The age-old battle of Microsoft vs Apple has been given a new lease of life, this time in the form of tablet PCs. The Microsoft Surface RT and Apple iPad are two of the most sought after tablets on the market, so naturally we wanted to see which one is best. Here is our very own Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison review. See iPad 4 review and Surface RT review.
Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison: Price
The bottom price of each tablet is exactly the same, it is worth pointing out that the £399 price of the surface does not include a Touch Cover, which is an accessory that is pretty integral to the slick use of the Windows tablet. If you want the Touch Cover - and you really should - then you have to factor in another £80 as the price jumps up to £479. Coincidentally that is the exactly same price as a 32GB Pad 4.
Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison: Dimensions
On the face of it, there's not a huge amount of difference between the iPad 4 and the Microsoft Surface. The Surface RT just pips the iPad 4 in terms of which is thinner, measuring in at 9.3mm compared to 9.4mm. Take a look at Apple iPad Mini vs Google Nexus 7 tablet comparison review.
Oddly the table's turn when it comes to weight, with the iPad 4 weighing 662g compared to the barely heftier 678g of the Surface. As we said earlier, these measurements are both too close to really separate the two.
Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison: Screen
The difference between the two tablets become more apparent when you look at the two screen sizes. With Microsoft's Surface coming in nearly an inch bigger (diagonally) at 10.6in and the iPad 4 measuring 9.7in. Read: iPad 3 vs iPad 4 comparison review.
While the screen size of the surface is bigger than the iPad 4, the screen resolution is significantly lower. The two tablet's resolutions and pixels per inch (ppi) tell a different story - a story where the iPad 4 convincingly whips the Surface. The Surface's 148ppi ClearType HD display looks pretty good at normal viewing distances and in general is pretty good for your everyday tablet needs, but the iPad 4's Retina Display with 264ppi really is in a league of its own. Visit Group test: what's the best tablet PC?
Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison: Processor
Comparing these two's processors is a bit of a tricky one, as our usual benchmarking tool doesn't work on the Surface.
That said it is worth mentioning that the iPad 4 features an upgraded A6X chip that set a new tablet record of 1769 using Geekbench 2, to put that into perspective the iPad 3 had a score around the region of 750. In laymen's terms that means the iPad 4 has a very powerful processor indeed.
The only real way we can compare the two is in terms of what each was like to use on a day-to-day basis. From this we would have to conclude that the iPad 4's processor seemed to be the better of the two as the overall experience what slicker. That's not to say that the Surface was a jumpy slow coach, far from it, we were actually impressed with the Surface's performance; animations are smooth and the more demanding tasks like pinch zooming in Internet Explorer and Bing Maps are extremely responsive. However, we did notice a delay here and there, especially when opening some apps. Something that we did not find with the iPad 4.
Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison: Storage
Apple iPad storage options are pretty much set in stone now - £399 for 16GB Wi-Fi only ranging all the way up to £659 for 64GB with Wi-Fi and 3G/4G cellular data. As usual the iPad 4 features no microSD card slot for expandable storage.
The Microsoft Surface RT really hammers the iPad 4, when it comes to storage options, offering twice as much storage - 32GB instead of 16GB - for £399. Like the iPad 4, the Surface is also available to buy with 64GB of internal storage. The real kicker is that the Surface also features a microSD card slot, which lets you add up to another 64GB of storage, which in theory means the Surface can have up to 128GB of space.
Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison: Camera
Both tablet's cameras are pretty good, but the iPad 4 edges this comparison thanks to its superior rear-facing camera. The Surface and the iPad 4 share the honours when it comes to the front facing cameras, with each of them boasting 720p video recording. However the iPad 4 turns the screw with its 1080p HD rear-facing camera compared to the Surface's 720p rear-facing camera.
Microsoft does not state the megapixels for either of the Surface's cameras. From our own use of the device we felt that the iPad 4's 5Mp rear-facing camera was superior to the Surface's unstated sill image camera, while we couldn't split the performance of either's front facing camera.
Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison: Connectivity
Things really start to heat up when you take a look at the connectivity options of the Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4, with both taking very different approaches.
