Each of the respective companies’ flagship tablets offers the key features you’d expect from a modern slate, including portability and intuitive touch-based functionality. iPad Pro 2021 (12.9 inch) Surface Pro 8 Starting price 1,099 $999 OS iPadOS Windows 11 CPU M1 (16-core) Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i7-1185G7 Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 512GB | 1TB (128GB or 256GB removable SSD options) Display 12.9 inches (2732 x 2048 pixels) mini-LED 13-inch screen (2880 x 1920) Cameras 12MP TrueDepth (front), 12MP wide + 10-MP ultra-wide (rear) 5MP (front), 10MP (back) Wireless Wi-Fi 6, optional 5G Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 Battery life (tested) 10 hours 48 minutes 9 hours 6 minutes Size 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches Weight 1.51 pounds 1.96 pounds The 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021 (in Silver or Space Gray) starts at $1,099 on the Apple Store (opens in new tab), making it $100 more than the previous model. If you want all the speed of the M1 chip and can shave off some screen space and extra features, the 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 starts at $799.
With a Magic Keyboard ($349) and 2nd Gen Apple Pencil ($129), you’re at a starting price of $1,577 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021 — which is a lot. The Platinum model has eight different configurations, starting with a $999 base unit featuring an Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD.
The iPad Pro 2021 is a gorgeous sliver of machined aluminum, with thin bezels outlining the display. The iPad Pro features a slim profile (Image credit: Tom’s Guide/Henry T. Casey)
At 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches and 1.96 pounds, the Surface Pro 8’s small and light design makes it a suitable portable device. The dark anodized aluminum casing is not only eye-pleasing, but it makes the 2-in-1 feel tough and sturdy. When looking at the brightness outputs of the iPad Pro 2021, we did two rounds of testing: once on HDR and again with non-HDR content. iPad Pro’s impressive XDR display (Image credit: Tom’s Guide/Henry T. Casey)
Since the iPad Pro’s XDR screen uses local dimming zones for its 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, we looked at how bright smaller regions of the display would get, and the results were astounding. The Surface Pro 8 has a 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with a 2880 x 1920 pixel resolution and a 120Hz refresh fate.
The Apple M1 chip in the iPad Pro 2021 is super-fast, which makes using the device feel smoother than ever. Splitting the screen between 13 Safari tabs and a 1080p/60fps YouTube video during our review, then pulling up a folder of high-res HDR art via slide-over didn’t cause any hiccups.
In terms of pro-level apps, the M1 took another win on our Adobe Premiere Rush test, where we add a color filter and transition to a 4K video, and then export it at 1080p and 30fps. Browsing the web, watching YouTube videos or listening to Spotify never made this Windows 11 tablet buckle during our tests. So while both tablets are powerful enough to handle pretty much anything you care to do with them, Apple’s 2021 iPad Pro wins out in the performance department. Cameras in tablets have never been a star feature, but the iPad Pro 2021 changes things a bit here, too. The same battery test concluded that the Surface Pro 8 lasts for 9 hours, 6 minutes and 33 seconds (at 60Hz). Apple’s tablet is the clear winner here, and if battery life is a priority for you, the iPad Pro will not disappoint. But if you’re the average user, then having to shell out a couple of hundred extra dollars for necessary accessories will sting. The Signature keyboard is decent enough if you have a light touch, but those who type harder may find it flimsy.
If you don’t care about using your slate as a laptop and just want the very best tablet available, then the iPad Pro is your best bet.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021): What’s t
Both devices are similar in size, designed to work with each respective companies’ stylus and they both aim to replace your laptop, but how do they compare to each other and which is right for you? The Surface Pro 7 is heavier and thicker but smaller overall – it’s over 100g more and those figures don’t include extras such as the Microsoft Type Cover keyboard which is available separately.
There are also two extra speakers positioned at the top, offering four-directional sound for powerful audio. The iPad is available in silver and space grey while the Surface Pro 7 is available in platinum and matte black, first introduced last year.
Meanwhile, the Apple iPad Pro’s 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR (aka Micro LED) display is absolutely superb with supreme brightness and colours. The new screen has caused this iPad Pro to be slightly thicker and heavier than the previous generation.
