Microsoft Surface Pro 3 In depth Review

Lisa Gade reviews the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Windows 8.1 tablet. The 3rd gen Surface Pro is Microsoft's best yet, with Intel Core CPUs, HD 4400 graphics, 4 or 8 gigs of RAM and and SSD drive. The tablet has a 2160 x 1440, 12" display supporting touch and the included N-Trig digital pen with pressure sensitivity and palm rejection. The 1.76 lb. tablet is as powerful as an Ultrabook, but significantly more portable. The Surface Pro Type Cover, sold separately for $130, turns it into a laptop of sorts with backlit, moving keys and a trackpad. The tablet has dual band WiFi 802.11AC, Bluetooth 4.0, a microSD card slot, mini DisplayPort, USB 3.0 port and headphone jack as well as 5MP front and rear cameras. The Core i5-4300U model is available now starting at $999, and Core i3 and i7 models will be available on Aug. 31, 2014.
* Check out our written review of the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 here: www.mobiletechreview.com/noteb...

[@user-xt1vs2oz3b]

When I get mine, I will be using my SP3 as a desktop with the dock, a nice mechanical keyboard, a wireless mouse, and two 27 inch monitors. Then later, when I travel to visit my clients, I will attach my type cover for a great power/portability ratio that is unmatched thus far in the tech industry. Later that evening I will kick off my shoes, climb into bed, detach my type cover and stream a movie or read a book before bed. Yes, the SP3 is the computer I have been waiting for.

[@beggerking]

the type cover folds back to become a tablet. its magnetically attached to the back and will disable itself too. its been like that since original surface pro. excellent machine.

[@mindadventurer]

dear lisa, i wanted to take the time to thank you for the good reviews you do. I been poring over you videos for well over a year. I shopped and shopped and shopping then would look over your videos again and again and in may i finally got a pro surface 1 in may 2014. So far happy with it. Just get alittle frustrated with the keyboard. 4000 graphics kinda sucks but other then that i love it. great for kitchen and if im watching sports on tv I can browse sites and scores. best wishes.

[@dawgcanjumphigh]

this computer is so awesome. i had it for a little over a year and its still very powerful and fast.

[@ICT_Midnight]

Writing this comment on my new surface pro 3 and I love it!!10/10 !:)

[@LZentertainments]

I'm so jelly

[@GeorgeNavarro]

ME THREE ;D

[@ICT_Midnight]

:D

[@DudeJJJMovies]

Typing on my Surface Pro 3 and loving it! Great review!

[@jsk7591]

Special thanks for commenting on the brightness in all your reviews I've watched, including the "nits".

[@thepokekid01]

You do some of the best tech reviews in the entire internet.

[@spidermangeo]

As always I love your reviews!

[@bjcampana]

Thanks for the great review! And nice drawing! =] I do love the parallax accuracy of Ntrigs.

[@cathycruz6387]

many thanks Lisa. The review helps me a lot. Lots of pondering to do though, specially when you have the smackdown between the surface and lenovo yoga pad.

[@Terranuvium]

Most thoughtful review I've seen, and I've now seen about 30 of 'em. Great job! You covered a number of aspects that didn't get covered in significant detail by most of the others.

[@Neeher]

Lisa, you do the best reviews!

[@Bearded880]

Thank you for the demo of the different graphic software. Very informative.

[@Serie32]

As always, Lisa this is a great review...

[@thanosztitan]

Great coverage on the Art Programs especially!

[@abstar996]

Best review I've seen on the surface pro 3!

[@rrntexas]

Great review as usual.

[@kennethHuo]

Just bought it. Love it. Very happy with it.

[@Kevin.Andrews]

Great review as usual. Thanks.

[@patkeating97]

Another awesome review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Fillduck]

Sounds amazing, definitely buying this :D

[@kevinspann5002]

thank you for going in depth lisa

[@billyjoehuggins]

I want one. Awesome review.

[@tdubbb]

Lisa, as usual, great job. you're amazing.

[@alexelmagnifico]

Excellent review!!

