Microsoft surface pro 3 games. Audio path testing

We don't think we'll see more Surface tablets before Microsoft launches, not to mention everyone's expecting a model with a "Pro" in the name, but Microsoft's review of the Surface 3 made the tablet a pleasant surprise for all of us, especially if you've had time tired of his older brother, .

The Microsoft Surface 3 64GB starts at RUB 32,500, while the Surface 3 128GB we reviewed will set you back RUB 39,000, which is still cheaper than the entry-level Surface Pro 3. Unlike its predecessors, Surface 3 runs full 64-bit rather than Windows RT, allowing you to download and use any program you might use on a PC or laptop.

This alone gives the new Surface a huge advantage over the original Surface and Surface 2, which are limited to apps available in the Windows Store, but you get a free upgrade to Windows 10 later this summer; Microsoft is also offering a one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal, which provides added value of this package. Office 365 Personal includes the full version of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook. This is certainly a compelling argument to ditch your netbook and laptop for work and replace them with this great hybrid tablet.

Build quality and portsSurface 3

We were big fans of the silver magnesium alloy body of the Surface Pro 3, so we're glad to see Microsoft is using the same design for the smaller Surface 3. The new Surface tablet drops the weight to 622 grams with a thickness of 8.7 mm. And while it's far from the thinnest tablet on the market, if it were thinner, Microsoft wouldn't be able to equip the tablet with a full-size USB 3.0 port.

Display Surface 3 is the best we've ever seen on tablets and laptops.

As we reviewed, this makes the Surface tablet much more versatile than others, as the port makes it easy to connect a keyboard and mouse if you don't want to pay through the nose for a keyboard case and other Surface accessories. Given the Bluetooth support, you can use wireless peripherals while leaving the USB port free for, say, a flash drive. And if that's not enough for you, a separate docking station with a wide selection of ports will be available for purchase very soon. You'll also find a MicroSD slot on the Microsoft tablet, a Mini DisplayPord output for connecting the Surface 3 to a projector, TV, or monitor, and, of course, a headphone jack.

The biggest change is the switch to Micro USB charging, instead of the proprietary magnetic cable found on the Surface Pro 3. In our review, it was very easy to yank it out if you accidentally snagged the cable or moved the tablet around on a table, but thankfully Mini USB is on the Surface 3 turned out to be much more reliable. This also means you can use a single charge for your smartphone and tablet, so you can say goodbye to bulky power supplies on the go.

DisplaySurface 3

The Microsoft Surface 3's 10.8-inch display offers a much more manageable size than the 12-inch Surface Pro 3, but it's also a little less practical. You'll notice the difference with the tricky 3:2 aspect ratio when you try to work with two documents side by side. You may have experienced similar inconveniences on the Surface Pro 3, but the 2160 x 1440 pixel resolution improves the situation.

The review Surface 3, on the other hand, has a lower resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels, which lowers the density to 213 pixels per inch. It's still a sharp display by tablet standards, with a density only slightly inferior to the iPad Air 2's 264 PPI, but you'll likely have to use the scaling options available in the Display Settings menu: we found 100% scaling to be a serious squeeze on your eyes when reading the text. Luckily, Surface 3 offers 150% zoom by default, with a maximum zoom of 200% when needed.

Review Microsoft Surface 3 : To make your work process easier, Surface 3 is equipped with a kickstand hidden in the back of the tablet.

However, aside from the diagonal limitation that prevents you from comfortably working on two documents at once, this is still an inexpensive tablet for the picture quality it offers. Even at the stage, the manufacturer said that the tablet had the most accurate display among tablets, and our color calibrator, of course, returned impressive results. For example, the tablet achieved an outstanding 97.2% SRGB color gamut match, which is higher than the new Apple MacBook and every other laptop and tablet we tested. The only Android tablet that has surpassed this figure is the .

The Surface 3's screen also showed excellent brightness, showing 410.18 cd/m2. This is more than enough for working outside on a sunny day (although you should set the brightness to maximum), and it also helps us get a clean white. Black readings are a bit more mediocre at 0.46 cd/m2, but text remains black enough to allow you to read websites and Word documents.

