrees. The kickstand has a high resistance which provides firmness and prevents accidental sliding.

The Surface Pro 3 features a larger 12 inches (30 cm) (screen display area 25.4 cm x 16.9 cm) display over its predecessor. The screen has a 3:2 aspect ratio which Microsoft claims allow the device to be used more comfortably in the portrait orientation. Because the touch screen digitizer and the pen digitizer are combined into a single layer, the screen is physically thinner than that of its predecessors, which improves viewing angle.

Although the Surface Pro 3 has a larger screen than its predecessor, it is both thinner and lighter, weighing 100 grams (0.22 lb) less. Microsoft claims the Surface Pro 3 is capable of up to 9 hours of web browsing. [10]

The Surface Pro 3 is built on the 4th generation Intel Core processor with TPM chip for enterprise security. It includes a USB 3.0 port and a Mini DisplayPort on the right, an audio jack on the left, and a hot swap microSD slot on the back of the device. The microSD slot supports memory cards up to 200 GB. [11] The internal solid-state drive and system memory are not user upgradeable.

Surface Pro 3 configuration options [12]
Price tier (USD) CPU Integrated GPU RAM Internal storage
$799Intel Core i3-4020Y (1.5 GHz)HD 42004 GB64 GB
$999Intel Core i5-4300U (1.9 to 2.9 GHz)HD 4400128 GB
$1,2998 GB256 GB
$1,299Intel Core i7-4650U (1.7 to 3.3 GHz)HD 5000128 GB
$1,549256 GB
$1,949512 GB

External display connectivity

Like its predecessor, the Surface Pro 3 is capable of connecting up to three external displays. To connect a third display the 2-in-1's own screen should be turned off.

The device itself has a single Mini DisplayPort output and in order to connect two external displays one can additionally use a secondary Mini DisplayPort on a docking station accessory (sold separately). To attach three (or fewer) displays, an aftermarket DisplayPort Multi-Stream Transport hub can be used or a daisy chaining feature of compatible displays. One of external displays can be attached over-the-air utilizing Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) technology.

In a single external display mode over DisplayPort, the i5 and i7-based models also support a resolution of 3840x2160 at 60 Hz, known as 4K Ultra HD. [13]

Software

The Surface Pro 3 initially shipped with Windows 8.1 Pro, but since the Windows 10 release on July 29, 2015, new devices come with the updated OS pre-installed, eliminating the need to upgrade as is the case on existing devices. [1] The Windows 10 upgrade, among other features, brings a Tablet mode, which can be useful when device is used as a tablet, that is without a keyboard attached.

InstantGo

The Surface Pro 3 is one of the first 64-bit Windows devices that features InstantGo (formerly Connected Standby), [14] allowing for smartphone-type power management capabilities. This allows for Windows Store apps to update info (such as email) while the device appears off, and for the operating system to run automatic maintenance when connected to AC. [15] The Surface will enter hibernation state after four hours of no activity, to further conserve battery power. [16]

With InstantGo active there is only one power plan available with a limited options. [17] InstantGo is currently not supported when Hyper-V is enabled, instead the device will enter hibernation each time it is put into sleep mode. [18]

Accessories

The Surface-series devices feature a Type Cover accessory, an attachable protective keyboard, which is sold separately, yet has continually appeared in every Surface ad since the launch of the original Surface. The Type Cover for Surface Pro 3 features backlit keys, is thinner and has an improved touchpad over its predecessors. It also has a magnetic strip which binds to the front bezel of the display for additional stability. The magnetic strip can also be used to elevate the position of the keyboard, which can help to comfortably use a Type Cover on a lap. [19]

The Surface Pro 3 is the first Surface device to feature an improved version of the Surface Pen, which is included with each device. In contrast to that from the earlier devices of the Pro line, which was based on Wacom technology, the Surface Pen of the Surface Pro 3 features N-trig DuoSense technology with 256 levels of pressure sensitivity.

Microsoft also offers a docking station, which adds five USB ports (including three USB 3.0), a Gigabit Ethernet port, an additional Mini DisplayPort (which can be used simultaneously with the port on the Surface Pro 3) and a 3.5 mm audio socket for audio input/output. [20]

Some of Microsoft's wireless touch mice were restyled to match the Surface-series devices design, added where applicable a Bluetooth connectivity and relaunched as Surface Edition series mice: Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition [21] and Wedge Touch Mouse Surface Edition. [22]

Reception

The Surface Pro 3 has received positive reviews. David Pogue suggested "The upshot is that, with hardly any thickness or weight penalty, the kickstand and the Type Cover let you transform your 1.8-pound tablet into an actual, fast, luxury laptop". Pogue said that the Surface Pro 3's form factor works well as a tablet, in contrast to the Surface Pro 2, whose bulk and weight limited its appeal as a tablet. Pogue also stated that the new multi-stage kickstand, 3:2 screen aspect ratio, and new Type Cover 3 detachable keyboard made it a competent laptop. [23]

