Das Surface 3 ist ein tolles Stück Technik. Design, Verarbeitung, das Display und auch die Performance können mich als Casual User absolut überzeugen. Geht es über den normalen Anwendungsbereich hinaus (...) kommt das Gerät stellenweise an seine Grenzen. ...

Microsoft's relatively affordable Atom x7-powered Surface 3 can 'work like a laptop when you need it', so long as you stick to mainstream workloads and remember that a keyboard is an extra-cost option.

Mit dem tollen Display, dem für Alltagsaufgaben absolut ausreichenden Prozessor und dem starken Akku präsentiert sich das Surface 3 von Microsoft im Test als sehr nützlicher Begleiter. ...

Mit 128 GByte Flashspeicher, Full-HD-Auflösung und 8 Megapixel-Kamera schindet das neue Microsoft Surface 3 im Test Eindruck, auch die Performance zeigt sich ordentlich. ...

Endlich ein richtiges Tablet von Microsoft! Das Surface 3 überzeugt, weil es mit einem Standard-Windows läuft, mehr Rechenleistung mitbringt als die meisten Windows-Tablets und deutlich besser verarbeitet ist. ...

Objectively, the Surface 3 is the best compromise between a laptop and tablet. It's a highly portable gadget which can run full Windows programs and it costs less than the Surface Pro 3. It's not exactly cheap by the time you've added the keyboard and stylus, though. It's also only good for lightweight duties - it's less powerful than laptops costing the same - and some people will find the screen is too small for 'proper' productivity.

[...] It may not have the speed or staying power of the larger Surface Pro 3, but if you're looking for a more wallet-friendly way of replacing your old laptop, the Surface 3 is a great choice.

And yet it's a perfectly good product. A solid construction with Full HD screen front and centre, ample processor and resulting battery life, added Surface Pen compatibility (sold separately), and with full Windows 8 on board (that'll be Windows 10 come the summer), there's little amiss. Yet despite ticking all those boxes, it's just not going to be the product to suit everyone. For those it matches, though, we have no doubt there will be lots of happy customers.

Think of the Surface 3 as a smaller, cheaper Surface Pro 3, with slightly disappointing battery life but surprisingly good performance.

Microsoft's Surface 3 is the purest distillation of its hybrid tablet/laptop concept yet. It packs in a healthy amount of functionality for its $499 price, though be ready to pay another $130 for its keyboard.