The old rivalry of Apple and Microsoft will be reignited in the tablet market as an updated Surface tablet will make its way next month.
Currently, Apple has two iPads making the rounds since November with the iPad Mini and iPad 4. Although the iPad Mini has been receiving more media attention, it is the iPad 4, or the iPad with Retina Display as it's formally known, that rivals better against Microsoft's new tablet.
Microsoft released the Surface with Windows RT as its operating system in late October and has since seen "modest" sales according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. But after only a couple months, Microsoft will release an updated Surface. The new Surface, formally known as the Surface with Windows 8 Pro, isn't a replacement for the current Surface tablet as it has been planned at the same time.
The Surface with Windows 8 Pro has since been confirmed by Microsoft and set for a January 2013 debut and it does have notable changes compared to the Windows RT version.
But how will it fare compared to the iPad 4?
Frame Size and Weight:
The Surface with Windows 8 Pro tablet features a length of 10.81-inches, width of 6.81-inches, and a depth of 0.53-inches. The iPad 4 has a length of 9.50-inches, width of 7.31-inches, and a smaller depth of 0.37-inches.
The iPad 4 weighs 1.44-lbs while the Surface with Windows 8 Pro weighs two pounds.
Display:
The iPad 4 features a screen size of 9.7-inches with Retina Display. The pixel resolution for the Apple tablet stands at 2,048x1,536 and at 264 pixels per image (ppi).
The Surface with Windows 8 has a larger screen size, almost an inch bigger, at 10.6-inches with ClearType Full HD Display, but at 1,920x1,080 pixel resolution
Internal Storage/Memory:
This is where the devices differ, big time.
The iPad 4 is available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models with 1GB of RAM included. The Microsoft Surface will not be offered in first two GB models as the iPad 4, instead it will be available in 64GB and in 128GB models and with 4GB of RAM.
Camera:
The iPad 4 and Surface with Windows 8 Pro offer front-and-rear-facing cameras.
The iPad 4 is promoted to have a five-megapixel rear-facing camera with 2,592x1,944pixels and can record at 1080p at 30 frames per second (fps). The front-facing camera has 1.2-megapixels and can record at 720p at 30fps.
Microsoft currently touts the cameras of the Surface with Windows 8 Pro tablet to have 720p HD cameras.
Wireless Connectivity:
The two tablets will offer Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth version 4.0.
Chipset/CPU:
The iPad 4 utilizes the new Apple A6X chip, which Apple proclaims runs twice as fast compared to the iPad 2, 3, and Mini, while using the Dual-core 1.4 GHz while the Surface with Windows 8 Pro utilizes the 3rd Generation Intel Core i5 processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000, a change compared to the Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 on the Surface with Windows RT tablet.
Battery:
The battery for the two tablets are almost the same with the iPad 4 with 42.5-Wh while the Surface with Windows 8 Pro is down 0.5-Wh, at 42-Wh.
Prices:
The iPad 4 has a price tag of $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, and $699 for the 64GB model. However, the before mentioned prices are for the Wi-Fi only variant. The Wi-Fi with Cellular models, available with AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon, has prices starting at $629 for the 16GB, $729 for the 32GB model, and $829 for the 64GB.
The Surface, understanding it will be sold with only 64GB and 128GB models, have a price tag of $899 and $999, respectively.
The price for the Windows 8 Pro tablet might put people away from buying it as the current Windows RT tablet is currently being sold for $499 for the 32GB model and $699 for the 64GB model. A 16GB model does not exist.
Related Articles:
For the iPad 4 vs. Microsoft Surface with Windows RT, click here.
For the Microsoft Surface with Windows RT specs and definitions, click here.
For the Microsoft Surface with Windows RT tablet drop test, click here.
For the iPad Mini vs. Microsoft Surface with Windows RT specs, click here.
For the comparison of the Microsoft Surface vs. Kindle Fire HD 8.9, click here.
For the iPad 4 vs. the original iPad, click here.
For the iPad 4 vs. iPad 3 specs, click here.
For the iPad Mini vs. Kindle Fire HD, click here.
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