On the Surface of it, Microsoft’s latest offering is designed to take on the iPad

Microsoft has quietly announced a new Surface 3 tablet that runs full Windows, and is designed to take on Apple’s iPad.

Thu, 02 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Martyn Landi

The new Microsoft Surface 3 was confirmed via a blog post on the company’s website, a stark contrast to the live events and fanfare that normally signal the launch of new hardware from the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft themselves in the past.

The new tablet comes with a 10.8 inch (27.43cm) screen, is 0.34 inches (8.7mm) thick and weighs 1.37 pounds (621gms). Microsoft says this makes it the thinnest and lightest Surface they have ever shipped, and the dimensions put it in competition with Apple’s iPad. It is being marketed as an entry-level device alongside the slightly larger Surface Pro 3, which has a 12 inch screen.

Panos Panay, head of Microsoft Surface, said: “As we planned the next addition to the Surface family, the questions to answer for our customers became simple. What product would we build to be sure we could make the very best of what we built in Surface Pro 3 available to many, many more people?

“The result is Surface 3, as well as a mobile-broadband version, Surface 3 (4G LTE). It’s the thinnest and lightest Surface we’ve ever shipped. It runs full Windows, including desktop applications. It includes a one-year subscription to Office 365 to help you really get down to work. And it starts at just $499.”

As opposed to the Pro line of Microsoft Surface tablets, the new Surface 3 runs Windows 8.1, the firm’s latest operating system. This means it will be eligible to update to Windows 10 when the new operating system launches later this year.

This move appears to be an attempt to appease customers who criticised the Surface Pro line for its Windows RT software, which, while looking like desktop Windows, was not compatible with full, desktop versions of apps.

Unlike most other tablets, this new Surface will have a full-sized USB 3.0 port for connection to a monitor and other devices. Both Apple and Google have recently announced laptops that come with the new USB-C connection; which is a new industry standard and has been developed to be universal. It will work with chargers and to transfer data from a single port in the future.

Microsoft is looking to step up its pursuit of Apple in the tablet market, and has increased its market share from 2.3% to 3.2% in the last year.

Apple still remain dominant in the tablet market, but with iPad sales in decline, Microsoft believe the Surface’s education and business focus will see continued growth.

The Seattle-based technology giant confirmed the new Surface has a UK release date of May 7, with prices starting at £419, and rising to £499 for 126GB of storage.