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Wi-Fi glitches, begone: Another Surface Pro 3 firmware update tries to improve stability

Adrian Diaconescu
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Image used with permission by copyright holder
To assert Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 has experienced Wi-Fi stability issues since its inception back in June would be a gross understatement. To say Redmond’s been incapable of ironing out the connectivity kinks, delivering flawed fix after fix would also be a slight misrepresentation of the facts.

In truth, MS has updated the Surface Pro 3’s software once a month, every month, for as long as the “laplet” has been around. Yet nothing has completely cleared up persistent Wi-Fi malfunctions, leading some to presume the problem lies in the hybrid’s hardware.

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No one can prove that, of course, and Microsoft keeps trying to find a firmware antidote. The newest system update is rolling out over-the-air as we speak, and the changelog includes a hefty section dedicated to “Wireless Network Controller and Bluetooth driver” tweaks.

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Apparently, connecting to an 802.11AC network should be more reliable with the patch, which also “enables better throughput after waking from sleep.” Several other very specific Wi-Fi pickles are allegedly solved, although you should probably hold off on that celebratory dance.

Microsoft has promised similar improvements in the past, the words “Wi-Fi connection” and “better throughput” coming up more than once. So it’s best to keep your expectations low. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll be pleasantly surprised for a change.

Fairly small, at under 8MB, the latest Surface Pro 3 firmware upgrade only targets bugs. There are no new functions, no add-ons, no unexpected holiday goodies. Just the above mentioned Wi-Fi optimizations, plus pen settings and home button glitch repairs.

Last but not least, a “scenario” where the device boots to a black screen with McAfee Defense Encryption 7.1.1 installed is a thing of the past, and so are system clock time anomalies with sub-3 percent battery life.

Did anyone experience those mishaps, and thus feels Christmas is coming early, thanks to the firmware update? What about Wi-Fi? Is it all good now, or just as unstable as Mac connections on OS X Yosemite? Sound off your joy and/or frustration below.

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Adrian Diaconescu
Adrian Diaconescu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Adrian is a mobile aficionado since the days of the Nokia 3310, and a PC enthusiast since Windows 98. Later, he discovered…
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