How Microsoft's Newly Launched Surface Pro 3 Stands Against The MacBook Air
The Surface Pro 3 is the next step in the Surface line, and attempts to merge features commonly found in both tablets and laptops. But how does it compares to the Macbook Air?
By Sadho Ram — 21 May 2014, 06:38 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Microsoft has officially unveiled the Surface Pro 3, a device aimed at eliminating the "conflict" Microsoft sees between the tablet and laptop
In his usual style, Surface chief Panos Panay boldly proclaimed that the Surface Pro 3 will remove the conflict of choosing between a tablet and laptop — that it's been designed without compromise with the best aspects of both.
theverge.com
The Surface Pro 3 comes with larger surface area than its previous model and even lighter than a MacBook Air
It's 12 inches, up from 10.6 inches, to increase productivity and weighs 800 gram, without a keyboard
By far the most immediate and noticeable change in this year's Surface Pro is the display. At 12 inches, it's now larger than previous models and also features a much higher 2160 x 1440 resolution. That puts it near 216ppi, which doesn't quite match the iPad Air's 264ppi pixel density, but again, you're working with a larger surface here — no pun intended.
theverge.com
Microsoft has also finally done away with the unwieldy 16:9 screen ratio of other Surface tablets in favor of a taller 3:2 ratio, making the latest device easier to hold and a better fit for a lot of content.
mashable.com
In addition to an improved hinge, users can now tilt the screen to an angle of up to 150 degrees
The device features a pen too, which during the on-stage demo seemed to work seamlessly when writing letters into a New York Times crossword puzzle. By clicking the pen, it impressively turned on a note-taking app too.
mashable.com
Microsoft is dubbing the Pro 3 "a tablet that can replace your laptop," and positioning it against the thinnest, most portable notebook on the market — the MacBook Air. So how do the two really stack up?
The MacBook Air is weighed against the Surface Pro 3 at a Microsoft event in New York City.
Image via wordpress.comThroughout the Surface Pro 3 presentation, Microsoft took the time to compare its newest device against Apple's iconic portable computer.
mashable.com
This table the specs and features of the Surface Pro 3 and the mid-2014 MacBook Air. The MacBook Air lacks a touch screen and support for a Surface Pro Pen accessory, but here's how the rest of it compares:
Although the MacBook Air and the Surface Pro 3 have many of the same features, looking at the price ranges can be a little misleading
The Surface Pro 3 starts at $799, that's for a model with 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and an Core i3 processor. A more even comparison is between the $999 version of the Surface Pro 3 and the base configuration MacBook Air.
techcrunch.com
Both machines have Core i5 processors, 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. The Pro 3's speed is clocked a bit higher than the MacBook AIr, but the MacBook Air has an extra USB 3.0 port and a better GPU.
mashable.com
Likewise, the $1299 Surface Pro 3 — which features 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage — is priced the same as a MacBook Air with that configuration. (The $1199 MacBook Air has only 4GB of RAM, but can be configured to have 8GB for an extra $100.)
9to5mac.com
In fact, the MacBook Air actually comes out cheaper than the Surface Pro 3 once we enter configurations with a Core i7 processor. The MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a Core i7 processor is $1449. A Surface Pro 3 with those same specs is $1549. A fully maxed-out MacBook Air — including a Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD — is $1749. The highest-end Surface Pro 3 configuration, which boasts the same specs, is $1949.
mashable.com
The bottom line? The Surface Pro 3 can hold its own against the MacBook Air.
At first glance, it’s easy to assume that the Surface Pro 3 offers a sharper display and lighter body than the MacBook Air for the same $999 price tag. However, you’ll need to pay an extra $129 for the Surface’s Type Cover keyboard, which is essential for using the slate as a laptop replacement. It might be worth splurging for the Pro 3 if you want a touchscreen device with some neat pen features, but the MacBook Air still provides the most solid notebook experience for your money.