Our review unit includes the latest Windows 8.1 Update. New stylus upgrades the Windows 8.1 experience The cameras have also been upgraded, with 5-megapixel devices front and rear, enough for full 1080p Skype chats. Microsoft says an upcoming docking station will include three USB 3.0 connectors and two USB 2.0 connectors, as well as Gigabit ethernet. (Plan accordingly to use the tablet with an external monitor.) The power button has been moved from the top right to the top left. The Surface Pro 3 retains the microSD slot of previous generations, as well as the single USB 3.0 and miniDisplayPort connector. But the Surface Pro 3’s Worldbench 9 score was just 72, whereas the Surface Pro 2 achieved a score of 74. ![]() Our Core i5-based review unit always felt snappy and responsive. Microsoft defines it as a “tuned” version of the Core i5-4300U, the upgraded chip Microsoft adopted midway through the Surface Pro 2 life cycle. Under load, the fan vents air with an unobtrusive hiss. Image: Michael HomnickĬooling vents surround the upper reaches of the tablet. That falls short of our result with the smaller Surface Pro 2, which shut down after 4 hours, 44 minutes. Microsoft claims eight hours of battery life during casual use, but our own in-house battery tests-which entail a continuous mix of scripted Office use and video playback-brought the Surface Pro 3 to its knees after 4 hours, 18 minutes. Fewer pixels also tend to mean more battery life. Sure, this may turn off some graphics professionals, but not the average worker. The new Type Cover costs another $130, and it’s a must-have.Īgam Shah, a writer for PCWorld’s affiliate IDG News Service, noted that the Surface Pro 3’s 2160×1440-pixel resolution isn’t quite comparable to the 2560×1440-pixel resolution of some competing devices. But a high-end Core i7 model exacts more than $2,000 after sales tax, and any future 4G connectivity options will boost prices even further. The low-end Core i3 model will cost $800, a price that’s competitive with a slew of perfectly respectable full-fledged laptops. ( Check out our earlier story for the exact details.) Our eval unit, a core i5 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, costs $1,300. Microsoft will ship the Surface Pro 3 in Core i3, i5, and i7 configurations, with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM and storage options up to 256GB. Unfortunately, the price you pay is, well… the price you pay. ![]() Internally, Microsoft moved to the faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, increasing potential wireless throughput. The slimmed-down Surface Pro 3 feels like a proper modern-day tablet. Microsoft also improved the kickstand and complementary Type Cover, enhancing their ergonomics considerably. Viewed on edge, the Surface Pro 3 looks and feels like a tablet.
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