Surface Pro 4 vs. Surface Pro 3: Should You Upgrade?
Microsoft built upon the features in Surface Pro 3 to deliver a more refined and capable hybrid in Surface Pro 4.
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Microsoft launched its Surface portfolio with the intention of replacing the laptop. The Surface Pro 4, released for general availability Oct. 26, is the newest addition to its Surface lineup.
Chances are good there will always be people who opt for traditional laptops over tablet-first hybrids. Microsoft recognized this and consequently released its high-end Surface Book alongside the Surface Pro 4.
Microsoft may have built its own laptop, but it also has its most worthy laptop replacement in Surface Pro 4. If you're thinking about switching to hybrids or have already made the leap, the Pro 4 will not disappoint.
Most of the upgrades are minor, but combined they iron out the kinks of Surface Pro 3. Its footprint is the same size, but the display is larger and sharper. A new hybrid cooling system makes it a quieter machine. It's slightly thinner, lighter, and more powerful.
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The accessories were also upgraded. A new Type Cover is sturdier, and provides a writing experience similar to that of a laptop. The Surface Pen writes more like a pen and less like a plastic-tipped stylus.
While the Pro 4 a more refined product, there is room for improvement. It's pricier than the entry-level Pro 3, has the same battery life, and still doesn't ship with a Type Cover, even though the keyboard is necessary to get the full Surface experience.
The Pro 3 was difficult to use for daily productivity, primarily because of its flimsy and cramped Type Cover. It was handy as a secondary device, but I wouldn't have used it to replace my laptop.
After a few days of using the Pro 4, it seems Microsoft has built upon the best parts of Pro 3 and made the necessary improvements to deliver a truly capable 2-in-1 device. I'm not ready to toss my trusty laptop, but I'd be more likely to tote the Pro 4 for work-related travel and other mobile productivity.
Here, we take a closer look at the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 3, and separate the differences between the two. Do you have a Surface or considered it? Are you committed to your laptop? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
(All photos: Kelly Sheridan/InformationWeek)
As with many of the differences between the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 3, the disparity in size is negligible. The two devices share the same 11.5" x 7.93" footprint, but the newer model is slightly thinner at 0.33 inches. The Surface Pro 3 is 0.36 inches thick.
The Pro 4 is also slightly lighter. The Core i5 and i7 models weigh 1.73 lbs.; the more lightweight Core m3 weighs 1.69 lbs. Surface Pro 3 weighs 1.76 lbs.
Such a miniscule difference won't sway you to choose the Pro 4 over the Pro 3. However, it's worth noting because Microsoft managed to boost the power while cutting back on thickness.
Despite their identical footprints, the Surface Pro 4 has a noticeably larger display than the Pro 3. Microsoft cut back on the bezels and eliminated its Windows button to boost the display from 12 inches to 12.3 inches.
The display resolution has also improved. Surface Pro 3 has a resolution of 2160 x 1440 (216 PPI); the Pro 4 has 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI) resolution. The Pro 4 display has also been fortified with PixelSense technology, which recognizes whether you're using a finger or Surface Pen to interact with the screen.
The Surface Pro 3 was not slow by any means. Microsoft outfitted its older hybrid with fifth-generation Intel Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors, and it never lagged in my daily use.
That said, the Surface Pro 4 is faster. The newer hybrid is available with sixth-generation Intel Core m3, Core i5, and Core i7 models. Microsoft claims the Pro 4 is 30% faster than the Surface Pro 3 and 50% faster than Apple's Macbook Air.
Surface Pro 4 ships with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage and 4B, 8GB, or 16GB of RAM. The Pro 3 can be configured with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage and either 4GB or 8GB of RAM.
Microsoft's Surface Pen got a major upgrade with the release of the Surface Pro 4, which includes the writing tool. Updates include an interchangeable nib at the top and 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity. Combined with the PixelSense screen, the two deliver a much better writing experience than the old Surface Pen. It also has an eraser on the back, a welcome addition for quickly deleting mistakes.
For storage, the Surface Pen has a flat magnetic strip on one side so it can magnetically adhere to the side of Surface Pro 4. (The Pro 3 does not have a storage option.) It's handy for stationary use, but the pen popped off when I stored the device in a bag.
Surface Pen has a few handy shortcuts worth noting. Pressing and holding the eraser summons Cortana, clicking the eraser opens OneNote, and double-click opens screen capture.
A revamped Type Cover premiered with the Surface Pro 4. It's priced at $130 and is also compatible with the Pro 3.
The old model felt flimsy, with keys cramped side-by-side. The upgraded Type Cover is still thin, but feels more stable in comparison, with backlit keys that are spaced farther apart. It feels more like typing on a laptop keyboard than the older model did.
Another necessary update was the larger trackpad. Microsoft boosted trackpad size by 40% and added a Precision Glass cover for smoother navigation.
As previously mentioned, my one gripe with the new Type Cover is that it's not bundled with the Surface device. Most (if not all) people interested in the Surface are looking for a 2-in-1 device, and without the keyboard it's merely a tablet.
Windows Hello is a biometric authentication system you can use to unlock the Surface Pro 4 with your face, iris, or fingerprint. I've been using iris scanner for automatic login and so far it has a 100% success rate.
For $160, you can upgrade the Type Cover to a model with a built-in fingerprint reader for secure authentication. Because Surface Pro 4 is optimized to support Windows Hello for automatic login, the fingerprint reader seems a better fit for the Surface Pro 3, which doesn't have the advanced biometric support.
The price tag of Surface Pro 4 depends on how the device is configured. For an entry-level price of $899, you get a Core m3 CPU, 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM, and the Surface Pen. Boosting to Core i5 processor, 256GB SSD, and 8GB RAM increases the price to $1,299. The highest-end model, with a Core i7 processor, 1TB storage, and 16GB RAM, costs a hefty $2,699.
For comparison, the lowest-end Surface Pro 3 costs $699 in Microsoft's online store and comes with an Intel Core i3 processor, 64GB SSD, and 4GB RAM. The highest-end Pro 3 comes with a Core i7, 512GB SSD, and 8GB RAM for $1,849.
The price tag of Surface Pro 4 depends on how the device is configured. For an entry-level price of $899, you get a Core m3 CPU, 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM, and the Surface Pen. Boosting to Core i5 processor, 256GB SSD, and 8GB RAM increases the price to $1,299. The highest-end model, with a Core i7 processor, 1TB storage, and 16GB RAM, costs a hefty $2,699.
For comparison, the lowest-end Surface Pro 3 costs $699 in Microsoft's online store and comes with an Intel Core i3 processor, 64GB SSD, and 4GB RAM. The highest-end Pro 3 comes with a Core i7, 512GB SSD, and 8GB RAM for $1,849.
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