Microsoft unveils 12-inch Surface Pro 3, a tablet that can replace your laptop

Satya Nadella took the stage to open up the Surface event in New York City today, speaking about the “mobile first cloud first” strategy. He spoke about “an obsession” of powering every individual and organization with the ability to do more. “We want products and technology that enable people to get more out of every moment of their life – that’s the mission we are on,” he adds.

The Surface “takes the best of the laptop and the tablet, to read, to create, watch a movie, make a movie, enjoy art, and create art.” Microsoft’s Panos Panay also took the stage after Nadella’s opening words and unveiled the Surface Pro 3, a tablet that can replace your laptop.

The 12-inch Surface Pro 3 is faster than the Surface Pro 2, and features a multi-position kickstand. In fact, you can even have the kickstand up to a 150-degree angle. The device features a 2160×1440 display, with a 3×2 aspect ration screen. The front-facing Dolby Audio-enhanced speakers are also “40 percent more powerful.” The battery life on the device is said to be 20% better than the Surface Pro 2, offering up to nine hours of life.

The device is also 800g in weight and 9.1mm thin (1.76 pounds and is 0.36 inches thin), making it lighter even though the device is bigger. Panay compared the weight of the Surface Pro 3 with a Macbook, only to see the Surface Pro 3 clearly defeat the Macbook.

The Surface Pro 3 also features an Intel Core i7, in a thin package, offering a fan that is 30 percent more efficient than any other fan in the market today. The device also features a full-size USB 3.0 port, microSD card reader, and Mini DisplayPort. There is also an optional Ethernet adapter.

The pen and ink experience in the Surface Pro 3 has also been greatly improved, all thanks to the thin display which makes the ink feel natural. When you click the pen tip (similar to clicking a ballpoint pen), the Surface Pro 3 will instantly turn on and launch OneNote for immediate writing.

The new Type Covers, on the other hand, are available in black, purple, orange, dark blue, and light blue colors. You can snag them for 129.99.

Microsoft has compromised nothing in order to make the Surface Pro 3 better than the Surface Pro 2. In fact, the company is touting the Surface Pro 3 as being 30 percent thinner than an 11-inch MacBook Air. It is also quite clear that Microsoft is looking to target the new Surface Pro 3 as a device that can handle any sort of task.

You can pre-order the device in the US and Canada beginning May 21st, starting at $799 for an Intel Core I3 version. Beginning at the end of August, you can purchase the device 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 United Kingdom. Here are the pricing options: