14 DAY TRIAL // Back in May 2014, when Microsoft introduced the new Surface Pro 3, the Redmond-based tech giant described the device as a replacement for Apple’s MacBook, pointing out that it was more powerful, faster, ran Windows, and also came with a digital pen for easy drawing.
But today, Apple has unveiled a more direct competitor to the Surface Pro 3, so the MacBook is no longer Microsoft’s main target. It’s the iPad Pro, a 12.9-inch tablet that also comes with a keyboard and a digital pen supposed to make it easy for artists to draw and write on the screen.
Basically, the iPad Pro is one of the most powerful alternatives to the Surface Pro 3, so if you want to buy a 2-in-1 device that can boost your productivity, it might be harder to choose than you believe. So let’s have a look at their spec sheets and see which one is better.
Specifications
First and foremost, the iPad Pro comes with a 12.9-inch display, while the Surface Pro 3 is smaller and measures only 12 inches in size. The resolution of the Apple device is 2742x2048 px, with a pixel density of 265 ppi, while the Surface Pro 3 offers 2160x1440 px and 216 ppi.
In terms of performance, the Surface Pro 3 offers more options to choose from.
Apple equipped the iPad Pro with the Apple A9X chip, whose performance figures are not yet available, whereas the Surface Pro 3 lets you pick from an Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors.
As far as RAM is concerned, Apple has remained tight-lipped on this, while Microsoft offers a choice of 2 configurations: 4GB and 8GB. The same thing for GPU: Apple A9X for the iPad Pro, and Intel HD Graphics for the Surface Pro 3 - 4200 for the i3, 4400 for the i5, and 5000 for i7.
The iPad Pro offers between 32 GB and 128 GB of storage space, while in Microsoft’s case, your options start from 64 GB and go all the way up to 512 GB.
The iPad Pro has just one port, the Apple Lightning, while the Pro 3 from Microsoft includes a USB 3.0 port, a mini DisplayPort, and a microSD port for additional storage space. Both offer 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.
Apple is offering an 8-megapixel rear iSight camera on the iPad Pro, as well as a 720 front camera for Facetime. The Surface Pro 3 comes with two 5-megapixel units, front and back.
Both have a digital pen for writing and drawing. The iPad Pro runs iOS 9, while the Surface Pro 3 is powered by Windows 10.
| Apple iPad Pro | Microsoft Surface Pro 3 | |
| Display | 12.9-inch, 2742x2048 px, pixel density of 265 ppi | 12-inch, 2160x1440 px and 216 ppi |
| CPU | A9X | Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 |
| GPU | A9X | Intel HD Graphics - 4200 for the i3, 4400 for the i5, and 5000 for i7 |
| RAM | - | 4GB or 8GB |
| Storage | 32GB and 128GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Ports | Apple Lightning | USB 3.0 port, a mini DisplayPort, and a microSD port |
| Cameras | 8-megapixel rear iSight camera, 720p front unit | 5mpx front and back |
| OS | iOS 9 | Windows 10 |
Dimensions and battery life
As said, the iPad Pro has a screen measuring 12.9 inches, while the Surface Pro 3 is smaller and comes with a 12-inch screen.
While Apple hasn’t disclosed the dimensions of the iPad Pro (we’ll update the article when more information is available in this regard), the company has revealed the weight of the device. The iPad Pro weighs 1.57 pounds (712 grams), while the Surface Pro 3 is heavier - 798 grams.
Since this is a completely new device, there are no accurate battery life figures for the iPad Pro, but Apple suggests it should provide up to 10 hours of autonomy. Microsoft says its Surface Pro 3 can last for 9 hours.
Pricing
Many claim the Surface Pro 3 is a very expensive device and it’s pretty clear that the top-of-the-range configuration isn’t quite affordable - it costs nearly $2,000.
The Apple iPad Pro will cost $799 for the 32 GB version, while the 128 GB model will be available for $949. The LTE version has a price of $1,079. Additionally, the keyboard costs $169, while the Pencil is priced at $99. The top model thus has a final price of nearly $1,350.
The cheapest Surface Pro 3 is the Intel Core i3 with 3GB of RAM, which is available for $799, and depending on the version you choose, pricing can go all the way up to $1,799.
The closest you can get to the iPad Pro pricing is the Surface Pro 3 with Intel Core i7 CPU, 256 GB of storage space, and 8 GB of RAM. The Surface Pen is also included in the package.
| Apple iPad Pro | Microsoft Surface Pro 3 | |
| Cheapest | $799, 32GB | $799, 64GB |
| Most expensive | $1,079, 128GB + LTE | $1,799, 512GB |
Conclusions
For the same price, Microsoft offers you a Surface Pro 3 with 256 GB of storage space, an Intel Core i7 processor, and 8 GB of RAM (Surface Pen included).
The iPad Pro was designed to offer outstanding productivity on the go, but as far as this concept goes, the Surface Pro 3 has the advantage of running Windows 10. The iPad Pro comes with iOS and not Mac OS X, but the new multitasking feature is supposed to significantly boost productivity.
On the other hand, the iPad Pro is expected to offer better battery life, as it’s a known fact that the Surface Pro 3 doesn’t really excel in this regard. The iPad is already outstanding when it comes to autonomy, so if Apple brings this on the Pro version, it would clearly better than the Surface Pro 3.
In the end, Microsoft seems to remain the better option for productivity on the go, but it loses some points when it comes to autonomy. The Surface Pro 4 could address this, but in the meantime, there’s no doubt that the iPad Pro is one interesting option.
