Smartphone and tablet users tend to fall into two categories: those who are diehard Apple fans and seemingly willing to pay any price for its fashionable hardware, and those who prefer the semi-open approach of Google's Android operating system and the less costly hardware on which it runs. Now there's a third category, which champions Windows RT.
In most cases, people choose an operating system and stick with it. The OS feels familiar, you already know your media collection is supported, and if you have more than one such device you can expect them to play well together. So, if you have an iPhone you'll probably want an iPad; if you have a Galaxy S3 or Nexus 4 you'll likely want the Nexus 10; and if you're a Windows Phone user, perhaps the most loyal of the lot, you'll almost certainly be eyeing up the Surface RT.
But what if you don't have a particular preference in terms of the operating system? Here, we put head-to-head the best each platform has to offer.
Nexus 10 vs Surface RT vs iPad 4: Price
Microsoft's Surface RT starts at £399 with 32GB of storage, whereas this amount of cash will net you only a 16GB fourth-generation iPad with Retina Display - aka iPad 4. Add a Touch Cover, though, and the Surface RT matches Apple's 32GB slate at £479. The Nexus 10 offers great value, with a 16GB model costing £319, and 32GB £389.
Nexus 10 vs Surface RT vs iPad 4: Dimensions
Somewhat surprisingly, the iPad is the chunkiest tablet in this trio. The Nexus 10 is the slimmest, at 8.9mm; the Surface RT is also slightly thinner than the iPad at 9.3mm versus 9.4mm. The Nexus is a relative lightweight, at 603g, although the 662g iPad and 678g Surface don't tip the scales much further.
Microsoft Surface RT video review
Nexus 10 vs Surface RT vs iPad 4: Screen
Every full-size iPad released by Apple has had a 9.7in screen, which is ever so slightly smaller than that of the 10.1in Nexus and 10.6in Surface. Until the Nexus 10 launched, the iPad had by far the best tablet screen resolution on the market. The Surface RT's 1366x768, 148ppi ClearType display looks comparatively low-res in the face of the iPad's beautiful 2048x1536, 264ppi Retina-quality screen, but the Nexus 10 is the real star of the show here, with a 2560x1600, 300ppi display.
Nexus 10 vs Surface RT vs iPad 4: Processor and memory
It's difficult to compare the Surface's nVidia Tegra 3 quad-core chip with the dual-core 1.39GHz A6X CPU selected by Apple and 1.7GHz ARM Cortex A-15 preferred by Google, since our usual benchmarks are incompatible with Microsoft's tablet.
In Geekbench, the iPad scored 1,769 points, and the Nexus 10 recorded a massive 2,505 – the best we've seen yet. In real-world use, the Surface felt like the slower tablet – not that it's by any means slow. Animations are smooth and demanding tasks, such as pinch-zooming in Internet Explorer and Bing Maps, is responsive. This is no doubt helped by the 2GB of RAM.
On the iPad and Nexus 10 we also ran the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark and GLBenchmark graphics test. The iPad fared better in both, recording 854ms against the Nexus 10's 1,329ms in SunSpider, and 39fps versus 27fps in GLBenchmark. The latter result is perhaps to be expected, given that the iPad sports quad-core graphics. However, it's equipped with just 1GB of RAM, whereas the Nexus 10 has 2GB.
iPad with Retina Display video review
Nexus 10 vs Surface RT vs iPad 4: Storage
Neither iPad nor Nexus allow you to add to the storage capacity through removable media, so it’s important to carefully calculate what capacity you’re likely to need – the iPad is available from 16- to 64GB, the Nexus is 16- or 32GB. The Surface RT, by comparison, has a microSDXC slot, which lets you add up to 64GB to its 32- or 64GB of internal storage.
Nexus 10 vs Surface RT vs iPad 4: Cameras
On the photography side of things the Nexus 10 and iPad 4 have a similar setup, and both are better than that of the Surface RT in our subjective tests. Both iPad and Nexus have a 5Mp rear-facing camera capable of 1080p video, and front-facing webcams – the Nexus' offers a slightly higher megapixel rating, at 1.9Mp versus 1.2Mp. Meanwhile, the Surface supports only 720p video, but when propped up with its kickstand the front-facing cam is cleverly angled such that it's level.
Nexus 10 vs Surface RT vs iPad 4: Connectivity
Apple's latest iPad replaces the 30-pin docking port with a Lightning connector. This means existing iPad accessories will work only with a £25 adaptor. Both the Nexus 10 and Microsoft Surface RT are more user-friendly in this regard: the Nexus 10 charges via Micro USB and offers a Micro HDMI slot, while the Surface RT has a full-size USB 2.0 port, a microSDXC slot and an HD video-out port.
All three tablets support Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi, although the Nexus 10 and iPad can cope with both 2.4- and 5GHz frequency bands. The Nexus also caters for NFC, while the iPad supports 3G and 4G LTE in the UK.
Nexus 10 vs Surface RT vs iPad 4: Battery
The iPad has a 42.5Wh battery, while the Nexus 10 has a lower-capacity 33.3Wh pack and the Surface’s is lower still, at 31.5Wh. The results are as you would expect: the iPad can keep going for around 10 hours, while the Nexus can manage nine and the Surface eight.
