Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Tablets & eReaders

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Tablets & eReaders

(790)

Details

Brand
Microsoft
Model
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Screen Size
12 in

Ratings & Reviews

Average Ratings of all

4.6

790 average ratings

95%
Good quality screen
90%
Long battery life
97%
Good value
  • by phoenixsab01June 07, 2017

    Nice upgrade from Surface 2

    The Surface 3 Pro is a nice upgrade from the Surface 2. It has a full-function Windows 10 operating system, which means that I am no longer limited to just apps from the App Store. I was able to download a different browser than Explorer (I'm a Google Chrome fan) and easily import my favorites from my old Explorer browser without loss of data. Gone is the annoying charm screen of Windows 8, which never really did much anyway. I mostly resorted to returning to the standard desktop to get anything done. The screen is slightly larger, which is a nice accommodation for my "mature" eyesight. The screen resolution is just amazing, with fabulous detail and true to life colors. The processor is faster than I would have expected, given that the Surface 2 had a quad core processor, and the Surface 3 Pro has a dual core. I also bought the type pad cover, which is a very nice upgrade from the Surface 2. The keyboard is back-lit, nice for use in a dimly lit room. The keyboard is also slightly larger and sturdier feeling than the Surface 2's, has a deeper snap to the keys and overall is closer to the feel of a standard computer keyboard. The Surface 3 Pro is slightly larger and heavier than the Surface 2, but given the advantages stated above, the extra weight is a very minor issue. Another upgrade is the built-in, multi-position kickstand. Rather than the just two positions of the Surface 2, this one allows for a very wide variety of adjustments, from almost straight up to nearly flat - very helpful. Although I've only had this computer for a couple of weeks, I've used it pretty extensively. I haven't really found any downsides so far. It has enough of the bells and whistles I wanted without a lot of features I'll never use. With the full functionality of the Windows 10 operating system, this computer has virtually replaced my laptop. It's faster, lighter, has outstanding screen resolution and is very user friendly. All it needs now is its own little superhero cape!

    Verified purchase:Yes

  • by alphaandomegafilmsApril 21, 2016

    Great Tablet with a horrible camera

    Anytime you can use a full operating system on a tablet, you have a great product. Add the keyboard and it's an excellent product. The screen is not just good, but amazing. That's the good. The ugly is the camera and the battery life. You'll get five to six hours TOP with normal use at work or at home. Understand I'm comparing the battery life to Apple products which, plain and simple, have unbelievable battery life. The camera, however; is another subject. It is the worst camera on a tablet I have every seen, and cameras on tablet are normally pretty awful. Why would you care about a camera on a tablet anyway? Well, because of the amazing Microsoft Onenote application. If you don't know this built in application on Windows, get to know it because it's amazing to use on a Surface. And one of the great features it has is the ability to take a picture (of a document), bring it into the application automatically, and then mark it up using the stylus. Sounds great right? Not with a Surface Pro 3. The camera is so bad that you can't even take a picture of a document sitting on the table right in front of you which, in turn renders this great feature unusable. Apparently, the Surface 3 and Surface Pro 4 don't have this problem. Yes, I said Surface 3. All that said, I use it at work every day and I love it... except the camera... and the battery.

    Verified purchase:Yes

  • by taylodaviso6March 01, 2018

    A few unexpected inconveniences

    Somehow in all of my researching before I made the purchase, I didn't notice that surfaces only have ONE USB port. It's not a huge deal at all but if I want a mouse plugged in, I have to disconnect it if I want to print, then reconnect it when I'm done. A small inconvenience. Beyond that, installing any Linux distro is a bit of a pain. The UEFI setup on this is very plain and lacks a lot of options and info. If you install Linux, odds are that your distro of choice will not recognize the surface keyboard trackpad (unless it works for newer models of the keyboard). So far the only one I know works is Ubuntu. There is a package that you have to install for it to recognize the trackpad. The little binged flap takes getting used to. You can't really use it on your lap (at least not comfortably). Enough of the bad! It is a very fast Computer due to the SSD and CPU. It's got plenty of guts to do what I need a computer to do. I love using it for note taking. For those who care about display, it has a beautiful display. High resolution and high ppi.

    Verified purchase:Yes

  • by whocaresaboutprivacyMay 04, 2016

    Great 2-In-1 Tablet

    This tablet is great for multiple reasons: The screen is beautiful, even if it isn't always as bright as I would like it to be. Even at 100 percent I still occasionally struggle with minor glare issues from bright indoor lights. The kickstand is wonderful with its near infinite positions. Correlating with the above comment, I can often adjust the angle of the kickstand to avoid screen glare. The tablet lasts me all day being in sleep mode and an hour or two of constant use. Speakers exceeded my expectations, but aren't anything to rave about. They do the job. Charging cable is magnetic. I really like that. Not too heavy, but it doesn't feel cheap either. Weight is just perfect for me, especially for carrying it in my backpack. I didn't get the type cover for it, but a Logitech keyboard/mouse w/ Bluetooth works really well for my needs. The K380 and M535 pair really well with this tablet. Software wise, it works well. The i3 edition can handle Office with no problem and non-intensive games decently, such as Terraria. Definitely worth the money!