Surface Pro 7: 10th generation Intel Core i3, i5, i7, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage, 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB RAM, no LTE option yet The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 features USB-C at last in addition to the older USB-A standard and a very welcome microSD card reader. This iPad also has a headphone jack, unlike some of Apple’s devices, as well as the Smart Connector for connecting up accessories. The Microsoft Surface Pro has the option of several accessories, all of which cost extra with none included in the box. As for Apple’s iPad Pro 12.9, accessories are a little more limited, though once again cost extra with none included in the box. That means the full bevy of software – from Office to Cortana and beyond – is offered, plus it’ll run third-party apps.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is likely to be the better choice for those actually after a Windows laptop replacement, given the processor, and storage plus RAM can be configured to suit your needs. The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 on the other hand, is a fantastic entertainment and content creation device that also now offers Mac-level power and storage. If it’s entertainment first, working on the move second, the iPad Pro 12.9 is probably the better option especially if you’re already embedded in the Apple ecosystem.
If working on the move is your priority, the Surface Pro 7 should meet most needs with its full desktop apps.
Surface Pro 8 vs. iPad Pro: Which Pro 2-in-1 Tablet Wins?
Even so, there are a lot of huge differences between the two, including the Surface Pro’s kickstand, the Windows and iPad OS operating systems, and more. An important note is that Microsoft finally cut the bezels down on its screens this year, making the display on the Pro 8 bigger. Microsoft says it slimmed down the bezels on all sides of the device, allowing it to fit in a display that’s 11% larger than the one on the Surface Pro 7. The difference will not really be noticeable for most people, but the Pro 8 has a slightly higher pixel density than the iPad.
This makes your inking a lot more natural since you’re able to feel the vibrations of the Surface Slim Pen in your hands as you slide it across the screen. In our review, we found that Surface Slim Pen 2 really makes inking feel immersive and like writing on paper.
The iPad Pro doesn’t have a kickstand, so you’ll need to invest in Apple’s new Magic Keyboard for that experience. Microsoft also tweaked its Type Cover accessories this year, giving you room to put away the Surface Slim Pen 2 and recharge it.
On the Surface Pro 8, you’ll find Intel’s latest 11th-generation Tiger Lake processors.
We talked about those technical differences and dove deeper into the speeds of the M1 chip in our iPad Pro-versus-Surface Pro X comparison. We’ll remind you that the Surface Pro 8 has Intel quad-core processors, which means that they’re pretty much a full-blown computer thanks to Windows 11. If you choose the entry-level Surface Pro 8 with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, you’ll still be able to enjoy light gaming, as well as some photo and video editing.
We had a higher-end Core i7 model but noted that Microsoft made some meaningful changes to the Surface Pro performance. This means the iPad Pro is slightly thinner and lighter, but it’s not a difference most people would notice. Thunderbolt 4 is new on the Surface this year, and provides access to faster data transfers, external GPUs, and dual-monitor support. When it comes to cameras, both devices have 1080p front webcams,but the iPad’s is able to do panning and zooming to make sure you’re in the frame.
While apps like ProCreate continue to be a dominating force in the world of design and illustration, the Surface Pro 8’s versatility as a true Windows laptop replacement remains attractive.
Windows Surface vs. Apple iPad: The Best Pro Tablets
Professional tablets reimagine the laptop as an even more hands-on device, letting you scribble notes, create stunning digital illustrations, or flip the screen on its side to page through a long document. Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8 is a great laptop replacement for productivity work such as dealing with Excel spreadsheets and marking up PDFs. But if you already have a notebook you like, Apple’s 11-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation) is also a great choice, as it excels at creative work such as digital illustration and has a large stable of touch-friendly apps.
It ticks all the boxes and offers everything we look for in a great computer, including a fast, high-resolution display, a capable processor that can handle a bunch of applications at once, and enough ports for you to charge and attach peripherals.
All iPads work seamlessly with Macs and iPhones in an Apple-centric workplace, and iPadOS is easy to use and simple to update, back up, and restore. It has a huge library of touch-friendly tablet apps, including lots of options for drawing, writing, and editing photos, audio, and video.
Surface Pro 8 vs. iPad Pro
The Surface Pro 8 is a great 2-in-1, which provides an excellent laptop experience and passable tablet one. The iPad is more energy efficient, meaning you’ll get better battery life out of the iPad, but the Surface Pro 8 has a bigger, sharper screen and subjectively nicer design. Core i7-1185G7 Apple M1 RAM 8GB, 16GB, 32GB 8GB, 16GB Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB Display 13 inches
The iPad Pro features Mini LED technology for its display, which provides more contrast with deeper blacks, which makes the picture really pop. The Surface Pro 8 features a normal IPS display, which makes the iPad Pro’s display the best choice for photo editing or movie watching. The Surface Pro 8 features a built-in kickstand, which can prove super handy to have if you want to watch a movie and don’t want to hold the device the whole time. It’s also what makes the Surface Pro 8 a great laptop, as it provides a much sturdier experience compared to when the “stand” is built into the keyboard accessory. The iPad Pro features a minimalist and simplistic design, which looks fantastic.
