Microsoft confirms Surface 3 manufacturing will stop by the end of 2016

Microsoft has confirmed that the current inventory levels of its Surface 3 tablet are "now limited". It also stated that it will stop making the 10.8-inch tablet by the end of 2016. The Surface 3 launched over a year ago in May 2015.

The report from Thurrott.com notes that while retailers like Best Buy, Staples and the Microsoft Store are still selling the entry level tablet, some SKUs are currently not available for sale. For example, the only version of the tablet on the Microsoft Store site that you can currently buy is the Wi-Fi/Cellular model, with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, for $499.99.

In an official statement, Microsoft said:

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.

So far, Microsoft has not indicated plans to release a "Surface 4" successor to the entry level tablet.

See at Microsoft Store

John Callaham