An attendee wearing Google glass uses the new Microsoft Surface Pro 3
An attendee wearing Google glass uses the new Microsoft Surface Pro 3, during the event in New York May 20, 2014 Reuters/Brendan McDermid

In its recent marketing campaign, it is evident that Microsoft considers the MacBook Air as its key rival in the market. "The tablet that can replace your laptop" as mentioned in the Surface Pro 3's ad is a clear challenge created by Microsoft's tablet against Apple's laptop.

According to CNET, a lot of consumers seem to be caught by Microsoft's bait. The new tablet contributed in the overall Surface sales to $908 million, which is a big leap to 127 per cent compared to same quarter last year.

Undoubtedly, Microsoft has been successful in coming up with a lightweight device that combines the fun and portability of a tablet and the efficiency of a laptop. The Windows 8 powered device is equipped with a 12.1-inch 2160x1400 pixel touchscreen, which is easy to use. It comes with a built-in kickstand that transforms it into a laptop. It also comes with a full size functional keyboard that has a strong magnet, which easily clips to the tablet.

To give the MacBook Air some tough competition, the Surface Pro 3 comes with a powerful pen, which allows users to write notes or mark-up Word documents plus the artistic users can paint with the use of some creative apps. The pen comes with a sketch app, which allows photos taken on the tablet be converted into a variety of sketch formats. The Pro 3 is also kids-friendly, the tab allows them to colour drawings and artworks.

The tech giant also made sure that gamers will find joy in the Surface Pro 3. Equipped with a massive library of games, users can also run PC games like the League of Legends, Civilization V and The Elder Scrolls Online, to name a few. An Xbox 360 wireless controller for Windows can also be hooked to the device and be connected to your TV for a better gaming experience.

The following quick specs comparison between the Surface Pro 3 and the MacBook Air by The Queensland Times will sure come in handy for interested consumers. The Pro 3 weighs 1.1KG with keyboard while the MacBook weighs 1.4KG. The tablet's 12.1-inch 2160x1440 (216ppi) touchscreen is a bit smaller but more vivid compared to the laptop's 13.3-inch non-touchscreen at 1440x900 (128ppi). Camera wise, the Pro 3 has two 5MP HD front and rear-facing cameras while the Air has one 720p HD front-facing camera. The battery life of the tablet is a bit short at 7-9 hours compared to the 10-12 hours battery life of the laptop.

Finally, the price of the Surface Pro 3 ranges from AU$979 to AU$2279, while the MacBook Air costs AU$1099 to AU$1399. In the U.S., the Surface prices starts at US$799 versus the MacBook Air, which starts at US$899.