Report: Microsoft Surface Pro 3 to feature Intel processors, start at $799

Report: Microsoft Surface Pro 3 to feature Intel processors, start at $799

The third Surface Pro incarnations are expected to have larger screens and newly designed covers available in four different colors.

With two days to go until the highly anticipated Microsoft press conference, the latest speculation has the company introducing five new Surface Pro 3 tablets, all carrying Intel Haswell processors.

On May 9, CNET confirmed with an anonymous source that a new Intel-based Surface was looming ahead along with Qualcomm-powered devices. The Intel processor would be “a new power-optimized Haswell variant,” according to the source, not an Atom processor such as Intel’s Bay Trail.

Microsoft has so far used Intel processors in all of its Surface Pro models, with Surface Pro 2 powered by Intel Core i5-4300U processor. Still, the company has managed to eek out only 1 to 2 percent of the tablet market share, with the Apple iPad and Google Android tablets outselling Microsoft’s offerings.

While the debut of the Surface “mini” is billed as the main attraction at Tuesday’s event in New York, new details are emerging about the jumbo tablet, Surface Pro 3. If the rumors are true, the base unit will carry an Intel Core i3 chip with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage for $799, according to Ubergizmo.

A Core i5 with 128GB storage upgrade will retail for $999 while the top-of-the-line Surface Pro 3 will be equipped with a Core i7 chip, 8GB RAM and 512GB storage and retail at $1,949. Some variations may be offered, with Core i5 and i7 tablets with 256GB storage priced $1299 and $1549.

Other specifications for the 12-inch Surface Pro 3 includes slim bezels, a Windows button on the vertical side, and new Type covers. According to WPCentral, the covers will be available in black, purple, cyan and red colors (The red is a Microsoft Exclusive, likely only available at Microsoft stores).

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