Microsoft’s reign at the top of productivity tablets seems to be coming to an end. Long the undisputed king of mobile devices, Apple isn’t leaving the Surface 3 to further dominate the productivity landscape. Last year, Apple introduced the iPad Pro, a 12-inch iPad with better internal hardware than any other tablet the company had released up to that time.
Today Apple announced a sibling of this original iPad Pro. The iPad Pro 9.7-inch addresses the main complaint that leveled up on the previous device. Cleverly, this device has a smaller footprint, making it much less like a food tray. With the iPad Pro 9.7-inch, Apple finally has a productivity tablet for mainstream users who aren’t comfortable with the price tag and surrounds of the original iPad Pro. This is the same market Microsoft hopes the Surface 3 will appeal to.
Here’s how the iPad Pro 9.7-inch compares to Microsoft’s Surface 3.
iPad Pro 9.7-inch and Surface 3: Design and Features
The iPad Pro 9.7-inch’s best feature may be its size. Measuring 9.4 inches from the top bezel to the bottom bezel and 6.6 inches from the left bezel to type, it’s significantly smaller than the 12-inch iPad Pro Apple introduced last year. It’s also thinner and lighter, measuring 0.24 inches from top to bottom and weighing less than a pound.
Apple is sticking to its color decisions with the iPad Pro 9.7-inch, giving users the option to purchase Silver, Gold, Space Gray and Rose Gold models. Rose Gold isn’t one of the colors the larger iPad Pro comes in.
The front of the iPad Pro 9.7-inch is dominated by the display, with only a TouchID home button and a webcam surrounding it. The colored aluminum shells of the device have been thinned to help the device appear thinner than it is. There are physical volume buttons, a 3.5-inch headphone jack, dual microphones, and a Smart Connector to quickly pair the tablet with accessories.
By comparison, the Surface 3 is heavier and larger. It has a 10.8-inch display with a full-size USB port that forces it to be 0.34 inches thick. A three-step kickstand opens from the back of the Surface 3. In addition, Microsoft focuses on adding color to users with removable Surface 3 Type Covers. The Surface 3 comes in only one color, unpainted silver to match the Magnesium case. A larger screen means more than a larger footprint. The Surface 3 weighs 1.37 pounds, much more than the iPad Pro 9.7 inches.
There is no clear winner in terms of design. That is, unless you are worried about height and footprint. In this regard, the iPad Pro 9.7 inch takes the top spot. It has a smaller screen and different aspect ratio, making it the thinnest of the two laptop replacements.
iPad Pro 9.7-inch and Surface 3: Internals
Surface 3 clearly needs a refresh. Comparing it to the iPad Pro 9.7 inch proves it. Microsoft’s 64GB and 128GB storage options were great. So was the 1920 x 1280 high-resolution display and 10-hour battery life that the device launched. The iPad Pro 9.7-inch takes advantage of a new era in mobile computing. Its 9.7-inch screen has a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, which means pictures and videos are clearer than on the Surface. True Tone technology allows iPad Pro to better adapt to ambient light conditions for a better reading experience.
Things get worse when you consider how superior the Surface 3 is in imaging and apps. The front-facing camera on the iPad Pro 9.7-inch has a maximum resolution of 5 megapixels. The rear-facing camera has a maximum resolution of 12 megapixels with autofocus and flash. With Apple’s latest iPad, you can record 4K video.
Surface 3 has a 3.5-megapixel front camera and an 8-megapixel rear camera. It has autofocus but no flash. An Ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer were built. Also, every Surface 3 comes with at least 64GB of storage. The cheapest iPad Pro 9.7-inch comes with only 32GB of storage.
Two speakers on either side of the Surface 3 screen attempt to fill a room with sound and succeed. While it’s been working on making a smaller iPad Pro, Apple was smart enough to keep the dual speakers out of the larger device. One on each side is placed. We don’t know how good they are yet, but it’s okay to bet that the iPad Pro 9.7 inch can sound better than the Surface 3.
The Surface 3 requires users to enter a passcode or PIN to sign in to their device, but the iPad Pro has this TouchID fingerprint reader.
There are some things that work in the Surface 3’s favour. Microsoft aimed to create a true laptop replacement. This required them to supply some important ports. Alongside the port that owners use to connect to keyboards is a full-size USB port for connecting to printers and extras without a dongle. There is also built-in support for expandable storage and a Mini-Display Port socket that works with external displays. The iPad Pro 9.7 inch has none of that, despite Apple positioning it as a notebook alternative.
Depending on which side of the hallway you are on, there are also desktop apps to consider. Apple iPads are locked to the iTunes Store. Users can only get apps from there. The Surface 3 has access to Microsoft’s Windows Store and anything users can download from the web, thanks to its Intel Atom X7 processors. If the Windows Store were the only place where Surface users could download apps, Microsoft would be in serious trouble. Its selection is improving, but according to Apple, the iPad has 1 Million apps. Apps downloaded outside of the Windows Store aren’t necessarily great for touchscreen interaction.
iPad Pro 9.7-inch and Surface 3: Extras
Both the iPad Pro 9.7-inch and Surface 3 are becoming productivity powerhouses, replacing laptops only after some money has been invested in their ecosystem of accessories. The Surface 3 includes a stand, add the $129 Surface 3 Type Cover and you’ve got everything you need. The $59.99 Surface Pen offers the ability to take notes and create artwork for an additional fee.
Apple’s alternatives for both accessories are more expensive. The Apple Pencil is $99, but it’s rechargeable. Users can simply connect it to their iPad Pro for fast charging. Surface Pen requires battery replacement. The Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro is $149, slightly more than the Surface 3’s keyboard. The keyboard is essential to support the iPad Pro because it doesn’t have a kickstand of its own. It includes a touchpad because iOS doesn’t support a mouse, forcing you to interact with anything that uses touch only. This can get a little tiresome when you’re inside something like Microsoft Word or Excel.
Both devices play 10 hours of video. Both have versions based on mobile data. One plus of getting the Surface 3 is the free year of Office 365 that comes with the tablet. This is normally a $69 add-on that unlocks Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote.
iPad Pro 9.7-inch and Surface 3: Which Should You Buy?
Naturally, fans of Windows or Mac OS will choose their next tablet based on their predetermined preferences. As it’s supposed to be. As for the head-to-head comparison, I’d say the iPad Pro 9.7-inch wins most things.
Price and expandability are around the corner for Surface. iPad Pro starts at $599 without a keyboard or Apple Pencil. Buyers of this version only get 32GB of storage with no chance to upgrade with no further purchases. The Surface 3 starts at $499, double the storage that its rival does. Better still, it has the option to add more or connect any accessory you want.
As for the overall interior and hardware, the iPad Pro sweeps the floor with the 9.7-inch Surface 3. If photography, sound and weight are important to you, the Surface 3 doesn’t stand a chance.
Apple plans to start buying iPad Pro 9.7-inch pre-orders on March 24.