StandSurface 3 has three fixed positions, making the tablet ideal for working in the home or office.

The next screen metric we took for our Surface 3 review was contrast, which returned a value of 888:1. This means that the picture is full of details, you can also count on a legible picture with a wide viewing angle, which is especially important in different positions of the tablet stand. It's a shame that the Surface Tablet 3's stand doesn't offer the flexibility of the Pro, but the existing stand positions still ensure you'll have a comfortable experience while on the go, such as if you want to type on something on your lap.

StylusSurface Pen

One of the main reasons for the change in aspect ratio of Microsoft Surface displays to 3:2 is the fact that every Surface tablet comes with a stylus, which is ideal for drawing on a screen that is the same size as A4 paper. Unfortunately, the Surface 3 stylus comes optional, so you'll have to pay an extra RUB 3,500 if you want to use this option.

If you're a digital artist, on the other hand, purchasing a stylus is worth the extra expense, as our Microsoft Surface 3 review found it to be one of the best styluses we've used. It's pressure sensitive, so the thickness of your lines will vary depending on how hard you press on the screen, and Surface 3's palm recognition feature lets you rest your hand on the tablet's panel to rest without leaving marks. It all adds up to a very natural drawing experience, making the Surface 3 and Surface Pen a great combination of tools for artists.

One of the reasons why Microsoft no longer includes Surface stylus, they are now available in different colors.

The Surface Pen also works great with the included Microsoft OneNote software, which you can open with the press of a button on the end of the pen—even when the tablet is in sleep mode. This means you don't have to search for a Microsoft account and open the program manually from the Start screen when you need to quickly write something down. This is one of the features that helps set the Surface 3 apart from competing Windows tablets.

Plus, double-tap the pen button and you'll take a screenshot of your desktop and then automatically open it in OneNote, allowing you to take notes or just mess around when you're bored. All data is automatically saved in cloud storage, allowing you to access documents from other Windows devices at any time.

Sur performanceface 3

Hidden inside the Surface 3 is one of the latest Intel Atom-based processors, the 1.6GHz quad-core X7-Z8700. This is a fanless processor that provides virtually silent operation. The decision takes a toll on performance because the processor can't dissipate excess heat when you run it at full power for extended periods of time. However, it finished a respectable 30th overall in the tests, nearly 10 spots ahead of older Intel Atom hybrid tablets like the Asus Transformer Book T200TA.

We were particularly impressed with the X7-Z8700 in the image and video editing sections of the tests, where the processor scored 34 and 32 respectively, so it's great for general tasks like web browsing, composing office documents and watching videos. However, even the review Surface 3, which was equipped with 4GB of RAM as opposed to the entry-level model's 2GB, struggled with multitasking, where it only scored 27, so you can see a drop in performance when working with multiple tasks. demanding programs at the same time.

Review Microsoft Surface 3: SurfacePen works brilliantlyOneNote, but purchasing it only makes sense if you are involved in fine art.

Unsurprisingly, the Surface 3 floundered in the new 4K video tests, scoring only 15 points overall. It also had a poor performance in multitasking tests, although its scores in the image and video sections were quite good considering the size and chipset of the Microsoft tablet.

What this means is that the Surface isn't the best for 3D gaming, as its integrated Intel Graphics HD graphics chip didn't even manage 15 frames per second on the Dirt Showdown tests at 1280 x 720 pixels, high quality settings and 4x anti-aliasing. This isn't surprising, but resetting the settings to low won't do much to improve the situation. However, we were able to enjoy 2D games in full resolution, so you're not completely lost on games when you need to kill time while traveling.

BatterySurface 3

You'll probably want to minimize the length of your gaming sessions when you're offline, as the Surface 3's battery life doesn't offer more than a day in our review. Microsoft says the tablet is rated to last 9 hours of video playback, and in our test, which surfs the web and plays 12-minute videos every half hour, the Microsoft Surface 3 lasted 8 hours and 54 minutes. That's not bad for a Windows tablet, but it also indicates that Microsoft's expectations are too optimistic. You will have to keep an eye on the charging indicator if you go on a long trip.

