What’s the point in having the raw power if you can’t flex it to the best effect? Whether due to a certain limitation or hindrance if something holds you back from making the most of the gifted ability, you can’t brag about that ability and flaunt it as your x-factor. Well, in the case of the newly-launched iPad Pro M4, this bitter statement seems to resonate from the core – albeit in an utterly ironic way…
Days after Apple showcased the M4 iPad Pro at an iPad-only “Let Loose” event, Microsoft came out swinging with a more dynamic and capable “Surface Pro.” Having been in the same ballpark for quite some time, both the brand-new tablets can’t escape close scrutiny. While the former claims to crush the boundaries of creativity, the latter touts to empower creativity like no other devices out there.
iPad Pro M4 Vs Surface Pro: Why Surface is a Much Better Choice Than the iPad Pro
So, which way are you more likely to go? Not sure which one of these tablets can live up to your expectations? Let me help you make a more informed decision that can serve your needs better – both in terms of value and efficiency.
Having put the iPad Pro 13″ M4 for a direct face-off with the Surface Pro (2024), I would like to highlight some pivotal reasons that sway the battle in favor of Microsoft’s tablet-cum-laptop.
Design, Display, Speed, Performance, Cameras, and Battery Life
For years, Apple has touted the unmatched speed of the iPad, and remarkably better performance than their rivals. Powered by M4, Apple’s most advanced silicon to date, the iPad Pro excels in speed and performance.
Nevertheless, the M4 iPad Pro can’t claim to decimate the Surface Pro 2024. Endowed with the wicked-fast Snapdragon Elite X, the Surface Pro is pretty close to the iPad Pro on the single-core performance (3, 700 vs 2, 400 single-core) while it has leveled up on the multi-core performance (14, 000 vs 14, 000 multi-core).
Whereas iPad Pro comes in 8GB and 16GB RAM, Surface Pro is available in 16GB and 32GB RAM. The higher RAM paired with the most advanced Snapdragon Elite X chip (having more CPU and GPU cores) does endow enough strength to the Surface Pro to give a close fight to Apple’s iPad. For a change, Apple’s bragging right about speed seems to be seriously threatened.
Taking your attention to the M4 iPad Pro’s rear camera system, the tablet features a 12MP wide lens, LiDAR scanner as well as the Retina Flash with True Tone. On the front, the iPad has a 12MP ultra-wide lens with Center Stage. As for the Surface Pro, it also features a pretty solid 10MP rear lens and an ultra-wide front Quad HD lens.
Talking about the display, the iPad Pro’s 13″ tandem OLED display does look stunning and clearly has an upper hand over the Surface Pro’s 13″ OLED display panel. But the Surface Pro offers up to 14 hours of local video playback as compared to just 10 hours of video use on the iPad Pro. Times when you are on the go, the additional battery life on the Surface will stand you in good stead.
Design-wise, the iPad Pro looks eye-catching with an incredibly sleek profile. For those who have a huge penchant for svelte profiles, it might be a big deal. But for those who prefer a little bit of extra weight in favor of durability, Surface Pro would be the way to go. Remember the saying, “Handsome is as handsome does.” I suspect the ultra-slim design might trigger the bendgate for the new iPad Pro – pretty much like the iPhone 6 Series back in 2014.
Enhanced Flexibility
What makes Surface Pro a better device is the ability to seamlessly switch between a tablet and a laptop. Whether you wish to use Surface Pro as a handy tablet or turn it into a modern-looking notebook, it can live up to the mark with aplomb.
While the iPad Pro 4 excels as a modern tablet like no other device, the iPad miserably fails when you try to convert it into a notebook. An extravagantly priced gadget that is touted to take computing to the all-new level has no right to feel awkward in attempting to be a laptop.
On the other hand, the Surface Pro comes very close to the iPad Pro on the tablet front. But when you take them for a laptop battle, the former hands-down beats the latter – without even breaking a sweat. So, if you are hunting for a premium tablet that can also double up as a robust notebook, look no further than the Surface Pro. Add to that the support for WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, as well as the physical nanoSIM and Surface Pro seems to leave the iPad Pro far behind in terms of flexibility.
Full-Fledged PC Gaming
When it comes to gaming, Windows is several years ahead of macOS – let alone iPadOS. For folks who are willing to experience full-fledged PC gaming, Surface Pro can be a preferred choice.
Courtesy of a massive library of high-octane games, the Microsoft Store stands out. Well, if you can’t believe me on this front, better ask someone who is into gaming. Which is better for adrenaline-pumping gaming – the childish iPadOS or the mature Windows? 99.99 times, you will get the answer – heavily in favor of Windows.
Much-Better Software Experience
Without denying the fact that the iPad has come a long way and has the best-in-class hardware, what lets it down badly is the lack of more capable software. Despite all the talk of providing a new way of computing, iPadOS still seems to be a baby software. That means the top-notch hardware of the iPad remains underutilized due to the below-par software.
On the other side of the spectrum, full-fledged Windows empowers the Surface Pro – to the point where you are able to experience a complete computing experience. In trying to play nice both as a tablet and laptop simultaneously, the iPad Pro feels awkward when you begin to look at it as a pro notebook.
A Complete Package
Though the iPad Pro never fails to stake the claim of being a one-of-a-kind computer, it requires you to break your bank and shell out a whopping $330-$350 for a Magic Keyboard and up to $150 for an Apple Pencil. When you add the additional $500 to the base price of the 13″ iPad Pro M4 ($1299 – $256GB Wi-FI) you have to cough up $1800 for a device that does a great job as a tablet but performs well below the expectations of a laptop.
On the contrary, the Surface Pro is available for $1499 (512GB Wi-Fi) with an exceptionally flexible keyboard and an impressive digital pen. Apart from working reliably as a tablet, the Surface never ever lets you down as a laptop – due largely to better-optimized and more powerful software.
Read more: A Quick Look at the Best iOS 18 Accessibility Features (Video)
