Surface 3

This article is about the 3rd generation of the Microsoft Surface-series device of the non-Pro line. For the 3rd generation device of the Pro line, based on Intel Core CPU, see Surface Pro 3.
Surface 3

Surface 3 with its box in the background

Surface 3
Developer Microsoft
Manufacturer Pegatron
Product family Surface
Type 2-in-1 detachable
Generation 3rd
Release date May 5, 2015
Introductory price $499–599 (USD)
Discontinued Late 2016[1]
Operating system
System-on-chip used Intel Atom system-on-chip quad-core x7-Z8700
1.6 up to 2.40 GHz, 2 MB cache, 2 W[2]
Memory 2 or 4 GB LPDDR3 1600 MHz
Storage 64 or 128 GB (37 and 93 GB respectively are user-available)[3]
Removable storage microSD, up to 200 GB[4]
Display 10.8 inches (27 cm): (9 inches (23 cm) by 6 inches (15 cm)) 1920x1280 (214 ppi) ClearType screen with 3:2 aspect ratio
Graphics Intel HD Graphics
Sound Dual front facing speakers
Input Multi-touch touchscreen
Bluetooth active pen, with underlying N-trig DuoSense technology (sold separately)
Type Cover detachable keyboard with touchpad (sold separately)
Camera Front: 3.5 MP, 1080p HD
Rear: 8 MP, 1080p HD
Touchpad On the Surface Type Cover (sold separately)
Connectivity Wireless:
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.0 LE
Ports:
Full size USB 3.0
Mini DisplayPort
3.5 mm audio socket
Cover port (proprietary)
Charging/Docking port (Micro-USB)
4G LTE (with cellular model)
Online services Windows Store, OneDrive, Xbox Music, Xbox Games, Xbox Video
Dimensions 10.51 inches (267 mm) (width)
7.36 inches (187 mm) (height)
0.34 inches (8.6 mm) (depth)
Weight 1.37 pounds (620 g)
0.58 pounds (265 g) (add for Type Cover)[5]
Predecessor Surface 2
Related articles Surface
Website www.microsoft.com/surface

Surface 3 is a 2-in-1 detachable from the Microsoft Surface series, unveiled by Microsoft on March 31, 2015 and released on May 5, 2015. Unlike its predecessor, the Surface 2, Surface 3 utilizes an x86 Intel Atom system-on-chip architecture, or SoC, rather than a processor with ARM architecture such as the Nvidia Tegra that powered the Surface 2, and runs Windows 10.[6]

History

The older, original Surface (also known as Surface RT) and Surface 2, with their ARM-based processors and Windows RT operating system, are pitched against the iPad and other tablets. The first Surface was criticized for performance issues though this was rectified in the succeeding Surface 2. The biggest problem was that these ARM-powered devices were incompatible with the many programs written for x86 personal computers, while suffering from the limitations of the Windows RT operating system and its sparse application ecosystem.

Released prior to Surface 3, the Surface Pro 3 (featuring a more powerful Intel Core processor) became a profitable business for Microsoft in late 2014.[7] It has a starting price of $799, features a high-resolution ClearType display[8] and competes with high-end ultraportable laptops like the Apple MacBook Air and other Ultrabooks.[9][10][11]

With the introduction of the Surface 3, Microsoft aims to make the Surface more affordable for those who don't need the power of the Surface Pro 3, at the expense of some performance. Surface 3 can be considered a closer competitor to traditional tablets like Apple iPad, with Surface 3 offering full desktop OS capabilities instead of a tablet's mobile OS.

Microsoft plans to release unlocked GSM models of Surface 3 that supports 4G LTE. These models will also support GPS/GLONASS positioning.

Features

Hardware

The Surface 3 share a similar design to the Surface Pro 3 with a body made of magnesium alloy giving a matte gray finish to the back of the device. It features a kickstand that can be set to three different angles: 22, 44, and 60 degrees. The Surface 3 does not have a fan, therefore lacking the ventilation holes seen on Surface Pro line. The Surface 3 weighs 620 grams features a 10.8 inches (27 cm) diagonal multi-touch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. For a charger Surface 3 uses a standard Micro-USB, giving users a wider variety of charging options, including charging the device with a mobile phone charger.

Surface 3 has the 14 nm quad-core Intel Atom x7-Z8700 SoC.[12] The Atom x7-Z8700 is able to drive up to three external displays over Mini DisplayPort and support a resolution of up to 4K with a single external display.[13] The 2-in-1's own display has a resolution of 1920x1280.The device ships with either a 64 or 128 GB solid-state drive and 2 or 4 GB of system memory.[14] The device's storage capacity can be increased by installing a microSD memory card of up to 200 GB.

Software

Main articles: Windows 8.1 and Windows 10

Unlike its predecessors, the Surface 3 is the first device in the non-Pro line to feature the full Windows desktop OS as opposed to Windows RT. This therefore puts the device into the category of 2-in-1 PC, which cannot be said for its predecessors, the original Surface and Surface 2, due to their use of ARM processors.

