Surface 3 vs. Surface RT: Full specs comparison

Here is a comparison of the specs between Surface 3 and Surface RT, including CPU, RAM, storage, battery, display, and more.

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Surface 3 image

Surface 3

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Surface RT image

Surface RT

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Surface 3 Pros

Reasons that Surface 3 is better than Surface RT.

Significantly newer manufacturing

2015 vs. 2012

Supports larger memory

Surface 3 supports a larger memory capacity than the Surface RT. It supports up to 4GB versus 2GB of system memory on the Surface RT.

Max system memory size
Surface 3
4 GB
Surface RT
2 GB
About 9% lighter

Surface 3 weighed 1.37 pounds, 9% lighter than the 1.5 pounds Surface RT.

WeightSurface 3Surface RT
Pound
1.37 lbs.
1.5 lbs.
Kilogram
0.62 kg
0.68 kg

Surface RT Pros

We couldn't find any advantages of Surface RT over Surface 3.

Prices

Here are the latest price updates and offers for both devices.

Surface 3 Price
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13.5" Touch-Screen Intel Core i5-8GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive (PKX-00003) Matte Black (Renewed)
 Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13.5" Touch-Screen Intel Core i5-8GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive (PKX-00003) Matte Black (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$297.00
$319.00 7% OFF
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Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (128 GB, Intel Core i5) (Renewed)
 Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (128 GB, Intel Core i5) (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$185.00
$199.89 7% OFF
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Microsoft Surface 3 128GB WiFi Tablet 10.8" Intel Atom - Silver (Renewed)
 Microsoft Surface 3 128GB WiFi Tablet 10.8" Intel Atom - Silver (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$185.06
$199.94 7% OFF
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Surface RT Price
Microsoft Surface RT 32GB (Renewed)
 Microsoft Surface RT 32GB (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$99.00
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Microsoft Surface RT (32GB)
 Microsoft Surface RT (32GB)
By Microsoft
$210.00
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Microsoft Surface RT 64GB
 Microsoft Surface RT 64GB
By Microsoft
$319.99
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Specs Comparison

Availability

Surface 3Surface RT
Released20152012
Release Date
  • Introduced: March 21, 2015
  • Pre-ordered: March 21, 2015
  • Released: May 5, 2015
  • Introduced: June 18, 2012
  • Not available for pre-ordered
  • Released: October 26, 2012
PricingSurface 3 Wi-Fi
  • $499 - 2 GB | 64 GB
  • $599 - 4 GB | 128 GB
Surface 3 4G LTE
  • $599 - 2 GB | 64 GB
  • $699 - 4 GB | 128 GB
Surface RT
  • $499 - 2 GB | 32 GB
  • $599 - 2 GB | 64 GB
Surface RT with Black Touch Cover
  • $599 - 2 GB | 32 GB
  • $699 - 2 GB | 64 GB
Generations

Exterior

Surface 3Surface RT
Dimensions10.52” x 7.36” x 0.34” (267 mm x 187 mm x 8.7 mm)
Width: 10.52” (267 mm)
Height: 7.36” (187 mm)
Thickness: 0.34” (8.7 mm)
10.81” x 6.77” x 0.37” (275 mm x 172 mm x 9.4 mm)
Width: 10.81” (275 mm)
Height: 6.77” (172 mm)
Thickness: 0.37” (9.4 mm)
Weight
  • Surface 3: 1.37 lbs (621 g)
  • Surface 3 with Keyboard: 1.95 lbs (884 g)
1.5 lbs (680 g)
Colors
Silver
Dark Titanium
Keyboard and Trackpad
  • Surface Type Cover
    • Not included
  • Keyboard:
    • Activation: Moving (mechanical) keys
    • Layout: QWERTY, full row of function keys (F1-F12)
    • 4 directional keys; Windows and Media Controls Keys;
    • LED backlighting
  • Trackpad:
    • Precision glass trackpad.
    • Supports up to three-finger multitouch gesture.
  • Surface Type Cover
    • Not included
  • Keyboard:
    • Activation: Moving (mechanical) keys.
    • Layout: QWERTY, full row of function keys (F1-F12).
    • 4 directional keys; Windows and Media Controls Keys.
  • Trackpad:
    • Two-finger multitouch gesture trackpad.

