Introduction:
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is a 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrid that Microsoft released in May 2014. It is part of the Surface Pro series and is the third iteration in the lineup. The device is designed to bridge the gap between traditional laptops and tablets, offering a powerful computing experience with the flexibility of a tablet.
Design And Display:
The Surface Pro 3 features a sleek and premium design, with a magnesium alloy body that gives it a durable and stylish look.
The device weighs around 1.76 pounds (800 grams) and is just 0.36 inches (9.1mm) thick, making it one of the thinnest and lightest 2-in-1 devices at the time of its release. This slim profile, along with its detachable keyboard cover, makes it highly portable and ideal for on-the-go professionals.
The display is a standout feature of the Surface Pro 3. It boasts a 12-inch ClearType Full HD Plus display with a resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels, providing crisp and vibrant visuals. The aspect ratio is 3:2, which makes it suitable for both productivity tasks and media consumption.
Performance And Hardware:
Under the hood, the Surface Pro 3 packs various configurations of Intel processors, ranging from Intel Core i3 to i7, making it a powerful device capable of handling demanding tasks such as video editing, graphic design, and multitasking.
Coupled with up to 16GB of RAM and SSD storage options up to 512GB, the Surface Pro 3 delivers a smooth and responsive user experience.
Pen And Touch:
One of the highlights of the Surface Pro 3 is its pen input capability. Microsoft developed the Surface Pen, which is a pressure-sensitive digital stylus that comes bundled with the device. The Surface Pen offers a natural and accurate writing experience, making it great for note-taking, sketching, and digital artwork.
The Surface Pro 3’s display is designed to detect 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, providing precise control for creative tasks.
Operating System:
At its launch, the Surface Pro 3 came with Windows 8.1 Pro pre-installed, providing a full desktop operating system experience. Since then, it has received updates to newer versions of Windows, making it compatible with the latest software and features.
Connectivity And Ports:
In terms of connectivity, the Surface Pro 3 includes a full-size USB 3.0 port, a microSD card reader, a Mini DisplayPort for video output, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a cover port for attaching the Type Cover keyboard. Additionally, it supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity.
Battery Life:
The battery life of the Surface Pro 3 varies depending on the usage and configuration, but it generally offers around 7-9 hours of usage on a single charge. While not the best-in-class battery life, it was reasonably good considering the device’s power and portability.
Type Cover Keyboard:
The Type Cover is an essential accessory for the Surface Pro 3, turning it into a laptop-like experience when needed. It is a thin, detachable keyboard cover that magnetically attaches to the bottom bezel of the device. The keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience and includes a trackpad for precise cursor control.
Overall, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 was a well-received device that successfully merged the capabilities of a laptop and a tablet into one compact and powerful package. Its impressive display, performance, and pen input made it popular among students, professionals, and creative users alike.
While newer Surface Pro models have been released since then, the Surface Pro 3 remains a capable device for those seeking a versatile and portable computing solution.
Best Apps For Microsoft Surface Pro 3 in 2024:
Here’s the list of 20+ Best Apps for Microsoft Surface pro 3 in 2023 and 2024:
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Microsoft Edge
- Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
- OneDrive
- Evernote
- Drawboard PDF
- Netflix
- Microsoft To-Do
- VLC media player
- Spotify
- Sketchable
- Autodesk Sketchbook
- Microsoft Photos
- Microsoft Sticky Notes
- Microsoft Whiteboard
- Microsoft Remote Desktop
- Trello
- Kindle
1. Microsoft Office Suite:
Microsoft Office Suite on the Surface Pro 3 offers a powerful and versatile productivity experience. With the suite’s applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, users can create and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and notes with ease.
The touch-friendly interface of Office Suite complements the Surface Pro 3’s design, making it intuitive to use both in laptop and tablet modes. Whether it’s for work, school, or personal tasks, the integration between Office apps and the Surface Pen provides a seamless digital writing and note-taking experience.
With the Surface Pro 3’s portability and performance, combined with the robust capabilities of Microsoft Office Suite, users have a powerful tool for productivity on the go. The perfect blend of productivity and portability, empowering users with essential tools for work on the go.
2. Microsoft Edge:
Microsoft Edge on the Surface Pro 3 is a fast and efficient web browser that enhances the browsing experience on the device. With its touch-friendly interface and smooth navigation, users can easily interact with web pages using touch or the Surface Pen.