Keyboard CaseSurface 3 Type Cover

The new Surface 3 doesn't come with a dedicated keyboard case, so you'll have to add 9,000 rubles to the original price of the tablet if you want to buy it. On the other hand, if you don't have another Bluetooth keyboard, we would recommend purchasing one based on the tablet's intended use.

Thankfully, Microsoft didn't reduce the size of the buttons to fit the smaller diagonal of the Surface 3; the keyboard case has buttons similar to the Pro 3 case; instead, the manufacturer cut off the area on the sides to fit the width of the screen. The keyboard case attaches via a small magnetic strip to the bottom of the tablet and angles the tablet slightly for comfortable typing, much more comfortable than having the tablet lay flat on a table.

Review Microsoft Surface 3: TypeCover comes in several colors, but it will cost you 9,000 rubles on top of the cost of the tablet.

The keyboard comes backlit to help with low-light work, and the raised angle provides a welcome sense of stability if you're typing while lying on the couch, for example. The keyboard has virtually no flex, so you don't have to worry about the design's reliability. A good level of tactile feedback will help you achieve fast typing speed.

The Type Cover's touchpad is still quite small, but we found there was enough room for moving the cursor around the screen and touch gestures like pinch-zooming or two-finger scrolling. Gestures are performed instantly and accurately.

Conclusion on MicrosoftSurface 3

When you add all the extra accessories, the overall cost of the Microsoft Surface 3 gets out of hand, but it's certainly one of the most attractive and capable Windows tablet hybrids. We prefer the Surface to the Asus Transformer Book hybrid, and the Surface's display is stellar. A nice addition is Office 365 Personal, which gives back some of the price of a tablet and delivers the performance of a full-fledged laptop in a compact tablet form. It doesn't offer the performance or stamina of the larger Surface Pro 3, but if you're looking for a wallet-friendly laptop alternative, the Microsoft Surface 3 you've reviewed is a good choice.

Anton Zim

20.05.2015 It's pricey, but the Surface 3 makes an excellent Windows tablet with a top-notch display and is great for working on the go.

9.5 Overall Score

Verdict:

It's pricey, but the Surface 3 makes an excellent Windows tablet with a top-notch display and is great for working on the go.

A tablet that wants to replace your laptop.

- the best hardware in the history of Microsoft. I can’t even believe that a 9 mm thick device was created by the company that released the bulky “oversized VCR” Xbox One. Microsoft compares the Pro 3 to the MacBook Air. This is (for once) fair. Both devices are ideal personal computers in terms of appearance.

From the point of view of a tablet, this is quite a big thing. 12-inch screen, weight - decent for such a device - 800 grams. The Surface Pro 3 is noticeably lighter than most laptops, but clearly heavier than the iPad Air (469/478 g). MacBook Air is among the losers:

The body is traditionally made of magnesium alloy, the back is painted silver. In the same place there are sharp corners and strict lines. There is a minimum of inscriptions - but not many ports (at least by PC standards). There is one USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, a headphone jack and a slot for microSD memory cards and a slightly changed connector for the charger.

Surface Pro 3 is 10% faster than its predecessor, runs quietly and cools down. Under load, the right side of the device gets warmer - but not so much that it becomes necessary to withdraw your hand. For a thin device powered by the latest Intel processors, this is an excellent result!

The main highlight of the Surface Pro 3 is the improved Kickstand. On previous Surfaces there were only two positions; it was difficult to call such a solution convenient. Now - any angle from 22 to 150 degrees! It’s now much more convenient to use on the table, drawing is a pleasure, and on your lap it’s a beauty! The stand mechanism seems very smart, reliable and durable.

