Microsoft Surface 3 vs Surface Pro 3 Comparison: Budget Device Puts Up a Good Fight

Following the launch of the much acclaimed Surface Pro 3, Microsoft recently released a cheaper version of the tablet/laptop hybrid and dubbed it the Surface 3. Here is a comparison of the two devices.

Design

When it comes to size, the Surface 3 is not as wide or tall as its big brother, and it is also thinner. When the Type Cover is included, the Surface Pro 3 is heavier than the Surface 3. As for their build, both are crafted from magnesium and have a ceramic finish. They are both available in silver, and both come with a Surface Pen. However, the cost of the pen is included in the price of the Surface Pro 3 while it is has to be purchased separately when buying the Surface 3. There is a big difference in the kickstand used in the devices. The stand on the Surface 3 has three settings while the one on the Surface Pro 3 can be moved into any position.

Display

The display on the Surface 3 is noticeably smaller, measuring 10.8 inches with a resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels and a density of 214 pixels per inch. The Surface Pro 3 has a 12-inch display with a resolution of 2,160 x 1,440 pixels and a density of 216 pixels per inch.

Specs

The Surface Pro 3 surges ahead specs-wise since it comes with the much more powerful dual core Intel i3, i5 or i7 chipsets. The Surface 3 comes with a quad core Intel Atom x70Z8700 chipset.

Memory

In terms of RAM, the Surface Pro 3 comes with 4 GB or 8 GB version. The Surface 3 has either 2 GB or 4 GB. When it comes to onboard storage, the Surface 3 can be purchased with 64 GB or 128 GB while the Surface Pro 3 comes with two additional options 256GB and 512GB. However, both devices come with microSD slots and so external storage can be added easily.

Software

The Surface Pro 3 and Surface 3 both run a full version of Windows, but their versions are slightly different. The Surface 3 has Windows 8.1 while the Surface Pro 3 has Windows 8.1 Pro. The Surface 3 comes with a free one-year subscription to Office 365 which the Surface Pro 3 normally does not include this offer.

Cameras

Both devices come with front and rear cameras. On the Surface Pro 3, there is a 5 megapixel camera on its front and rear. As for the Surface 3, it has an 8 megapixel camera at its rear and a 3.5 megapixel version in front.

Price

The starting model of the Surface Pro 3, with its Type Cover included, costs $930. The base model of the Surface 3, with Type Cover and Pen, included costs $680.