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The Microsoft Surface 3 vs. Surface Pro 3

Choose between these two Surface tablet PCs

By Melanie Uy Melanie Uy Writer Queens College Harvard University Extension School Former Lifewire writer Melanie Uy has 5+ years' experience writing about consumer-oriented technology and is an expert telecommuter. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 2, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Overall Findings Surface 3 Pros and Cons Surface Pro 3 Pros and Cons Final Verdict The Microsoft Surface family has many members, and it's not always easy to tell each one apart. For example, the Surface 3 and the Surface Pro 3 look identical at a glance but are different devices on the inside. We tested the Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3 to help you decide which is a better fit for you. Production of the Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3 ended in 2016, but these devices can be purchased used or refurbished.

Overall Findings

Surface 3 2 GB of memory with an option to upgrade to 4 GB. 64 GB of storage with an option to upgrade to 128 GB. 10.8-inch display (1920 x 1280). Quad-core Intel Atom x7 processor. Full-size USB 3.0. MicroSD card reader. Mini DisplayPort. Weighs 1.5 pounds. Surface Pro 3 Up to 8 GB of memory. Up to 512 GB of storage. 12-inch display (2160 x 1440). Intel Core processor up to i7, 1.7 GHz. Full-size USB 3.0. MicroSD card reader. Mini DisplayPort. Weighs 1.76 pounds. Both tablets have Windows 8.1 installed, unlike the previous Surface RT model, which came with a limited version of Windows. You can use both tablets with a keyboard cover (with backlit keys), a stylus, and other accessories such as a docking station and wireless display adapter. Aside from different sizes, both devices look the same from the outside. That's where the similarities stop.

Surface 3 Pros and Cons

Advantages Less expensive than the Surface Pro 3. Comes with a 1-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal and 1 TB of OneDrive storage. Up to 10 hours of battery life. Disadvantages Surface Pen is sold separately. Kickstand only has three positions. Less storage space and processing power than the Surface Pro 3. Surface 3 is the more affordable of the two tablets. It comes with 2 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage, which can be doubled. It has a 10.8-inch display with a 1920 x 1280 resolution. This tablet runs on a Quad-core Intel Atom x7 processor that isn't as powerful as the Intel Core processor on the Surface Pro 3. However, the Surface 3 has a longer battery life (up to 10 hours). The Surface 3 runs the full version of Windows just like a regular laptop, and it has a full-size USB 3.0 port, a microSD card reader, and a Mini DisplayPort. These features give it several advantages over the iPad, but it won't replace a regular laptop.

Surface Pro 3 Pros and Cons

Advantages Multi-position kickstand. Surface Pen is included. Up to 9 hours of battery life. Disadvantages Microsoft Office is sold separately. More expensive than a regular Surface 3. Limited USB ports compared to similar devices. Surface Pro 3 could be a full laptop and tablet replacement. The 12-inch tablet has a 2160 x 1440 sharp display and comes in many configurations with Intel Core processors. The Surface Pro 3 options include: 64 GB storage, Intel Core i3 (1.5 GHz), 4 GB RAM128 GB storage, Intel Core i5 (1.9 GHz), 4 GB RAM256 GB storage, Intel Core i5 (1.9 GHz), 8 GB RAM256 GB storage, Intel Core i7 (1.7 GHz), 8 GB RAM512 GB storage, Intel Core i7 (1.7 GHz), 8 GB RAM In terms of performance, the Surface Pro 3 is comparable to a MacBook Pro, but it also functions as a tablet. On the downside, the Surface Pro 3 has the same ports as the Surface 3, which is fewer than a regular laptop should have. The multi-position kickstand is an excellent addition since many laptops can't be positioned with such precision.

Final Verdict Surface Pro 3 for Laptop Replacement

Before choosing any laptop or tablet, consider what you need it to do. The cheaper Surface 3 offers the same Windows 8.1 experience as the Surface Pro, and its small size and less powerful specs make it suitable as a tablet or travel laptop. The Surface Pro 3 makes a better laptop replacement or a desktop PC replacement when docked. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Microsoft’s New Surface Lineup Promises Snazzy Touchscreens and Powerful Chipsets The Next Microsoft Surface Event: Date, News, Announcements, Rumors, and More Which Microsoft Surface Is Best for You? Surface Go 3: Price, Release Date, Specs, and News Microsoft Surface 3 vs. iPad Air 2 New iPad mini Pro: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors iPad Pro vs. Surface Pro The 9 Best Tablets in 2022, Tested by Lifewire Samsung Galaxy A Phones: What You Need to Know Surface Go vs Surface Pro: What's the Difference? The 27 Best iPads of 2022 by Lifewire How to Connect a Surface Pro to a Monitor The Right iPad for Your Budget What Is the iPad Air and How Does it Compare? What Is a CPU? (Central Processing Unit) Surface Pro 8: News, Price, Release Date & Specs Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies