Faced with the dilemma of buying a new laptop, many ask themselves the question of whether an iPad will be a better option or replacement. Only if the tablet from Apple will meet your needs. Because a touch screen coupled with a stylus can be very attractive for taking notes, and when you need a more conventional experience, just plug in a keyboard, a mouse and go.
The iPad Pro (2021) is Apple’s best tablet for features. A device with regular updates for many years and that performs optimally in all the tasks you can perform. But it’s not the only tablet to consider. Another option to consider is the Microsoft Surface Pro 8, Microsoft’s proposal which is a hybrid between tablet and laptop. We put them face to face to compare their features, differences and prices.
iPad Pro vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 8
specifications |
12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021) |
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 |
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Dimensions and weight |
280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm and 682 grams |
287mm x 208.3mm x 9.4mm and 891 grams |
Filter |
12.9-inch Mini Liquid Retina XDR LED with 2048 x 2732 pixel resolution in 4:3 aspect ratio. 120Hz ProMotion technology, 1600nits peak brightness and HDR10 Dolby Vision support |
13-inch Pixel Sense Flow with 2880 x 1920 pixel resolution in 3:2 aspect ratio with up to 120Hz refresh rate. Dolby Vision compatibility |
Processor | RAM | Storage |
Apple M1 | 8 or 16 GB | 128, 256, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB |
Intel Core i5, Intel Core EVO i5, Intel Core EVO i7 | 8, 16 or 32 GB LPDDR4X | 128, 256, 512 GB or 1 TB |
Operating system |
iPadOS |
Microsoft Windows 11 |
cameras |
Rear: 12 (wide angle) + 10 (ultra wide angle) MP with LiDAR sensor | Front: 12MP Ultra Wide TrueDepth |
Rear: 10 MP with 1080p or 4K video recording | Front: 5 MP 1080p IR camera |
Drums |
10758 mAh – fast charging at 18W |
6200mAh – up to 16 hours |
connectivity |
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C 4 (Thunderbolt 4), Smart Connector |
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 2 x Thunderbolt 4, Surface Connect and 3.5mm audio jack |
Others |
Support for Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard Folio and Magic Keyboard; 5G option with GPS; four speakers; five studio-grade microphones and Face ID |
Two 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos and two studio-grade long-range microphones; compatibility with Surface Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Signature keyboard; Cellular option and Windows Hello |
Price |
From 1199 euro |
From 1179 euro |
Apple iPad Pro 2021 (12.9-inch, with Wi-Fi, 12 8GB) – Space Gray (5th generation)
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 – 13″ 2-in-1 Laptop Computer (Intel Core i5-1135G7 11th Gen, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Iris Xe graphics, Windows 11) Black
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Design: The 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 are both tablets with fairly thin bezels. In the case of the Surface, the bottom one (landscape format) is a bit thicker because of the way the keyboard accessory attaches; Like the top one, maybe because of the infrared camera and microphone array. This device incorporates an adjustable support in the lower part of the back to be able to place it with different viewing angles depending on the use. For the iPad, an accessory or case should be attached.
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Filter: Almost identical in size, the iPad Pro stands out for its ProMotion mini-LED panel with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 can also be set to 120Hz, but the battery charge is noticeably reduced. The 4:3 and 3:2 aspect ratios, respectively, make the screen more square rather than rectangular. They are said to be more suited to productivity than the classic 16:9, often better for consuming multimedia content.
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Processor | RAM | Storage: The iPad Pro incorporates the M1 chip, the same that Apple uses in many of its computers. However, that doesn’t make it a MacBook because it can’t run m acOS apps (more on that later). The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 relies on eleventh generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. RAM and internal storage options are similar. The good thing about the Surface is that its SSD can be easily upgraded by the user
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Operating system: iPadOS and Microsoft Windows 11. The first is an operating system for mobile devices derived from iOS, with its virtues and its defects, and the second can run all applications of a conventional Windows computer. Both devices can be used for Internet browsing, office automation, email, media consumption, and more. But with the Surface you can run programs like AutoCAD or Adobe Premiere Pro, which is still not possible today in Apple’s option, having to look for alternatives which may not be as powerful/complete.
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cameras: the photographic section of tablets is not as large as that of smartphones, but a good front camera for quality video calls is appreciated. The iPad Pro has better features here, with its 12 MP TrueDepth front camera with Center Framing and Face ID. On the back we find a dual configuration of 12 + 10 MP with a LiDAR sensor for augmented reality tasks. In the case of the Surface we have a Full HD front with IR to use Windows Hello and a 10MP rear that can record in 4K.
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Drums: the autonomy of devices often depends on the use made of them. Surfing the Internet is not the same as gambling. That of the iPad Pro is around 10 hours and Microsoft promises a duration of up to 16 hours on your Surface, although that’s not a very realistic number and something like 7-8 hours with normal usage is more believable.
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connectivity– Both devices are well-equipped here, with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, USB-C connectivity options with Thunderbolt 4, 5G or 4G, and more.
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AccessoriesNote: iPad Pro and Surface Pro 8 can be used right out of the box, but with accessories they become more useful. The problem is that neither Apple nor Microsoft include stylus or keyboard in the purchase of the tablets, but they are purchased separately and are not cheap. Luckily, you can use cheaper unofficial alternatives that provide a good experience, especially on the keyboard.
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Price: The price of the iPad Pro and the Surface Pro 8 is very similar, being 20 dollars higher in the case of the Apple tablet. So opting for one or the other for the price, in this case, does not make sense. Of course, there are deals that leave Microsoft’s proposition much cheaper, and it’s not that common to see deep discounts on the iPad.
iPad Pro (2021) VS Microsoft Surface Pro 8, which one to buy?
Although the iPad Pro and Surface Pro 8 are tablets, your operating system makes a difference. On the iPad we can use applications developed for mobile devices; it is true that there are very good options for productivity, such as LumaFusion, Ferrite or adapted versions of Photoshop or Illustrator, but many “classic” programs for macOS or Windows computers are missing. In the Surface Pro 8 we have Windows 11, that is, the operating system that we find in the vast majority of laptops, being able to do the same thing as them (taking into account their features).
If you already have a laptop or desktop computer and want a companion device that’s also designed for entertainment, the iPad Pro is a great option. If you don’t have a conventional computer, betting on the Surface Pro 8 is safer. We will know that we will have no problem doing the vast majority of things that we would do with a laptop or desktop computer. Of course, this is not a device designed for gaming or working on very demanding projects; It does not have a dedicated graphics card.
Apple iPad Pro 2021 (12.9-inch, with Wi-Fi, 128GB) – Space Gray (5th generation)
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 – 13″ 2-in-1 Laptop Computer (Intel Core i5-1135G7 11th Gen, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Iris Xe graphics, Windows 11) Black
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