[@aznskillz336]

I've never had a Surface tablet before but I think this one might just be my first one! My laptop has been going strong for 3 years now and it's starting to show some wear and tear, so I may need a replacement. Great review Lisa!

[@tazbo28]

Older type and touch covers work with this model too. They may look weird, but they function perfectly fine if people are trying to save money!

[@HCIbn]

Thanks Lisa I've been waiting for this review.

[@rhampton1914]

Excellent Review. Your Reviews are the best. Your very thorough and cover everything we need to know. Thanks for Sharing.

[@rhampton1914]

***** yeah, i saw them on ebay too. i'm just wondering if i should spend the extra money and get the i7 -- I'm not sure the speed difference between the the i5 & i7 but the i5 is much cheaper..

[@lightzaberrr]

***** When your package comes in, I would record myself opening it - in case of fraud. There's a lot of scammers out there.

[@rhampton1914]

***** hmmmm not bad,,thanks for sharing...my co-worker just got one..OMG this is sooo awesome..and big too..it's not small people...lol

[@Jabbawokeez4]

Great review. I really appreciate a long, detailed review. Liked how you spent a lot of time using the pen. Considering how it has a pressure-sensitive pen, full version of OneNote, if the price of the next Surface Pro 4 drops down a lot, it could be the end of laptops and paper notebooks for SERIOUS ACADEMIC notetaking, like for fast-paced Calculus courses for example.

[@nawafbinmugren9303]

awesome review thanks a lot

[@chessician]

Love the review AND the fact that you have Civ V! =)

[@hareshi5490]

You are lovely. honestly do love all your reviews ;-)

[@jlzimmerman]

Lisa Gade, the gold standard in unbiased, thorough reviews.

[@SebastianSkadisson]

Thank you very much for that complete review of all the most important features of the Surface Pro 3. I'm really looking forward for the i7 version in august to take on my desktop PC, my digital drawing tablet, my netbook and my small mobile OS tablet likewise. I hope the new docking station by Microsoft with additional ports and charger will be available this autumn, too, so I can connect all my peripherals when i'm using it as a desktop solution.

[@Martin_Ramirez.]

Great review Lisa!. In terms of portability, is there much difference with the new Lenovo ThinPad 10? I mean, The Surface feels too big? And what about the noise of the cooler? is too high? And if this tablet is on a table and a glass of water spills, the liquid could enter through the vents? My purchase decision is between these two tablets.

[@Hiltibold]

Thank you for this interesting review of the surface 3 pro. Maybe I should buy one :)

[@fauxpaws]

Very, VERY well done review, Lisa. Have had the Surface 1 since Day One and have enjoyed. Had a 3.5 hour layover at MSP, so took light rail to Mall of America and visited the MS store. Took a few tries to locate a sales rep with YOUR product knowledge to demo the Surface 3. MS really did a correct job at correcting the weak points on an already adequate design. What made it easy to take one home was the vastly improved keyboard experience and the 3:2 aspect ratio. I use an arcane PROGRAM (not an "app") that scales much better at the new ratio. Battery life (even planes have AC these days), connection dongle, kickstand extension, thin-ness are really great, and taken together, justify the upgrade from S1. I'm surprised that no reviewer has mentioned the decrease in weight of the S3 AC charger, a key consideration for road warriors. I'm sure it's a couple of ounces less than the S1 and definitely thinner. If I'm not mistaken, MS is missing a key marketing point here. As you say, in your wonderful review, it all depends on what you're going to do with it. For frequent business travelers who use the display port to plug into a Hilton/Sheraton/Mariott LCD panel and do useful work with PROGRAMS (not "apps"), this is a nice device. Aspect ratio and improved (night light!) KEYBOARD made it impossible to ignore. Tolstoy would have invented the blog if he'd tried the keyboard while trying to write W&P, but it's more than OK for e-mail. Thanks for the review, Lisa! Faux Paws (NC)

[@Wierdninja]

Nice review Lisa. Been waiting for this one. I'm getting one. Do you think the performance of the i7 version will be a lot better? I may wait for that version. Not sure which version I should get. Maybe I'll have to wait for your i5 vs i7 comparison review.

