iPad Pro vs. Surface Pro: Which One Will Work Best For You?

(Image credit- Tom's Guide) The Microsoft Surface has developed into one of the hybrid tablets that professionals choose. Is it, however, on par with an iPad Pro? We compared the iPad Pro with the Surface Pro to find out. Which one will be most useful to you? Only the Microsoft Surface Pro can be referred to as a full substitute for a PC, despite the fact that both products are promoted as laptop alternatives and have robust specifications to support that claim. It takes no shortcuts to match a computer, whether it's the more adaptable hardware or the completely desktop OS. On the other hand, the iPad Pro is best referred to as the king of mobile devices. Its performance is unmatched by any tablet or smartphone, but it is not intended to replace a computer. You still require a Mac because there are fewer ports, constrained hardware, and only being able to use mobile versions of popular apps.

iPad Pro vs. Microsoft Surface Pro- Specifications

	Microsoft Surface Pro 9	Apple iPad Pro (2022)
Operating System	Windows 11 Home	iPadOS
Display	13-inch PixelSense Flow	12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR
Processor	12th gen Intel Core i5/i7 or Microsoft SQ3	Apple M2
Graphics	Intel Iris XE Graphics or Adreno 8CX Gen 3	Apple M2 10-core GPU
Memory	8GB, 16GB, or 32GB	8GB or 16GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB
Front Camera	1080p	12MP TrueDepth
Rear Camera	10MP	12MP wide, 10MP ultra-wide, and LiDAR
Networking	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, optional 5G cellular	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, optional 5G cellular
Ports	2 USB-C USB 4.0 (Thunderbolt), Surface Connect, Surface Keyboard	2 USB-C USB 4.0 (Thunderbolt), Smart Connector
Stylus	Surface Slim Pen 2	Apple Pencil Gen 2
Battery	47.7Wh Lithium-Polymer	40.88Wh Lithium-Polymer

For working or playing while traveling, these devices offer reliable performance and a wide range of personalization possibilities. Additionally, they grant access to a huge number of apps available in each company's unique app store. Depending on the device configuration you choose, the pricing points for the Surface Pro and iPad Pro are also roughly equal. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1312"] Image credit- AppleInsider[/caption]

iPad Pro vs. Microsoft Surface Pro- Display

Both the Surface Pro and the iPad Pro have excellent displays that are driven by unique technology. PixelSense Flow is used by Microsoft's Surface Pro whereas Liquid Retina XDR is employed by Apple's flagship device. Their feature sets are quite comparable. Both devices include 13-inch (12.9-inch for the iPad), 120Hz, HDR screens, and nearly identical pixel densities (267 ppi for the Surface Pro and 264 ppi for the Apple product). Compared to the typical TFT/LCD combination of the Surface Pro, Apple's iPad Pro has a tiny LED backlighting that offers higher contrast and HDR quality.

iPad Pro vs. Microsoft Surface Pro-  Camera

The Microsoft Surface Pro was designed to replace a laptop rather than a larger mobile device, thus it doesn't give much care to its camera. On the front, a basic 1080p camera for video calling and Windows Hello authentication is included, and on the back, a 10MP focused camera. The iPad Pro's design, in contrast, is more closer to a typical tablet. As a result, the device's back is equipped with two cameras (12MP and 10MP wide-angle) and a LiDAR sensor for mapping depth. When combined with features like auto image stabilization and TrueTone flash, the iPad Pro's cameras are fantastic for casual photography. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image credit- PCMag[/caption]

iPad Pro vs. Microsoft Surface Pro-  Software

Despite all their improvements, mobile operating systems—whether Windows or macOS—still fall short of what is considered a genuine desktop OS. This offers a system running a full-featured OS an automatic advantage. That device is the Surface Pro in our current comparison. The 2-in-1 tablet from Microsoft runs Windows 11 Home in its unrestricted, standard configuration. The Surface Pro is capable of running any program that is compatible with your desktop or laptop computer.

Final Thought- What to Choose?

The Surface Pro and the iPad Pro virtually evenly divide the high-end tablet market, and for good reason. You can't go wrong with either of these fantastic smartphones because they both have strong specifications. However, there are a few significant variations. The OS is most likely the deciding element; the Surface Pro runs a regular, unrestricted version of Windows, providing you access to all desktop-compatible programs. Also read: Apple iPad Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Which Tablet is Right for You?