Surface Pro 4 is a versatile and premium portable laptop from Microsoft. However, Apple is not far behind, and iPad Pro comes in two different sizes. In this article, we will be examining the specs, features, and pricing of the two contestants.
Display
Τhe Surface Pro 4 is equipped with a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels in 267 PPI, while the iPad Pro comes in a 9.7-inch (2048×1536) and a 12.9-inch (2732×2048) LED display with fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and laminated display.
Performance
The Surface Pro 4 offers 6th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM. As far as storage is concerned, the Surface Pro 4 features up to 512GB SSD space. However, in few Asian markets, the device is available in up to 256GB SSD space.
Apple iPad Pro, meanwhile, ships with A9X chip with 64-bit architecture coupled with an M9 coprocessor. The device comes with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+Cellular variants and offers up to 256GB of eMMC storage. For example, you will not be able to buy a 32GB variant of 12.9-inch iPad Pro with both Wi-Fi + Cellular. If you look at graphics in Surface Pro 4, you will be able to know that it has Intel HD 520 and Intel Iris graphics for devices with Core i7 variants.
Camera
While Surface Pro 4 ships with an 8MP main camera featuring autofocus technology, the front-facing snapper offers 5MP sensor with FHD recording capability.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro offers a 12-megapixel iSight camera coupled with 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera. However, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro provides 8-megapixel iSight camera paired with 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera.
We are unable to understand the logic behind why Apple has trimmed down the camera specifications in the higher variant of iPad Pro. You should note that both the primary and secondary camera included with iPad Pro consist of several advanced features.
Connectivity
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 ships with a full-size USB 3 port, microSD card reader, headset jack, mini display port and Surface connect technology. The iPad Pro, on the other hand, does not offer a full-size USB 3 port. If you work with Surface Pro 4, you will be able to connect an external hard drive to read and store content.
With Surface Pro 4, you will not be able to make phone calls since the device does not include SIM connectivity. However, you can connect an external keyboard either via USB port or a dock.
With the four-speaker audio system in place, iPad Pro will surely meet your entertainment expectations. Talking about Surface Pro 4, you have Stereo speakers with Dolby audio, which provides an enhanced entertainment experience.
Price
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is available from $999 onwards for Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB RAM, and 128 GB. The iPad Pro starts from $599 for the baseline variant.
The Verdict
The Surface Pro 4 is an excellent device for chronic Microsoft fans and those who would like to work with Visual Studio or undertake a slew of heavy tasks. If you require a portable tablet and love iOS, then you should opt for iPad Pro, which will be useful for web browsing, email, and ebook reading.