It has been suggested that the Surface Pro 3 comes closest to the Microsoft Tablet PC concept that company founder Bill Gates announced in 2001, [2] [3] [4] being the first Surface to become a credible laptop replacement. [24] Time magazine included Microsoft Surface Pro 3 in the list of the 25 best inventions of 2014. [25]

The Surface Pro 3 received a repairability score of 1/10 from iFixit because of the use of a strong adhesive material throughout and the difficulty in removing the display. [26]

Timeline

Timeline of Surface devices
Surface Duo 2Surface DuoSurface Hub 3Surface Hub 2SSurface HubSurface Studio 2Surface Studio 2Surface StudioSurface Laptop SESurface Laptop Studio 2Surface Laptop StudioSurface Laptop Go 3Surface Laptop Go 2Surface Laptop GoSurface Laptop 6Surface Laptop 5Surface Laptop 4Surface Laptop 3Surface Laptop 2Surface LaptopSurface Book 3Surface Book 2Surface BookSurface Pro XSurface Pro XSurface Go 4Surface Go 3Surface Go 2Surface GoSurface Pro 10Surface Pro 9Surface Pro 8Surface Pro 7Surface Pro 7Surface Pro 6Surface Pro (2017)Surface Pro 4Surface Pro 3Surface Pro 2Surface ProSurface 3Surface 2Surface (2012 tablet)Surface Pro 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tablet computer</span> Mobile computer with integrated display, circuitry and battery

A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being computers, have similar capabilities, but lack some input/output (I/O) abilities that others have. Modern tablets largely resemble modern smartphones, the only differences being that tablets are relatively larger than smartphones, with screens 7 inches (18 cm) or larger, measured diagonally, and may not support access to a cellular network. Unlike laptops, tablets usually run mobile operating systems, alongside smartphones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2-in-1 laptop</span> Mobile device combining laptop and tablet characteristics

A 2-in-1 laptop, also known as 2-in-1 PC, 2-in-1 tablet, laplet, tabtop, laptop tablet, or simply 2-in-1, is a portable computer that has features of both tablets and laptops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenovo Yoga</span> Line of consumer-oriented laptop computers and tablets

Lenovo Yoga is a line of consumer-oriented laptop computers, tablets, and all-in-one computers designed, developed and marketed by Lenovo, named for their ability to assume multiple form factors due to a hinged screen. The line currently competes against other 2-in-1 PCs such as the HP Spectre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Surface</span> Series of personal computers, tablets and interactive whiteboards by Microsoft

Microsoft Surface is a series of touchscreen-based personal computers, tablets, and interactive whiteboards designed and developed by Microsoft, most of them running the Windows operating system. They are designed to be premium devices that set examples for manufacturers of other Windows-compatible products. It comprises several generations of hybrid tablets, 2-in-1 detachable notebooks, a convertible desktop all-in-one, an interactive whiteboard, and various accessories, many with unique form factors. The majority of devices in the Surface lineup are based on Intel processors and compatible with Windows 10 or Windows 11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface Pro</span> Detachable tablet by Microsoft

The Surface Pro is a first generation 2-in-1 detachable of the Microsoft Surface series, designed and manufactured by Microsoft. The device ran a 64-bit version of Windows 8 Pro operating system with a free upgrade possibility to Windows 8.1 Pro, and eventually also Windows 10. Initially announced as Surface for Windows 8 Pro on June 18, 2012, at a Los Angeles event, Microsoft later renamed the device to Surface Pro, and launched it on February 9, 2013.

The Lenovo Miix was a series of multi-mode computing devices that function as both a tablet and a notebook computer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface 2</span> Hybrid tablet computer by Microsoft

Surface 2 is a Surface-series Windows RT hybrid tablet computer created by Microsoft. It was unveiled on September 23, 2013, and released on October 22, 2013 and is the successor to the original Surface. As of January 2015, Microsoft no longer manufactures Surface 2, and provided security updates for the device until January 2023. Microsoft's next attempt at a Windows-on-ARM tablet would be the Surface Pro X, released in 2019, six years after the Surface 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface Pro 2</span> Tablet-hybrid computer device

The Surface Pro 2 is a Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable produced by Microsoft. Unveiled at an event in New York City on September 23, 2013 and released on October 22, 2013, it succeeds the Surface Pro released in February 2013. While maintaining a design similar to the original design of its predecessor, the Surface Pro 2 has improved hardware specifications compared to it, such as a Haswell Intel Core processor and an increased number of storage options, improved versions of the kickstand and cover accessories.

