Microsoft Surface 10.8" 3 Silver 2015

A 2015 Windows tablet that's still kicking, but only for the most patient users. Great refurb condition and a surprise LTE modem, but that Atom CPU is a dinosaur.

The Atom 4-core CPU and 4GB of RAM are the bottleneck here. Our database puts this thing in the 35th percentile for CPU and 31st for RAM, which means it's slower than most tablets we've tested. That said, for basic web browsing, email, and maybe some light note-taking with the Surface Pen, it chugs along. The 128GB SSD is actually the bright spot, sitting at the 66th percentile for storage. It's not fast by modern SSD standards, but it's way better than the eMMC storage you'd find in most budget tablets from this era. The real surprise? The LTE modem. Multiple owners report getting an unlisted LTE modem in their refurb unit, which is a nice bonus if you need cellular connectivity on the go.

Against the iPad Air M4, this is a slaughter. The iPad has a better screen, better battery, better performance, better everything. But it also costs way more. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 and Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus are similarly out of this thing's league. The real comparison is against other budget Windows tablets or older refurbished Surfaces. If you can find a Surface Pro 6 or 7 for a similar price, get that instead. The Surface 3 is only worth considering if you need LTE and Windows on a tight budget, and even then, the Xiaomi Pad or a used iPad would be a better tablet experience for most people.

At USD 219 to USD 269, this is a tough sell unless you specifically need a cheap Windows tablet with LTE. The price spread across vendors is real, and you should absolutely shop around. The lower end of that range is more palatable, but even then, you're paying for a decade-old CPU. If you just want a tablet for media and browsing, an iPad or Android tablet will run circles around this thing. If you need Windows specifically, this is one of the cheapest ways to get it in tablet form, but you're making real sacrifices.

The Surface 3 is a weird little time capsule. It's a 10.8-inch Windows tablet running an Intel Atom chip, and in 2025 that's basically a museum piece. But here's the thing: as a refurbished budget device, it's not trying to compete with an iPad Air M4. It's trying to be a cheap, portable Windows machine for light tasks, and on that front it kind of works. The one thing to know? This is a 2015-era tablet with 2015-era performance. If you go in expecting that, you'll be fine. If you expect anything modern, you'll be disappointed fast.

If you're looking for a tablet for media, gaming, or anything remotely demanding, this isn't it. Go get an iPad or a Samsung Galaxy Tab instead. If you need Windows but want something that doesn't feel like it's running through molasses, look for a refurbished Surface Pro 6 or 7. The Surface 3 is only for people who need LTE and Windows on a shoestring budget and have the patience of a saint.

The Surface 3 is a niche device for a niche buyer. If you need a cheap, portable Windows machine with LTE and you're willing to accept 2015-era performance, it's a decent refurb pickup. The condition of these units is genuinely impressive, and the unlisted LTE modem is a nice surprise. But for most people, this is a pass. The Atom CPU and 4GB of RAM make it frustrating for anything beyond the lightest tasks, and the battery life is a real problem. Buy it only if you know exactly what you're getting into.