Surface Pro 3 display

Another truly strong side of the device! The 12-inch screen has a resolution of 2,160 x 1,440 pixels (for comparison, the iPad Air has 2,048 x 1,536, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display has 2,560 x 1,600). Microsoft has done a lot of work and made the display thinner and viewing angles better. Everything worked out! To see a picture of poor quality, you have to try. The text looks very clear. Movies in HD are just super!

I also liked the new aspect ratio (Surface Pro 3 has 3:2). The previous Surface Pros with their 16:9 aspect ratio were painful to look at in both landscape (a bit cramped) and portrait (in a good way funny) orientation. In “portrait” the Surface Pro 3 is not ideal due to its size, but in “landscape” it is a familiar - and therefore comfortable - laptop screen.

Surface Pro 3 stylus

Surface Pro 3 comes with a stylus. It has become larger, it cannot be hidden in the body. But with the main tasks - drawing and writing notes - the stylus copes “excellently”!

The input is very precise (as much as it can be when you move a plastic pen on glass). The response seemed good. A useful little detail is that just press a button, and Surface will immediately open the OneNote note-taking program. Even when the screen is locked! Adobe promises a stylus-optimized version of Photoshop in the near future.

Surface Pro 3 Type Cover

The new version, as usual, is offered with physical keys (backlit). It doesn’t reach the level of a good “laptop” keyboard. The trackpad has become larger - but is still small even compared to its Windows counterparts (not to mention the MacBook Air). Errors when dragging content happen more often than they should. A big plus is the magnetic strip - with its help, Cover is fixed to the Surface display. With this approach, the tablet lies much more securely on your lap.

Moreover, it becomes more convenient to print!

Finishing the topic with “on our knees”, we note that Pro 3 can be called the first Surface with which Can work like that. But it's still not as convenient as raising/lowering your laptop screen.

Surface Pro 3 Cons

The main disadvantage is Windows 8.1 Pro. Some apps (I'm looking at you, Google Chrome) have problems resizing the window. The game Transistor was downloaded and installed from Steam. Half of the game was simply not visible due to the eccentricities of the screen! Sometimes the link opens in “desktop” Internet Explorer, sometimes in the Metro version. This can happen on every PC, but still the discrepancy between the quality of the hardware and such oddities in the software, as they say, “hurts the eye.” Especially on a “flagship”, which, without a doubt, is the Surface Pro 3.

Working hours. In The Verge Pro 3's battery test, it lasted 7 hours and 50 minutes. The Surface Pro 2 gave approximately the same result a year ago. Compared to the MacBook Air with its 12 hours and the iPad Air (10 hours), this is an average result. In intensive mode - about 10 running applications, web browsing and playing video streams - the third Surface Pro survives until the middle of the day. If you reduce the brightness and unload several applications from memory, you will probably get even more. And yes, the charger is very compact, and it also has a USB port.

Summary

There's only one problem with the Surface Pro 3 and that's its operating system. Still, it would be better to have one browser, the same settings and not have the knowledge of how to make a working action in the “regular” and “metro” versions of Windows. The device itself turned out to be close to ideal - Panos Panay and his team do not eat their bread in vain.

Sources: The Verge, BusinessInsider

p.s. The opinion of the site’s editors may not coincide with the conclusions of The Verge and BusinessInsider employees; their statements are conveyed as accurately as possible.

A universal tablet computer with computer hardware, a docking page with a full-size keyboard and a proprietary stylus that can recognize pressure.

Big screen

The 12-inch display is very convenient for watching movies or surfing the Internet, as well as for drawing or working with graphics. Thanks to the non-standard 3:2 aspect ratio, more information fits on it, and the 2160x1440 resolution provides high detail.

Productive hardware

The hardware is based on full-fledged computer hardware, which primarily distinguishes the tablet from many competitors. Thus, the Intel Core i3/i5/i7 family solution is used as the central processor, and the amount of RAM is up to 8 GB. This filling, combined with a full-fledged Windows 8.1 operating system, allows you to run the same applications on the tablet as on a laptop or personal computer.

