OPNION : Microsoft is targeting the the iPad Pro , but it ’s a double edged sword . Some of theSurface Pro 12 - inchchanges will appeal , others lessen the ‘ Pro ’ appeal of the 2 - in-1 line
I ’ve never really thought of the Surface Pro and iPad Pro gimmick as direct competitors , but the new Surface Pro 12 - inch proclamation variety that slightly .
Windows 11 and iOS go together like lamb and tuna Pisces . They traditionally have wide different audience . Apple targeted the creatives and creative person with theiPad Pro , while Microsoft was after productivity users who wanted the flexibility of the touchscreen for marking up and annotate documents and more .
The iPad Pro find like a portable tablet with Mac tendencies , the Surface Pro feel like a PC with pad of paper tendency . As Apple has made the iPadOS more blood-related to macOS ( with more variety due this twelvemonth , reportedly , including a card bar in iPadOS 19 ) , perhaps Microsoft has felt the pauperism to respond .
The new Surface Pro model , give away on May 6 , signals a alteration in Microsoft ’s outlook . It actually feels like a lineal pitch shot to stave off an Apple tablet that ’s becoming a little more Mac - alike and cipher focused .
start from the top , the smaller exhibit size sit directly between the 11 - inch and 13 - inch iPad Pro models offer by Apple . If you ca n’t decide on 11 – or 13 - inches ? Why not take 12 - inches ?
It put up a little more portability with a super - sleek sports fan - free intention , just like the iPad Pro . It also sacrifices a few of the ports from the eleventh generation Surface Pro for a slightly simpler experience in terms of connectivity .
Significantly Microsoft has reimagined the keyboard experience for the Surface Pro 12 - inch to take on Apple ’s Magic Keyboard . The full - sized backlit keyboard has a kickstand , lie flavorless and , offers a smooth matte pad for resting the palms .
As with the iPad Pro ’s Apple Pencil , the Surface Pencil now magnetically attaches to the body for storage and charging , ensuring it is safely stow and ready to be used at a moment ’s notice .
But is it still Pro?
Another key here is the price . Microsoft has compromised jolly on the specs ( for instance , the inclusion of 90Hz screen rather than 120Hz ) to bring the price down below the price significantly below the iPad Pro .
Apple rouse $ 999 for the iPad Pro 11 - inch and $ 1,199 for the 13 - inch poser . The Surface Pro 12 - inch is $ 799 . That ’s certainly attractive for those look at a Pro - level tablet but do n’t want to drop a grand for it .
Whether those ritual killing negate the Surface Pro 12 - inch as a ‘ Pro ’ level pad of paper persist to be seen . As well as the lowered display refresh charge per unit , this is also an LCD display with no OLED alternative . The new Surface Pro also compromises the 5 G connectivity of the 13 - inch role model , as well as the front tv camera timber .
Microsoft is also using a less herculean version of the Snapdragon X chip compared with the 13 - in model . The Surface Pro 11 offers Snapdragon X Elite chip , while the fresh model only has an 8 - core Plus variant . That ’s not ideal when you ’re going up against the iPad Pro ’s M4 chip . Benchmarking trial show the M4 utterly trounces the X Plus . I candidly do n’t cogitate this version of the Surface Pro is going to challenge thebest Windows laptopsor thebest tablets . So is it really Pro ?
At least the unexampled motorcar still includes the Hexagon NPU with 45 TOPS to ensure the AI experience remains at the head of Microsoft ’s co-pilot innovations .
I just question if , in trying to make the Surface Pro a comparable option to the iPad Pro for some consumers , Microsoft has fall behind some of what made the gimmick a genuinely Pro 2 - in-1 .
