14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is getting ready to introduce the new Surface Pro 3 in stores across the world, so it shouldn't be such a big surprise the fact that the company now decided to cut the price of its predecessor.
The Surface Pro 2, which is the second most powerful tablet in Microsoft's lineup, is now $200 (€150) cheaper in the United States, thus getting in line with the pricing scheme available in some other markets, including the United Kingdom.
Here are the new pricing details of the Surface Pro 2 in the United States:
32 GB: $799 / €589 (down from $899 / €665) 64 GB: $899 / €665 (down from $999 / €765) 128 GB: $1,099 / €810 (down from $1,299 / €960) 256 GB: $1,599 / €1180 (down from $1,799 / €1325)
As compared to the Surface Pro 3, which is often referred to as the one device that can replace your laptop, the Surface Pro 2 is advertised as “the Microsoft tablet that's got it all,” coming with powerful hardware and the full version of Windows 8.1 Pro.
“Surface Pro has been an amazing device. It has been my daily machine for a LONG time. Surface Pro 2 is a very significant upgrade on top of that strength, with meaningful battery-life improvements so it lasts nearly a full workday, a dual-stage kickstand that works great on your lap, and even faster performance,” Panos Panay, the man in charge of the Surface division at Microsoft, said.
“It feels amazing and is even lighter, thinner, and has longer battery life than before. We have fundamentally revamped Surface 2 to make it the most productive personal tablet ever. Trust me here. It is much faster – now with 72 graphics cores, twice the internet speed, and USB 3.0.”
The Surface Pro 2 comes with a 10.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080px and, depending on the version you choose, it can be equipped with either 4 GB or 8 GB of RAM memory. Storage options start at 64 GB and go all the way up to 512 GB, just like the Surface Pro 3.
The device features an i5 processor and comes with multiple connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0, microSD card reader, mini display port, and a cover port that can be used to attach either a Touch or a Type Cover.
As mentioned, it runs the full version of Windows 8.1 Pro, so you can also install desktop applications and games, such as Adobe Photoshop.