The Apple iPad Air is undeniably one of the leading tablets in the market today not only because it came from Apple but also because it packs in a number of unrivaled specs and feats. However, in the passing of the day, more and more tablets are being produced to compete with this top-notched device, and that includes the Microsoft Surface 2. Now, if you are caught in between these two for your next tablet purchase, then you'll surely find this write-up helpful in making your final decision, so read on as we bring you a comparison review between the Apple iPad Air and the Microsoft Surface 2.
Apple iPad Air over Microsoft Surface 2
Apple's latest tablet installment sports a body that combines the design of the original iPad with the iPad Mini's. Its aluminum body is further enhanced and emphasized by the thinner bezels and chrome accents on its edges. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface 2 sports the same look its predecessor has. The only noticeable difference on this upgrade lies on its kickstand which has been modified, so that one can angle it in two different ways. Other than that, the tablet comes with the same sturdy VaporMG (Magnesium alloy) body found in the first Surface installment. Hence, we'd like to give this round to the iPad Air for its enhanced look but also because of its more attractive and lighter build.
Additionally, if you are the type, who is very particular when it comes to display, then you'd find the iPad Air's 9.7-inch display a delight to use. Although a much bigger 10.6-inch display is also a fine piece of technology, using this tablet vertically is kind of awkward since this tablet is designed to be used horizontally. Furthermore, since its home button isn't a physical button like that of the iPad series, you'll find yourself annoyed whenever you accidentally press its home button while holding or using it.
When it comes to display technology, the Retina display of the iPad Air is unmatched by the ClearType display of the Microsoft Surface 2. Although both are capable of playing 1080p videos, the iPad Air's display is not as oversaturated and its blacks are more accurate than the Surface 2's display. Some visual details are even less accurate when viewing videos on the Microsoft Surface 2. The brightness settings of the Apple iPad Air is also a tad better than that of the all-new Surface, which is very noticeable when you place these two side-by-side.
The Apple iPad Air and the Microsoft Surface 2 sport the same 5MP camera. Though these tablets are not made for shooting and capturing really good photos, the Apple iPad Air's camera technology can deliver better quality shots. Photos do not appear as bland and less lively like the ones the Microsoft Surface 2 is capable of capturing.
The operating system and the interface of the Apple iPad Air are just two of the best things about Apple's tablets. For one thing, the new iOS 7 brings in a much sophisticated look to the device. Moreover, it is still a fact that the Apple's App Store is unmatched when it comes to the number of applications and games available to your liking. On the other hand, the Windows application store has a decent number of apps to date, and although Windows is trying its best to keep up with its competitors including Google's PlayStore, for now it remains on third place with Apple coming first and Google, second.
In terms of battery life, we are commending Microsoft for enhancing its fuel by an hour or two. However, several battery testing shows that the Microsoft Surface 2 can run only up to 9 hours and approximately 20 minutes whereas the Apple iPad Air, which even comes with the power-hungry LTE connection can last for up to 10 hours and at least 40 minutes. This is further enhanced when the LTE connection is suppressed and the tablet is connected to a Wi-Fi spot; the tablet's battery could the last for up to 11 hours and at least 30 minutes. Therefore, we are giving this round to the Apple iPad Air since it is very obvious that users nowadays prefer devices with batteries that last longer in one full charge.
Microsoft Surface 2 over Apple iPad Air
The first thing that you will notice when placing these two tablets side by side is the placement of their speakers. While the Apple iPad Air's speakers are bottom-mounted to give users a better audio experience, Microsoft Surface 2's digitally enhanced speakers that are found on the both sides of the tablet give fuller-sounding audio like what Microsoft claims.
Now if you are looking for a device that can give you maximum productivity, the Microsoft Surface 2 is undeniably the better pick. For one thing the Windows RT 8.1 OS enables you to multitask and run applications alongside each other. For example, you can open a video file and still continue working on a word document. What's more is that the Microsoft Surface 2 comes with a full version of Microsoft Office and a more functional set of business tools.
Tablet accessories are also big of a deal nowadays, so we are pleased that the Microsoft Surface 2 has the Touch Cover 2 and the Type Cover 2 optional keyboard accessories. These accessories are not that pricy compared to the ones Apple is offering for its tablet devices. Moreover, we prefer the concept that your tablet cover also acts as the keyboard.
We all know that memory is one of the things consumers try to as much as possible to consider whenever they make a purchase. And between the two, the Microsoft Surface 2 comes with memory expansion option. Meanwhile, Apple is still sticking to its principle of not incorporating memory expansion slots to its devices. But the thing about Apple is that it offers tablets in many memory configurations.
Finally, the biggest factor why the Microsoft Surface 2 can be a better option than the Apple iPad Air is its price point. While the 16GB of the Apple iPad Air Wi-Fi only model is priced at $499, you can buy a 32GB Microsoft Surface 2 for $50 less.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
