Ipad pro vs microsoft surface pro 7

The iPad Pro vs Surface Pro 7 story is a tale of two of the best tablets, both of which are aimed at power users. Apple’s iPad Pro takes a super-sleek design and packs in a top-tier display and tons power, while the Surface Pro 7 is faster and more flexible than ever before, still bringing a PC's versatility to a tablet size.

Their prices are similar, but the way they do things differs – not least because they run very different operating systems and apps. So which one is the best Pro tablet for power users? Let’s explore the key differences.

Note: this article explores the 2020 iPad Pro series, but a newer iPad Pro 2021 series has since launched; there's also the Surface Pro 8 on the market now, so if you're looking for even newer kit then be sure to check out those individual reviews during your research. 

Today's best Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (2020), Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2020) and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 deals

With the Magic Keyboard, this iPad Pro vs. Surface Pro 7 face-off seems a little more even than it did before Apple found the right keyboard for its high end tablet. Yes, the new iPad Pro is here (and it's one of the best tablets) and it's time to see how well it stands up as a PC replacement.

At first glance, it seemed like an easy decision, as the iPad Pro 2020 is definitely the best tablet on the market (for those with big budgets), and its predecessor held its own against the best laptops. It's also much more stylish than the  Surface Pro 7, its display is one of the best around and its new A12Z processor is touted as providing speed enhancements. Also, the Magic Keyboard provides a better keyboard and display stand than the Surface's kickstand.

  • iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) review: Our verdict is in
  • iPad Pro vs. iPad: Which Apple tablet is for you
  • MacBook Air 2020 specs, price, features and more

This is why we do the head-to-head testing, as surface-level looks and spec charts aren't the total package. In this iPad Pro vs. Surface Pro 7 face-off, we're taking both through a round-by-round battle to see which aspects Apple and Microsoft win, respectively.

We've just published our iPad Pro Magic Keyboard review (as well as our iPad Pro 2020 review) and have updated this face-off based on our results — to have a better sense of how it compares with the details we got from our Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review.

iPad Pro vs Surface Pro 7: Specs compared

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Header Cell - Column 011-inch iPad Pro (2020)12.9-inch iPad Pro (2020)Microsoft Surface Pro 7Starting price$799$999$749Screen11 inches (2388 x 1668)12.9 inches (2732 x 2048)12.3-inches (2736 x 1824)Battery lifeUp to 10 hours of web surfing (claim)10:16 (tested)7:52 (tested)ProcessorA12Z Bionic chip with Neural EngineA12Z Bionic chip with Neural Engine10th-gen Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7Storage128GB to 1TB128GB to 1TB128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB SSDKeyboard supportMagic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard FolioMagic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard FolioMicrosoft Type Cover keyboardPencil supportApple Pencil (2nd generation)Apple Pencil (2nd generation)Surface PenDimensions9.7 x 7 x 0.2 inches11 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inchesWeight1 pound1.4 pounds1.6 pounds

iPad Pro vs Surface Pro 7: Performance

Ipad pro vs microsoft surface pro 7

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Apple claims that the iPad Pro 2020 is a powerful beast that scorches most PC laptops. That was actually true when the 2018 model came out but, right now, it is no longer the case according to the latest benchmarks.

It’s not surprising: the “new” A12Z is actually the same processor as the A12X but with one more GPU core activated. The frequency continues to be 2.48GHz, just like with the iPad Pro 2018. And while it has more RAM (6GB), the speed is only marginally better (opens in new tab) than the previous generation: Geekbench 5 gives it 1,114 points in single-core and 4,635 points in multi-core.

Here comes the surprise, though. Thanks to its Intel Core i7-1065G7 4-core processor, the Geekbench 5.0 test gives the Surface Pro 7 (opens in new tab) a 1,235 score for single-core and 4,878 for multi-core. The top Surface Pro 7, released in 2019, is actually faster than the iPad Pro 2020. It also has 16GB of RAM in that test. And Microsoft‘s 2-in-1 tablet is no speed demon compared to other portable hardware in the PC front.

However, we should consider two more things. The graphics on the iPad Pro 2018 were considered on par with the Xbox One S, beating the Surface Pro 6 (opens in new tab) of the day by a very large margin — and even Ryzen-based laptops with Vega graphics. With one extra GPU core, we can expect the 2020 model to perform even better and possibly still come ahead of the 10th generation Intel Iris Plus graphics of the Surface. We have to test this, however.

Second, synthetic benchmarks are not indicative of overall performance and we know that Windows has considerably more overhead than iPad OS. The difference is not so big between both platforms. 

Winner: Surface Pro 7

Today's best Microsoft Surface Pro 7, Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (2020) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2020) deals

Should I get Surface Pro 7 or iPad Pro?

Apple iPad Pro: Which is best? If you absolutely need to run a laptop operating system, the Surface Pro 7 is your only choice. Apple's iPadOS is just a little more locked down and may not support all the traditional software you need, especially if they are specific to Windows.

Is the Microsoft Surface laptop better than the iPad Pro?

So while both tablets are powerful enough to handle pretty much anything you care to do with them, Apple's 2021 iPad Pro wins out in the performance department. One important caveat here: the iPad runs iPadOS, while the Surface Pro 8 runs Windows 11.

What is Microsoft equivalent to the iPad Pro?

The Surface Pro 9 is a thin, light, and powerful tablet that runs a full version of Windows 11, making it great for office productivity on the go. It has a laptop-sized screen, a well-built hinge to keep the tablet at a perfect angle, and two USB-C ports.

Can a Surface Pro replace a tablet?

The answer is, most definitely, yes! As a hybrid between a laptop and a tablet, the Surface Pro 8 is the best example of a tablet that can replace a laptop, especially since it runs Windows 11 and not Windows RT (which was meant for certain tablets).