Surface Pen

A proprietary stylus in the familiar pen shape that allows you to quickly create notes even when the tablet is locked. Special attention is paid to the fact that the stylus can recognize up to 256 levels of pressure, which can be indispensable when drawing or working in design.

Keyboard dock

The package includes a proprietary docking station with a full-size keyboard, which allows you to turn the tablet into a full-fledged replacement for a laptop, making typing and working with office applications as simple as possible. At the same time, the docking station also serves as a protective case or stand.

Sold separately.

LTE functionality only available on Surface Pro (5th Gen) i5/256GB SSD/8GB with LTE Advanced. Service availability and performance are subject to service provider’s network. Contact your service provider for details, compatibility, pricing, SIM card, and activation. See all specs and frequencies at surface.com. Availability of data plans for eSIM varies by market and by carrier.

Surface Pro (5th Gen) battery life

Surface Pro (5th Gen):

Up to 13.5 hours of video playback. Testing conducted by Microsoft in April 2017 using preproduction Intel Core i5, 256GB, 8GB RAM device. Testing consisted of full battery discharge during video playback. All settings were default except: Wi-Fi was associated with a network and Auto-Brightness disabled. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors.

Surface Pro (5th Gen) with LTE Advanced:

Up to 12.5 hours for video playback. Testing conducted by Microsoft in November 2017 using preproduction Intel Core i5, 256GB, 8 GB RAM LTE device. Testing consisted of full battery discharge during video playback. All settings were default except: LTE enabled and device connected to LTE Network. WiFi and Bluetooth in airplane mode and Auto-Brightness disabled. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage, and other factors.

Available colors may vary in some markets.

System software uses significant storage space. Available storage is subject to change based on system software updates and apps usage. 1 GB= 1 billion bytes. 1TB = 1,000 GB. See Surface.com/Storage for more details.

Fanless cooling system included with Surface Pro (5th Gen) m3 and i5 models only.

Requires active Office 365 subscription.

Surface Pen tilt functionality is available now with Surface Pro (5th Gen). Available with other Surface devices via Windows Update.

Buy a new Microsoft Surface Pro (5th Gen), Surface Book 2 or Surface Studio device and receive a promotional code good for a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps-(estimated retail value US$79.49, excluding tax), while last supplies Existing Adobe ID or new sign-up required. After one-month complimentary membership ends, if (optional) credit card information was provided at time of redemption, Adobe membership will renew at the then-current rate. Notification of renewal will be sent prior to charging the credit card provided with an opportunity to cancel. See Adobe's Subscription and Cancellation terms for more information. Valid only on original purchases made from authorized retailers in Canada and United States between 1-July-2018 and - 30 September 2018. Offer not valid on returned or refurbished devices. Must be 13 years of age or older to redeem, limit one (1) promotional code per qualifying Surface device purchased during offer period and registered with a Microsoft account. To obtain a promotional code, purchaser must sign into or create a Microsoft account during device setup, go to the Adobe offer in the Surface App and redeem the offer as instructed. ONE-TIME USE PROMOTIONAL CODE MUST BE REDEEMED ONLINE BY 11:59 PM PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME (PDT) ON DECEMBER 31, 2018. Internet or Wi-Fi connection required; fees may apply. Use of Adobe services and applications requires agreement to additional terms and Adobe’s privacy policy (see http://www.adobe.com/legal.html). Offer is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash, unless required by local law, and is not valid for enterprise purchases. Offer is void where prohibited or restricted by law. Microsoft and Adobe reserve the right to disqualifying any registrations that appear to be fraudulent, incomplete, invalid, or in breach of these offer terms in any way, and to modify or discontinue the offer at any time. Any taxes are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Offer provided by Microsoft Corporation and Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Offer valid from 9:00 PM PST on August 3, 2018 to 11:59 PM PST on August 25, 2018, while supplies last. Available only in Microsoft retail and online store in the United States (including Puerto Rico). Valid only on select Surface Pro devices. Not valid on prior orders or purchases; cannot be transferred or otherwise redeemed for cash or promo code(s). May not be combinable with other offers. Refunds will take into account the discount. Price discount does not include taxes, shipping or other fees. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Microsoft reserves the right to modify or discontinue offers at any time. Limit of 3 offers per customer. Other exclusions and limits may apply.

