Comparison of Microsoft's Latest Compact Surface Devices with MacBook Air and iPad Pro
Hey there! Let's talk about the latest Surface devices dropped by Microsoft, shall we? They've slashed the prices and shrunk down the sizes of their Surface Laptop 13-inch and Surface Pro 12-inch to go head-to-head with Apple's devices.
The budget trade-offs
But these lower prices come at a cost. The 13-inch Laptop, available in bewitching ocean (a metallic blue), enchanting violet, or shimmering platinum hues, has diminished the display resolution from a previous 2304 x 1536 to a more modest 1920 x 1280, and ditched HDR and the 120Hz refresh rate.
As for the 12-inch Pro model, it no longer comes with a default keyboard and has swapped out the slot for the Surface Pen, which now magnetically attaches and charges directly to the tablet itself. The Pro's display has also forfeited 30Hz compared to its former 120Hz refresh rate, but it still maintains a 2196 x 1464 resolution.
Additionally, both devices have bid farewell to the Surface Connect ports with their magnetic attachment points, in favor of using standard USB-C 3.2 ports. This eliminates the need for proprietary cables but poses a potential risk of tripping and causing the device to erroneously fall.
Under the hood, both models are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip. However, they've sacrificed two cores compared to their prior counterparts and default to 16GB of RAM, yet offer a mere 256GB of storage (expandable to 512GB for a price).
Competing with the MacBook Air and iPad Pro?
The Surface devices may boast the advantage of being smaller and cheaper, but their raw specs pale in comparison to Apple's alternatives, apart from one significant distinction: the cooling system.
The smaller Pro is fanless, just like the MacBook Air and iPad Pro. Moreover, the latest processor efficiently permits Microsoft to omit the fan vents found in its previous Pro iteration. Unfortunately, the 13-inch Laptop still persists with those annoying fans.
Budget beats Mac?
Microsoft's new affordable range sets prices below $1,000, notably undercutting the base model MacBook Air, which retails for $999 for the 13-inch version and a whopping $1,199 for the 15-inch version. The iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch variant and $1,299 for the 13-inch model. If you're all about the buck, the Surface lineup might just be the best fit for you - but keep in mind that the price gap between the base Surface Laptop and MacBook Air is a scant $100.
Of course, upgrades can quickly drive up the cost on either side. For instance, adding the keyboard to the 12-inch Pro means an extra $150, or bumping the storage to 512GB adds another $100, resulting in a $1,049 price tag for the complete package. The 13-inch laptop's storage cost increases by aED100 if you'd like a more capacious 512GB, taking the total to $999. Upgrading most components on an Apple device is equally costly.
In the end, it's all about weighing the price against the performance – Budget is king with Surface, but performance aficionados may find themselves reaching for Apple's machines. The Surface Laptop 13-inch is now available for pre-order from Amazon, Microsoft, and other retailers. The Surface Pro 12-inch can also be pre-ordered from Best Buy, Microsoft, and Amazon, and both models will ship on May 20th.
- Tech enthusiasts might find themselves pondering the merits of Microsoft's Surface devices versus Apple's MacBook Air and iPad Pro, given their smaller sizes and reduced prices.
- When it comes to raw specifications, the Surface devices seem to fall short compared to Apple's alternatives, except for one crucial aspect: the cooling system.
- For instance, the 12-inch Surface Pro, now available without a default keyboard and charging the Surface Pen magnetically, is fanless like the MacBook Air and iPad Pro.
- As you compare the prices, it's evident that Microsoft's new affordable range significantly undercuts the base model MacBook Air, with the Surface Laptop 13-inch starting at a price below $1,000.
- If you're shopping for gadgets and looking to save, the Surface lineup may be the best choice—be mindful that the price difference between the base Surface Laptop and MacBook Air is only $100, and additional upgrades can still increase the cost on either side.