Comments
SCox said: I recently picked up a Surface RT and love it The Windows OS is really easy to use it can switch to desktop mode to feel like a traditional laptop especially the with keyboard and kickstand It has all the necessary apps that I use social media YouTube games etc and the run fast and look good With microSD USB and MicroHDMI ports you can have infinite memory easily upload information from other device and connect to your HD tv in no time Add in a free pre-installed version of MicroSoft Office that updates to full version for free and tge Surface is in my eyes superior over iPad My next step is swapping out my iPhone for a Windows phone Microsoft has won me back again
cjm said: How did the iPad come out on top when it got blown away- crappy article
whathesaid said: thats gonna make apple fanatics insane maybe clinically
Jdawg Laurence said: Once RT catches up in apps and other tablets switch from android to RT RT is a much better OS for tablets since android is mostly only compatible with phones then iPad will stop winning because it has more apps
Jdawg Laurence said: Throw in an ASUS tablet and see who wins iPads cant compareRT has a lot of catching up to do for apps though before it becomes a viable option
Macsploit said: or Better screen subjective better camera subjective and who the takes memorable pictures with a tablet CPUGPU benchmarks programmed for specific instruction sets Not bad but not representative Maybe focus on the whole tablet experience Ive had all three android iOS and Windows 8 RT Honestly if Windows 8 had the apps Android did Id probably stay there However Apple still manages to have the best tablet experience They also have native Google Apps running on a platform so many developers work for Vs Android where every tablet has to be individually certified My 6 apps cant work on specific models Not cool
fansterboyyy said: Lol This dude must be high
jeffvjffej said: Until these devices can efficiently run adobe software without workarounds they are all just oversized iTouchs If you loathe adobe software then by all means spend your money Im still waiting for something more versatile My best guess After mid 2013 well see some tablets that are actually worth the cost If you think Im an ass for stating my opinion then congratulations Apparently you have an opinion as well
Dm2682 said: No where does it say the nexus has a better camara or is faster the iPad is much zippier in fact Take the apps in consideration along with that amp youll have your answer Google has like 20 dedicated tablet apps amp the rest are terrible sluggish ugly blown up phone apps
Ben said: what did you mean by that are you on drugs
TabletToGo said: I really want to get the nexus 10 but I feel it was really stupid on Googles part to only make it available on the google play storelike really In a world where distribution is half the game Google is missing out on a lot of possible sales I might have to go for an iPad not because i prefer it but because its easily available for purchase Which sucks
Jona100 said: wowRickdzz you are quite the jackass arent you Did you work at it or does it come natural
guest said: and what did you add other than also mentioning that you also have monies
Wizdumb0926 said: go to a store and try them all ask sales rep to show em off WINDOWS SURFACE puts em all back in 2011 IPAD is for kids and girls windows does all the above and is just like a laptop runs office and reall programs as well as new UI ipad is only a big iphone no beter than kindle fire HD if u ask me and all apple product laptop and desktops remind me of middle school theres sooo PRETTY if all u care about is pretty stick w apple bmw driving simps real productivily and connectivity is is in WINDOWS plus till apple and googlecomes out w xbox they are all one step behind the game
Joeymaster911 said: what the fuck
Kula Sekhar said: what dafuq did u even type
Mcladge said: No the nexus does not win in every category at all Its a great tablet BUTThe ios operating system is still slicker and faster due to simplicity The gpu of the iPad is a lot faster Battery is a little better on iPad still more better quality apps faster browsing speeds amp better build qualityAND I am not an apple fanboy I am writing this on my Samsung Galaxy S3 which I love I had the iPhone 4s which I have now donated to the missus its a lovely little phone but I do prefer Android for my phone The openness of it is great and the operating system has improved a lot in the last couple of years but not quite there yet in speed and stability when compared to iosIt is the very widgets and customization that make Android great that hinder the current processors That is why Apple do not have widgets As soon as they can reproduce the stability of its ios system whilst operating with various widgets then they will add themMaybe in future I will switch to an Android tablet too but for now I have just purchased the iPad 4 because it is the best all round tablet experience your money can buy IMO
Zenmon said: There are a couple of things I have noticed when it comes to Apple users and their productsFirst of all they seem to be very emotional about their Me-Myself-I things when commenting on reviews or putting down Android products which they rarely do based on simple facts In other words they love their products However we all know how love can iCloud our judgement Secondly many seem to buy an Apple product for the sheeraesthetics of it which I can understand they are indeed beautiful products the phones as well as the pads But then what do they proceed to do They cover up these beautiful products with ugly rubber covers To me that only makes sense if the product is very fragile
Rickdzz said: Thats great Dhomerwelcome to the elite club of having money fyi your not alonebut having money myselfwtf does money have to do with anything lots of people have the money to buy Apple products otherwise they wouldnt be the most valuable company in the world wonderful post douchereally helped out with the product review
Aghz said: Its BECAUSE cpu doesnt slim etc account to i got to have tablet even with apple u dont need to always upgrade but when u buy it Beaides software limitation the quality u are getting and all the optimisation from app developers and actual everyday life demand apples simplicty seems to winThink it as in if you were rich enough to buy a merc bmw why bother buy the base model Mind as well buy the higher model or package But at the end of the day its what people is looking for in a tablet