Surface Pro 3 vs MacBook Air - Which is Better?

Microsoft's latest offering has been drawing positive responses, putting the tech company in the buying public's favors once more -- or at least until the next industrial misstep comes along.

With that, does this mean Surface Pro 3 is indeed giving Apple a run for their money? Is it better than MacBooks?

If you ask Microsoft, the answer is yes. If you ask Time's Jared Newman, you'll get this thorough comparison:

Hardware

Surface's portability gives it an edge over the MacBook Air, as it can turn into a laptop from a tablet. However, despite the clever design and improved features, the MacBook still wins in the simplicity stakes, as it doesn't not come with various attachments or a flimsy setup, allowing you to balance this ultra-thin Apple device on your lap easily.

Specs

Surface has a decidedly bigger screen size (12 inches), higher screen resolution (2160x1440) and pixel density (216 ppi), aside from the fact that it's touchscreen. Both of its cameras (rear and front) come with an enviable 5 megapixels, while the Air has to contend with 0.92 megapixels and does not have a rear camera. The weight of both devices are more or less the same. However, the Air comes with higher base storage (128 GB) and 2 USB slots - Surface only has one. Both can run Office and stay operational on batteries alone for up to 9 hours.

Software

The "simple, focused approach" of Apple in the making of the MacBook trumps that of the Surface, which runs on "the dual-headed beast that is Windows 8.1." However, the Surface is, after all, meant to be a laptop replacement with tablet-like perks," rather than something that can veer between the two types of devices. If you already own a good laptop and are needing something for games, e-books, social media, or video watching, you may do well to look beyond Surface Pro 3.

Price

At $929 (with keyboard), Surface is a bit more expensive than the 11-inch MacBook Air, which sells at $899. It's less than the $999 13-inch MacBook Air model, though. However, the price is not unreasonable for such a light, high-end notebook with sufficient storage.

So, considering all these features, which do you think works best for you, readers?