Today we are testing a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 64Gb Windows tablet with a 12-inch display diagonal, a resolution of 2160×1440, dual-core with a frequency of 1.50 GHz, 4 GB of RAM and... an immodest price tag. At the end of the material, we’ll try to figure out whether the game is worth the candle and “will we be able to take off with all this.”

Some time ago I released a series of InUse articles on the Windows hybrid ASUS Transformer Book T100TA:

The material turned out to be so detailed that some even wondered why there was so much. I’ll answer - it sunk into my soul, it turned out very successful. There are no plans to write about Surface Pro 3 like this, if only because there is no point in writing about Windows 8.1 itself now (everything has already been described earlier), and Windows 10 has not yet been officially released (we are not taking into account the Technical Preview). So, let's go:

1. Packaging and accessories

When you pick up a box with a tablet, you realize that there really is something significant inside.

The feeling is not at all the same when in a huge box of chocolates you find no more than a dozen of them inside (everyone has had it, right?). In our case, there is no extra space inside the package - all the space is occupied by the 12-inch Surface itself and an oblong box with a cable and a laptop-type charger with an oblong magnetized connector. By the way, the charger has a USB connector to which you can connect various mobile devices for recharging.

Under the tablet in a special niche there are documents/instructions, an AAA battery and a stylus similar to the one that came with the Surface 2.

By the way, the stylus is so-so, it has only 256 sensitivity levels. The Surface Pro Type Cover keyboard is not included, which is a pity. After all, demanding another $80 + $40 (delivery) surcharge for turning your already very expensive device into an ultrabook is already downright disgusting on the part of the company.

2. Appearance, functional elements

Compared to the previous generation, the design of the Surface Pro 3 has undergone virtually no changes, except for an increase in diagonal and a decrease in thickness (201.4 × 292.1 × 9.1 mm versus 173 × 275 × 13.5 mm for Surface 2). This is the same magnesium alloy case with a folding metal KickStand, which allows you to change the angle of the tablet up to almost 150º relative to the plane on which it is located.

Despite the fact that the tablet has become wider and taller than its predecessor, it is now 100 g lighter – 800 g versus almost 910 for the previous model.

Almost the entire front plane is occupied by a ClearType IPS touch panel with a resolution of 2160×1440 and an aspect ratio of 3:2. The decision, in my opinion, is correct, since a wider screen with such a diagonal would look too elongated, and if we also take into account the 800 grams of mass of the tablet itself, then holding a wider device in weight would be much more problematic. By the way, even with a 3:2 ratio it’s not easy. Yes, installing such a large display is a laudable desire, but because of this, it’s a stretch to call such a solution mobile, even without a keyboard.

But let's talk about the functional elements of the device. On the left side there is nothing except a double volume button and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

But on the right there is almost abundance - a connector for connecting a charger, a full-size USB 3.0 connector, Mini-DisplayPort and a slot for microSD cards.

At the bottom end in the center, the manufacturer placed a six-pin connector for the keyboard, and at the top there is only a power/lock screen button.

Above the display and on the back there are 5 MP camera modules, light level sensors and microphones. By the way, the back side of the tablet looks and feels very cool due to its metallic roughness, it pleasantly cools your hand.

3. Display

He is cool. That's incredibly cool and that's it. Resolution, matrix, viewing angles – everything is excellent. Don’t even think about setting something edible as wallpaper (I’m not even talking about NSFW) - you’ll instantly choke on your saliva. The pixel density with a diagonal of 12 inches and a resolution of 2160×1440 is 216 ppi, which compared to the previous generation (10 inches, 1920×1080, 208 ppi) represents some, albeit scanty, progress.

In general, I can say with full responsibility that the display is almost ideal in terms of perception - the colors have a natural saturation, the brightness of the backlight is uniform over the entire area, although there is a minus - the black color is insufficiently deep when viewed from an angle, its slight brightening is noticeable.

