Hands-on with the Microsoft Surface Pro 3

We took the latest addition to the Surface family for a spin.

Microsoft began its Surface Pro 3 unveiling today by discussing the dichotomy between laptops and tablets -- often, consumers find uses for both, but the company is now striving to blur the lines between the two to the point of erasure. While the latest iteration of Surface, running Windows 8.1, does offer some notable improvements on its predecessors, I'm not entirely convinced that consumers will abandon their laptops en masse for this supercharged tablet.

Let's start with the hardware. The Surface Pro 3 is thinner and lighter than its older sibling, the Surface Pro 2, coming at 800 grams with a thickness of 9.1mm. Those are impressive numbers, and Microsoft claims that the device is the slimmest Intel Core product ever made, even when the Type Cover is attached. And for its size, the Surface Pro 3 does feel remarkably light in hand. The thinner profile doesn't sacrifice durability either -- the brushed metal body proved sturdy even when dropped on the ground (admittedly on the venue's plush carpeting). And if you're concerned about battery life, the Surface Pro 3 claims to offer 15-20% more juice than the Surface Pro 2, so it should get you through the day just fine, depending on your usage.


The 12-inch display boasts a 2,160 by 1,440 resolution, and it's lovely to look at. Colors were bright and true, and the glossy screen doesn't assault the eyes with an unpleasant glare. The Surface Pro 3's high contrast ratio also promises to reduce eye strain, though I didn't have the opportunity to test the device long enough to back the veracity of that claim (and it's a subjective experience so one should take it with a grain of salt). The 3:2 aspect ratio isn't terribly common among tablets, and it works nicely here; Microsoft designed it to offer the familiar aspect ratio of a standard piece of paper. It was a smart choice that provides a nice horizontal view and a functional vertical experience. Interestingly enough, the Surface Pro 3 provides 12% more on-screen content than the 13-inch MacBook Air, an indication that Microsoft is not kidding around when it comes to putting its competition in the crosshairs.


One of the notable fixes on the Surface Pro 3 is the reconfigured kickstand. Surface devices have relied on the standard 22 degree angle, but a new friction hinge on the kickstand means that viewing angles are fully adjustable and feel sturdy. In canvas mode -- an angle of about 150 degrees -- the Surface Pro 3 was sturdy as you'd want it to be.


The accompanying stylus is one of the nicest I've come across. Built to look and feel like a proper pen with a comfortable heft, the Surface Pro 3's stylus brings its own realm of functionality. For example, a single click of the top button turns on the device and can bring up OneNote for immediate use. From the camera app, another click will deliver the image -- or a selection of it -- to OneNote so users can write on top of it in a new layer. The pen input felt fairly natural, and the issue of parallax has been addressed, so there's not a whole lot of latency present during use. When playing crosswords or Sudoku, you can manually write in your answer in the box and watch it translate into digital form right before you eyes. It was a neat trick with very little lag.

The Type Cover has seen its fair share of improvements as well. During the demonstration, Microsoft's representatives admitted that the old version of the trackpad was unforgivably bad. The upgraded Type Cover sees a much improved trackpad that was nicely responsive and larger than its predecessor; Microsoft boasts that it's 68% larger and 78% more responsive than previous iterations. During our use, those ephemeral numbers were hard to argue with. While it might seem a bit strange to go on about a trackpad, the lack of a decent one is a death knell for on-the-go productivity, and Microsoft has listened to your lamentations and provided a much better experience than the Surface Pro 2.


Typing was a mostly painless experience on a solid surface, but as it goes with the Surface line of devices, using the tablet on your lap isn't an ideal experience. Despite adjustments to the stability of the kickstand and an additional magnet sealing the keyboard to the device, it still feels a bit flimsy on one's lap. And if you're as short as I am (5'4, for the record), it's not likely that you'll enjoy the experience of using the Surface Pro 3 on your lap as the kickstand has a tendency to slip off the knees. All in all, the device still felt a bit wobbly to use, and it doesn't approach the stability of a laptop despite Microsoft's lofty claims.

And it's not just the hardware that's been revamped. Creative-minded Windows fans will be happy to see that Adobe worked closely with Microsoft to tailor Photoshop for the Surface Pro 3. I got a sneak peek at Photoshop CC that showed off the touch-optimized interface; zooming, panning, and editing seemed to be pretty painless, and there didn't appear to be many concessions made in adjusting it for mobile use.


Likewise, side-by-side computing -- an experience that Microsoft seeks to set its products apart from a saturated market -- worked nicely on the Surface Pro 3. Switching between productivity-focused apps like OneNote or Final Draft and media applications was fairly seamless, with quick transitions that didn't disrupt the experience much.

Overall, I'm not convinced the Surface Pro 3 is revolutionary enough to completely replace my laptop, but it's a well-designed device that delivers improvements on its predecessors and some new features that might boost your productivity compared to a standard tablet. If you're in the market for one, they're available for preorder starting tomorrow and will go on sale on June 20th online and in brick and mortar stores. Prices start at $799 for the basic Intel Core i3 model. Also available are Core i5, or Core i7 processors, with 4GB or 8GB of RAM and four storage options, ranging from 64GB to 512GB.

For more on the Surface Pro 3, be sure to stay tuned for IGN's comprehensive review, arriving in the coming days.


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