Microsoft's new Surface 3 release date is confirmed for next month, while the Surface Pro 4 launch schedule remains a mystery.
On Tuesday, March 31, Microsoft launched a slick video featuring the Surface 3 that will start hitting stores on May, 5 2015. The tech giant released additional information on the same day over its official Surface blog.
Boasting 2 GB RAM and 64 GB of storage, the tablet will have a starting price of $499. The surface 3 is powered by the latest Quad-core Intel Atom x7 processor.
Compared with its heavier Surface Pro 3 cousin, the Surface 3 weighs in at about 622 grams or 1.37 pounds. The tablet is about 8.7mm thick and has a 10.8-inch screen. In regards to photography, the Surface 3 has a rear-facing 8 MP camera along with a front-facing 3.5 MP camera. The device also has a Micro USB charger, USB 3.0 port, Mini DisplayPort, and microSD card reader. Battery life should last up to 10 hours, according to Microsoft.
Like the Surface Pro 3, the Surface 3 is compatible with the Surface Pen. However, Surface 3 owners will have to buy the pen separately. The pen is available in the colors silver, blue, red, and black. Using the pen, users are able to digitize their own handwriting. For instance, music writers can turn their handwritten music into a typeset score.
Though the device comes with Windows 8.1, but users will have to option to upgrade to the upcoming Windows 10 OS for free. The latest reports suggest that Windows 10 will be ready this summer. Users will also get a free one-year subscription of Office 365 Personal that includes the Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and One Note software.
On the other hand, there are few details available concerning the Surface Pro 4. The rumored device may replace the Surface Pro 3, which was released last year. Speculated release dates vary between June and late October 2015. According to Tech Radar, the Surface Pro 4 may come into two different sizes - a 12-inch and 14-inch version. Concerning specs, the device may have storage capacities similar to the Surface Pro 3. Currently, Surface Pro 3 users can choose between a 64GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, and 500 GB storage options. Tech Radar also claims that the Surface Pro 4 may boast a 1 TB storage option as well. It is likely that the Surface Pro 4 will be running on the upcoming Windows 10 OS.
At this moment, the Surface 3 is available for pre-order on the official Microsoft site.