However, the display is perfect for surfing the Internet, reading, playing games (hello, Steam), monitoring social networks, drawing, watching movies, editing documents, creating presentations and so on, so on, so on.

Moreover, thanks to the large diagonal, there is no need for pixel hunting if, by some absurd accident, you find yourself on a classic desktop - the elements are large enough to hit them with your finger, I say this as the owner of a 10-inch ASUS T100TA with a screen resolution of 1366 ×768 points.

Automatic brightness adjustment works correctly and quickly; the minimum and maximum values ​​are sufficient for the appropriate situations, although, given the current weather, we were unfortunately unable to try the tablet in bright sunshine.

Fingerprints are not collected as easily as on budget solutions, and are generally erased simply - you just need to swipe almost any cloth across the surface of the protective glass once.

4. Hardware and performance

We tested the Surface Pro 3 in the following configuration:

This is the simplest one on the market. In addition to this, the following are available:

As you can see, the price tags are sky-high, draw your own conclusions.

I’m not a fan of bare numbers, so for clarity, we will compare the benchmark results with a regular work PC of the simplest configuration (note also that the Surface is in the minimum configuration, and even with Intel HD Graphics 4200 instead of 4400, which is installed in more expensive configurations):

(left - Surface Pro 3, right - PC)

What we have? With the same amount of RAM and processors of comparable performance, the main role is played by video cards and display resolution (for a PC monitor it is only 1600x900), so the numbers are comparable and approximately equal. Therefore, if you want to connect peripherals to the Surface Pro 3 and play some not-so-latest toy, then just set the resolution a little lower in the settings and you can easily kill a few hours of time. And this is with a dual-core Core i3-4020Y and 4 GB of RAM. With a more powerful configuration, things will be even better, so in terms of performance everything is good.

5. Autonomy

Let's move directly to the autonomy of the Surface Pro 3. The following power management scheme was selected for measurements:

Tests were carried out in the modes of playing 1080p video in a .mp4 container and reading a book with the Wi-Fi module turned on and off. All tests were carried out at 50% screen brightness:

The indicators are good, but not impressive, and they are far from being comparable to Windows tablets on Intel Bay Trail-T.

6. Conclusions

When developing the Surface Pro 3, the company wanted to create a device that would remove the problem of choosing between a laptop and a tablet, replacing both devices. The 12-inch diagonal display with a resolution of 2160x1440 pixels is comparable in size to the screen of the Apple MacBook Air, which is available in versions with 11- and 13-inch displays, but significantly exceeds them in resolution. Indeed, the Surface Pro 3 is closer to an ultrabook than a tablet. But before designing, let alone releasing any device for sale in large quantities, it would be better to calculate in advance whether the buyer needs it. Yes, without a doubt, Surface 3 turned out to be luxurious in terms of hardware, build quality and body materials, it received a common OS, to which a significant part of Windows users are already accustomed, but this is not a mass product at all - everything is spoiled by the price tag, in order to compete with Apple only in terms of superiority hardware and display are not enough. I think if the price were a little more affordable, this would to some extent resolve the issue in favor of purchasing a device from Microsoft. As it is, people are not willing to pay at least $800 for it. And if anyone is ready, he will think three times, look for analogues... and stumble upon the same MacBook Air (“so what, if it’s not a “tablet”, but it works for a long time, is stylish, effective, weighs little”) or, depending on the real needs for one form factor or another, will choose any other ultrabook on Windows or the same Apple iPad Air 2. Windows tablets on Intel Atom in terms of performance of the “surface” are of course not competitors, but as for mobility - “very much so, why?” "(ts), so a choice is also possible here, it all depends on what the end customer needs from the device in the first place.

In my understanding, the audience for the Surface Pro 3 will be only wealthy fans of “everything from Microsoft” (are there such people?) or people who love everything unusual and special. And the fact that the third Surface is special (in the good sense of the word) is beyond any doubt.