14 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019NEWS MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO X VS 12.9-INCH iPAD PRO
64-bit ARMv8 octa-core CPU and a dedicated
neural engine that runs five trillion operations
per second. So the SQ1 certainly has its work
cut out for it.
Because the Surface Pro X is a full-fledged
Windows machine, it comes with way more
RAM than the iPad. While the iPad Pro has
4GB of RAM, the Surface comes with either
8GB or 16GB, depending on your
configuration. That’s a PC-level of memory
that straight up blows away the iPad. The
Surface Pro X also comes with LTE in every
configuration, whereas you’ll need to pay a
$150 premium with the iPad Pro.
Winner: Surface Pro XSTORAGE
When it comes to storage, the Surface Pro X
model starts at 128GB, twice as much as the
iPad Pro base model. Both offer 256GB and
512GB options, while the iPad Pro goes all
the way up to 1TB.
However, you can actually swap out the
drive on the Surface Pro X for a different one.
While Microsoft doesn’t recommend doing it
yourself and instead suggests you consult “a
skilled technician following Microsoft
provided instructions,” it’s an option that isn’t
available with the iPad.
Winner: Surface Pro XPORTS
The very short list of ports on both the Surface
Pro X and the iPad Pro tell their own story:Surface Pro X: 2 USB-C, Surface
Connect port, Surface Keyboard connector
port, nano SIM
iPad Pro: USB-C, Smart Connector,
nano SIM
USB-C is your only choice for
connecting peripherals other than the
respective keyboards. You can forget about
the headphone jack on both as well. You’ll
need either a dongle, or Bluetooth
headphones, or USB-C.
Notably, the Surface Pro X doesn’t use its
USB-C port for charging. While a USB-C
charger will presumably fill up your tablet if
you plug one in, you’ll still need to carry the
Surface Connector for reliable power.
Winner: Surface Pro XREAR CAMERA
Tablets this big aren’t known for their
photo-taking expertise, and if you’ve ever
seen someone try to take a pic with a
13-inch tablet, you can see why. So both
have acceptable, but relatively pedestrian
rear cameras:
Surface Pro X: 10MP with 1080p HD and
4K video
iPad Pro: 12MP, f/1.8, with 1080p HD
and 4K video
While the iPad’s sensor is technically
superior, you probably won’t be using either
one to take pictures or videos, even if you do
have hands large enough to handle it.
Winner: iPad Pro