Surface Pro 3
The Surface Pro 3 is a 2-in-1 detachable hybrid tablet and laptop computer developed and manufactured by Microsoft, announced on May 20, 2014, and released on June 20, 2014, in the United States and Canada as the successor to the Surface Pro 2.[1][2] It was positioned as a versatile device capable of replacing traditional laptops, featuring a 12-inch ClearType Full HD display with a 2160 × 1440 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio, powered by fourth-generation Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processors, and running Windows 8.1 Pro (upgradable to Windows 10).[1][2] Measuring 11.5 × 7.93 × 0.36 inches (292 × 201.3 × 9.1 mm) and weighing 1.76 pounds (800 g) without the keyboard, the Surface Pro 3 introduced a slimmer design—30% thinner than an 11-inch MacBook Air—along with an adjustable kickstand for multiple viewing angles, making it suitable for tablet, laptop, and presentation modes.[2][1] Storage options ranged from 64 GB to 512 GB SSD, paired with 4 GB or 8 GB RAM configurations, while battery life reached up to 9 hours of web browsing.[2][1] Connectivity included a USB 3.0 port, Mini DisplayPort, microSD card reader, headphone jack, and support for the Surface Type Cover keyboard (sold separately) and included Surface Pen stylus, which integrated seamlessly with OneNote for digital inking.[2] The device also featured dual 5-megapixel cameras (front and rear), Dolby Audio-enhanced stereo speakers, noise-canceling microphones, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0, and sensors such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, and ambient light sensor.[2] Priced starting at $799 for the base model, the Surface Pro 3 targeted professionals and businesses, with early adopters including organizations like BMW Group and Coca-Cola for its ability to run full desktop software in a portable form factor.[1][2] Pre-orders began on May 21, 2014, with availability expanding to 26 additional markets by August 2014.[1]History and Development
The development of the Surface Pro 3 began as part of Microsoft's ongoing evolution of the Surface line, initiated around 2010 under Panos Panay, corporate vice president of the Surface team, following the iPad's launch. It built on lessons from the first Surface Pro (2013) and [Surface Pro 2](/page/Surface Pro_2) (2013), addressing issues like battery life and form factor to create a more laptop-like hybrid. The project aimed to refine the 2-in-1 design for better productivity, with the third generation focusing on a larger screen and slimmer chassis.[3]Announcement
The Surface Pro 3 was unveiled on May 20, 2014, during a Microsoft event held in New York City, marking it as a significant evolution from previous Surface Pro models by refining the hybrid design to more effectively serve as both a tablet and a full-fledged laptop replacement.[4][5] Microsoft executives, including Panos Panay, corporate vice president of the Surface team, positioned the device as a versatile productivity tool during the presentation, with Panay explicitly stating that it was "the tablet that can replace your laptop."[6][7] At the event, Microsoft revealed the initial pricing for the Surface Pro 3, starting at US$799 for the base configuration. Pre-orders for the device began the following day, on May 21, 2014.[4][8]Release and Availability
It launched in the United States, Canada, and Japan on June 20, 2014, initially limited to Intel Core i5 processor models.[9][10] At launch, the available configurations included the Core i5 with 128 GB SSD and 4 GB RAM, priced at $999, and the Core i5 with 256 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM, priced at $1,299.[11][12] On August 1, 2014, Microsoft released additional models in the US and Canada, including the entry-level Intel Core i3 with 64 GB SSD and 4 GB RAM for $799, as well as Intel Core i7 variants with 256 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM for $1,949, and 512 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM for $1,999.[13] Availability expanded globally on August 28, 2014, to 25 additional markets, such as Australia, China, France, Germany, India, and the United Kingdom.[14][15] Driver and firmware support for the Surface Pro 3 ended on November 13, 2021.[16]Design and Specifications
