Such a combination is cool, though like the Surface Laptop 3, we’d really like Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C connectivity in today’s age. It’s also where the discrete GPU is housed, so you’ll only get top notch, ultrabook-level performance with the two parts connected. The keyboard dock features a second battery, two USB 3.0 inputs, a proprietary charge port and microSD slot. However, the lack of kickstand and ports mean it isn’t as developed as the main Surface Pro in this form factor. The tablet can function as a standalone device, featuring Intel Iris graphics and its own battery. This means the device is made of tablet and keyboard dock sections. To the naked eye both have identical designs to the Surface Book 2, with the only changes being very minor. It is available in 13.5-inch (tested) and 15-inch variants. We’re guessing all Microsoft’s creative juice went into the delayed Surface Neo and Surface Duo. Some users will be a little disappointed to see Microsoft hasn’t really made many changes to the third-generation Surface Book design. The Surface Book 3 isn’t the sleekest of ultrabooks.

Microsoft is offering both 13.5-inch and 15-inch models.

Surface Book 3 has a detachable keyboard dock.

This gives the Surface Book 3 a slightly chunky, retro feel compared to its more established MacBook and Dell XPS competition.

The only downside is that Microsoft hasn’t radically reworked the device’s design from the last two generations. This means it’s the only Surface convertible that’s powerful enough for gaming and creative work, and a true MacBook Pro rival. As a result, it features a proper physical keyboard dock (not Type Cover), with its own battery and a discrete Nvidia GeForce GPU.

Unlike its smaller siblings, the Surface Book 3 is designed to be used as a laptop first and tablet second. The Surface Book 3 is a Microsoft’s top-end convertible, sitting above the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X.

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