Lets start of with the controversial main data/power port of the iPad 4. Apple's reluctance to join the USB bandwagon has been a sore spot for many for sometime now, so when Apple decided to replace its standard 30-pin connector to a new unique-to-Apple data connector that was not USB, the company annoyed more than a few people. That's not to say that the new Apple Lightning connecter is bad (it's not), it just means that people who had bought previous Apple cables and/or docks now had equipment that was redundant without a £25 adapter.
In our opinion the Surface's physical connections is one of its best qualities. It offers full-size USB connectivity, a microSD card slot and a HD video out port. That's three key ports that the iPad 4 doesn't offer.
While we think the Surface trumps the iPad in terms of physical connectivity, it's also clear that the iPad has the run on the Surface with its wireless capabilities. Both tablets offer pretty standard Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 4.0 technology; however the iPad 4 can be bought with 3G and 4G cellular connectivity whereas the surface can't.
Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison: Software
Things get pretty interesting when you compare the software for the Surface and the iPad 4. It's interesting because the iPad 4 completely blows the Surface out of the water with its fantastic app store. Microsoft made big noises about the quality of it's own Windows store, but it's going to take a lot of time and effort before Microsoft gets anywhere near the stand of Apple's App Store.
Our review of the Surface RT - by Chris Martin - explains the situation well. "As it stands, this is the area where the Surface RT falls down. There are a few big name apps like Netflix and Microsoft's own like Skype and Xbox SmartGlass. However, there's a lack of the apps most iPad and Android tablet owners use every day including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Google Maps, Dropbox, Spotify, BBC iPlayer, IMDb, ESPN Goals and Sky Go. Games not available include Bad Piggies, Words With Friends, World Of Goo and the lists go on."
"Most of these services, such as BBC's iPlayer, can be accessed via IE10 but this is only a small consolation. Services like Facebook and Twitter can be accessed by the People Hub but this isn't a suitable replacement for a dedicated app. The idea of a tablet is to have tailored apps, not access services via a web browser like you would on a laptop. Until the situation improves, the lack of app support is a big issue."
Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison: Battery
This is pretty tricky one, as our experience with the Surface's battery life wasn't at all as Microsoft advertised. After fully charging the Surface and using it very lightly and briefly during the day, we left the tablet with ample battery left during the night. When we attempted to use the Surface in the morning we found the battery had gone completely flat and it required power from the mains to bring it back to life. We'll let you know whether this was a one off or not when we get a second review sample in the coming days.
What we can tell you is that the iPad 4 has a very good and reliable battery, that gives you 10-hours of use before it conks out.
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Comments
NOLATechy said: Do you even own the RT Windows 8 and RT are great operating systems The most stable and secure operating system Microsoft has come out with yet Just because you arent intelligent enough to figure out how to use it and dont say you didnt have to learn iOS when it came out doesnt make Win8RT terrible As for the desktop mode Surface has a USB slot I plugged in a USB mouse and use Word Excel amp PowerPoint just like I do on my laptop Can you do that on an iPad Yes RT cant run Windows apps Can iPad4 run Mac OSX programs Then what is your point I own Surface RT tablet and am using it right now I love it so call me a fanboy
NolaTechy said: I agree that the article is about iPad 4 and Surface however you forget that the Surface has a SD Card Slot that adds 64GB of storage space iPad4 does not So if your arguing which is better by storage space Surface wins I own the Surface RT In fact Im typing this using the touchpad keyboard which came with my Surface RT and works perfectly iPad needs a Bluetooth keyboard or purchase a touch-type keyboard separately Windows RT works great no need to wait for Windows 9
Windows said: I LOVE MY SURFACE It blows ipad out of the water The three ports that Surface has sinks apple to the ground - not to mention REAL OFFICE Who gives a rats bum about apple apps If Iwanted to play games Ill go to my WII
Jaygardner3 said: I agree I own the iPad4 and the iPad 3 My friend owns the surface He is wishing he would have waited to buy the cleaner clearer better camerabetter functionality more universal and technilogical iPad4 There isnt the same comparison from the iPad 3 to iPad 4 as the processor is over 2 times as fast and sadly where the Surface lacks Why have more space if you cant accomodate the space you have on the Surface This will eventually crash and burn They arent the innovators of technology they are reformers and will be hopefully able to be more complete and comparable with the Surface 2 World Wide- iPad outsells outperformes and outexcells the competition