Lenovo ThinkPad 10 refers to two generations of 10-inch business-oriented tablet computers manufactured by Lenovo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface 3</span> 2-in-1 detachable by Microsoft

Surface 3 is a 2-in-1 detachable from the Microsoft Surface series, introduced by Microsoft in 2015. Unlike its predecessor, the Surface 2, Surface 3 utilizes an x86 Intel Atom system-on-chip architecture, or SoC, rather than a processor with ARM architecture such as the Nvidia Tegra that powered the Surface 2, and runs standard versions of Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface Pro 4</span> Tablet computer by Microsoft

The Surface Pro 4 is the fourth-generation Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable, designed, developed, and marketed by Microsoft. The Surface Pro 4 was announced on October 6, 2015, alongside the Surface Book. In the U.S. and Canada, the Surface Pro 4 was released on October 26, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface Book</span> Laptop by Microsoft

The Surface Book is a 2-in-1 PC designed and produced by Microsoft, part of the company's Surface line of personal computing devices. Surface Book is distinguished from other Surface devices primarily by its full-sized, detachable keyboard, which uses a dynamic fulcrum hinge that expands when it is opened. The keyboard contains a second battery, a number of ports and an optional discrete graphics card used when the screen part, also dubbed as the clipboard by Microsoft, is docked to it. Unlike Surface Pro devices, which are marketed as tablets, the Surface Book is marketed as a laptop, Microsoft's first device marketed as such. Unlike the Surface Laptop devices, the two parts are detachable.

The fifth-generation Surface Pro is a Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable hybrid notebook computer, designed, developed, marketed, and produced by Microsoft. The Surface Pro was announced in May 2017 at a public event held in Shanghai, China. The device launched in 26 different markets on June 15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface Book 2</span> 2-in-1 PC by Microsoft

The Surface Book 2 is the second generation of the Surface Book, part of the Microsoft Surface line of personal computers. It is a 2-in-1 PC which can be used like a conventional laptop, or the screen can be detached and used separately as a tablet, with touch and stylus input. In addition to the 13.5-inch screen available in the original Surface Book introduced two years before, it is also available in a 15-inch screen model. It was released in November 2017, and replaced in Microsoft's product line by the Surface Book 3 in May 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface Go</span> 2-in-1 detachable in the Microsoft Surface series

The Surface Go is a 10-inch (250 mm) 2-in-1 detachable in the Microsoft Surface series that was released on August 2, 2018. It was unveiled by Microsoft on July 10, 2018. It was the first generation of the Surface Go. In May 2020, the Surface Go was superseded by the Surface Go 2.

The Surface Laptop 3 is a laptop computer developed by Microsoft. It is the third generation of Surface Laptop and was unveiled alongside the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X on an event on 2 October 2019. It succeeds the Surface Laptop 2 that was released in October 2018.

The Surface Book 3 is the third generation of Microsoft's Surface Book series, and a successor to the Surface Book 2. Like its previous generation, the Surface Book 3 is part of the Microsoft Surface lineup of personal computers. It is a 2-in-1 PC that can be used like a conventional laptop, or detached from its base for use as a separate tablet, with touch and stylus input support in both scenarios. It was announced by Microsoft online alongside the Surface Go 2 on May 6, 2020, and later released for purchase on May 12, 2020.

The Surface Go 2 is a 2-in-1 detachable tablet computer developed by Microsoft. It is the second generation of Surface Go and was announced alongside the Surface Book 3 on May 6, 2020 online. It was available for purchase starting May 12, 2020. In October 2021, this has been superseded by the Surface Go 3.

The Surface Go 3 is the third generation model of the Surface Go series of devices, introduced as the successor to the Surface Go 2 by Microsoft at their Surface Event on September 22, 2021. It was announced by the company alongside the Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2 and many Surface accessories. The tablet has the same body, the same set of cameras and speakers, the same ports, and the same dimensions as its predecessor; the main enhancement is a range of more powerful processors. The tablet is powered by the Windows 11 operating system. The Surface Go 3 is the last non-segregated consumer/business model of the Surface Go lineup and the last model that will ever be sold to consumers.

References

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  4. 1 2 Eadicicco, Lisa. "POGUE: The Surface Pro 3 Is The One Time Windows 8 Isn't A Disaster". Business Insider. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
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  12. "Surface Pro 3 tablet models". June 2, 2014. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014.
  13. "Quick Reference Guide to 4th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor Graphics (formerly codenamed Haswell)". Intel.com. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  14. "Windows 8.1 x64 Connected Standby Support".
  15. "Introduction to connected standby". 29 January 2016.
  16. "Surface Pro power states: On, off, sleep, and hibernate". Microsoft .
  17. "Power plans: frequently asked questions". Microsoft.com. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  18. "Surface Pro 3 Tip: Hyper-V vs. Connected Standby".
  19. "Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Review".
  20. "Surface Pro 3 Docking Station Product Page". Microsoft .
  21. "Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition Product Page".
  22. "Wedge Touch Mouse Surface Edition Product Page".
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Preceded by Surface Pro 3
3rd generation
Succeeded by