Edge comes with useful features such as PDF markup and web page annotation, making it a valuable tool for productivity. The browser’s integration with Cortana, Microsoft’s digital assistant, allows users to perform quick searches and get relevant information without leaving the current page.
Microsoft Edge’s power-saving mode also helps optimize battery life on the Surface Pro 3, making it ideal for extended use. Overall, Edge offers a seamless web browsing experience, enhancing the capabilities of the Surface Pro 3 as a versatile and productive device. A fast and touch-friendly browser, seamlessly complementing productivity and browsing on the go.
3. Adobe Creative Cloud Suite:
Adobe Creative Cloud Suite is a powerhouse of design tools at your fingertips. Seamless touch integration and the Surface Pen make creating, editing, and designing a breeze. Adobe Creative Cloud Suite on the Surface Pro 3 is a powerful collection of creative applications that empowers users to bring their artistic visions to life.
The suite includes popular software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro, which cater to graphic design, photo editing, and video editing needs. The Surface Pro 3’s high-resolution and touch-enabled display, along with the precise input of the Surface Pen, enhances the creative process by providing a natural and intuitive experience.
Whether it’s retouching photos, designing illustrations, or editing videos, the combination of Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and the Surface Pro 3 offers a portable and capable solution for creative professionals and enthusiasts alike.
4. OneDrive:
OneDrive on the Surface Pro 3 is a cloud storage service provided by Microsoft that seamlessly integrates with the device and offers users a convenient and secure way to store, access, and share their files and documents.
With OneDrive, users can easily save their files to the cloud and access them from any device with an internet connection, making it ideal for those who need to work on the go.
The Surface Pro 3’s portability is further enhanced with OneDrive’s synchronization, ensuring that files are up-to-date across all devices. Additionally, OneDrive allows easy sharing of files and folders with colleagues and friends, simplifying collaboration.
With the generous storage options and the ability to work offline, OneDrive enhances the Surface Pro 3’s capabilities as a versatile and productive device for various tasks. It seamlessly store, sync, and access files from anywhere, empowering productivity on the go.
5. Evernote:
Evernote on the Surface Pro 3 is a powerful and versatile note-taking app that allows users to capture and organize their ideas, notes, and tasks in one place. With its intuitive interface and smooth touch navigation, Evernote offers a seamless user experience on the device.
Users can create text notes, add images, audio recordings, and even handwritten notes using the Surface Pen, making it perfect for creative professionals and students.
Evernote’s robust organization features, such as notebooks, tags, and search functionality, help users keep their notes well-structured and easily accessible.
The app also syncs across devices, ensuring that notes are always up-to-date and accessible from anywhere. Whether it’s for jotting down ideas, saving web articles for later, or collaborating on projects, Evernote is a valuable tool that complements the versatility of the Surface Pro 3 and enhances productivity for users of all backgrounds.
It seamlessly capture ideas with the Surface Pen and stay organized across all your devices. The perfect duo for productivity on the go.
6. Drawboard PDF:
Drawboard PDF on the Surface Pro 3 is a feature-rich and powerful app designed specifically for annotating and editing PDF documents. With its touch-friendly interface and support for the Surface Pen, Drawboard PDF provides an intuitive and natural writing experience on the device.
Users can highlight text, underline, strike through, and add comments using various ink and shape tools, making it ideal for reviewing and marking up documents. Additionally, the app offers features like text insertion, bookmarking, and page manipulation, enhancing the overall document management experience.
Drawboard PDF’s smooth and precise performance on the Surface Pro 3, coupled with its cloud integration, ensures seamless collaboration and access to files from anywhere. Whether it’s for business professionals, students, or creative enthusiasts,
Drawboard PDF is a valuable tool that complements the Surface Pro 3’s capabilities and elevates productivity in handling PDF documents. An intuitive and precise tool for annotating PDFs with the natural feel of pen and paper, enhancing productivity and collaboration.
7. Netflix:
Netflix on the Surface Pro 3 is a popular and widely-used streaming app that provides an excellent platform for users to enjoy a vast collection of movies, TV shows, and documentaries.
With the Surface Pro 3’s high-resolution display and immersive audio capabilities, Netflix offers a delightful viewing experience, whether in laptop or tablet mode. The touch-friendly interface of the app allows for easy navigation and control, making it effortless to browse content, play, pause, and adjust settings with just a tap or swipe.
