Surface Pro 12-inch vs. iPad Air M3: Which Tablet Reigns Supreme? A Detailed Comparison
The tech world is buzzing over the latest tablet showdown: the new Surface Pro 12-inch versus the refreshed iPad Air M3. Both devices aim to deliver a compelling tablet experience, but which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive deep into a detailed comparison, considering everything from price and design to performance and operating system.
Price and Availability: The Surface Pro 12-inch, revealed on May 6th and expected to ship on May 20, 2025, starts at $799.99 for the base model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Meanwhile, the 11-inch iPad Air M3 begins at a lower $599, but with only 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. As Cale Hunt from Windows Central points out, while the iPad Air M3 starts cheaper, adding accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro quickly escalates the price, making the Surface Pro 12-inch a more cost-effective option, especially when considering RAM and storage.
Design and Features: Microsoft's new Surface Pro 12-inch embodies a modern, slab-like tablet design, perfect for on-the-go users. Key features include a built-in stand and sleek keyboard, providing a superior notebook experience. Unlike the iPad Air M3, the Surface Pro 12-inch boasts two USB-C ports, supporting dual 4K external displays. While the iPad Air M3 offers optional 5G connectivity, the Surface Pro 12-inch uses the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard for faster wireless internet.
Display: The Surface Pro 12-inch features a 12-inch LCD touchscreen with a 90Hz refresh rate, while the iPad Air M3 offers higher pixel density at 264 PPI compared to the Surface Pro's 220 PPI. However, the iPad Air tops out at 60Hz, giving the Surface Pro an edge in smoothness and eye comfort. The iPad Air M3 also achieves higher screen brightness, making it a better choice for outdoor use.
Performance and Battery: The Surface Pro 12-inch is powered by the 8-core Snapdragon X Plus SoC, while the iPad Air M3 sports the M3 chip. Early Geekbench results show the iPad Air M3 slightly ahead in single-core and multi-core performance. However, the Surface Pro 12-inch has a more powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with 45 TOPS, trumping the iPad Air M3's 18 TOPS, promising better local AI task handling. Microsoft claims the new chip even "outpaces the MacBook Air M3”.
Memory and storage also differ significantly. The iPad Air is capped at 8GB of RAM, while the Surface Pro 12-inch offers 16GB. Although the Surface Pro uses UFS storage (more efficient but slower than SSD), it’s upgradeable. Microsoft claims up to 16 hours of local video playback and 12 hours of web usage, while Apple advertises 10 hours for the iPad Air M3.
OS and AI: The Surface Pro 12-inch runs on the full Windows 11 on Snapdragon, offering a no-compromise Windows experience. The iPad Air M3 uses iPadOS 18, which provides a superior touch tablet experience, particularly for casual users. On the AI front, the Surface Pro 12-inch is a Copilot+ PC, leveraging its powerful NPU for advanced AI features, while the iPad Air M3 is compatible with Apple Intelligence.
Microsoft continues to invest in Copilot+ PCs, with new experiences rolling out first to Windows Insiders. According to Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, powered by Snapdragon X Plus (8-core) and a 45 TOPS NPU, deliver the performance, speed, and battery life customers expect, alongside exclusive AI experiences.
Final Verdict: If you prioritize a superior tablet experience with iPadOS, the iPad Air M3 is your best bet. However, for everything else, including a more versatile notebook experience, dual external display support, and a powerful NPU for AI tasks, the Surface Pro 12-inch is the recommended choice. As Hunt concludes, the Surface Pro 12-inch is the more versatile option by far.
Which device do you think fits your needs best? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
