Microsoft's Surface Pro 3

 By: TECHTOWN    10:38:00 PM  No comments

Surface Pro 3: 12-in screen, thinner build, cheaper price

It seems like just yesterday that Microsoft was telling us about the Surface Pro 2 – and, come to think of it, it was just eight months ago. But with the company still trying to get a strong foothold in the mobile space, new CEO Satya Nadella and Co. didn't waste any time churning out a new version. Meet the Surface Pro 3.

When we reviewed the Surface Pro 2 (the one that runs full-blown Windows), we were impressed with its longer battery life and dual-position kickstand. But, on the other hand, it was thick, heavy, and looked exactly like the first Surface Pro. With the new Surface Pro 3, Microsoft's hardware design is taking a much bolder step forward.

The most obvious is that the damn thing is a lot bigger. The screen of the Surface Pro 3 jumps all the way up to 12 inches, from the 10.6-in display found on its predecessors. That's not only 38 percent more screen real estate than you got from the first four Surfaces, but it's also now going to compete more directly against 13-in laptops. Its 2,160 x 1,440 resolution gives it a respectable 216 PPI, but it also has the Surface Pro 3 coming out just slightly sharper than the 208 PPI found in older Surfaces.

Microsoft also took care of one of the biggest drawbacks from the first two Surface Pros. The new model is only 9.1 mm thick, down from the beefy 13.5 mm from the older Pros (and Microsoft is branding this as "the thinnest Intel Core device ever made"). At 800 g, it's also 12 percent lighter than the smaller Surface Pro 2. This should feel much more feathery in hand than any previous full Windows-running Surface.

With the Surface Pro 2, Microsoft's dual-position kickstand was much improved over the single-position one that propped up the first model. With the Pro 3, that kickstand now moves dynamically. So, rather than snapping into one or two fixed positions, you can slide through the entire range of motion (between zero and 150 degrees), fixing it in the position that works best for you.

Perhaps the best thing about the Surface 3 is its price. Starting at US$800, the Pro 3 starts at $100 cheaper than the Surface Pro 2. The Surface Pro 3 launches tomorrow.