Users can create personalized profiles and access their watchlist across devices, ensuring a seamless viewing experience whether at home or on the go. With a broad range of content to choose from and the flexibility of the Surface Pro 3, Netflix is an ideal companion for entertainment and relaxation, making it a perfect match for users seeking both productivity and leisure on their device.
A cinematic duo for streaming, with stunning visuals on the high-resolution display and touch convenience at your fingertips.
8. Microsoft To-Do:
Microsoft To Do on the Surface Pro 3 is a simple yet powerful task management app that helps users stay organized and focused. With its clean and intuitive interface, To Do allows users to create and manage to-do lists, set due dates, and add reminders, making it easy to keep track of daily tasks and responsibilities.
The app synchronizes seamlessly across devices, ensuring that tasks are always up-to-date and accessible from anywhere. Users can organize tasks into different lists and customize them with colors and tags for better categorization.
Microsoft To Do’s integration with Microsoft 365 services like Outlook and Microsoft Teams enhances productivity by allowing users to convert emails into tasks and collaborate with others on shared tasks.
Whether it’s for personal use or work-related projects, Microsoft To Do complements the Surface Pro 3’s capabilities and provides a streamlined and efficient task management solution for users on the go. Its a seamless productivity companion for your on-the-go lifestyle.
9. VLC Media Player:
VLC Media Player on the Surface Pro 3 is a versatile and reliable media player that offers a seamless multimedia experience on the device. With its support for a wide range of audio and video formats, VLC ensures that users can play almost any media file without the need for additional codecs or plugins.
The touch-friendly interface of VLC complements the Surface Pro 3’s design, providing smooth navigation and easy control of playback using touch gestures. The player’s robust performance and hardware acceleration capabilities ensure smooth playback, even for high-definition videos.
Additionally, VLC offers features such as subtitle support, audio and video synchronization adjustments, and playlist management, making it a comprehensive media solution for users’ entertainment needs.
Whether it’s for watching movies, listening to music, or streaming online content, VLC Media Player is a valuable addition to the Surface Pro 3, elevating the multimedia experience on the device. It makes you enjoy all your favorite videos and audio with its versatile format support and touch-friendly interface.
10. Flipboard:
Flipboard on the Surface Pro 3 is a visually engaging and user-friendly news aggregator app that curates content based on users’ interests. With its touch-optimized interface and smooth navigation, Flipboard offers a seamless reading experience on the device.
Users can customize their news feed by selecting topics, publications, and social media sources they are interested in, ensuring that they receive relevant and up-to-date articles, news stories, and multimedia content. The app’s magazine-style layout and beautiful visuals make reading a pleasure, while its integration with various social platforms enables easy sharing of articles and content with others.
Flipboard on the Surface Pro 3 is an excellent tool for staying informed and up-to-date on various topics, making it a valuable addition to the device for those seeking an enjoyable and personalized news reading experience. A visually captivating news aggregator, curating content effortlessly at your fingertips for a personalized and immersive reading experience.
11. Spotify:
Spotify on the Surface Pro 3 is a popular and versatile music streaming app that offers a vast library of songs, playlists, and podcasts at users’ fingertips. With its user-friendly interface and touch-friendly controls, Spotify provides a seamless music listening experience on the device.
Whether it’s discovering new artists, creating personalized playlists, or exploring curated collections, Spotify’s extensive music collection caters to a wide range of tastes and preferences.
The app’s offline mode allows users to download their favorite music for on-the-go listening, making it ideal for travelers and those in areas with limited internet connectivity.
The Surface Pro 3’s high-quality display and audio capabilities enhance the enjoyment of music, making Spotify a fantastic companion for entertainment and relaxation on the device.
12. Sketchable:
Sketchable on the Surface Pro 3 is a powerful and user-friendly digital sketching and drawing app tailored for creative artists and designers. With its intuitive interface and touch-friendly controls, Sketchable offers a natural and responsive drawing experience on the Surface Pro 3’s high-resolution and pressure-sensitive display.
The app supports various brushes, pens, and colors, providing a wide range of creative tools to unleash artistic expression. Users can work with multiple layers, import images for reference, and export their creations in various formats, making it suitable for both professional projects and personal artwork.
