Introduction
Contents
- Introduction
- Editor’s Choice
- Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Specifications
- Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Design Statistics
- Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Pricing Statistics
- Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Display Statistics
- Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Components Statistics
- Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Connectivity Statistics
- Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Performance Statistics
- Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Battery Life Statistics
- Conclusion
Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Statistics: Trying to pick between the Microsoft Surface Pro and the Apple iPad Pro? You’re not alone. These two popular tablets are packed with features and are often used as replacements for laptops. Whether you’re a student, remote worker, designer, or just someone who wants a powerful device, choosing the right one can affect how much you get done—and how much you spend.
Both brands lead the high-end tablet market, but which one gives you more for your money? In this guide, “Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Statistics – Which is Better?”, we’ll look at the latest numbers on price, performance, battery life, customer reviews, and sales to help you decide which device is the better buy.
Editor’s Choice
- Apple does not offer self-repair tools for the iPad Pro, but Microsoft made the Surface Pro 10 much more user-friendly in this area.
- The Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft has a starting price of USD 999. This entry-level model includes an Intel Core i5 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.
- Surface Pro 10 has a 13-inch PixelSense Flow touchscreen with a 2880 x 1920 resolution, a 3:2 aspect ratio, and a 120Hz refresh rate, just like the iPad.
- The Surface Pro 9 can also be found with a choice of memory with 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM on the Intel models, whereas the 5G version gives you the chance of 8GB or 16GB of the old LPDDR4x RAM.
- The Surface Pro 7 lasted for just 7 hours and 52 minutes, which is a drop from the 9 hours and 20 minutes offered by the older Surface Pro 6. That’s a 15% decrease in battery life.
- The Surface Pro 7 lasted for just 7 hours and 52 minutes, which is a drop from the 9 hours and 20 minutes offered by the older Surface Pro 6. That’s a 15% decrease in battery life.
Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Specifications
iPad Pro 2024 (11”/13”) | Surface Pro 10 for Business | |
Weight |
0.98 pounds / 1.28 pounds |
1.94 pounds |
Size |
9.83 x 6.99 x 0.21 inches / 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.2 inches |
11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches |
Wireless |
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G |
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Cameras |
12MP front landscape, 12MP rear |
1440p ultrawide front-facing camera, 10.5MP rear camera |
Storage |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
Chip |
M4 |
Intel Core Ultra 5 135U/Intel Core Ultra 7 165U |
Colores |
Silver, Space Black |
Platinum, Black |
Display |
11-inch/13-inch 120Hz Tandem OLED (2420 x 1668 pixels)/(2752 x 2064 pixels) |
13-inch (2880 x 1920) 120Hz |
Price |
from USD999/USD1,299 |
from USD1,199 |
Battery Life |
Up to 10 hours (tested at 5:28) |
Up to 19 hours |
Screen Resolution |
2,732 by 2,048 pixels |
2,880 by 1,920 pixels |
Display Type |
Mini LED |
IPS |
CPU |
Apple M1 |
Microsoft SQ3 |
Memory |
8GB or 16GB |
8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x |
Graphics |
Apple M1 eight-core GPU |
Microsoft SQ3/Adreno 8CX Gen 3 |
Connectivity |
5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1 |
5G (optional), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Front-Facing Camera |
12MP |
5MP |
Rear Facing Camera |
12MP,10MP, LiDAR |
10MP |
Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Design Statistics
- The iPad Pro 2024 is available in two sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches. In contrast, the Surface Pro 10 is offered in a single size, approximately 13 inches.
- The iPad Pro is much thinner, measuring just 0.2 inches (5.1mm), compared to the Surface Pro 1, which is 0.37 inches(9.3mm) thick. That means the iPad Pro is about 46% thinner than the Surface Pro.
- In terms of weight, the 11-inch iPad Pro weighs 0.98 lbs (444 grams), and the 13-inch version weighs 1.28 lbs (579 grams).
