Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and VP of Surface Computing Panos Panay took the stage this morning at a press event in New York to reveal the most advanced Surface Pro device yet. Surface Pro 3 refines Microsoft’s vision for creating a no-compromise device that can replace the laptop entirely, and while not a radical departure from Surface Pro 2, the third-generation Pro touches and improves upon its predecessor in some key areas that may just make Microsoft’s “one device to rule them all” goal possible.
You won’t mistake the Surface Pro 3 for any previous model, thanks to its new 3:2 aspect ratio, “Pixel-Free” 12-inch display (2160×1440). The new 3:2 ratio is intended to significantly improve the Surface Pro 3’s usefulness in portrait mode for activities like writing. In fact, Microsoft made many comparisons to pen and paper to illustrate some significant advancements to the bundled digital pen. On the technology front, the Pro 3’s optical stack has been made thin enough to remove the parallax effect, which simply means that the ink on the screen looks much closer to the tip as you write, that has plagued the writing performance on all previous devices. Combined with the new aspect ratio that mimics the size and shape of a paper pad, heavy integration with OneNote, and optimized applications like a new Photoshop from Adobe, Microsoft believes the Pro 3 is the most natural device for writing and digital art.
The extra size screen doesn’t come at a cost of weight (or thickness). According to Panay, Surface Pro 3 is the thinnest Intel Core i device in history at 800 grams and 9.1mm thick – a feat that required the design of more than one-hundred custom components. He didn’t list them all, instead choosing to zero in on a new custom fan that the user won’t see, hear, or feel, but still radiates enough air to keep Intel’s Core i7 cool – a new option over the i5 in the Surface Pro 2. Even with the i5 performance is improved by over 10%, and even more with the i7. Those looking to cut cost will be able to pick one up with an i3 processor, at the expense of some speed.
The integrated kickstand has always been a hallmark feature for the Surface, even if some have found the one (Surface Pro) or two (Surface 2) position stand to be somewhat limiting. The Surface Pro 3 changes that with a brand new “friction hinge” that allows for virtually any angle between the classic 22.5 degrees and a nearly-flat 150 degrees, which should alleviate any complaints that the hinge isn’t flexible enough. Furthermore, there’s a new-and-improved Type Cover that boasts a vastly improved trackpad and extra magnets that attach to the bottom front of the Pro 3, further improving its stability when used in a lap.
Microsoft’s isn’t the only company building 2-in-1 PCs, and some OEMs have revolted by getting further entrenched with Google and Chromebooks with Microsoft stepping into the hardware market. Nadella made the case that Microsoft isn’t trying to compete with their OEM partners (although it’s inevitable it will to some degree). Microsoft clearly has its sights set on going after Apple’s customers who would pick up a duo of Air products, the Macbook Air and iPad Air, at the ultra-high end of the market where few of their OEM partners play. The Surface Pro 3 is certainly more expensive than the iPad Air and similarly priced spec-for-spec to a Macbook Air, but really shows its value as a replacement for both. It’s thinner and weighs a lot less than the two combined, although the 9-hour run-time isn’t quite as good.
Time will tell if the third time is the charm for Surface Pro. Speaking of which, you won’t have to wait long to get one. It’s available in stores tomorrow starting at $799 for the Core i3 model with 64GB of storage. There’s also a Core i5 option with 128GB or 256GB of storage, and a Core i7 option with 256GB or 512GB of storage respectively. All Surface Pro 3 devices ship with the digital pen, but Touch and Type covers, the desktop dock, and other accessories are optional. The Surface Pro 3 is backwards compatible with previous Touch and Type covers, although those won’t have the new magnets for improved lap stability.
Full specs on page 2, and more images in the gallery below.
Surface Pro 3 Specifications
Size
- 11.5″ x 7.93″ x 0.3″
- (292mm x 201.3mm x 9.1mm)
Weight
- 1.76lbs (800 grams)
Display
- Screen: 12″ ClearType Full HD Plus
- Resolution: 2160 x 1440
- Aspect Ratio: 3:2
- Touch: Multi-touch
Battery Life
- Up to 9 hours of web browsing
Storage/RAM
- 64GB or 128GB storage with 4GB RAM
- 256GB or 512GB storage with 8GB RAM
Processor
- 4th generation IntelÆ Core i3, i5 or i7
- TPM Chip for enterprise security
Network
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11ac/802.11 a/b/g/n
- BluetoothÆ 4.0 Low Energy technology
Location
- Digital Compass
Ports
- Full-size USB 3.0
- microSD card reader
- Headset jack
- Mini DisplayPort
- Cover port
Software
- Windows 8.1 Pro
Cameras, Video and Audio
- 5.0 megapixel rear-facing camera
- 5.0 megapixel front-facing camera
- Stereo microphones
- Stereo speakers with DolbyÆ sound
Sensors
- Ambient light sensor
- Accelerometer
- Gyroscope
- Magnetometer
Kickstand positions
- Multiple
What’s in the box
- Surface Pro 3
- Surface Pen
- 36W Power supply
- Quick Start Guide
- Safety and warranty documents
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