A 12″ Screen, $799 Starting Price Tag

This morning at an event in New York City, Microsoft announced that it is releasing a new Surface device, the Surface Pro 3. The new tablet hybrid sports a 12″ screen, as expected.

Interestingly, the new PC has a Core i7 processor, so the thing should scream along. Microsoft claims that it is the “thinnest Core PC ever made.” Here it is:

Previously, it has been expected that Microsoft would release a smaller Surface device — the publicly named Surface Mini — but those rumors faded as time passed.

According to Microsoft’s Panos Panay, “This is the tablet that can replace your tablet.” The device sports a 3:2 aspect ratio instead of the 16:9 ratio that other Surfaces sport

Microsoft showed off the device in a video, revealing that it will be 9.1 millimeters thick, 45 percent louder than previous Surface devices (the speakers are now front-facing), and weigh 800 grams. As with other Surface Pros, it will accept pen input. It’s worth noting that the Surface Pro 3 is thinner than other Surface Pro devices, down from 10.3 millimeters.

The Surface Pro 3 has 10 percent “more performance” than the Surface Pro 2, despite being thinner and so forth.

The Macbook Air — Microsoft’s apparent product of comparison — is heavier than a Surface Pro 3 without a keyboard attached. It isn’t clear if that comparison would work with a Touch or Type cover.

Microsoft also announced a new docking station for the Surface Pro 3, with support for 4K display support.

Microsoft has changed the kickstand, so that it has a nearly lie-flat mode that will allow for people to write more comfortably. The new angle, 150 degrees, appears designed for pen work:

Also new today are Covers, sporting better trackpads (at last!). According to the company, the new Covers’ trackpads are 68 percent larger, and have 70 percent reduced friction. We’re going to need hands-on time to see how much better that is in reality, but the numbers are nice.