HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Annoys Surface Pro 3 Users, Battery Issue Software-Based

Microsoft Annoys Surface Pro 3 Users, Battery Issue Software-Based

The good news is the recent battery troubles plaguing the Surface Pro 3 will be fixed with a patch in the coming weeks. However, Microsoft’s vague handling of the situation means many users have already paid up to $500 for replacement units believing the issue was a hardware failure.

-

's recent battery issues will be fixed, according to Microsoft. More importantly, the company says the problem is not hardware-based. That means worried users can relax about paying for a hardware fix for warranty expired devices. Microsoft has completed an investigation and says a patch to resolve the problem is coming.

You may remember last month users started complaining about worse than normal battery degradation. The 3 was dropping battery life quickly, mostly under one hour. Users noted that devices with SIMPLO batteries were more frequently affected.

Of course, battery degradation for li-on juicers is common. It is par for the course in fact. However, this kind of rapid decline is worrying. It was especially concerning considering the degradation of the Surface Pro 3 coincided with the device ending its warranty cycle.

Microsoft was quick to respond and say that it would conduct an investigation into the problem. However, the company said it would not pay for fixes with replacement units. The best offer from Redmond was to reduce the price of a replacement to $500.

Remaining Problems

With that in mind, it is good news that the company has said today that the problem is software based. That means Microsoft can work on a patch, roll it out, and hopefully solve the issue. The company says that fix is currently being tested internally. When those tests are complete, end users will be seeing an update for the Surface Pro 3.

The company is now saying users should avoid paying for replacement. However, there is a backlash already starting and it could get worse. Many users have already paid hundreds of dollars to get replacement units.

It could be argued that those users should have waited for Microsoft to conduct its investigation. However, the company hardly helped with the situation. Its statement about the investigation was vague and suggested that it could be a hardware problem. Moreover, Microsoft made it clear it would not cover the cost of a replacement.

Last Updated on April 9, 2020 12:00 pm CEST by Luke Jones

SourceMicrosoft
Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about all things tech for more than five years. He is following Microsoft closely to bring you the latest news about Windows, Office, Azure, Skype, HoloLens and all the rest of their products.

Recent News