[@gadsdad]

Thanks Lisa, very helpful review. I do have a question though; does the pen have friction or resistance as you use it? I have a Galaxy Note 8.0 and that's one thing I really enjoy is that touch of resistance as I sketch. Thanks for your time, God bless

[@shenbepis2380]

Excellent video 👌

[@abennettitsi]

Excellent Review. First time viewer for your channel. Thank you for your clean and very informative review. My boss and I have been using the 1st gen surface pro for a year now and is brilliant. No complaints, but obviously room for improvement. I had a Lenovo ThinkPad Tab 2 last year and that was not soo good. The running joke around the office is "it's an $800 Frisbee." Your channel, definitely a keeper!! Could you do a review on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphone?

[@반달빛]

perfect review👍

[@Dmontymagik]

Hey Lisa. Could you please do a smackdown with this and the either the macbook air or pro? I am confused on which one to get

[@nenabunena]

@Cooper yes. Theoretically it can read up to 2tb

[@usmansharifmicky]

Great Review! I was definitely one of the people waiting for this review. I'm now waiting for my 256 i5 to ship. I do photoshop and a lot of instant messaging/blogposting so it was a tricky decision. Because own an Intuos I know palm rejection is such a blessing in Wacom, I've never even thought it could be a problem till I started watching your reviews. It's unfortunate that the Surface Pro 3 doesn't have the palm rejection quite as down as devices that use wacom, but I think I will adjust, especially if I paint while in kick stand mode instead of holding it close in my hands. I'm also a student and take notes in almost every class, so I'm looking forward to getting accustomed to taking notes digitally, pretty sick of carrying all my notebooks to class, and not having my notes on my computer when I need them. I saw your Thinkpad Yoga review when it came out and was seriously considering it, back then due to screen size I was also considering the Viao Flip 15. I ended up leaving both of those and turning my eyes to Surface Pro 2 when I saw someone take notes with it in class, it looked soo convenient and portable. When I started looking into buying again I saw SP3 coming out so I totally jumped to buy it, in the end the deciding factor for me was the portability, the Surface Pro 3 I can just pick up and go to the other room and use. I can use it AS I WALK, lay down there and continue to use it. That to me is a big deal as it lets me be connected more. Also I plan to have a large monitor (maybe touchscreen?) + Bluetooth keyboard/mouse setup in my room to hdmi the SF3 to. That way when I'm in my room I can have the full ergonomic wide-screen desktop experience. I do have a question though. Can the surface pro keyboard be flipped behind the device to start using it like a tablet? Ofc it would be silly of me to expect key locking mechanism, but is the position even possible? does it deactivate? I was just thinking if I'm going to have the stray keyboard laying around often.

[@erichvargas110]

Finally...... Just Amazing

[@genevienesim9565]

Thank you for the review, very objective. :) However when it comes to using it for presentations, you need a micro HDMI to be able to project yes?

[@deeliriyum]

Lisa please do a review of a PRESTIGIO MultiPad 4 Quantum 9.7 Really interested in your opinion on that tablet.

[@ahmada.562]

Good review. Surprised that the battery lasts shorter than my Pro 2 (8 and a half hours). Did you do the testing with Chrome or Internet Explorer? If the former, that's why.

[@josephcao5278]

love this

[@brag.about_it]

What do you prefer? IPad Air or Surface pro 3

[@Zipzeolocke]

do you think this would work well using Second Life? You mentioned several games, and that Second Life has various graphics options, so I was curious

[@CelmorSmith]

How natural is it to flip the Type Cover to the back and hold it that way? I noticed it kinda forces against being flat on the back so I'm wondering if it's not just better to remove the keyboard when you want to hold it that way.

[@GamingAndIT]

Nice machine. Good to see tablet / laptop hybrids are going well. The 128 SSD sounds big for a machine like this, which is nice too.

[@albertabdul-barrwang3494]

I still have one and it's working well as anything :D

[@ravipeiris4388]

Thank you ❣️

[@luc7976]

Great review. One update/correction: I noticed core i3 and core i7 models are now shipping earlier at August 1st.

