Surface Pro 4, Surface Book, and the Competition
Let it be known that we have entered the Golden Age of Mobile Computing. Manufacturers have packed ample computing power into lightweight form factors, with plenty of choices in the neighborhood of $1,000. Operating system preference—whether Chrome OS, Windows 10, or iOS—factors in as well. Microsoft has announced it is entering two more hybrids into the crowded field of competition. How does the new Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book match up against other devices on the market?
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
| Release Date | October 7, 2015 |
| CPU | Intel M Skylake Core i5 Skylake Core i7 |
| Memory | 16 GB |
| Screen size | 12.3 inch |
| Resolution | 5 million pixels |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Storage | 128 GB+ |
| Battery Life | Up to 9 hours |
| Weight | 1.69 lbs. |
| Price | Starts at $899 |
| Recommended Productivity Accessories | Surface Pen Type Cover |
With no Surface 4 tablet—at least none have been announced yet—the Surface Pro 4 is the lowest-cost choice. Microsoft also announced a new Surface Pen with 1,024 degrees of pressure sensitivity, which is a further development of the previous generation Surface Pen.
The Surface Pro 4 Type Cover also received some attention with improved typing feel and a fingerprint sensor. Multiple configurations will be available, with the highest-end model priced at $2,199 and equipped with an i7 with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB of storage.
Microsoft Surface Book
| Release Date | October 26, 2015 |
| CPU | Skylake Core i5 Skylake Core i7 |
| Memory | 16 GB |
| Screen size | 13.5 inch |
| Resolution | 5 million pixels |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Storage | 128 GB+ |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 hours |
| Weight | 3.48 lbs. |
| Price | Starts at $1,499 |
| Recommended Productivity Accessories | Type Cover Docking Station |
This new addition to the Surface lineup expands it into the laptop segment with a screen size of 13.5 inches. Microsoft intends for it to directly compete against the MacBook Pro, and the specs back this up. Along with a 6th generation Core processor, the Surface also has a discrete NVIDIA graphics card and two batteries.
Another party feature of the Surface Book is the fact that the keyboard portion of the device can be detached, which brings the weight down from 3.48 pounds to somewhere around 1.6 pounds. Like the SP4, expect multiple configurations and the fully loaded price to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $2,699.
Microsoft Surface 3
| Release Date | May ‘15 |
| CPU | Intel Atom x7-Z8700 SoC |
| Memory | 2 GB 4 GB |
| Screen size | 10.8 inch |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1280 |
| Operating System | Windows 8.1 Pro, upgradeable to Windows 10 |
| Storage | 64 GB 128 GB |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours |
| Weight | 1.37 lbs. |
| Price | 64 GB $499 128 GB $599 |
| Recommended Productivity Accessories | Surface Pen Type Cover Docking Station |
At 10.8 inches, the Surface 3 is smaller and closer to a true tablet experience than the Surface Pro 3. When paired with the detachable Type Cover keyboard and Surface Pen, the Surface 3 is more reminiscent of a small netbook than a productivity laptop.
Read more:
Surface 3 Still the Best Device for Windows 10
5 Ways Surface 3 Can Win Back the Classroom for Microsoft
Four Windows 8.1 Tablets That Match Up Against Surface 3
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
| Release Date | June ‘14 |
| CPU | i3-4020Y 1.5 GHz 3 MB cache i5-4300U 1.9 GHz (2.9 GHz Turbo Boost) 3 MB cache i7-4650U 1.7 GHz (3.3 GHz Turbo Boost) 4 MB cache |
| Memory | 4 GB 8 GB |
| Screen size | 12 inch |
| Resolution | 2160 x 1440 |
| Operating System | Windows 8.1 Pro, upgradeable to Windows 10 |
| Storage | 64 GB 128 GB 256 GB 512 GB |
| Battery Life | Up to 9 hours |
| Weight | 1.76 lbs. |
| Price | Core i3, 64 GB $769 Core i5, 128 GB $999 Core i5, 256 GB $1,299 Core i7, 256 GB $1,549 Core i7, 512 GB $1,949 |
| Recommended Productivity Accessories | Surface Pen Type Cover Docking Station |
Powered by a 4th generation Intel Core processor, professionals more used to working on laptops than tablets will feel more at home with a SP3 than with a SP3. The pricing alone hammers in this point, as its closest competitors are laptops and not tablets. At 12 inches, it compares favorably against smaller laptops.
Replace a Laptop with iPad Pro or Surface Pro 3?
Microsoft Surface 3 or Surface Pro 3? Pick the Right Windows Hybrid
The Great Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Identity Crisis
Apple iPad Pro
| Release Date | November ‘15 |
| CPU | 3rd Gen Apple A9X SoC |
| Screen size | 12.9 inch |
| Resolution | 2732 x 2048 |
| Operating System | iOS 9 |
| Storage | 32 GB 128 GB |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs |
| Price | $799 |
| Recommended Productivity Accessories | Apple Pencil Keyboard |
The iPad Pro’s resolution dwarfs many mainstream laptops and features a pixel density of more than 264 pixels per inch (PPI). In addition, the new Apple Pencil accessory makes it an ideal choice for designers and media creators that need the precision of a drawing tablet. The optional keyboard accessory also makes it a good choice for professionals that deal with spreadsheets and word processors more than digital canvases.
Unlike the other devices on this list, the iPad Pro is the only one that is primarily touch-based. Whereas you can forego using the touchscreen on the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, the iPad Pro requires you to swipe and tap. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of using an iOS device for productivity is the fact that you have to use mobile versions of applications instead of the usual desktop versions—even if you have the keyboard and Pencil accessories.
The iPad Pro comes out in November with a price tag of $799.
Google Chromebook Pixel
| Release Date | February ‘13 |
| CPU | Core i5, 2.2 GHz Core i7, 2.4 GHz |
| Memory | 8 GB 16 GB |
| Screen size | 12.85 inch |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1700 |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Storage | 32 GB 64 GB |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 hours |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs. |
| Price | Core i5 $999 Core i7 $1,299 |
Starting at $999, the Chromebook Pixel is primarily a laptop rather than a tablet. Professionals used to Windows or OS X operating systems should be able to quickly get the hang of Chrome OS. You still rely on a mouse and keyboard, with the touch functionality being an optional input method. Despite having an operating system with a relatively small adoption rate, Chromebooks still make for great productivity machines provided you are comfortable working from and saving to the cloud. With only up to 64 GB of storage, you can fill up the SSD rather quickly.
The Chrome OS is the most unique part of the Chromebook experience. Unlike Windows, don’t expect to install many programs directly from a CD or disk. All the apps will be installed via the Google Play store, which requires an Internet connection. You can still work offline, but don’t expect to download new apps or save to the cloud.
