With the release of Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 last year, some consumers are wondering whether they should pick up the latest version of the tablet-PC hybrid, or if the older Surface Pro 2 will pretty much be the same thing.

With regards to user-experience, the Surface Pro 2 may have the upper hand. The newest version of Microsoft's PC-tablet uses an N-Trig stylus for navigating the touchscreen, whereas the Surface Pro 2 used a Wacom stylus.

The main difference between the two styluses is that the N-Trig one needs a battery, while the Wacom one does not. The N-Trig stylus also is less sensitive than the Wacom one, allowing it to make more accurate contact with the tablet's screen, especially at the edges.

As for appearance, the new Surface Pro 3, at 12.1 inches, is much bigger than the Surface Pro 2, which measured 10.6 inches. The bulked-up version of the PC-tablet makes it more appealing as a full replacement for a laptop, which could boost Microsoft's sales.

With its larger, more symmetrical screen, as well as higher resolution, the Surface Pro 3 surpasses the Surface Pro 2. Moreover, even with its increased size, the Surface Pro 3 is more lightweight and thinner than the previous version.

According to experts, the Surface Pro 3's speakers are forty-five percent louder, but they are on par with the iPad and other tablets. As for the battery, the Surface Pro 3 is supposed to have a longer battery life, yet underperformed in product reviews, with the battery lasting a few minutes less than that of the Surface Pro 2.

Overall, the winner seems to be the Surface Pro 3, and it looks to be noticeably new and improved from the Surface Pro 2.