    Verified purchase:Yes

  • by linda_w_liuOctober 21, 2015

    Claimed 9-hour battery life has not been observed

    There is still some way to go to catch Macbook Air, but I am happy Microsoft is reviving with this little competitive product. Overall I like it and want to keep it along with my Macbook Air. But there are a few ideas that I would like to share with Microsoft to make it better. First, the battery life is substandard. It is claimed to have 9 hours, but it typically last 5-6 hours for daily use. I think it can do better by utilizing unused spaces such as kickstand or keyboard to add additional power. They should also consider solar energy to supplement. Second, the keyboard should use bluetooth and in a detached state all the time except that it acts as cover when not in use. I personally want to use it as a tablet with an external keyboard (like iPad Pro), not the ability to switch back and forth. As a laptop, this cannot compete with Macbook as it is now and probably not in the future given its size restriction.

    Verified purchase:Yes

  • by wmt2December 30, 2017

    Solid, fast, vibrant

    I bought this to become my new desktop machine. I only take it out occasionally, such as for conventions or travel. It is lightening fast compared to my 3-year-old Toshiba. I used it with Adobe Premiere, Encore and After Effects. Rendering time was amazing! I know MS has faster machines for this, but considering I only make about 6 videos per year, it is plenty fast for me. Battery life is very good. I ran it for a few hours without power and it was still ready to go. Can't say how many hours to empty, but it is longer than what I usually need. Screen viewing angle is extremely good. I still haven't gotten Windows type to where I want it. Hopefully I can figure that out, but that isn't a Surface Pro issue. The docking station is very handy. and the keyboard has a nice touch. Overall very good for the money - provided you are buying it used. =D

    Verified purchase:Yes

  • by insanity_66June 01, 2019

    Lightweight, great features, good price-point. Highly Recommended.

    Response time is fast, so much faster than my last experience with a tablet pc. Ram and processor supports games such as World of Warcraft on low to med settings but still quite playable. Storage is excellent at 128GB especially with the expandable memory which is where I store the game data for WoW to conserve space on the unit. System was clean and ready for a new user just as described. No bloatware or senseless apps to remove.Battery life seems to be what I expected and in fact longer I think than my HP touchsmart laptop. My only complaint would be the flap to hold the screen upright is not position-able. This may be something that corrected in newer Surface versions. Easy enough to live with. Of course with a market that favors iPad accessories may be hard to find but that's the nature of the beast.

    Verified purchase:Yes

  • by mspringfieldNovember 10, 2015

    Great laptop replacement

    While the entry level Surface Pro is a nice device it will never truly replace a laptop or a desktop. The entry level devices are way to limited on resources. Not enough memory or storage space to be truly useful for anything other than a go between for your laptop/desktop. Once you get to this level of storage and memory the Surface Pro really shines. With 8 Gig of RAM and 256/512 Gig of storage this becomes a truly useful machine. It is light enough to be truly portable. It is powerful enough to run any programs that a desktop/laptop will run. Add the docking station, an external keyboard, mouse and a monitor or two and this is easily a near perfect all-in-one device. The only downside to the Surface Pro is the keyboard is an additional cost and it is not useful without it.

    Verified purchase:Yes

  • by cjp0KgaXSi6@DeletedAugust 16, 2018

    excellent!

    honestly this could have been the best value for a surface pro ever! the thing about the surface pro that i dont like is how the accessories are all separate and that you'd have to spend so much to complete an actual set. tablets themselves are so expensive not to add the keyboard covers and or pens. but this... oh this seller sold the tablet and included the keyboard, pen, and leather sleeve for free!!! plus it's a surface 3 so i think its an excellent purchase. sure it was used, but i's all good! screen isn't scratched so its great. keyboard does show signs of usage but as long as everything works, then im golden! oh and it came with a dock which is pretty pricey by themselves might i add.

    Verified purchase:Yes

  • by jamalesenseiFebruary 19, 2017

    Very Happy With My Purchase

    When I first got it, I admittedly started playing Asphalt 8 on the large 12 inch screen. Now I'm a graphic designer by trade and when I finally decided to migrate my work from my old Toshiba to the tablet, I was blown away by the ease of use. Being able to use the pen to do quick consultations with customers is perfect. Make sure you get a good brand 128 gig ad card asap. Because after installing Windows 10 and deleting Windows 8, the hard drive had about 30 gigs available. The SD card helped tremendously. Overall, I'm super satisfied. Oh...I also got the Type Cover and I couldn't be happier.

    Verified purchase:Yes