14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has already launched the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book, but the company is still selling the Surface 3, a model that was introduced last year and runs Windows 10 quite flawlessly.
And although there’s no Surface 4 in sight, it appears that Microsoft is getting ready to discontinue the Surface 3, choosing instead to focus on its newer models such as the Pro 4 and the Surface Book. Very soon, the company is also expected to launch the next-generation versions, likely to be called Surface Pro 5 and Surface Book 2.
As Thurrott writes, the Surface 3 is now listed as out of stock at several retailers, including Best Buy, and it seems that there are no plans to make more units available, even though Microsoft itself allows customers to provide their email addresses and be notified when stocks are refilled.
Next-generation Surface coming in spring 2017
But in a statement provided by Microsoft, the company confirms that the Surface 3 will be retired in December 2016, so no new models will be manufactured beyond this date. This means that the remaining stocks and the units that will be produced by the end of the year will be the last ones to reach stores.
“Since launching Surface 3 over a year ago, we have seen strong demand and satisfaction amongst our customers. Inventory is now limited and by the end of December 2016, we will no longer manufacture Surface 3 devices,” a company spokesperson said.
The Surface 3 has been particularly successful, but Microsoft has never provided actual sales figures of this model. And yet, the rather low price tag has made it quite appealing to those looking for an affordable Surface, as the entry-level configuration can be purchased for no more than $399.
So if you do want to get a Surface 3, you can ask for one at the nearest Microsoft store or retailer, but with production projected to end soon, they’ll be pretty hard to find. The next-generation Surface lineup is projected to launch in spring 2017, but the date is yet to be confirmed.