[@arsalanuljamil6840]

Hello Lisa, Is there any good alternative to Surface 3 coming to market in new future. I had Surface Pro 2 and I liked it but looking for something new. Don't really care for pen input but definitely need a built-in card reader I will mostly be using for checking photographs during travel.

[@zerojam3307]

hi, i am user of programs like manga studio and photoshop. generally i use many many layers and i'm keen on how clear an image is. i noticed you had manga studio as well as being knowledgeable on photoshop and was wondering how well they works for you and if it's affecting your work flow any? i'm deciding between the surface 3 pro/ 512GB or a standard laptop like the hp pavilion or a asus and a cintiq for my graphic needs. i'd really appreciate any input you'd have. :)

[@quantummyst5539]

Does the pen come included? I'm looking at this as an avid artist and student so the pen is quite important.

[@jimdayton8837]

Great review! I love the Surface Pro 3 if only it was cheaper. Any chance of it ever going down in price?

[@MrWallerand]

What is the differance compared to a zenbook with touch. Is it like mor sensitiv touch on these? Or same?

[@joeymcguire6011]

so I was thinking in buying this before college starts, do you think I should? I wanted to have my laptop for school and at tge same time do my drawings om, I love drawing, any advise please?

[@erwinfamily3]

The concept is really cool with SP3, but I am on the fence about purchasing one. I am actively looking for a laptop to bring back and forth to work that I will also be using for some online classes I am taking. My concern is that this will not suite my work needs. Would the SP3 i7 or i5 handle Excel spreadsheets that are 50 MB or bigger with macros, lookups, pivot tables, etc.?

[@akashm9957]

Hey Lisa, how will this be for a student? I'm doing my masters and would like to get one. I'd be doing some intensive work with software like CAD, hypermesh etc. I'm looking to purchase the core i5 version. I just wanted to know if this will hold out for such stuff. Thanks for the info.

[@tazbo28]

Also, as an artist, something I found interesting about the pen is that the cursor seems off when you hover over the screen. But it seems to get closer right when your up on the glass. and when you touch the glass the cursor is exactly on the tip. so its a little wonky.

[@tommy988lo]

Can you make a comparison video on surface pro 3 and pro 2 please? ??

[@redsoxfan0034]

hey im going into college and am planning to study video game design...are there any laptops you would recommend.

[@MuhammadKharismawan]

@Quantum Myst Of course it is... Only the covers and the docking stations is extra

[@infinite3590]

How does the i7 variant compare against to the zenbook nx500 ?

[@elenarosvani4228]

Nice preview. Does it run exe files?

[@lczebra]

Hi, If I installed AutoCAD ? still works the Surface PRO3 does not hang?

[@KenHeslip]

There's an "experimental" setting in the photoshop preferences that makes the tools larger.

[@NYTOC]

Does it support Java Script if you are using Wi-Fi for business, mapping and satellite tracking for vehicle movement of public transportation for city-wide buses?

[@justincarrillo226]

So the surface pro 3 does not come with office like the surface 2 does?

[@EmmanuelPluga]

7:34 you get 9 months out of the pen's battery, how long have you had the surface pro 3 for? Thought it was just realised....

[@MegaTolp]

Very nice review! Love your videos. Could you please review the core i3 version also? It'd be interesting to see how it works and differs from the core i5. Thanks in advance

[@myyootube]

What about al the driver and wifi problems???

[@richdaley9982]

This looks like a great device. Microsoft has addressed a lot of the issues that kept me from buying one of the first two models (thickness, screen size, fan noise etc). I think that I could even use it to read. The problem I still have with Windows tablets in general is that they never really work as well as a tablet as an iPad or Android tablet, just like those device can never really work as full laptop replacements. For example, it always thinks it is a host device which means that you can't connect it to your desktop to sync files which seems like a reasonable thing to want to do since these devices do not have much storage. Also, the bluetooth disables when the device goes to quickstart sleep if you are not using one of the built in Microsoft metro apps so while it would seem great to use iTunes to listen to music through a bluetooth headset or my car, but I have to leave the screen on all of the time.

