Microsoft's Surface 3 release date arrived amidst speculation concerning the Surface Pro 4, which is rumored to have specs surpassing that of the Surface Pro 3. In the mean time, the new Surface 3 is now available at the official Microsoft Store and Best Buy. Staples is also offering the Surface 3, though there is limited availability for in-store pick up. Be advised, the starting price for the Surface 3 is $499.

Surface 3 Specs and Features

Though it lacks the Surface Pro 3's performance, the Surface 3 still packs a powerful quad core 1.6 GHz Intel Atom CPU. Depending on the users' preference, the Surface 3 has either 2GB or 4GB of RAM. The device is more than adequate for the average web browsing, work, and entertainment.

Other features include 64GB or 128GB of internal memory. Also, the Surface 3 has USB 3.0, microSD, and Mini Display ports. The Surface 3 runs on the current Windows 8.1 OS. Even so, Microsoft will allow complimentary upgrades to Windows 10 when the OS launches this summer.

Surprisingly, the Surface 3 outperforms the Surface Pro 3 in connectivity. The Surface 3 can access the 4G (LTE) network, which is something the Pro 3 lacks. In addition, the device has 802.11ac WiFI and Bluetooth 4.0. Unlike the Surface Pro 3, the Surface 3's pen is sold separately.

Being the thinnest Surface model to date, the Surface 3 is only 8.7mm thick. Its 267 x 187mm dimension allows for easier one-hand operation. The only drawback to the Surface 3 is that its kickstand only has three positions, while the Surface Pro 3 is adjustable at virtually any angle.

Still, the Surface 3 is comparatively lighter - weighing in at just 1.37 lbs. This makes the device very compact and transportable.

Surface Pro 4 Rumors: Mid-May Release?

Though Microsoft has not confirmed its existence, the Surface Pro 4 is expected to be a worthy successor to the Surface Pro 3.

It is more than likely that Surface Pro 4 will have the same Intel i3, i5, and i7 processor options as the Pro 3. Currently, the market trend is pushing toward thinner and lighter devices. Hence, the Surface Pro 4 may be much thinner than the Pro 3. However, Microsoft will need to do this without significantly sacrificing performance. Regarding operating systems, the Surface Pro 4 may come installed with Windows 10.

However, the release date is uncertain. Based on an anonymous source, Geek Snack suggested a mid-May launch. Even so, the publication admitted that this information is odd considering that the date comes just after the Build 2015 conference. Simply put, there may not be sufficient time to push out the Surface Pro 4.