Sketchable integration with the Surface Pen ensures precise control and sensitivity, making it easy to create intricate details and fluid strokes. Whether it’s sketching, illustrating, or digital painting, Sketchable is a valuable app that complements the Surface Pro 3’s capabilities and elevates the creative potential for artists on-the-go.
It allows user to unleash your creativity with precision and fluidity, turning your device into a digital canvas for stunning artworks.
13. Autodesk Sketchbook:
Autodesk Sketchbook on the Surface Pro 3 is a powerful and intuitive digital sketching and drawing application, tailored to take advantage of the device’s touch and pen capabilities.
With a wide range of brushes, pens, and other creative tools, SketchBook offers artists and designers a versatile platform for creating stunning digital artwork. The Surface Pro 3’s high-resolution display and pressure sensitivity of the Surface Pen provide a natural and precise drawing experience.
Whether sketching on the go or working on intricate illustrations, Sketchbook’s user-friendly interface and responsive performance make it an excellent choice for creative professionals and hobbyists alike.
With the ability to save and sync projects across devices, SketchBook complements the portability and versatility of the Surface Pro 3, offering a seamless creative experience for artists on-the-move.
It’s where precision meets artistic expression for stunning digital artwork. Harness the power of touch and the Surface Pen to bring your imagination to life on the go.
14. Microsoft Photos:
Microsoft Photos on the Surface Pro 3 is a built-in app that provides users with a convenient and user-friendly way to organize, edit, and share their photos and videos.
With its touch-friendly interface, users can easily navigate through their media collection and view images and videos with crisp clarity on the device’s high-resolution display. The app offers basic editing tools such as cropping, rotating, and applying filters to enhance photos.
Users can also create albums, add tags, and search for specific images, making it easy to keep their media library well-organized. Furthermore, Microsoft Photos supports cloud integration, allowing users to access their media across devices and share their favorite moments with friends and family.
Whether it’s managing personal photos or creating memorable slideshows, Microsoft Photos is a versatile and valuable app that complements the Surface Pro 3’s multimedia capabilities.
It offers seamless photo and video organization with touch-friendly controls, making it effortless to cherish and share your memories.
15. Pocket:
Pocket app on the Surface Pro 3 is a convenient and versatile tool that allows users to save articles, web pages, and other online content for later reading.
With its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with the web browser, users can easily save interesting content with a simple click. Pocket’s offline access feature enables users to read saved articles even when they are not connected to the internet, making it perfect for on-the-go reading.
The app offers a clutter-free reading experience by removing ads and unnecessary distractions from the saved content. Furthermore, Pocket’s organization tools, such as tags and folders, help users keep their saved content well-structured and easy to find.
Whether it’s for research, leisure reading, or staying up-to-date with favorite websites, Pocket app on the Surface Pro 3 is an essential companion that enhances productivity and keeps users informed wherever they go.
It’s your portable library, saving articles for offline reading and easy access on the go.
16. Microsoft Sticky Notes:
Microsoft Sticky Notes on the Surface Pro 3 is a simple yet effective app for digital note-taking and organization. It allows users to create virtual sticky notes on their device, just like physical sticky notes on a desk or bulletin board.
With the Surface Pen and touch capabilities, users can write, draw, and add sketches directly onto the notes, making it a convenient tool for jotting down quick ideas, to-do lists, or reminders. The app also offers features such as color coding, syncing across devices, and the ability to pin notes on the desktop, keeping important information easily accessible.
Microsoft Sticky Notes seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft apps and services, enhancing its usefulness for users who want to stay organized and productive on their Surface Pro 3.
An efficient and digital way to jot down quick reminders and ideas, keeping you organized and on track throughout your day.
17. Microsoft Whiteboard:
Microsoft Whiteboard on the Surface Pro 3 is a collaborative digital canvas that allows users to brainstorm, ideate, and work together in real-time. With its touch-enabled interface and compatibility with the Surface Pen, Microsoft Whiteboard offers a natural and engaging experience on the device.
Users can sketch, draw, write, and add sticky notes, creating a dynamic visual workspace. The app’s seamless integration with other Microsoft tools and cloud storage ensures easy sharing and collaboration with colleagues or friends, even when they are in different locations.
Microsoft Whiteboard enhances the Surface Pro 3’s productivity capabilities, making it an excellent tool for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and creative projects, empowering users to bring their ideas to life in a collaborative and efficient manner.
