Surface Pro 3 vs Surface Pro 2 | Pocketnow

First, we'll start with the new features that are just fantastic and make the Surface Pro 2 look like old news. The screen!! I love the 12" screen on the Surface Pro 3. This is the size of the screen that I've been used to on my older Windows tablets that were running Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. The 3 by 2 aspect ratio may seem too roomy in some of the Metro apps, but in desktop programs like Premiere Pro, InDesign, and Illustrator, it's perfect. The Surface Pro 2's 10.6" wide-angle HD screen can feel a bit cramped vertically in programs like that. Another plus in terms of Metro apps is that with the Surface Pro 3, you can snap up to 4 side by side as opposed to only 2 on the Surface Pro 2.

Next is the thickness and weight. The Surface Pro 3 put's the Surface Pro 2's thickness to shame. I was actually very happy with the Surface Pro's thickness and weight. It made my older Windows Tablets feel enormous. The Surface Pro 3 now makes the Surface Pro 2 feel enormous. The Surface Pro 2 is about 13.5 millimeters thick. The Surface Pro 3 reduces that by 4.4 millimeters. That's close to a 30% reduction in thickness. The Surface Pro 2 is also 907 grams, versus the Pro 3's 800 grams.

Now, let's look at the new kickstand. Like the Surface 2, the Surface Pro 2 had two angles that the kickstand could click into. With the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft has extended the variable viewing angles for the kickstand considerably. The first angle pops out very easily, but then adjustments become much stiffer so you'll need a bit more force to find your desired kickstand angle. That's not a bad thing at all since you've got a much larger amount of control for your viewing angle.

In terms of performance, both my Surface Pro 2 and Surface Pro 3 have very similar configurations. They have 4th generation Core i5-4300U 2.5Ghz Haswell processors, 8Gb of RAM, 256Gb storage and the battery life can generally last all day without having to plug in. Both have the same Intel HD4400 GPU as well, but the Surface Pro 3 is available in other configurations that offer even more horsepower if that's what you're looking for.

The charger for the Surface Pro 3 is much better than the previous charger. The new one uses a completely new slot-like magnetic connector and it's much easier to connect to the device (though still pretty difficult in the dark). Both chargers still have the awesome extra USB port on the brick for charging a phone.

In terms of other specifications, the Surface Pro 3 has 5 megapixel cameras on the front and back, while the Surface Pro 2 has two 720p HD cameras. The Surface Pro 3 also upgrades the speakers for front-facing which gives you great stereo audio. The Surface Pro 2 speakers, while nice and loud, were on the sides.

Because the Surface Pro 3 has a larger screen area than the Pro 2 and previous Surface tablets, Microsoft had to make larger Type covers, too. The new type covers are still sold separately so that you can choose the color you want, or just not get one and use some other keyboard instead. It still has the backlit keys and a nice soft material on the back, but now there's a new trackpad. Because the keyboard is bigger, Microsoft was able to make the trackpad 68% larger and it's also a nice smooth plastic instead of the cloth like material. So, if for some reason you actually would rather use a trackpad instead of the much more efficient touch screen or stylus, you'll like the improvements here.

That brings us to the new stylus on the Surface Pro 3. The original Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2, both use an inexpensive version of Wacom's Cintiq digitizer technology. Wacom's stylus tablet tech has been the gold standard for graphic artists since the 20th century. Personally, I swear by it. With the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft switched the stylus digitizer technology to an N-Trig version. The advantages include a thinner screen, less of a visual gap between the stylus tip and pointer display, and supposedly better accuracy.

Another advantage is the new button on the end of the stylus that allows you to instantly launch into OneNote when the tablet is in sleep mode. That feature can be extremely useful and brings the tablet very close to being able to replace the ease of picking up a pad of paper and writing on it.

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Surface Pro 3 vs Surface Pro 2 | Pocketnow

PocketNow

[techlife]

1:54 R.I.P. Caterpillar. You will not be forgotten.

[TechInspected]

Hey Adam, great roundup there. Would like you to be a little bit more excited when talking though. Didn't seem fit that's all!

[pdid]

The Surface isn't really my thing, but I love watching Adam's no nonsense videos.

[revdrfoster]

I have been researching this item for some time. Today was the first time I compared the 2 and 3. This was the only video I watched and it was the only one I needed to watch. Excellent! Just what I needed. I have no complaints only compliments! Thanks!

[bohemianonck]

I sincerely love the diversity of pocket now team. They have the cool tech savvy dudes and the brilliantly informative nerds, though lately the line seems to be blurred. Keep up the good work mates

[andusensei]

Also, 1:52
I think you crushed a bug with the kickstand.

[lackadaisicale]

Most likable host ever! And nice review. But please adjust your sound, it is very low. Notice how the PocketNow intro jingle sounds crazy loud compared to you. That means that just as one has turned the volume up, after hearing you whisper through your intro, one gets blasted by a super loud Pocket Now jingle. I hope you understand the complaint.

[OFB]

You murdered that innocent little green bug at 1:55!! You monster!! Great review BTW!!

[SensorDelay]

Thank you, adding the stylist and "drawing on it" as part of the review. Not many video reviews talk about it enough.

[Wahbufet]

Hello pocketnow! Been a fan of your channel for quite sometime now... Can you have a comparison video between Ipad Air and Surface Pro 3? Or the Galaxy Note 10.1? I have been wanting a new tablet but I dunno which best suites me... thank you

[ManicLullaby]

Ok, so from what I'm hearing, the pro 3 doesn't have the same sensitivity the pro 2 does? I understand that you'd need the Wacom driver regardless for pressure sensitivity, but if I plan on using this tablet for light drawing on PS or PTS, the pro 2 would be the better route?

[Scerttle]

Glad to see a comparison from someone who unabashedly loves the Surface Pro 2. I love the heck out of my Surface Pro, so this is the perspective I was after...

[AdamBustin]

Great review. Really appreciate the in-depth look at Pro 2's Wacom digitizer vs Pro 3's N-Trig. 

[contactjesseg]

Great Review. First person to point out the Capacitive Windows button on the right being an inconvenience when writing right handed

[user]

Probably one of the best tablets out there, but the price is crazy!

[melvinmccl]

Poor little green bug at 1:42 - 1:55. Kicked by the kickstand! LOL!

[AminahRizwan]

When you said that the video was made using surface pro 3, do you mean the camera or the editing of the video?

[Spongegoose]

1:54 Oh no! Poor little worm thing... Anyways great video! I don't quite feel the same way I used to about my Surface Pro 2...

[joseo]

What if you're just gonna use it for school work and web browsing, surface pro2 should be fine right? I'm trying to save money.

[itwillcomesoon]

So, let's say I get either one, will it come with what kind of programs? :/ I'm an artist so...yeah. I have the feeling I bed to buy photoshop separately..