The world of tech is ever-changing, but, the thing that doesn’t change is an old rivalry. Microsoft and Apple have been at it for many years now and their competition is one of the longest standing one.
Till very recent times, the main competition between the two giants was the PC Vs Mac battle. Apple was receiving heat in the mobile market from Google’s platform, Android. However, this situation has changed now, as with the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft is making its serious entry into the fray.
Here is a brief comparison between the latest mobile devices by the two firms, the Apple iPad Pro and the Microsoft Surface Pro 4.
Design
The Surface Pro 4 measures 305 mm × 220 mm × 7 mm and weighs, 710g. The design is quite intuitive and for the device of this size, the weight is proportionately distributed.
On the other hand, the design of the iPad Pro is quite reminiscent of the design that we are used to seeing in the previous versions of the iPad, the major difference being the size. The iPad Pro measures at 292 mm x 201 mm x 8.45mm and weighs 786g.
Display
The Surface Pro 4 features a 12.3-inch wide display that has a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixel and a pixel density of 267 pixels per inch. Apple’s iPad Pro sports a 12.9-inch wide display that has a resolution of 2732×2048 pixel and pixel density of 264 pixels per inch.
Camera
The Surface Pro 4 features an 8MP rear and a 5MP front camera, whereas the iPad Pro rocks an 8MP rear and a 1.2MP front shooter.
Specs
The Surface Pro 4 comes in three different variants according to the processors that run the system. The available processor options are Intel Skylake Core M3, Core i5 and Core i7. The RAM options are 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB. As for the storage options, they are, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
The iPad Pr is powered by 64-bit A9X and M9 processors and there is only one RAM option at 4GB. The available storage options are 32 and 128GB.
Connectivity
Connectivity options in the Surface Pro include support for 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0 and microsSD card, while Cupertino’s counterpart offers support for 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS and optional 4G.
OS
If we compare the Surface Pro 4 and the iPad Pro as hybrids, then the sure shot victory goes to the former. The main reason behind this victory is that it runs on Windows 10, which is capable of running all PC related applications.
It is true that iOS 9 on the iPad Pro has a variety of applications that can improve productivity, still it doesn’t compare to the full desktop like experience on the former device.
The Verdict
If you are looking for a laptop or a desktop replacement, the Surface Pro 4 blows away the iPad Pro. But, at this point, do keep in mind that you will have to pay more for the Microsoft device as compared to the iPad Pro.
Deals
At this point of the year, major retail outlets and companies offer great deals on all devices. Here are a few deals that you can get on the iPad Pro and the Surface Pro 4.
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iPad Pro
The iPad Pro sells for $799.99 for the 32GB Wi-Fi Only model. The 128GB Wi-Fi only model costs $949 and the Wi-Fi+Cellular model costs $1079.
But if you are a student you can get up to $50 discount on Apple’s iPads.
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Surface Pro 4
The Surface Pro 4 costs differently for each model. Here are the prices.
- The 128GB internal storage model with Intel Core M3 and 4GB RAM costs $899.
- The 128GB internal storage model with Intel Core i5 and 4GB RAM costs $999.
- The 256GB internal storage model with Intel Core i5 and 8GB RAM costs $1,299.
- The 256GB internal storage model with Intel Core i7 and 8GB RAM costs $1,599.
- The 256GB internal storage model with Intel Core i5 and 16GB RAM costs $1,799.