It unleashes your creativity with Microsoft Whiteboard on the Surface Pro 3, a collaborative digital canvas that fosters innovation and team collaboration through seamless ideation and brainstorming.
Turn your Surface Pro 3 into a powerful hub for interactive and engaging group discussions with the intuitive touch and pen input of Microsoft Whiteboard.
18. Microsoft Remote Desktop:
Microsoft Remote Desktop on the Surface Pro 3 is a powerful and convenient application that allows users to access and control their desktop or remote computer from the device. With its user-friendly interface, users can establish a secure connection to their work or home PC, granting them access to files, applications, and resources from anywhere with an internet connection.
This feature is particularly beneficial for those who need to access their work computer while on the go or when working from a different location. The Surface Pro 3’s portability, combined with the smooth and responsive performance of Microsoft Remote Desktop, provides a seamless experience, enabling users to stay productive and connected to their desktop environment with ease.
Whether it’s for accessing files or running specific software, Microsoft Remote Desktop complements the capabilities of the Surface Pro 3, making it an essential tool for remote work and flexibility. It unlocks seamless access to your desktop from anywhere, empowering productivity on the go with a familiar and secure connection.
19. Trello:
Trello on the Surface Pro 3 is a highly effective project management app that allows users to organize tasks and projects in a visual and intuitive manner. With its user-friendly interface, Trello provides a virtual board system where users can create lists and cards to represent different tasks and their stages.
Users can easily drag and drop cards between lists to track progress and update project status. The touch-enabled capabilities of the Surface Pro 3 make it easy to navigate and interact with Trello’s boards and cards.
Additionally, Trello offers collaboration features, allowing multiple users to work on the same board simultaneously, making it an excellent tool for team projects and remote collaboration.
Trello’s versatility and seamless integration with the Surface Pro 3 make it a valuable app for individuals and teams seeking an organized and efficient way to manage projects and stay on top of their tasks. Trello on the Surface Pro 3 is streamlined project management with an intuitive visual interface.
Organize tasks, collaborate seamlessly, and boost productivity on the go. Enhance teamwork and stay on top of projects with Trello’s user-friendly app.
20. Kindle:
Kindle on the Surface Pro 3 offers a versatile and immersive reading experience, allowing users to access a vast library of e-books, magazines, and newspapers. The app’s integration with the Surface Pro 3’s high-resolution display and touch capabilities ensures crisp text and easy navigation through pages, making it feel like reading from a physical book.
Kindle also provides customizable features like font size, background color, and adjustable margins to suit individual reading preferences. With the ability to sync across devices, users can seamlessly switch between their Surface Pro 3 and other devices while keeping their reading progress up-to-date.
Kindle’s extensive collection and user-friendly interface make it a valuable companion for book lovers and avid readers, enhancing the Surface Pro 3’s versatility beyond productivity tasks.
The Kindle app on the Surface Pro 3 offers an extensive library of e-books, magazines, and newspapers, providing a versatile and immersive reading experience.
With its intuitive interface and touch-friendly features, users can enjoy crisp text and easy page navigation, making it feel like reading from a physical book.
The app’s customizable settings allow users to tailor their reading preferences, making it a valuable companion for book lovers and enhancing the Surface Pro 3’s capabilities beyond productivity tasks.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 proved to be a groundbreaking and influential device in the 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrid category. Its sleek and portable design, combined with a high-resolution display, made it a versatile and attractive choice for both productivity and media consumption.
The range of Intel processor options and generous RAM and storage configurations offered powerful performance for a variety of tasks, from everyday productivity to resource-intensive creative projects.
The inclusion of the Surface Pen and its integration with touch-friendly applications provided a unique and natural writing and drawing experience. Microsoft’s commitment to regular updates and software improvements further enhanced the user experience.
Though newer models have since been released, the Surface Pro 3’s impact on the market was significant, setting the standard for subsequent iterations.
It played a pivotal role in popularizing the concept of 2-in-1 devices and inspired competitors to create their own versions of versatile computing solutions.
The Surface Pro 3’s enduring legacy lies in its ability to bridge the gap between laptops and tablets, offering users the best of both worlds. As a result, it remains a fondly remembered and sought-after device for those seeking a powerful, portable, and flexible computing solution.