Display

Surface 3Surface RT
Size10.8 Inches10.6 Inches
Info
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1280 (2.4M Pixels)
  • Density: 214 PPI
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2
  • Inking: supports Surface Pen
  • Touch: 10 points multi-touch
  • Resolution: 1366 x 768 (1M Pixels)
  • Density: 148 PPI
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • ClearType HD Display
  • Touch: 5 points multi-touch

Ports

Surface 3Surface RT
Surface 3 Ports
Image Source: Microsoft
Right (4)
  • 1 x USB-A
    USB 3.0 (5 Gbps)
  • 1 x Mini DisplayPort
  • 1 x Micro USB
    Charging Port
  • 1 x headphone jack
    Headphone/Microphone
Bottom (1)
  • 1 x Type Cover
Under Kickstand (2)
  • 1 x microSD card slot
  • 1 x nanoSIM card slot
    Surface 3 with LTE only, Optional
  • 1 x Full-size USB 2.0
  • 1 x microSD™ card reader
  • 1 x Surface Charging Port
  • 1 x Headset jack
  • 1 x Micro HDMI video out port
  • 1 x Cover port

Internal Specs

Surface 3Surface RT
Processor
  1. Intel® Atom™ x7-Z8700
    4 cores, 4 threads, 1.60 → 2.40 GHz, 2MB Cache, 2W
  1. NVIDIA Tegra 3
    4 cores, 1.30 → 1.40 GHz, 1MB Cache,
Integrated Graphics
  1. Intel® Atom™ x7-Z8700
    Intel® HD Graphics
    16 Execution Units, 20 → 600 MHz
  1. NVIDIA Tegra 3
    NVIDIA GeForce ULP graphics
    12 Graphics Cores,
Memory
2GB 4GB
1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM.
2GB of RAM
Storage
  • 64GB 128GB
    eMMC
  • 32GB 64GB
    Storage

Connectivity

Surface 3Surface RT
Wi-Fi
  • Wi-Fi 5: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible.
  • Wi-Fi 4: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n compatible.
Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth Wireless 4.0 technology
  • Bluetooth 4.0 low energy technology
MoreOptional LTE
  • Nano SIM Tray
  • GPS
  • Assisted GPS
  • GLONASS
-

Battery

Surface 3Surface RT
Size27.5 Wh31.5 Wh
Battery LifeUp to 10 hours of video playbackUp to 8 hours of video playback
Power Supply
  • 13W Micro USB power supply
  • 24W proprietary power supply

Software

Surface 3Surface RT
OS
  • Windows 8.1 Pro
  • Upgradable to Windows 10 Pro
  • Windows RT
  • Upgradeable to Windows RT 8.1 Update
Built-in Apps1-Year Microsoft Office 365 PersonalMicrosoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT

Camera & Audio

Surface 3Surface RT
Camera
  • 3.5MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video
  • 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video
  • 720p HD LifeCam front-facing camera with TrueColor Technology
  • 720p HD LifeCam rear-facing camera with TrueColor Technology
Audio
  • Single microphone
  • Front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby® Audio enhanced sound
  • Dual microphones
  • Stereo speakers

Misc

Surface 3Surface RT
InkingSupports Surface Pen
256 levels of pressure
N-trig Active Pen technology
-
Sensors
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Proximity sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Magnetometer
  • Digital compass
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Compass
In the box
  • Surface 3
  • Power supply
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety and warranty documents
  • Surface RT
  • Power supply
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety and warranty documents
Warranty
  • One-year limited hardware warranty
  • One-year limited hardware warranty
More
  • Casing: Magnesium
  • Kickstand: 3 positions
  • Physical buttons: volumes, power
  • Casing: VaporMg
  • Kickstand: 1 position at 22°
  • Physical buttons: volumes, power

Key Features

Surface 3Surface RT
At Glance
Released in Early
2015
3:2 FHD+
10.8”
1280p 60Hz
Weight
1.37 lb
0.62 kg
Powered By
Intel Atom x7-Z8700
4C/4T, 1.60 → 2.40 GHz
Geekbench 5
224
Single Core
Geekbench 5
776
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® HD Graphics
16 Execution Units, 20 → 600 MHz
Configurable up to
4GB
1600 MHz DDR3
Surface 3 Ports
Released in Mid
2012
16:9 HD
10.6”
768p 60Hz
Weight
1.5 lb
0.68 kg
Powered By
NVIDIA Tegra 3
4C/1.30 → 1.40 GHz
With integrated
NVIDIA GeForce ULP graphics
12 Graphics Cores
2GB
DDR3 Memory

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