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Sarah Tew/CNET
Lighter, faster, stronger — the Surface Pro 3 is here, and Microsoft wants it to be the tablet that finally replaces your laptop.
Of course, we’ve heard that all before. But at a press event on Tuesday, Microsoft laid out its case: the Surface Pro 3
is a scant 9.1mm thick, making it the thinnest piece of hardware to ever pack an Intel Core processor. It also weighs 1.7 pounds, a hair slimmer than its predecessor. The tablet’s
12-inch screen sports a 2,160×1,440-pixel resolution, and a thinner optical layer, to cut down on all of that input lag between the screen and the digital pen.
Hands-on with the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (pictures)
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Better still, the rear hinge of the Surface has been redesigned with a friction hinge that allows the tablet to lean back a full 150 degrees — this promises to make using a Surface and its keyboard cover in your lap a feasible prospect.
More Surface Pro 3 coverage
- Surface Pro 3: 12-inch 3:2 screen, starts at $799, preorders start May 21 (hands-on)
- Microsoft: Surface Pro 3 will replace your laptop
- What Microsoft didn’t announce today: An ARM-based Surface Mini
- Surface Pro 3 pen could be hint of Mini to come
Is it time to spring for a Surface tablet? Or maybe you already own of a Surface Pro 2 — do you really need to upgrade? We’ll have answers to those questions and more once we get some time to test the hardware, but be sure to check out our first look at the new device.
For now, we must be content to ogle over the specs on the comparison chart below.
Microsoft Surface Pro 2 vs. Surface Pro 3
| Surface Pro 2 | Surface Pro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53 inches | 12.0 x 7.93 x 0.36 inches |
| Display | 10.6-inch, 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution | 12-inch, 2,160×1,440-pixel resolution |
| Processor | Fourth-gen Intel Core i5 | Fourth-gen Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 |
| Graphics | Intel HD 4400 | Intel HD 4400 |
| RAM | 4GB, up to 8GB | 4GB, up to 8GB |
| Connectivity | 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE |
| Storage | 64GB SSD, up to 512GB | 64GB SSD, up to 512GB |
| Weight | 2 pounds | 1.8 pounds |
| Battery Life | Reported 7 hours of video playback | Reported 9 hours of Web-browsing |
| Price | Starts at $899 (64GB, Core i5) | Starts at $799 (64GB, Core i3) |
