Why is Microsoft Surface Pro 11 better than iPad Pro M4?

If you want a tablet that truly replaces your laptop, you're better off with Microsoft's Surface Pro 11.

iPadOS retains the iPad Pro M4

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The 13-inch iPad Pro features cutting-edge hardware - the flagship M4 chip, up to 16GB of RAM, 2TB of internal storage, and the all-new Ultra Retina XDR display. However, many people, including Apple loyalists, believe that iPadOS is holding the company back from realizing its true hardware potential.

The biggest obstacle with iPadOS in the long run has been ineffective multitasking. Although iPadOS 17 introduced Stage Manager to improve the multitasking experience, it still falls short of a true multitasking experience on the desktop.

iPadOS also lacks a system-wide file management utility. Sure, Apple offers a Files app to manage all your files, but this app doesn't have full access to the iPad's file system like Finder on macOS.

Another negative that most pro users have with the iPad is the inability to customize the home screen. While this is one of the best features of iPadOS 18 after years of waiting, it still doesn't let you place files on the screen like on a Mac.

Surface Pro options are cheaper

Apple devices cost more, and the additional price tag may be a factor in your hesitation if you're not invested in the Apple ecosystem. Let's compare the price of the M4 iPad Pro with Microsoft's Surface Pro 11. Note that the article only compares the 13-inch iPad Pro with Wi-Fi to Microsoft's product, as that makes for an even comparison due to form factor.

If you look at these prices, you can see that Apple products with comparable storage capacity are significantly more expensive. For example, you'll have to pay $300 more if you need 256GB of storage, while the 1TB 13-inch iPad Pro is $200 more expensive than the equivalent Surface Pro 11 tablet.

If you want the portable variant of the iPad Pro, you'll have to spend an additional $200 on top of the price listed in the table above. On the other hand, Microsoft's Surface Pro 11 does not support LTE.

Apple's M4 chip may be more powerful than Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite, but does that really justify the price difference? Unless you need the absolute performance of the M4 chip. And even in that case, you're better off buying a MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro or M3 Max chip.

You get an extra USB-C port

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Users who need a tablet for professional use will likely appreciate the additional ports. The iPad Pro M4 has a single USB-C port, but the Surface Pro 11 has two. This means you can recharge the tablet while attaching another USB-C peripheral to it, unlike the previous device where you needed a dongle to do so.

You'll get an extra port if you buy the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, but it's an additional cost. And if you don't want to use Apple's expensive keyboard case, you need a hub to use multiple USB devices with your iPad.

Official accessories are more affordable

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As mentioned earlier, the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro will give you an additional USB-C port. However, official Apple accessories are very expensive. For example, the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, which requires a physical connection to the tablet, costs $329. On the other hand, Microsoft's Surface Pro Keyboard costs only $139.99.

If you plan to use a tablet with a stylus, you can buy the Surface Pro Keyboard with pen holder for $179.99. This one may be a little more expensive, but at least it will store the Surface Slim Pen safely. Microsoft also offers the Surface Pro Keyboard Flex for $349.99. This is about $20 more expensive than Apple's product, but it connects to the tablet wirelessly.

However, Apple has the advantage when it comes to stylus options. You can buy the Apple Pencil Pro for $129, while the Apple Pencil (USB-C) costs $50 less at just $79. Microsoft has just one option: Surface Slim Pen for $129.99. Not only is it more expensive, but it also doesn't include a charger.

The Apple Pencil Pro doesn't need a separate charger because the iPad Pro M4 charges wirelessly, while you can charge the Apple Pencil (USB-C) with any USB-C cable.

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If you do not receive a Surface Pro Keyboard Flex, you will need to purchase the Surface Slim Pen charger for $34.99. However, if you buy any Surface Pro Keyboard and Surface Slim Pen combo, you'll automatically get a discount - something Apple rarely offers.

The Surface Pro Keyboard with Slim Pen combo costs $279.99, a savings of $30 compared to buying each item separately. However, you still need to buy a Surface Slim Pen charger.

Surface Pro Keyboard Flex with Slim Pen costs a total of $449.98. This gives you the same $30 off, but because the Surface Pro Keyboard Flex can charge the Surface Slim Pen, there's no need to buy a separate charger.

However, both official Apple and Microsoft accessories are quite expensive. That's why it makes more sense to buy cheaper alternatives to the Magic Keyboard.

David Pac

Update 25 July 2024