The Surface Pro 8 features a Type Cover connector with magnets along the bottom for adding an external keyboard accessory.
The iPad Pro features a connector on the back, paired with magnets that allow you to connect a Magic Keyboard down the line as well. The Surface Pro 8 is compatible with Microsoft’s Type Cover accessory, which protects the display when closed, and provides a full keyboard and trackpad experience when open. You dock the iPad Pro into the case using magnets, and then the device can be opened and closed like a laptop.
The keyboard experience is small, with the trackpad especially being slightly short in regard to height. The keyboard lays flat, as there are no magnets that allow you to prop it up for a more comfortable typing experience.
In our testing, we’d say the Type Cover for the Surface Pro 8 is a more comfortable laptop experience, especially when on a lap. Thanks to the Surface Pro 8’s kickstand, you can adjust the angle of the device and keyboard to any degree you like.
The Surface Pro 8 features a fully fledged PC OS, designed for productivity and work-related tasks. iPadOS is a great tablet-first OS, providing a clean and simplistic touch-first experience, but at the expense of a less robust laptop or productivity experience, even with the Magic Keyboard attached.
With an excellent Type Cover accessory and built-in kickstand, the Surface Pro 8 is the best 2-in-1 for both laptop and tablet tasks.
Apple Ipad Pro vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 8
With more people working remotely, the need for a device that combines the portability and interface of a tablet with the capability and size of a lap-top is on the rise. As with all Apple products, the Ipad Pro is thoughtfully designed and uniquely optimized for people who work in a visual industry.
With an award-winning pencil and thousands of editing, painting, drawing and creative apps, the Ipad Pro is a designer’s paperless dream.
This is the same chip you will find in most of their computers, which means the Ipad Pro is capable of handling almost anything you throw at it, especially in the photo and video editing department.
Additionally, the Ipad Pro easily integrates with all other Apple products, which makes sharing files from one device to another a simple task. To top it all off, the Ipad Pro has 5 individually built-in microphones, and an outstanding array of camera features, which include 4k video and 1080p slo-mo. Powered by a quad-core Intel processor, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 has the same chip found in many high-performance PC desktops, and runs the same windows operating system used by the business world. Lastly, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 doesn’t have the ability to be connected to a cellular network, which means that you can only go online when there is wifi available. In that vein, the Ipad Pro, thanks to it’s screen, camera, incredible storage and speakers, is the ideal choice for anyone who works in design.
On the other hand, Microsoft has dominated the business world for decades now, and there is no question that the Surface Pro 8 will integrate with other PC platforms more efficiently than the Ipad.
iPad Pro vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 7: Which is the best ‘Pro’ tablet?
The Surface Pro is by far one of the best tablets from Microsoft, offering fully-fledged Windows and an excellent keyboard cover. i7 (Wi-Fi): 784 g (1.73 pounds) Display 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED backlit IPS Dual far-field Studio Mics Camera Front: 12MP ƒ/2.4 aperture, up to 1080p HD video recording, Portrait mode, Lens correction, Auto image stabilization, Retina Flash, Smart HDR 3, FaceID
It also has a large square camera bump at the back like the iPhone 12 series, so you need to be extra careful about the rear protection. It only offers a single USB-C port (with Thunderbolt 4 support) for I/O that can be attached to a wide range of docks and dongles, while the keyboard connects using contact points at the rear.
The edges are a bit less rounded compared to the iPad Pro, and the single-lens camera at the back is flushed with the main body. Probably the most important feature of the Surface Pro is the built-in kickstand that lets you prop it up on a desk without the need for an additional cover, case, or stand. There’s also a microSD card slot hidden under the kickstand, which is a quick and easy way to expand the storage. The 12.3-inch PixelSense display on the Surface Pro comes with a resolution of 2736×1824, 3:2 aspect ratio, 100% of the sRGB color gamut, and 400 nits of peak brightness.
It is sharper, brighter and Apple’s ProMotion or dynamic 120Hz refresh rate makes it smoother as well. Both come with backlit keys in case you are working at night, while the trackpads on the Apple Magic Keyboard and the Surface Pro Type Cover offer a smooth, responsive experience with support for all sorts of gestures.