Nate said: From a working perspective Your tablet should complement the laptop or pc you work from I often setup CMS websites on my laptop using photoshop and other production software to slice images compile videos etc Afterwords I sit back and edit the pages from my tablet because adobe products and other professional platforms are not readily available or optimized for use with my pointer fingers
Nate said: Surfacebusiness IpadpleasureAndroid because I love technology haha
Nate said: Plus the microsd port for an extra storage drive
Nate said: These comments remind me of the 15 year olds that talk smack on YouTube videos Sad
Nate said: Agreed own a surface ipad and galaxy note and stop your complaining
Nate said: How old are you grandpa Windows 8 is a breeze and Im typing this on an ipad just so you know I have both in front of me
Matt Egan said: No-one bought those tablets
Anonym said: You Apple fans are really the most closed minded people on earth I havent seen so ignorant people that dont even try to think out of the boxbecausethey are fed and enslaved by Apple consumerism Obviously the Surface beats the hell out of ipad in terms of design and usageBy usage I mean getting your job done not wasting your time on 600uselessapps while you are trying to sleep And by Innovation you guys mean making you play stupid games on your tablet where were you when several other companies introduced Tablet before even Apple had a bite on it Yeah those were the times people had real jobs to do and didnt fall for marketing schemes Then Apple came and tried once more with its strong marketing Nice job applemaking millions of people falling in your INNOVATIVE trap
Genieass said: You are busy calling people MS fanboys because they are critical of Apple what does that make you thenI have both the Surface RT amp the iPad 3 The Surface is a better productivity tablet and the iPad a better consumer device The RT is not a rubbish device and while the desktop mode is largely needless that is not where it matters It is flash compatible and Office is more than useable with the excellent smart-cover For a 1st generation product is is very good although I agree Office needs to be more touch optimised in the future It does not need all the apps of the iPad given its Flash capability Windows apps store is evolving as an ecosystem Apple are too busy suing everyone and should focus on innovation of iOS Apple was a game changer was being the past tense We are waiting to see what they do in 2013 Their finest product in recent times is actually the Macbook Pro Retina series not the iPad or iPhoneHowever once Microsoft sought out their revenue share dispute with Apple and Office for the iPad is released that will redress the balance and make the iPad a formidable prosumer product
Glenn said: Remember folks they are comparing the 4th generation Ipad with the launch 1st generation surface This logic carries through with the Apps Microsoft just entered this market and Apple has been building apps for years Apple prepare to have the fruit blown off your tree as the Surface already looks better than your latest model Go MS
Jake said: We have to keep in mind that this is microsofts first attempt in the tablet world Apple is a veteren of making tablets and microsoft is just getting started I would like to see a comparison of the IPad 1 versus the SurfaceSomething else to remember Microsoft is going to release a different version of the surface later with a whole new OS Windows 8 Pro and better stats That would probably be a better comparison than this basic version
QuillDepot said: Theres an iPad 4
Electrodrag said: iPad 4 rules Surface is just a wanna be copycat of iPad
Tim Winfield said: The innovation I refered to if you bothered to read the post properly was the initial designs of the iPad and the iPhone which have been game changers for the tablet and Smart phone markets respectively Microsoft has done a good job with the surface and in time it might do very well Whether it will be the iPad killer all the MS fan boys are hoping for is another matter
Jaydentilbrook said: Its worth noting that the Lightning connector and 30 pin connector is used in Apple products because it allows for HD videoaudio out something Mirco USB doesnt have the bandwidth for So the lightning connector in the iPad is basically the integration of mini HDMI and USB This is why Apple keeps going with their own connector instead of switching to USB and needing two ports on their devices instead of one
Xptsb said: What Innovation They created the iPad and its been the same ever since Slightly slimmer slightly faster but no innovation at all Surface is a puff of fresh air The only think where it fails is missing a dedicated GPS chip receiver