Surface Pro 3 is the latest version of Microsoft tablet, but the third generation wouldn’t be what it is today, if it wasn’t for the improvements based on the past two generations. It’s only been three years and Microsoft has put a lot of work, which resulted in Surface Pro 3: the tablet that can replace your laptop.
Looking back to the original Surface Pro, which was first available on February 9, 2012, was a bulky tablet. It was 13.5 mm thick, weighted about 2 pounds, it featured a 10.6-inch 1080p full-HD display, and offered around 5 hours of battery life. That goes without saying that RAM was limited to 4GB and 128GB of storage. And perhaps the most unique feature was the kickstand, a great idea, but only supported one 22 degrees position.
Here is the original TV ad Microsoft released for Surface Pro:
Then Surface Pro 2 came along on October 22, 2013. It was a significant improvement from the first generation, which still on sale today, and still features a 10.6-inch 1080p full-HD display, but according to Microsoft it offers 46 percent more color accuracy. Like the original Surface Pro, this new tablet has the same 13.5 mm thickness, and the same 2 pound weight. Battery life increased 75 percent and graphics went up 50 percent. Also RAM got bumped up to 8GB and storage can go up to 512GB.
The kickstand has also been redesigned with this new version, offering not only the original 22 degrees titled, but now there is a second 55 degrees position.
Here is the original TV ad Microsoft released for Surface Pro 2:
Fast forward to today, Surface Pro 3 has been completely redesigned, and Microsoft touting this tablet as both a tablet and laptop replacement. The tablet now has a bigger 12-inch display, with an stunning 2160 x 1440 screen resolution. It features the latest Intel Core processor (i3, i5, i7). Thickness has dramatically been reduced to only 9.1 mm from 13.5 mm in previous versions. Battery can easily last up to 9 hours, without heavy use. And like in Surface Pro 2, there is a choice to get 4GB or 8GB of RAM and storage can go up to 512GB.
Again the kickstand got redesigned, but this time instead of adding a third position, Microsoft created a new hinge that can tilt the tablet from 0 to 150 degrees, which increases stability and ensures that users can use the tablet virtually at any angle.
Microsoft starts shipping Surface Pro 3 on June 20th, 2014. You can buy the tablet at the Microsoft Store, or other tech outlets, such as Amazon.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].