At an event in Singapore in April, bloggers were given the opportunity to test out the Surface 3, as well as the Lumia 640 and 640 XL.
The Surface Pro was a hit, but some users desired more. Ian Tan, the Surface Lead for Consumer at Microsoft Singapore, revealed during a media event that certain customers requested a lighter, more budget-friendly device, a request to which Microsoft paid attention.
Unveiled in Singapore in late March, the latest Surface iteration boasts the same robust construction as the Surface Pro 3. Similar to its predecessor, it functions as a tablet capable of substituting for a laptop, but it distinguishes itself by being even thinner and lighter. Priced at S$748, Surface 3 is designed to run a complete Windows and Office suite, all while providing extended battery life. Its ability to run Windows applications coupled with its pen input capabilities – perfect for jotting down notes or annotating documents – makes the Surface 3 well-suited for students and productivity-oriented users.
“Surface 3 makes the features customers love about Surface Pro 3 accessible to a wider audience, offering the premium design and productivity of Surface in a more affordable package,” stated Tan. “We’ve incorporated everything we learned from creating Surface Pro 3 into this latest Surface. It’s a beautiful, adaptable, powerful, and productive device, and our customers are going to love what they can achieve with it.”
Equipped with the new quad-core Intel Atom x7 processor, Surface 3 offers a responsive experience while prioritizing efficiency, boasting up to 10 hours of battery life for video playback. Features familiar to users of the Surface Pro 3 are also present in the Surface 3, including the 10.8" ClearType HD multi-touch display, stereo speakers enhanced with Dolby Audio, and the durable magnesium construction. Tan highlighted that the three-position kickstand maintains the three most favored angles from the Surface Pro 3, proving ideal for using the Surface 3 at a desk, relaxing on a couch, or as a handheld writing surface.
Surface 3 is preloaded with a full version of Windows 8.1 and is eligible for a complimentary upgrade to Windows 10 upon its release. It also includes a one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal, which encompasses Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and OneDrive cloud storage. For a detailed list of specifications, please visit here.
Source: Microsoft.
Available for purchase from retailers and resellers starting May 5th, the Surface 3 will initially launch in Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Thailand within the Asia Pacific region.
Pre-orders are currently being accepted through the Microsoft Online Store. Authorised retailers such as Challenger, Harvey Norman, and Newstead are also accepting pre-orders. Commercial customers are advised to reach out to their respective authorised resellers. Furthermore, Microsoft Singapore announced the addition of four new authorised resellers to its Microsoft Devices Programme: Innocomm Technologies, Insight Technology Solutions, JK Technology, and Jardine OneSolution (2001). This brings the total count of authorised resellers to seven, also including AsiaPac Distribution, SoftwareOne, and UIC Asian Computer Services. In addition to offering Microsoft’s extended warranty and accidental damage coverage, these resellers provide a range of value-added services for the Surface family. These include asset tagging, custom imaging, kitting, on-site service and support, device recycling, and data protection.
Pre-order availability
Pre-order is available at the Microsoft Online Store.
Pre-orders through authorized retailers Challenger, Newstead,
and Harvey Norman will commence in April 2015.
Retail availability
5 May 2015
Surface 3 Suggested Retail Price in S$, inclusive of GST
2 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage
$748
4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage
$898
Accessories Suggested Retail Price in S$, inclusive of GST
Surface Pen
$73
Surface 3 Type Cover
$199
Surface 3 Screen Protector
$73
Surface 3 Docking Station
$288
Surface 3 Power Supply
$59
1 Surface Pen is sold separately.
2 Testing conducted by Microsoft in March 2015 using both the 128GB and 64GB models with 4 GB of RAM. The test involved a full battery discharge while playing back video content. Default settings were used for all parameters except for Wi-Fi, which was connected to a network, and Auto-Brightness, which was disabled. It’s important to note that battery performance can fluctuate significantly based on settings, usage patterns, and other influencing factors.
3 Eligible Windows 8.1 devices that are upgraded within the first year are eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 10. Additional details regarding the offer and its terms will be made available in the coming months. For further information, please refer to http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/about?ocid=WIN10_0_WOL_Hero_Home_Windows-10_Null_01.
4 This offer is applicable to Surface 3 devices purchased with Windows 8.1 prior to December 31, 2015, or while supplies last. Office activation is required within six months of the Windows activation date.
5 Accessories are not included and are sold separately.
*Please be aware that some information pertains to a pre-release product, which might be subject to substantial modifications prior to its official commercial release. Microsoft does not provide any warranties, whether expressed or implied, regarding the information presented here.