- On the other hand, the Surface Pro 10 weighs around 1.94 lbs (879 grams). That makes it up to 1 pound heavier than the iPad Pro, depending on the models you are comparing.
- The iPad Pro does not include a start; you will need to buy a separate keyboard or case, which can cost almost USD300 when bundled with Apple’s official accessories.
- Apple does not offer self-repair tools for the iPad Pro, but Microsoft made the Surface Pro 10 much more user-friendly in this area.
- Apple earned a strong 8 out of 10 repairability score from iFixit in 2024.
Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Pricing Statistics
- The Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft has a starting price of USD999. This entry-level model includes an Intel Core i5 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.
- For better performance, consider a mid-range Surface Pro model for USD1,899, which features a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.
- The highest-end Intel version sells for USD 2,599 and includes a Core i7, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
- Microsoft also offers a second model with 5G support and a special Arm-based SQ3 chip, made in partnership with Qualcomm.
- This 5G version begins at USD1,299 with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage, and the top 5G version costs USD1,899, giving you 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage.
- Now, let’s compare that to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2023). The base model starts at USD 1,099, and it comes with the Apple M1 chip, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD.
- You can pay more for extra storage—up to 2TB—but that will cost you as much as USD2,199. If you want to add 5G, that’s an extra USD200.
- When you look at the pricing, you can get a Surface Pro 9 with better specs for a lower cost upfront compared to the iPad Pro.
- Even though both tablets don’t come with a keyboard, buying a Surface Pro 9 plus the keyboard still costs less than getting a fully loaded iPad Pro with all the extras.
Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Display Statistics
- The iPad Pro 2024 is the first iPad with an OLED screen, and it looks stunning. Apple calls it a Tandem OLED pixel stacked together.
- The iPad’s Tandem OLED pixel technology helps the screen get brighter, reaching up to 1000 nits or even 1,600 nits when watching HDR content.
- It also supports major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10, enhancing the visual quality of movies and videos.
- The screen also supports a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, so everything from scrolling to gaming feels smoother as compared to the regular 60Hz display.
- The resolution of the screen depends on which size you choose
- The 11-inch iPad Pro has 2420*1668 pixels
- The 13-inch model comes with 2752*2064 pixels
- Both give you about 264–267 pixels per inch (PPI), which means sharp, high-quality visuals.
- If screen glare bothers you, you can spend an extra \USD100 to upgrade to nano-texture glass, but only if you’re getting the 1TB or higher iPad Pro. This special glass helps reduce reflections and glare on the OLED display.
- Meanwhile, the Surface Pro 10 features a 13-inch PixelSense Flow touchscreen with a 2880 x 1920 resolution, a 3:2 aspect ratio, and a 120Hz refresh rate, similar to the iPad.
- Although the Surface Pro 10 doesn’t feature an OLED display, it still boasts a nearly 3 K screen with approximately 267 PPI, which matches the sharpness of the iPad Pro.
Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Components Statistics
- The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is available with various configuration options, with both commercial and consumer models, as well as your choice of Intel processors or the Arm-powered 5G Surface Pro 9.
- The difference between Intel and Qualcomm processors is also evident in their graphics processing capabilities, with most models featuring Intel Iris Xe graphics. Still, the 5G product uses Qualcomm Adreno 8CX Gen 3 graphics.
- The Surface Pro 9 can also be found with a choice of memory with 8GB,16GB, or 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM on the Intel models, whereas the 5G version gives you the chance of 8GB or 16GB of the old LPDDR4x RAM.
- In the same range, Apple’s iPad Pro has come with the M1 chip, the same Apple Silicon that powers the 2020 MacBook Air.
- The Apple iPad Pro features a first for iPads, offering a choice between 8 GB and 16 GB of RAM.
- The iPad Pro (2024) utilizes Apple’s M1 chip, which features eight graphics cores. This makes it strong enough for tasks such as video editing, photo editing, and even some light gaming.
- You can choose from different storage sizes, ranging from 128GB to 2TB, depending on your needs and budget.
Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Connectivity Statistics
#1. Apple iPad Pro (2024)
- Comes with Wi‑Fi 6E (fast dual-band internet with 2×2 MIMO).
- Features Bluetooth 5.3 for quick and stable connections with accessories.
- Cellular models support 5G (sub‑6 GHz) and Gigabit LTE for fast internet on the go.
- Only uses eSIM (no physical SIM card slot).
#2. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (2024)
Features | Intel Version | 5G Version(ARM/SQ3) |
Wi-Fi |
Wi-Fi 6E (same as iPad Pro) |
Wi-Fi 6E |
Bluetooth |
Version 5.1 |
Version 5.1 |
USB-C Ports |
Two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 |
Two USB-C 3.2 ports (no Thunderbolt) |
USB-C Ports |
Two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 |
Two USB-C 3.2 ports (no Thunderbolt) |
|
No cellular option |
Supports 5G (mmWave + sub6 GHz), with nano-SIM + eSIM options |
- Both the iPad Pro and Surface Pro 9 utilise Wi-Fi 6E, providing fast and reliable internet connectivity.
- iPad Pro has Bluetooth 5.3, while Surface Pro 9 has Bluetooth 5.1—the difference is minor, but the iPad version is slightly newer.
- The Intel version of Surface Pro 9 includes Thunderbolt 4, which means you can connect high-speed accessories, dual 4K monitors, or even external graphics cards.
- The Surface Pro 9 (5G) lets you use physical nano-SIMs and eSIMs, while the iPad Pro only supports eSIM.
- Only the Surface Pro 9 5G supports mmWave 5G, which is faster than the sub-6 GHz 5G used in the iPad.
Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Performance Statistics
- Microsoft only offers the 12-inch Surface Pro with the Snapdragon X Plus chip. The more powerful Snapdragon X Elite is only available in the 13-inch version.
In everyday use, the X Plus chip functions properly, even when performing tasks that require some processing, such as building software. However, it’s not very fast, especially for graphics-heavy tasks. In speed tests, the 13-inch Surface Pro with the X Elite chip was:
- 21% faster for single-core tasks
- 34% faster for multi-core performance
- 114% faster for graphics
For comparison:
- A MacBook Pro is 70% faster for single-core, 109% faster for multi-core, and 651% faster for graphics.
- An iPad Pro is 70% faster for single-core, 37% faster for multi-core, and 481% faster for graphics, though its operating system limits its full potential.
I mostly used the Surface Pro 12 while connected to an external monitor, so I didn’t test the battery in regular use. Here’s how other devices compare on the same battery test:
- 13-inch Surface Pro: 16 hours
- 15-inch MacBook Air: 16 hours
- Surface Laptop 7: 21 hours
- Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Copilot+ PC: 23 hours
Microsoft Surface Pro vs iPad Pro Battery Life Statistics
- The battery performance of both tablets has gotten worse this year compared to older models.
- The iPad Pro, which previously lasted 13 hours and 14 minutes in the 2018 version, now runs for only 10 hours and 16 minutes in a battery test. This test involves constantly browsing the internet over Wi-Fi with the screen set at 150 nits of brightness. That’s a reduction of nearly 23%, but it still works longer than the Surface Pro 7.
- The Surface Pro 7 lasted for just 7 hours and 52 minutes, which is a drop from the 9 hours and 20 minutes offered by the older Surface Pro 6. That’s a 15% decrease in battery life.
- So overall, both tablets saw shorter battery life this year, but the iPad Pro still lasted longer than the Surface Pro 7 in real-world usage tests.
Conclusion
The iPad Pro 2024 is thinner, features a brighter OLED screen, and performs quickly with Apple’s M4 chip—ideal for media and creative work. But it’s limited by iPadOS. The Surface Pro 10 offers more flexibility with Windows, a built-in kickstand, and removable SSDs, making it better for work and upgrades.
The iPad lasts longer on battery, but the Surface is more like a real laptop. Choose the iPad Pro for design and performance or the Surface Pro for productivity and versatility.