Microsoft is offering up to $650 in store credit for select MacBook Air models. The offer is part of an effort to get MacBook Air owners to trade in their laptops and switch to Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 3. Trade-ins must be made in a Microsoft retail store.
First announced in May, the Surface Pro 3 offers a 12-inch display, a thin design, Core i3, i5, or i7 processors and a new Surface Pen stylus with 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, aiming to compete with Apple’s ultra thin MacBook Air. Previous Surface tablets were designed to take on Apple’s line of tablets, but Microsoft is poising its newest version as a MacBook Air competitor.
Microsoft’s entry-level Surface Pro 3, powered by a Core i3, retails for $799. With the top trade-in value of $650 for a MacBook Air, a customer could pay as little as $150 for the entry-level model of the Surface Pro 3. More powerful versions of Microsoft’s tablet/laptop replacement boasting Core i5 and Core i7 processors are available at prices between $999 and $1949.
Microsoft’s terms note that trade-in values may vary, so customers won’t know for sure how much trade-in value they’ll get for their MacBook Air until they visit the Microsoft Store. However, the MacBook Airs presented for trade must be able to power on, and be in working condition. No water damage or cracked screens are allowed. The real kicker is that you need to but a Surface Pro 3 to get the maximum trade-in value for your Air. The promotion runs through the end of July.
