Could Microsoft finally have got it right with the Surface Pro 3? The tech giant has been trying to persuade people that its Windows 8 device is a serious contender for both tablet and laptop users, with varying degrees of success. The Windows RT Surface did too little for some people; the Surface Pro was a little on the pricey side for the average user.

But the Surface Pro 3 could just do it for Microsoft – the Surface Pro 3 has the MacBook Air firmly in its sights. And it may just be able to challenge Apple’s lightweight device.

Lighter and thinner than the previous Pro devices, the Pro 3 certainly looks the part. The black casing has been replaced with a magnesium alloy body that looks more premium than its predecessors. There are a few minor tweaks – the Start button has been moved on the bezel, and the kickstand is no longer limited to just two positions – but overall the Surface Pro 3 makes enough of a leap to make it worth the investment.

There are a few configurations available, starting with a 64GB Core i3 version and ranging up to a 512GB Core i7 chip model.

The good . . .

The most noticeable thing about the Surface Pro 3 is the screen. It’s bigger, at 12 inches to the Pro 2’s 10.6 inch screen. And gone is the 16:9 aspect ratio, which was great for watching films or using Microsoft Word; instead the Pro 3 has a 3:2 screen ratio that is designed to mimic an A4 page.

The screen itself has been improved over the preceding models too. There’s less glare and a better viewing angle than before. The boost in size also means that there is a higher pixel per inch count – not much of a bump, at 216ppi from the previous 206ppi, but it’s there. Looking at the screen, it’s crisp and clear, with good colour reproduction.

That improvement extends to the use of the Surface Pen. The new version, which connects via Bluetooth, is more accurate than before both for writing and for selecting items. The pen also gives you an easy way into One Note – double click the end of the pen and it will allow you to start taking notes even if the Surface is locked.

On the performance side of things, the more you spend the more you get, But in general, the Pro 3 was fast and responsive, multitasking like a proper laptop.

The bad . . .

The new look for the Surface Pro 3 also means new accessories. That will mean extra expense if you’re already a Pro user because those covers don’t quite fit and the pen won’t work with the new Pro 3. However, you can snap in the keyboard covers from the Surface Pro 2 to use – they just don’t fit the screen as well as the Pro 3 versions.

The charger is also different, but it’s less fiddly than before, so that change sits firmly in the “improvement” camp.

Although the pen is included in the box, the keyboard cover is still an additional expense. If Microsoft wants to persuade laptop owners that this hybrid can be all things to them, it might want to consider including the keyboard cover as part of the package.

However, it’s worth noting that you aren’t limited to Microsoft’s keyboard cover if you need a regular keyboard. Thanks to the inclusion of a USB 3.0 port, you can connect a regular keyboard too. The Type cover, however, is far more convenient.

Battery life could be better too; Microsoft’s official specs claim nine hours, but only for web browsing. This is where the hybrid device gets the worst of both worlds. As a tablet you know it can do better, but using it as a laptop will kill your battery life more quickly than you’d expect. Taxing it too much will also result in quite a bit of heat being generated from the device.

. . . and the rest

The Surface has only one USB connection, but it also includes a Micro SD card reader and a mini HDMI port. That makes it instantly more useful than a regular tablet, which rarely include USB or HDMI connections.

There are also two five megapixel cameras for Skype calls and web conferencing, and HD video is offered at 1080p.

Microsoft may still have a task on its hands to persuade people that the laptop/tablet hybrid is the way to go. Do people want touchscreen laptops? Maybe, maybe not. But then who would have predicted the success of the iPad and the subsequent slew of tablets in its wake?

The verdict

HHHH

As a competitor to the MacBook Air, the Surface Pro 3 is about as close as Microsoft has got yet to hitting the nail on the head.