Surface 3s purchased before July 29, 2015 come with Windows 8.1 but are upgradeable to Windows 10 for free from that date onwards.[15] Since the Windows 10 release, consumer models of the Surface 3 now ship with Windows 10 Home, unlike the devices of the Surface Pro line, which ship with Windows 10 Pro. Business models of the Surface 3, however, now ship with Windows 10 Pro.[16][15]

Accessories

The Surface 3, as with its predecessors and Surface devices of a Pro line, features an optional Type Cover accessory — an attachable keyboard, which is also a protective cover for the screen, with an announced price of 129 USD.[17]

The Surface 3 is the first non-Pro Surface to feature a pen digitizer and hence supports the Surface Pen. Unlike Surface Pro 3, however, it is not included in the box, but is available for purchase separately.

After the release of Surface 3, a docking station will be released with 4 USB ports (including 2 USB 3.0), a Gigabit Ethernet port, an additional Mini DisplayPort (which in contrast to Surface Pro 3's docking station's port, can't be used simultaneously with the port on the Surface 3, as it is a PassThru port), a 3.5 mm audio socket for audio input/output and a storage for Surface Pen.[18]

Various aftermarket USB or Bluetooth peripheral devices, such as keyboards and mice can be connected to the Surface 3.

Reception

Surface 3 received generally positive reviews from computer critics. They praised Microsoft's shift from ARM architecture toward x86, and therefore from Windows RT to a regular Windows OS. Most noted a well designed chassis and accessories produced of quality materials, and overall premium feeling of use. While less powerful, the Surface 3 was a lighter and cheaper alternative to the Surface Pro 3. More importantly, the Surface 3 could compete at the high-end of Android and iPad tablets, with the advantage of being a device running a full desktop OS instead of a mobile OS for a similar price.[19] Reviewers also note that 37 GB[3] of the total storage space in the low-end Surface 3 is available to the user, while its close competitor, the low-end iPad Air 2, has only 12.5 GB of user-available storage space for the same price.[12][20]

The most common downsides are relatively low battery life, slower performance compared to devices with Intel Core processors[20][21] and a high price since accessories like Surface Pen and Type Cover are not included.[20][22][19]

Timeline

Surface Studio Surface Hub Surface Book Surface Pro 4 Surface Pro 3 Surface Pro 2 Surface Pro Surface 3 Surface 2 Surface (2012 tablet)

References

  1. ↑ Microsoft to end production on the Surface 3 by late 2016
  2. ↑ ARK | Intel® Atom™ x7-Z8700 Processor (2M Cache, up to 2.40 GHz). Ark.intel.com. Retrieved on 2015-10-31.
  3. 1 2 "Surface storage". Microsoft.com. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "World's Highest Capacity microSD™ Card". SanDisk.com. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  5. ↑ http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Surface-3-Type-Cover/productID.314885800
  6. ↑ "Microsoft's Surface 3 is a $499 tablet that could be a full Windows laptop". The Verge. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  7. ↑ http://www.computerworld.com/article/2875990/microsofts-surface-line-up-posts-2nd-straight-profitable-quarter.html
  8. ↑ "Surface Pro 3 Fact Sheet" (PDF). Microsoft. May 2014. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  9. ↑ Pogue, David (May 22, 2014). "Smart, Versatile Surface Pro 3 Can Do It All — Maybe Even Lift the Windows 8 Curse". Yahoo Tech. Yahoo. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  10. ↑ Bohn, Dieter (May 23, 2014). "Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  11. ↑ Eadicicco, Lisa. "POGUE: The Surface Pro 3 Is The One Time Windows 8 Isn't A Disaster". Business Insider. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  12. 1 2 Keizer, Gregg (3 April 2015). "Benchmark scores show performance gap between Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3, iPad Air 2". ComputerWorld.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "Intel Atom x7 microprocessors". CPU-World.com. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Introducing Surface 3". Microsoft.com. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  15. 1 2 Panay, Panos (31 March 2015). "Announcing Surface 3". Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  16. ↑ Callaham, John (4 August 2015). "Windows 10 is now pre-installed when you buy Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3 tablets". Windows Central. Mobile Nations. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  17. ↑ Lendino, Jamie (March 31, 2015). "Microsoft unveils $499 Surface 3 tablet running real Windows". Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  18. ↑ "New Surface 3 Docking Station Features 4 USB Ports, Storage for Surface Pen, Mini DisplayPort And More". Microsoft-News.com. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  19. 1 2 Hardawar, Devindra (15 April 2015). "Surface 3 review: Finally, a cheap Surface you'd actually want". Engadget.com. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 Smith, Matt. "The new Surface 3 runs full-blown Windows 8.1 just like its Pro sibling". DigitalTrends.com. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  21. ↑ Martin, Jim (12 May 2015). "Microsoft Surface 3 review: cheaper but not better than the Surface Pro 3". PCAdvisor.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  22. ↑ Howse, Brett (4 May 2015). "The Surface 3 Review". AnadTech.com. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
Preceded by
Surface 2		 Surface 3
3rd generation 		Succeeded by
Latest Model
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