The Surface Pro Type Cover simply snaps onto the bottom edge using magnets, has a slight fold to get the right height, and connects using pogo pins. Apple’s Magic Keyboard is unique in this case as it has a top part that attaches to the rear of the iPad using a bunch of strong magnets, a hinge in the middle that has a USB-C port for passthrough charging, and a base that has all the keys.
While that shouldn’t be a huge issue, the flexibility offered by the kickstand on the Surface Pro 7 makes it far more versatile. The Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro is also quite hefty, weighing over 1.5 pounds which is more than the tablet itself, making the entire package a bit heavier and bulkier. As for pen input, the Apple Pencil is far more intuitive than any other stylus on the market as it offers a lot of features apart from just scribbling notes and doodling. The Surface Pen has the most features you would expect from a regular stylus, and while it works pretty well, it isn’t as feature-packed as the Apple Pencil. However, the upcoming Windows 11 update is expected to expand the feature set, including brand new haptics and improved response time. Since both tablets run on different operating systems, it isn’t very simple to compare performance numbers.
The M1 is proven to offer superior single-core performance, which is way ahead of Intel’s mobile chips along with powerful graphics to handle high-quality video and even gaming. In fact, the new 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake options on the Surface Pro 7+ are quite efficient and deliver great performance, especially for such a compact device. Apart from the features mentioned above, it also offers a better front and rear camera experience, 5G connectivity, a wide range of apps, best-in-class speakers, a variety of third-party accessories, and a lot more. You don’t get the best touch experience, but the upcoming Windows 11 update is expected to change all of that and might even make it way more competitive than it ever was.
iPadOS, which is derived from iOS, is suited for mobile devices and tablets, offering a wider range of apps, and is well-optimized for touch input as well. Windows is made for PCs and laptops, and the Surface Pro seamlessly adapts to the OS.
Apple iPad Pro versus Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Dat zie je ook terug in de apps: iPad-apps zijn makkelijk met je vinger te bedienen maar zijn tegelijkertijd minder krachtig en uitgebreid dan de volwaardige desktop-apps in Windows. De grootte en dikte van de tablets maakt wat ons betreft niet heel veel uit, omdat ze allebei niet comfortabel zijn om voor langere tijd vast te houden. Over het algemeen is het meer vierkante 4:3-scherm van de iPad fijner om op te internetten en bijvoorbeeld op te lezen, terwijl het 3:2-scherm van de Surface beter geschikt is om twee vensters naast elkaar op weer te geven. Je kunt bij ons ook geteste tablets met elkaar vergelijken.
Of je kunt meteen bekijken welke tablets het beste uit de test zijn gekomen. Deze kickstand is een van de grootste pluspunten van de Surface Pro 4, in combinatie met zijn toetsenbord, maar ook als je hem als tablet gebruikt.
Het geeft je namelijk veel gebruiksvrijheid: je kunt de tablet zo ongeveer op elke denkbare plek in huis neerzetten en tegelijkertijd comfortabel het scherm blijven gebruiken. Die zet je iPad in slechts twee standen neer en is bovendien ook wat minder stevig.
Ook op de kleurweergave, helderheid en contrast is bij beide schermen niets aan te merken. Het voordeel van die grote tablets is natuurlijk dat ze veel ruimte hebben voor krachtige onderdelen. Zo kun je sinds iOS 9 ook op de iPad 2 apps naast elkaar weergeven, maar kun je dat weer niet met alle apps doen. Dat merk je vooral met productie-apps, zoals Adobe Photoshop en Microsoft Word/Excel.
Ook zijn er nog niet zoveel van dit soort apps beschikbaar voor de iPad als voor Windows of Mac, maar daar kan natuurlijk verandering in komen. Ook kun je met de pen van Apple brede strepen neerzetten door de punt schuin op het scherm te zetten, net als met een echt potlood. Hij geeft je inmiddels bijna net zoveel typecomfort als een degelijk laptoptoetsenbord. Je bevestigt hem via de magnetische connector van de iPad Pro en kunt hem daarnaast met zijn ingebouwde Smart Cover als houder gebruiken. Daarnaast is Windows 10 als besturingssysteem beter ingericht voor gebruik met een toetsenbord. Zoals te verwachten haalt de Surface Pro 4 dat niet met zijn laptoponderdelen, maar zijn gemiddelde van 7 uur bij video’s afspelen en internetten is ook voor een laptop niet heel indrukwekkend meer.
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