Microsoft Introduces Thinner Surface Pro 3 Tablet Featuring 12-Inch Display, Price Starts At $799

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) unveiled the Surface Pro 3, the company’s latest tablet model, during a special media event in New York on Tuesday.

The new Surface Pro 3, which is described as a “tablet that can replace your laptop,” features a larger 12-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, a thinner design, an enhanced stylus and a kickstand that provides users with greater flexibility for adjusting viewing angles.

“So many people carry both a laptop and a tablet but really want just one device that serves all purposes,” Panos Panay, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Surface division, said in a statement. “Surface Pro 3 is the tablet that can replace your laptop — packing all the performance of a fully powered laptop into a thin, light and beautifully designed device.”

Starting at an estimated retail price of $799, the new Surface Pro 3, which runs on the Windows 8.1 Pro operating system, will be offered in multiple configurations featuring fourth-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors.

The entry-level $799 Surface Pro 3 model carries a Core i3 processor with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage, while the Core i5 models are priced at $999 for a unit with 128 GB storage and 4 GB RAM, and at $1,299 for 256 GB storage and 8 GB RAM.

The high-end Core i7 models of the Surface Pro 3 feature 8 GB of RAM and will be available for $1,549 (256 GB storage) and $1,949 (512 GB storage). The battery life for all models is claimed to be up to nine hours of web browsing.

The Core i5 version of the device will available for purchase in the U.S. and Canada on June 20, while additional configurations will be available from August.

By the end of August, Surface Pro 3 and select new accessories will become available for purchase in 26 additional markets, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and the UK.

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Here is the full list of specifications of the new Surface Pro 3:

Operating System

Windows 8.1 Pro

Exterior

Dimensions: 7.93 in x 11.5 in x 0.36 in

Weight: 1.76 lbs

Casing: Magnesium

Color: Silver

Physical buttons: Volume, Power, Home

Storage

64GB, 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB