Introducing Microsoft's Surface Pro 3... the laptop replacement?

Microsoft has this morning unveiled Surface Pro 3, billed as the lightweight tablet that can replace your laptop.

Revealed at a special Surface event in New York, the tech giant says the Surface Pro 3 is, simply put, a tablet and a laptop.

Incorporating features such as a multiple processor, RAM and storage options intersect with a sleek design that, with a snap or click can transform the device from a tablet to a full-functioning laptop and back again.

Claiming to be 30 percent thinner than an 11-inch MacBook Air, the Surface Pro 3 comes with a 12-inch display and the new Surface Pen, redesigned with form and function in mind.

"So many people carry both a laptop and a tablet but really want just one device that serves all purposes," says Panos Panay, corporate vice president, Microsoft Surface.

"Surface Pro 3 is the tablet that can replace your laptop — packing all the performance of a fully powered laptop into a thin, light and beautifully designed device."

The device also features a 12-inch full HD display, 4th-generation Intel Core processor options, click-in keyboards, and a multiposition kickstand that goes from movie mode to working mode and all the way to writing mode.

Pre-order and availability

Starting at an estimated retail price of US$799, Surface Pro 3 will be offered in multiple configurations featuring 4th-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, beginning June 20 in Canada and the United States.

By the end of August, Surface Pro 3 and select new accessories will become available for purchase in 26 additional markets, including New Zealand and Australia.