[@satanistvamp]

Would it be possible to hook up a portable hard drive to it

[@onkelosuppo]

Thanks for the explanation on the NTrig Pen. I was afraid that it might be inferior to Wacom, but the accuracy in the corner is just impressive.

[@paquirosd]

How many Bluetooth devices can you connect at the same time? Cause I thint it's best to use Bluetooth keyboard and mouse at the same time.

[@superfatchao14]

Liking before even watching the video.

[@DrewXXX1]

curious why M$ never had this pen be able to stick in the port like it did on the Sp2. It would have been more feasible to have a separate port on the opposite side and have it charge when plugged in. I'm still also waiting for the new "Docking Station? and kinda bummed there is no Blu tooth wireless bar with this new Type pad ( unless the old one will work with it. I was considering getting this 12 inch Type pad model and get the blu tooth bar and use it with my desktop

[@SOG989]

it's a laplet or a tabtop

[@jack91522]

First, I'd like to say thanks for the great videos!! I'm still torn between the Samsung and SP3, although leaning towards SP3. Windows apps fall very far behind Android apps unfortunately and the SP3 doesn't have a GPS. Would you personally wait for the SP4 or go with the SP3? thanks!

[@grumpygrumps4448]

+Jackson Lui if you decide on the sp4 I would hold on a while after launch so they can work out any bugs. I own the sp3 i5 8gb ram model and its completely awesome, I had to upgrade from the basic i5 model as it tends to over heat and the ram runs quick doing normal web boozing

[@LiquidSnake1988]

Difference between i3 and i5? any performance issue on acrobat and photoshop? Though this is not possible to use 3ds max?

[@CasuallyExcited]

Would you recommend this for a university student studying engineering? Also, can you attach an external memory to it?

[@Oxisre]

hi lisa i just bought a surface Pro 3 and i fell that i need to break the glass to draw on the it could this be due to driver Problems? Regards Tobias S. Laier By the way love your channel:)

[@blazer6101]

I'm going to college this September and I was wondering if surface 3 will be suitable for me as student

[@Motosie1]

It's like listening to my grandma reading a brochure.

[@Rafaelkaras1]

Is the surface pro 3 possible to plug in the tv

[@gcoupe1]

Lisa, looking forward to your smackdown between the SP3 and the Lenovo TP10. One area that I hope you'll mention is the difference between the rear cameras on the two devices. For a "flagship" product, the SP3 seems to have a very poor camera (fixed focus, low resolution, no Panorama feature in the Camera App)

[@JorgeJimenez-uq1dk]

Would this be recommended for work?

[@michaels3970]

You have to understand what the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is for, it is a mobile product first and foremost and therefore it is for someone who wants a very mobile product that is very light to carry on and that first can act as a tablet and, if needed, that also can do the tasks that are usually reserved to ultrabooks such as using Photoshop, video editing, and many more specialised and advanced programs. And it is also for someone who wants to be able to use the MORE THAN FOUR MILLIONS programs (not apps!) that run on Windows and that he also uses on his desktop computer. Theses are the main ideas behind this product. Taking into account these ideas behind this product, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is simply amazing and it certainly fulfills these ideas many times over. The new aspect ratio 3:2 and its 2160 x 1440, 12" amazing display make this product stand out compared to most other tablets. It is perfect to use in portrait mode, having a similar size to an A4 sheet of paper.

[@YananoBere]

Can't wait for August 31st! I want to get the 8gb i7 model

[@YulHolic24]

I'm going to college and looking for a replacement for my ipad 2, should I buy it ?

[@paulromero1742]

Hi Lisa I've been a fan of your videos and your critique of electronic devices for a long time I subscribed to your channel a few months ago. I was wondering if you can help me out I'm looking for a nice laptop not with the greatest specs of all time but one with a faster processor and a very nice green 17 inch it doesn't have to be the top of the line but I was wondering if you could recommend something to me I sort of like acure or toshiba but if you can recommend something other than that great. just looking out I look forward to your next video have a good one

[@Dare2Blink]

Lisa the keyboard is compatible with other Surfaces, although it looks weird due to the size difference.