When the iPad Pro [1] made its debut on stage at the recent Apple event, the crowd applauded and marveled at the company's newest product. However, several people were confused, wondering why they were essentially seeing a copy of Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 being called the iPad. It's also something one cartoonist, Joel Watson, predicted three years ago. The tweet below highlights that the Surface would not get any recognition until Apple made its own.
This comic is 3 years old; presented without comment pic.twitter.com/38PGAii4cY [2]
— Alex Donaldson (@APZonerunner) September 9, 2015 [3]
But, if you're now deciding whether to buy the Surface Pro 3 or the iPad Pro (pictured above respectively), check out our table of all the features each product has. It should help you see which one is more suited for your needs.
| iPad Pro | Surface Pro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 12.9 inches | 12 inches |
| Weight | 1.57 pounds (WiFi model); 1.59 pounds (WiFi + Cellular model) | 1.76 pounds (WiFi model) |
| Processor | A9X | Intel Core i7 (256 and 512 GB model) |
| Memory | 32/128 GB | 64/128/256/512 GB |
| Resolution | 5.6 million pixels | 3.1 million pixels |
| Camera | 8 MP; 1080p HD | 5 MP; 1080p HD |
| Front Camera | 1.2 MP; 720p HD | 5 MP; 1080p HD |
| Battery | 10 hours on WiFi; 9 hours on a cellular network | 9 hours on WiFi |
| Ports | Lightning and smart connector | USB 3.0, microSD reader, headphone jack, Mini DisplayPort, cover port, charging port |
| Keyboard | $169, charcoal gray | $130, blue, black, purple, and red |
| Stylus | $99 | Included with the Surface Pro 3 |
| Price Points | $799 for 32GB, $949 for 128 GB for WiFi models; $1,079 for 128 GB WiFi + cellular model | $799 for 64 GB/Intel Core i3 model, $899 (originally $999) for 128 GB/Intel Core i5 model, $1,149 for 256 GB/Intel Core i5 model, $1,399 (originally $1,549) for 256 GB/Intel Core i7 model, $1,799 (originally $1,949) for 512 GB/Intel Core i7 model |
Based on several of these specifications, the iPad Pro does have a better camera and resolution and can work on a cellular network. However, it's a pretty pricey item, especially when you add on the keyboard, whereas the 64 GB model of the Surface Pro 3 is cheaper with the keyboard. There isn't a clear winner, but whatever you decide, just know it should be a product that you want to invest in and not wish to upgrade a few years from now.