Microsoft reveals Surface Pro 3

Microsoft has unveiled the latest in its Surface tablet line, claiming the Surface Pro 3 will be the tablet that can at last completely replace your laptop.

Business Insider attended Microsoft’s New York City event this week, reporting the SP3 boasts a 12-inch screen (up from the Pro 2’s 10.6-inch screen). The move goes the opposite way of what some expected to be an announcement regarding a rival for Apple’s iPad Mini.

The hardware runs on the new Intel Core i7 chip, packs a silent fan, and supports external displays and monitors as well. It will be Microsoft’s thinnest tablet yet at 9.1mm, and weighs just 800 grams.

The firm is aiming to take a bite out of the laptop market with the new device. Panos Panay, head of Microsoft’s Surface team, specifically pointed out that 96 per cent of people who own an iPad also own a laptop.

The Surface Pro 3 goes on sale this week, starting at $799.