Physical Design
The Surface Pro 3 features a slim and lightweight form factor designed for portability, measuring 292 mm × 201 mm × 9.1 mm (11.5 in × 7.93 in × 0.36 in) and weighing 800 g (1.76 lb).[2] This represents a reduction in thickness and weight compared to its predecessor, the Surface Pro 2, enhancing its suitability as a hybrid tablet-laptop device. The chassis is constructed from a magnesium alloy, which provides structural durability while contributing to effective heat dissipation through its thermal conductivity properties.[17] A key ergonomic improvement is the adjustable kickstand, which can be positioned at any angle for versatile viewing orientations, offering greater stability in laptop mode than the fixed-position kickstand of earlier models like the Surface Pro 2.[18] Unlike some fanless predecessors in the Surface lineup, such as the Surface RT, the Surface Pro 3 incorporates a fan-cooled thermal management system to handle the heat generated by its Intel Core processors during intensive tasks.[19] This design allows for sustained performance but can result in audible fan noise under load. The device's build quality emphasizes a premium, unibody aesthetic with a silver finish, though repairability is notably challenging due to extensive use of adhesives and glued components, earning it a repairability score of 1 out of 10 from iFixit. For hybrid functionality, the chassis integrates seamlessly with accessories like the Type Cover keyboard, which magnetically attaches to form a laptop configuration.Hardware Components
The Surface Pro 3 incorporated Intel's fourth-generation Core processors tailored for ultrathin devices, balancing performance and power efficiency in a tablet form factor. Available configurations included the entry-level Intel Core i3-4020Y, a dual-core processor (2 cores/4 threads) operating at a fixed 1.5 GHz clock speed without Turbo Boost capability, suitable for basic productivity tasks.[20] Midrange models featured the dual-core Intel Core i5-4300U (2 cores/4 threads), with a base clock of 1.90 GHz and Turbo Boost up to 2.90 GHz, enabling smoother multitasking and light creative workloads.[20] The premium variant utilized the dual-core Intel Core i7-4650U (2 cores/4 threads), starting at 1.70 GHz base and accelerating to 3.30 GHz via Turbo Boost, providing enhanced capabilities for demanding applications like video editing or software development.[20] All processor options integrated Intel HD Graphics, specifically the HD 4200 for the i3, HD 4400 for the i5 (up to 1.1 GHz), and HD 5000 for the i7, supporting hardware-accelerated video playback and basic 3D rendering without discrete GPU support.[20] Memory in the Surface Pro 3 consisted of soldered LPDDR3 RAM at 1,600 MHz, available in 4 GB for base models or 8 GB for higher-end variants, which could not be upgraded post-purchase due to the integrated design.[2] This configuration provided sufficient headroom for running Windows applications and multiple browser tabs, though the 4 GB option showed limitations under heavy multitasking compared to the 8 GB setup. Storage options ranged from 64 GB to 512 GB, using mSATA SSDs across all configurations for quick boot times and file access, all expandable via microSDXC card reader.[2][20] Wireless connectivity includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.[2] Power was supplied by a 42 Wh lithium-polymer battery, designed for all-day usage in mixed scenarios. Microsoft advertised up to 9 hours of continuous web browsing at moderate brightness, though real-world tests often yielded 7-8 hours depending on workload intensity.[2][21] The battery's efficiency stemmed from the low-TDP processors (11.5 W for i3, 15 W for i5 and i7), enabling the device to maintain portability without frequent recharging.| Configuration | Processor | RAM | Storage | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Intel Core i3-4020Y (1.5 GHz) | 4 GB LPDDR3-1600 | 64 GB SSD | Intel HD Graphics 4200 |
| Mid | Intel Core i5-4300U (1.9-2.9 GHz) | 4 GB or 8 GB LPDDR3-1600 | 128 GB or 256 GB SSD | Intel HD Graphics 4400 |
| Premium | Intel Core i7-4650U (1.7-3.3 GHz) | 8 GB LPDDR3-1600 | 256 GB or 512 GB SSD | Intel HD Graphics 5000 |