Surface 3 specs, features, and tips

How much does a Surface 3 cost?

There are four configurations of Surface 3:

• $499 – 2GB | 64GB 
• $599 – 4GB | 128GB
• $599 – 2GB | 64GB | 4G LTE
• $699 – 4GB | 128GB | 4G LTE

What are the dimensions of the Surface 3?

Microsoft Surface 3 has dimensions of 10.52″ x 7.36″ x 0.34″ (267 mm x 187 mm x 8.7 mm).

How much does the Surface 3 weigh?

Microsoft Surface 3 is weight at:

• 1.37 lbs (622 g) without a keyboard.
• 1.95 lbs (884 g) with a keyboard.

What ports are on the Surface 3?

Here are all the available ports on the Surface 3:

1. 1 x Full-size USB 3.0
2. 1 x Mini DisplayPort
3. 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
4. 1 x Micro USB charging port (passes power and USB 2.0 data)
5. 1 x MicroSDXC card reader (up to 128GB)
6. 1 x Surface Type Cover port.
7. 1 x Nano SIM card slot (Surface 3 [4G-LTE] only)

Does Surface 3 have a camera?

Yes, there are two cameras on Surface 3:

1. 3.5-megapixel front-facing camera.
2. 8.0-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus.

What processor is in Surface 3?

Microsoft Surface 3 has only one processor configuration:

1. Intel® Cherry Trail Quad Core Atom x7-Z8700
   • Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics.
   • Base Frequency: 1.60 GHz
   • Burst Frequency: 2.40 GHz
   • Cache: 2 MB
   • 4 cores, 4 threads

Does Surface 3 come with a Surface Pen?

Surface 3 doesn’t include a Surface Pen out of the box. You must purchase separately or use the same Surface Pens from Surface Pro 3.

Does the new Surface 3 come with a keyboard?

You must purchase the keyboard (Surface 3 Type Cover) separately. The original Surface 3 Type Cover costs $129.99 and is available in five colors: black, blue, bright blue, red, and bright red.

When was Surface 3 released?

Microsoft Surface 3 was:

• Announced on March 21, 2015.
• Preordered on March 21, 2015.
• Available on May 5, 2015.

Can you upgrade the RAM on Surface 3?

No, you can’t upgrade your Surface 3 RAM as it was soldered directly onto the motherboard.

Is the Surface 3 fanless?

Yes, All Surface 3 is fanless.

What size is Surface 3’s display?

Surface 3 has a 10.8-inch ClearType Full HD Plus Display.

What is the resolution of Surface 3?

Surface 3 has a resolution of 1920 x 1280 and a pixel density of 214ppi (pixels per Inch). For more information, check Microsoft Surface display size and resolution – a complete list.

Does Surface 3 need a screen protector?

Even though the Microsoft Surface 3’s screen is covered by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass, it is still prone to scratches. You’d better pick one up for your Surface 3 to protect it from scratches.

Does a screen protector reduce the responsiveness of Surface 3?

Yes, it does; it is much or less noticeable depending on what type and thickness of screen protector you put on it. For the best option, you should look for a slim tempered glass screen protector, as it’s smooth to the touch and reduces responsiveness issues.

What is the aspect ratio of Surface 3?

Surface 3 has a 3:2 aspect ratio.

How long does the Surface 3 last?

Microsoft Surface 3 has 10 hours of battery life for video playback, as tested by Microsoft.

What is the battery capacity of Microsoft Surface 3?

Microsoft Surface 3 has a battery capacity of 27.5 Wh (7,270 mAh, 3.78V). For more information, check Microsoft Surface battery capacity – a complete list

How do I charge my Surface 3?

You can charge your Surface 3 by using the OEM charger that comes with your Surface 3 – Plug the charger into the power source and plug the Micro USB connector into the Micro USB charging port on the right side of the Surface 3. You can also use any USB charger and cable with high-rated power to charge your Surface 3. However, charging with the OEM charger and cable provided by Microsoft is highly recommended.

Can I charge Surface 3 via the full-size USB?

No, the full-size USB port on Surface 3 is used for data transfer only.

Can Microsoft Surface 3 run Photoshop?

It’s possible to run Adobe Photoshop on Surface 3, however, it will be slow.

Can the Surface 3 run games?

Yes, you can. You can install Steam on it, and the performance will depend on the games you want to play.

Can you code or program on Surface 3?

For writing code, Microsoft Surface 3 is powerful enough to handle most code editors such as VS Code, Atom, or Notepad++. Combined with its great tactile keys, it’s the perfect mobile development machine you want to have.

