Microsoft announces thinner, faster 12-inch Surface Pro 3

Well what do you know? Despite shooting down rumors last week Microsoft has taken the wraps off the new Surface Pro 3 at a press event in New York City today. The new device is faster and thinner than its predecessors, and despite packing a larger 12-inch screen, it’s lighter than the Pro 2 at 800 grams.
Microsoft went with a 2160 x 1440 resolution display and 3:2 aspect ratio, which is rare for this screen size. Surface chief Panos Panay says Windows has been optimized for the form factor and it actually allows the new Surface Pro 3 to show more on its 12-inch screen than a MacBook Air can in 13-inches.
Although technical specifications were a bit scarce during the presentation, Panay did say the new Surface includes a Core i7 that’s 10% faster than the one on its predecessor. Microsoft worked closely with Intel to get this chip into a 9.1mm form factor, and though it still requires a fan, it’s 30% more efficient than anything else on the market. You won’t hear it or feel it, he claims.
Another big area of focus was the redesigned kickstand. While the Surface Pro 2 took the original 22-degree angle and added a more sloped 55 degree position, the new kickstand just smoothly slides into any position you like within a 150-degree angle. You can tell Microsoft has put a lot of work into this and Panay admitted that this is essential to their laptop-replacement promise.


Lastly Panay talked up the new stylus, which can launch OneNote even when the Surface Pro 3 is powered off. When writing notes you can then click the top of the stylus again to save the content directly to OneDrive, and double-clicking it with the camera open will snap a photo and let you write on it.
Other features include front-facing speakers, an USB 3 port, and the ability to push out video to a 4K monitor via an optional docking station.
Pre-orders open tomorrow starting at $799 for the base Core i3 model.


Surface Pro 3 Pricing

• Intel Core i3, 64 GB  and 4 GB of RAM - $799
• Intel Core i5, 128 GB and 4 GB of RAM - $999
• Intel Core i5, 256 GB and 8 GB of RAM - $1,299
• Intel Core i7, 256 GB and 8 GB of RAM - $1,549
• Intel Core i7, 512 GB and 8 GB of RAM - $1,949

Technical specifications

• Operating System : Windows 8.1 Pro
• Exterior : Dimensions: 7.93 in x 11.5 in x 0.36 in
• Weight: 1.76 lbs
• Casing: Magnesium
• Color: Silver
• Physical buttons: Volume, Power, Home
• Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• Display Screen: 12-inch ClearType Full HD display
• Resolution: 2160 x 1440
• Aspect Ratio: 3:2
• Touch: Multitouch input
• Pen input
• Pen input and pen (included with purchase)
• Pen features 256 levels of pressure sensitivity
• CPU :4th-generation Intel Core i5-4300U (1.6 GHz - 2.90 GHz) with Intel HD Graphics 4400 ,   4 GB or 8 GB of RAM — dual-channel LPDDR3  TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module — for BitLocker encryption)                                                                                                       4th-generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 Processor                                                                         4GB or 8GB memory options ,TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise security
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11ac/802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth  :4.0 low energy technology
• Battery : Up to nine hours of Web-browsing battery life
• Cameras and A/V 5MP and 1080p HD front- and rear-facing cameras
• Built-in front- and rear-facing microphones
• Stereo speakers with Dolby Audio-enhanced sound
• Ports Full-size USB 3.0 microSD card reader,Headset jack,Mini Display Port,Cover port,Charging port
• Sensors :  Ambient light sensor,Accelerometer,Gyroscope,Magnetometer
• Power supply : 36W power supply (including 5W USB for accessory charging)
• Warranty :  One-year limited hardware warranty