The iPad Pro, powered by Apple's M4 chip, has impressive internals for a tablet, but iPadOS and a few other factors hold it back from reaching its full potential. If you want a tablet that can truly replace your laptop, you're better off going with the iPad Pro. Surface Pro 11 From Microsoft.
While the iPad Pro M4 has great performance and a great display, the Surface Pro 11 has a few key advantages over the competition. With its convertible design and full-fledged operating system that delivers a PC-like experience, the Surface Pro 11 could be the perfect choice for many users. Check out our ASUS Zenbook DUO UX8406 review: Is this the perfect alternative to the announced Surface Neo?
iPadOS contributes to the decline of the M4 iPad Pro
It contains the iPad Pro The 13-inch iPad Pro packs the latest hardware, including the industry-leading M4 chip, up to 16GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and an all-new Ultra Retina XDR display. However, many people, including diehard Apple fans, say iPadOS holds it back from reaching its true hardware potential.
The biggest stumbling block that iPadOS has faced for a long time is its inability to multitask efficiently. While iPadOS 17 introduced an interface organizer to improve the multitasking experience, it still doesn’t come close to the true multitasking experience you’d find on the desktop.
iPadOS also lacks a system-wide file management utility. Sure, Apple offers a Files app to manage all your files, but it doesn’t have full access to your iPad’s file system like the Finder on macOS.
Another gripe that most pro users have about the iPad versus MacBook is the inability to customize the home screen. While this is one of the best features of iPadOS 18 that we finally got after years of waiting, it still doesn’t let you put files on the desktop like you can on the Mac.
Surface Pro variants are cheaper
Apple devices command a premium price, and the extra price can be a deal-breaker if you’re not already invested in the Apple ecosystem. Let’s compare the iPad Pro pricing to Microsoft’s Surface Pro 11. Note that we’re pitting the Wi-Fi-only 13-inch iPad Pro against Microsoft’s variants, as that results in an even comparison due to the form factor.
| storage capacity | 13-Inch M4 iPad Pro مع Ultra Retina XDR Display | Microsoft Surface Pro / Snapdragon X Plus مع LCD Display | Microsoft Surface Pro / Snapdragon X Elite مع OLED Display | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB | 8GB RAM / 9-core CPU | $1,299 | 16GB RAM / 10-core CPU | $999.99 | – | – |
| 512GB | 8GB RAM / 9-core CPU | $1,499 | 16GB RAM / 10-core CPU | $1,199.99 | 16GB RAM / 12-core CPU | $1,499.99 |
| 1TB | 16GB RAM / 10-core CPU | $1,899 | – | – | 16GB RAM / 12-core CPU | $1,699.99 |
| – | – | – | – | 32GB RAM / 12-core CPU | $2,099.99 | |
| 2TB | 16GB RAM / 10-core CPU | $2,299 | – | – | – | – |
If you look at these prices, you can see that Apple’s offerings with similar storage space are much more expensive. For example, you’ll have to pay an extra $300 if you need 256GB of storage, while the 1TB 13-inch iPad Pro is $200 more expensive than a similar Surface Pro 11 tablet.
If you want the cellular version of the iPad Pro, you'll need to spend an additional $200 on top of the price tags we listed in the table above. Microsoft's Surface Pro 11, on the other hand, doesn't have LTE support.
Apple’s M4 chip may be more powerful than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, but does that really justify the price difference? Well, not unless you need the sheer performance of the M4. And even then, you’d be better off getting a MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro or M3 Max.
You get an extra USB-C port.
Users who need a tablet for professional use will likely appreciate the extra ports. The M4-powered iPad Pro has just one USB-C port, but the Surface Pro 11 has two. This means you can recharge your tablet while another USB-C peripheral is connected to it, unlike the former, which requires a dongle to do so.
You'll get an extra port if you buy the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, but that's an extra cost. And if you don't want to use Apple's expensive keyboard case, you'll need a hub to use multiple USB devices with your iPad.
Official accessories are affordable.
As mentioned earlier, the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro will give you an extra USB-C port. However, official Apple accessories are expensive. For example, the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, which requires a physical connection to your tablet, costs $329. On the other hand, Microsoft’s Surface Pro Keyboard costs just $139.99.
If you plan to use your tablet with a pen, you can get the Surface Pro Keyboard with Pen Storage, which costs $179.99. That may be a bit more expensive, but it will at least store your Surface Slim Pen securely. Microsoft also offers the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard for $349.99. That’s about $20 more than Apple’s offering, but it connects wirelessly to your tablet.
Apple has the edge when it comes to stylus options. You can get the Apple Pencil Pro for $129, while the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is $50 less at just $79. Microsoft has just one option: the Surface Slim Pen for $129.99. Not only is it more expensive, it also doesn’t include a charger.
The Apple Pencil Pro doesn't need a separate charger as the M4 iPad Pro charges it wirelessly, while you can charge the Apple Pencil (USB-C) using any USB-C cable. Feel free to check out our Apple Pencil comparison if you're not sure which stylus to get for the M4 iPad Pro.
If you don’t get the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard, you’ll need to purchase the Surface Slim Pen Charger for $34.99. However, if you buy any Surface Pro Keyboard and Surface Slim Pen together, you’ll automatically get a discount — something Apple rarely offers.
The Surface Pro Keyboard with Slim Pen is $279.99, which gives you a $30 discount compared to buying these items separately. However, you still need to get the Surface Slim Pen Charger, which cancels out your discount.
The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard and Slim Pen cost $449.98 together. That gives you the same $30 discount, but since the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard can charge the Surface Slim Pen, you don’t need to buy a charger separately.
However, official Apple and Microsoft accessories are expensive, which is why buying cheaper alternatives to the Magic Keyboard makes more sense.
It is the best choice if you are a Windows user.
Unless you’re deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is the more versatile device. The latter’s only major advantage is its use of Windows 11, which allows you to use it as a proper laptop replacement with all the multitasking capabilities you’d expect from a PC.
However, we wouldn’t discount the M4 iPad Pro’s incredible performance. If Apple decides to make iPadOS closer to macOS than iOS in performance, it will outperform Microsoft’s Surface Pro in every department except price. Now, check out the reasons why you should avoid the Surface Laptop and wait for Intel Lunar Lake.
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