Both the newly released Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and iPad Pro are widely touted as attempts on the part of Microsoft and Apple to kill the laptop. They would naturally figure in many consumer's decisions when purchasing a tablet on Black Friday. Here is some important information that could help reveal their strengths and capabilities.
First, both the Surface Pro 4 and the Ipad Pro share some similarities, including their size. The former sports a 12.3-inch display while the Apple tablet measures slightly larger at 12.9 inches. Both have significantly larger displays than current tablets on the market, and boast almost the same resolution: 264 PPI for the Ipad Pro and 267 PPI for the Surface Pro 4. Both tablets also have keyboard support and writing tools, the Apple Pencil and the Surface Pen. The similarities are not really surprising because the tablets are both targeted towards the enterprise market and the mobile professionals.
In terms of hardware, the iPad follows the Apple design language with its all metal body. But the Surface tablet boasts the same premium construction with a magnesium chassis. For the detailed spec sheet, head to the Surface Pro 4 and iPad Pro websites.
The main difference, which could determine purchase decisions, rests on the operating system. The Surface Pro 4 runs on Windows 10, the same system found in desktop computers, which makes it almost similar to laptops. The iPad Pro, on the other hand, has iOS 9, which is exclusive to mobile devices. Apple merely introduced certain OS upgrades in order to boost productivity, such as the Slide Over and Split View to provide better multitasking. It is for this reason why the Surface tablet beats the Pro as a true laptop replacement, according to Know Your Mobile.
All in all, those who would want a massive tablet of this scale would find that both devices will not disappoint when consuming rich media. However, they have very different features in terms of multitasking and productivity. And consumers must evaluate them according to their individual needs and familiarity with the Windows and iOS platforms.
Surface Pro 4 costs from $899 to $2,699 while the iPad Pro retails for $799-$1,079.
