Our head-to-head pits Apple against
Microsoft in the battle of the tablets
Microsoft has announced two tablets that
will enter the market in a few months’ time. The higher-end Surface Pro is a
more distant prospect, but the ARM-based Surface will be taking on the iPad in
the near future. Good luck with that.
Surface
to air – Microsoft’s Surface tablet is physically similar to the iPad, but uses
the tile-based Windows 8 RT interface. It’s expected to hit the shelves in
October
To see if Apple has much to worry about,
we’ve put together a simple comparison of the two devices – iPad and Surface –
and their features, to see how they match up.
Physical build: the two tablets are similar in terms of size and weight. The
Surface is marginally slimmer at 9.3mm compared to 9.4mm: that’s too minute a
difference to be noticeable. The Surface is a bit heavier, mind.
Screen:
Microsoft hasn’t given full details of the Surface’s screen. We do know it’s
larger than the iPad’s, at 10.6in rather than 9.7in; and only the Pro model is
slated to get a full-HD display, so we can assume that the Surface will have a
significantly lower resolution than the iPad’s 2,048 x 1,536 Retina display.
Processor:
the iPad has an Apple A5X dual-core processor based on the ARM Cortex A9
architecture with quad-core graphics. It’s a powerful chip that makes the
Retina’s blockbuster visuals a possibility. The Surface remains an unknown
quantity in this area, but we know its processor will also be ARM-based, and
manufactured by nVidia.
Storage: the
iPad comes in three storage options, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, with no expansion
available via card slots. Microsoft has opted for only 32GB and 64GB models,
but the tablet has a microSD card slot, so this can be added to.
Cameras:
both tablets have dual cameras. The iPad has a 5Mp rear-facing camera and a
VGA-quality front-facing counterpart. The Surface has two ‘LifeCam’ cameras,
but Microsoft has not given any details of these.
Connectivity: the Surface boasts USB 2.0, MicroHD Video and a 2x2 MIMO antenna
for Wi-Fi. Microsoft hasn’t mentioned Bluetooth connectivity. The iPad has 802.11/a/b/g/n
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.
Software: this
could be the biggest difference between the tablets. We are all fans of iOS, of
course; it’s a honed, user-friendly platform with a huge ecosystem of
third-party apps. But the Surface has an appealing OS of its own.
Windows RT is a version of Windows 8
designed for ARM processors; it includes the new touch-friendly Metro-style
interface, as well as a limited version of the traditional Windows desktop for
running Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office.
Battery: on
paper the iPad is ahead on battery capacity, rated at 42.5Wh-which translates
to a battery life of 10 hours – to the Surface’s 31.5Wh. Microsoft has yet to
offer a figure for the Surface’s battery life.
Specifications
Microsoft surface
Weight: 676g
Thickness: 9.3 mm
Screen: 10.6in ClearType HD display
Processor: nVidia-made Arm chip
Battery: 31.5Wh
Storage: 32GB, 64GB
New iPad (3RD GEN)
New iPad (3RD GEN)
Weight: 652g, 662g
Thickness: 9.4mm
Screen: 9.7in 2,048 x 1,536 pixel
multi-touch display
Processor: dual-core Apple ẠX
Battery: 42.5Wh
Storage: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
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