However, if you want to compile more complex codes on Visual Studio or Android Studio, you might need a Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, or Surface Book instead.

Is Surface 3 64-bit?

Yes, Microsoft Surface 3 uses the Intel® Cherry Trail Quad Core Atom x7-Z8700, which supports 64-bit instruction and has a 64-bit version of Windows 8.1.

Is Surface 3 good for drawing?

Yes, drawing is really smooth on most apps, such as Windows Ink, Sketchable, Bamboo Ink, OneNote, and more. It supports the latest Surface Pen with 256 levels of pressure.

Is Surface 3 good for students?

Yes, it is. With Surface 3, you can take advantage of note-taking, including typing, drawing, and touching. You will never get stuck on taking note of all the information you want.

Will Surface 3 run Office?

Yes, Surface 3 comes with a 1-Year Microsoft Office 365 Personal. Office apps will run smoothly on Microsoft Surface 3.

Will the new Surface Dock work with Surface 3?

No, The new Surface Dock required a new Surface Connect interface, which isn’t available on Surface 3.

Does Surface 3 run Windows 10?

Yes, it does. Surface 3 shipped with a full version of Windows 8.1 and can be upgraded to Windows 10 for free.

Can you download apps on Surface 3?

Yes, you can. You can download safe and Microsoft-verified apps and games from Microsoft Store. Since it’s a full version of Windows, you can also download and install any apps from any source you’d like to.

Does Surface 3 run full Windows?

Yes, Surface 3 comes with full Windows 8.1.

How do I reset my Surface 3?

To reset your Surface 3 on Windows 10, plug in your Surface 3 so you don’t run out of power during the refresh.

1. Open Settings > Update & Security.
2. Select Recovery.
3. Under “Reset this PC“, select “Get started.”
4. Choose either “Keep my files” or “Remove everything.”
5. If you Remove everything, you can clean only the drive where Windows is installed and all drives.
6. Next, you can select “Just remove my files” and “Remove files and clean the drive.” The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, you should clean the drive if you recycle your Surface. If you are keeping your Surface, you can just remove your files.
7. Select Reset.
   Surface 3 will restart, and the Surface logo will appear during the reset process (this can take several minutes).

Is Microsoft Office free on Surface 3?

No, the 10.8-inch Surface 3 comes with a 1-Year Office 365 Personal subscription, so you must renew the subscription to continue using the full Office suite when the free period ends.

Does Surface 3 need antivirus?

In most cases, you don’t need a third-party antivirus. Windows 10 on Surface 3 has a built-in Windows Defender for virus and threat protection. It’s free and receives definition updates regularly via Windows Update.

Is the Surface 3 a tablet or a laptop?

It’s a 2-in-1 tablet or laptop. It can be a tablet or laptop connected to a Surface 3 Type Cover.

What is the company that makes Surface 3?

Surface 3 is a product among other Surface-branded products made by Microsoft.

Can I use older Surface Pro pens on Surface 3?

No, you can’t. Microsoft has adopted a new N-trig technology on Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3, which is incompatible with the Wacom technology used on older Surface Pen.

What is the difference between Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3?

Here are some major differences between Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3:

• Released Date: Surface Pro 3 was released on June 20, 2014, while Surface 3 was released on May 5, 2015.
• Performance: Surface Pro 3 uses the latest 4-Gen Intel Core i5 processors while Surface 3 uses Intel® Cherry Trail Quad Core Atom.
• Design: Surface 3 is thinner and lighter, with the new Microsoft logo on the kickstand and a 3-position kickstand.
• Display Surface Pro 3 has a 12-inch ClearType display (2160 x 1440), while Surface 3 has a 10.8-inch ClearType Full HD Plus display (1920 x 1280).

What is the difference between Surface 3 and Surface Go?

Here are some major differences between Surface 3 and Surface Go:

• Released Date: Surface Go was released on August 2, 2018, while Surface 3 was released on May 5, 2015.
• Performance: Surface Go uses the latest 7th Gen Intel® Pentium® Gold Processor while Surface 3 uses Intel® Cherry Trail Quad Core Atom.
• Design: Surface Go is a thinner, lighter, and multi-position kickstand compared to Surface 3, which has only a 3-position kickstand.
• Display: Surface Go has a 10-inch PixelSense™ Display (1800x 1200), while Surface 3 has a 10.8-inch ClearType Full HD Plus display (1920 x 1280).

For more information, check: Surface Go Type Cover vs. Surface 3 Type Cover