![]() ![]() ![]() That and the fact that the kickstand can still dig into your legs is just a problem inherent in the Surface design. That said, the Surface Pro 3 is just a bit too large to sit on some laps with the cover installed. This is a more secure mechanism than tablets like the Sony VAIO Tap 11 ($789.99 at Amazon) (Opens in a new window) that simply slot into their keyboards without a positive lock. The action on the hinge takes a little effort to change angles, but that's likely to loosen up the longer you use it. The adjustable kickstand lets you tilt the tablet back to a comfortable angle (anywhere from 22 to 150 degrees) when you're sitting down with the Surface Pro 3 on your lap. I was starting to miss using an iPad Air after holding the Surface Pro 3 in one hand for more than 15 minutes or so. But it's as heavy as a laptop when you're holding it in one hand, and it will weigh your arm down in short order if you hold it in the crook of your elbow. Resting the tablet and cover on your lap is fine in short bursts, and it can be comfortably used for hours situated on a table with the kickstand. I took the tablet on my train commute and used it walking around the house and the lab during testing. Not bad, but that's pushing the limits of an everyday mobile companion you carry everywhere. That's about three quarters of a pound more than the Apple iPad Air ($389.99 at eBay) (Opens in a new window), and a little over a half-pound lighter than the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air. The weight goes up to 2.44 pounds if you add the Surface Pen and the Type Cover. The Surface Pro 3 weighs 1.75 pounds, but that's just for the slate tablet alone. (Opens in a new window) Read Our Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2015) Review Holding the tablet, it feels more balanced than the Surface Pro 2 and some other tablets, like the Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 10. With the same length and width of a letter-size sheet of paper, the Surface Pro 3 falls into the hand easily. You can go as low as $799 for the base model, with 4GB of memory, an Intel Core i3 CPU, and a 64GB SSD, or as high as $1,949 for a Surface Pro 3 with 8GB of memory, an Intel Core i7 processor, and a 512GB SSD.Īt 8 by 11.5 by 0.36 inches (HWD), the Surface Pro 3 is larger than the Microsoft Surface Pro 2, but not by much-the Surface Pro 2 measured 0.53 by 11 by 7 inches (HWD), just large enough for its 10.6-inch display. I tested the middle configuration (of five), which comes with 8GB of memory, an Intel Core i5 processor, and a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). Read the review of the current Microsoft Surface Pro 4. (Opens in a new window)Įditors' Note: This review is for an old version of the Surface Pro. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. The Surface Pro 3 ($779.00 at Amazon) (Opens in a new window) isn't exactly the ultimate melding of laptop and tablet, at least not in its current iteration. Some features, like the Type Cover, which costs an extra $129.99, are improved, but other problems still remain. Plus, you need to buy additional accessories to make it work like a laptop, adding more bulk, and increasing the overall price, which is already $100 more than the top configuration of the latest Apple MacBook Air 13-inch. Sure, it's the "thinnest Intel Core PC" on the market right now, but its length and width have increased along with its screen size. Sure, it is a much better laptop replacement than previous Win 8 slate tablets thanks to its bright, clear, 12-inch, 2,160-by-1,440-resolution screen, but the larger display and added weight makes it more uncomfortable to use than most tablets. Touted by Microsoft as the single-device replacement for a laptop and a tablet, the larger Surface Pro 3 ($1,299 as tested) is only partially successful as the ultimate mobile PC. ![]()
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