We tested the Surface 3, an outstanding device with Microsoft's signature

For a few years now, devices Microsoft Surface They are managing to gain an important niche in the market, without becoming a tablet or a laptop, but showing themselves as a very interesting option for many users who need a hybrid of these two devices in their day-to-day lives. The Surface 3 It was the last device launched on the market by the Redmond-based company and in the last weeks we have had the possibility to test it thoroughly and squeeze it to unsuspected limits.

As a result of these weeks of testing and living with the Surface 3, we want to present you this complete analysis in which you will find a large amount of information about this Microsoft device, but also our opinion on the use of this new Surface, which has left us a great taste in our mouths, although as has happened with other devices of the Surface family, somewhat frustrated and disappointed when knowing its price.

If you are thinking of acquiring a Surface 3 or any other member of the Surface, we cannot help but recommend that you read this article to enjoy our opinions. If you do not have in mind to acquire a Surface, enjoy reading and perhaps at the end of this article you will change your mind and your greatest wish to have one of these hybrid devices from the company that Satya Nadella runs.

Integrated

Once more the design of this Surface 3 is one of its strengths and it is presented without major changes compared to the previous versions that already had a very successful and careful finish. We could say that this new Surface is a practically identical copy of the Surface 2 externally, although internally we will find great changes and improvements that any user can quickly perceive.

With dimensions of 267 x 187 x 8,7 millimeters and a weight of 622 grams, we find a device that we can transport anywhere in a simple way and without too many complications. For everyone who likes to shop, this Surface 3 is somewhat thinner and lighter than the previous Surface 2..

To finish the design section, we can say that the materials used for the exterior design of this Surface 3 give it a premium look, which almost any user likes. Also, if we add a physical keyboard, which acts as a cover, the general appearance of the device improves greatly.

Before going inside this Surface 3 we are going to do a quick review of its main features and specifications;

• Screen: 10 inches with 1920 × 1280 resolution, 3: 2 format with up to 256 levels of pressure for the pen and protection for the palm.
• Processor: Intel Atom X7 Cherrytrail
• RAM: 2 and 4GB versions
• Storage: 64 and 128GB SSD, 32GB version for education.
• Battery: up to 10 hours of video playback.
• Connectivity: Mini DisplayPort, USB, WiFi, optional LTE.
• OS.: Windows 8.1 upgradeable to Windows 10 with 32/64 bit drivers

Processor

Inside this Surface 3 we find a Intel processor, specifically the Atom X7 that has four cores and operates at a speed of 1,6 GHz. One of the great curiosities of this processor is that it does not need ventilation of any kind, which avoids the fans and therefore their noise and associated discomforts.

Going into the matter, we could say about this processor, that it is not a bad brain for this Surface 3, but that it does not happen to be a wonder. And it is that to carry out any day-to-day activity it is more than enough, offering us a fairly good performance, although for example it is far from being able to offer us outstanding performance.

This performance, perhaps lower than expected, makes for example that it is impossible to enjoy the latest games on the market on this Surface and neither of some with a life span. For all this and since we know that many want devices of this type to be able to play some of the best games on the market, the Surface 3 is without a doubt a device that we can use to play.

Of course, we will not be able to use, at least in a normal and comfortable way, some of the applications that demand the most from the market, such as Photoshop, which took no more than 50 minutes to install on the Surface.

Accessories

As usual, this device from the Surface family offers us the possibility of acquiring a series of interesting accessories. The most prominent of these accessories is its keyboard, which is essential to be able to get the most out of this Surface 3. In addition, we will also find a stylus, which depending on the use that we are going to give this device may be more or less use .

In our case the keyboard has been absolutely essential for us And it is that at the time of writing this analysis, which has been carried out with the Surface 3, there was no other way to write other than with the physical keyboard that can be easily attached to the Surface thanks to its set of magnets.

Of course, this keyboard is purchased independently of any Surface device, which increases the final price of the device greatly.

Now we are going to review the most positive and negative aspects that we have found in this new Surface 3:

Positive aspects

Among the aspects that we liked the most about this Surface 3 after a few weeks of use is its ease of transport and use anywhere and anytime. In addition, the experience offered by the official accessories of the device, such as the keyboard and the stylus, are really interesting and offer us solutions for certain problems.

Of course, the screen offers us a great experience and its power is really interesting to carry out any activity, however perhaps I was expecting something more and that is that it has disappointed me a bit that we cannot use certain applications or games on this device.

Negative aspects

I would have liked to leave this section blank because I think that this Surface 3 is an outstanding device on a general level, but I think it has some negative aspects that we cannot in any way overlook.

In the first place, even though we are talking about a hybrid device between a tablet and a laptop, I think that it is half way without being neither of them, which at times is a problem. Its price is undoubtedly another of its great negative aspects.

To end this section, you cannot fail to point out that it is certainly a difficult device to use at certain times And it is that by connecting the keyboard to the tablet in a somewhat peculiar way, it does not give the device the rigidity of a laptop. This makes it very difficult to use it on the sofa at home or in public transport as if we can use a laptop without major problem.

Personal opinion

Since Microsoft launched the first Surface on the market, it is a device that has fallen in love with me in an important way, although I have never finished buying since after trying each of the versions that have reached the market, it has left me with a taste strange mouth.

And it is that despite the fact that we are facing an outstanding device in terms of design and performance there are things that do not convince me at all and that make me decide to buy a tablet or a laptop before a Microsoft Surface. Maybe I may not be the ideal user of a Surface, but I feel sorry for it because I think I would love to have one and be able to really take advantage of it.

Leaving aside my experience and my opinion, I sincerely believe that we are facing an outstanding device in all aspects and that for many users is the perfect device for their day to day.

If you are one of those users who needs a device halfway between a tablet and a laptop, I think this Microsoft Surface 3 may be simply ideal for you.

Price and Availability

The Microsoft Surface 3 is already available on the market for a few weeks with a price in its most basic version of 599 euros. Of course, at this price we must add the keyboard, almost obligatorily, which has a price of 149 euros and the electronic pen that has a price of 90 euros. With this the price shoots up to almost 49,99 euros, which is not exactly a low price.

From here we can also get other more powerful versions of the Surface 3 that will of course have a higher price. It is also important that you keep in mind that buying this device in the United States will be somewhat cheaper than doing it in Europe, so if you have the opportunity to make a purchase on the other side of the pond, do not hesitate.

If you do not want trouble and want to buy the device in Spain or any other country, you can do it from the following amazon link.

What do you think of the Surface 3 after reading our full review?.

Editor's opinion

Pros and cons