Comparing Microsoft's Surface Pro 2 to the new Surface Pro 3

Microsoft has announced a successor to the Surface Pro 2. Let's see how the new tablet stacks up against its older sibling.

Lighter, faster, stronger -- the Surface Pro 3 is here, and Microsoft wants it to be the tablet that finally replaces your laptop.
Of course, we've heard that all before. But at a press event on Tuesday, Microsoft laid out its case: the Surface Pro 3 is a scant 9.1mm thick, making it the thinnest piece of hardware to ever pack an Intel Core processor. It also weighs 1.7 pounds, a hair slimmer than its predecessor. The tablet's 12-inch screen sports a 2,160x1,440-pixel resolution, and a thinner optical layer, to cut down on all of that input lag between the screen and the digital pen.
HANDS-ON WITH THE MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 3 (PICTURES) SEE FULL GALLERY
 

Better still, the rear hinge of the Surface has been redesigned with a friction hinge that allows the tablet to lean back a full 150 degrees -- this promises to make using a Surface and its keyboard cover in your lap a feasible prospect.
MORE SURFACE PRO 3 COVERAGE
Surface Pro 3: 12-inch 3:2 screen, starts at $799, preorders start May 21 (hands-on)Microsoft: Surface Pro 3 will replace your laptopWhat Microsoft didn't announce today: An ARM-based Surface MiniSurface Pro 3 pen could be hint of Mini to comeIs it time to spring for a Surface tablet? Or maybe you already own of a Surface Pro 2 -- do you really need to upgrade? We'll have answers to those questions and more once we get some time to test the hardware, but be sure to check out our first look at the new device.
For now, we must be content to ogle over the specs on the comparison chart below.
MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 2 VS. SURFACE PRO 3

Surface Pro 2	Surface Pro 3
Size	10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53 inches	12.0 x 7.93 x 0.36 inches
Display	10.6-inch, 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution	12-inch, 2,160x1,440-pixel resolution
Processor	Fourth-gen Intel Core i5	Fourth-gen Intel Core i3, i5, or i7
Graphics	Intel HD 4400	Intel HD 4400
RAM	4GB, up to 8GB	4GB, up to 8GB
Connectivity	802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE	802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE
Storage	64GB SSD, up to 512GB	64GB SSD, up to 512GB
Weight	2 pounds	1.8 pounds
Battery Life	Reported 7 hours of video playback	Reported 9 hours of Web-browsing
Price	Starts at $899 (64GB, Core i5)	Starts at $799 (64GB, Core i3)