Looking for a new tablet that doubles up as a laptop replacement too? The iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro are two solid options.
It’s fair to assume that the iPad Pro M4 is an easy winner. Not only does it sport a 4.5-star rating and a spot on our best tablet list, but we concluded it to be “Apple’s hardware at its very best.” However, with a starting RRP of £999 / $999, this certainly isn’t a tablet for everyone.
So does the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 make for a solid alternative? Despite scoring a 3.5-star rating, we still concluded the device to be a “great compact machine”.
To help you decide, we’ve compared the specs and our own experiences with the two tablets below.
Specs Comparison Table
| Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025) Review | Apple iPad Pro M4 2024 Review | |
|---|---|---|
| UK RRP | – | £999 |
| USA RRP | – | $999 |
| EU RRP | – | €1291 |
| CA RRP | – | CA$1399 |
| AUD RRP | – | AU$1699 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (8 Core) | – |
| Manufacturer | Microsoft | Apple |
| Screen Size | 12 inches | 11 inches |
| Storage Capacity | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Rear Camera | – | 12MP |
| Front Camera | 1080p | 12MP |
| Video Recording | – | Yes |
| IP rating | – | No |
| Fast Charging | – | Yes |
| Size (Dimensions) | x x -2 INCHES | 177.5 x 5.3 x 249.7 MM |
| Weight | 685 G | 444 G |
| ASIN | – | B0D3J7JRL4 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 | iPadOS |
| Release Date | 2025 | 2024 |
| First Reviewed Date | 16/07/2025 | 11/06/2024 |
| Resolution | 2196 x 1464 | 2420 x 1668 |
| HDR | – | Yes |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Ports | 2x USB-C 3.2 | USB 4 |
| GPU | Adreno | – |
| Chipset | – | Apple M4 |
| RAM | 16GB | 16GB, 8GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 | – |
| Colours | Purple, Silver, Blue | Black, Silver |
| Display Technology | LCD | – |
| Screen Technology | IPS | – |
| Touch Screen | Yes | – |
| Convertible? | Yes | – |
Pricing and availability
The Surface Pro starts at £799 / $799 for its 12-inch model with 256GB of storage. For an additional £100 / $100, you can double the storage with 512GB instead.
The iPad Pro is undoubtedly one of the most expensive tablets around, with a starting RRP of £999/$999 for its 11-inch model and £1299/$1299 for the 13-inch alternative.
Neither the Surface Pro nor iPad Pro come equipped with a keyboard or stylus, so you’ll need to factor this into your costs. While the Surface Pro’s keyboard will set you back £149.99 / $149.99, Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is pricier at £299 / $299.
Equally, the Surface Pro’s stylus has an RRP of £99.99 / $99.99 while Apple’s Magic Pencil starts at £79.99 / $79.99.
Design
- The Surface Pro 12 is a two-in-one device, although the keyboard is sold separately
- iPad Pro is the thinnest Apple product ever at just 5.1mm thick
- Surface Pro 12 has two USB-C ports and a built-in kickstand
Unlike the iPad Pro, the Surface Pro 12 is a dedicated two-in-one device, which can be paired with a magnetic keyboard to turn the tablet into a fully-functional laptop. The keyboard, however, is sold separately, which is especially frustrating given Windows 11 is a difficult OS to navigate solely through touch. That means the keyboard is a necessity additional cost, which should really be included with the tablet in the first place.
Otherwise, the Surface Pro 12 is fitted with a built-in kickstand, making it easy to prop up on its own without requiring any additional accessories like the iPad Pro. While the iPad Pro has just one USB-C port, the Surface Pro 12 boasts two which can be used for both charging and data transfers.
We hailed the Surface Pro 12’s tablet as having a “fairly nondescript” look, although its chunky surrounding bezels cheapened the look of the device. In comparison, while the iPad Pro looks familiar, albeit with a landscape front camera now, it undoubtedly looks stylish and sleek.
That’s probably no surprise, considering it was marketed as “the thinnest Apple product ever” at just 5.1mm and weighing just 579g.
Winner: iPad Pro
Microsoft Surface Pro 12
After
Screen
- The iPad Pro is the first to sport an OLED panel while the Surface Pro 12’s is an LCD
- The Surface Pro 12 doesn’t support HDR
- ProMotion technology keeps the iPad Pro feeling smooth when scrolling
Considering we hailed the iPad Pro’s display as simply “a triumph”, it seems unfair to compare it to the Surface Pro 12’s screen, especially as the 2024 iPad Pro was the first to sport an OLED panel. An easy upgrade over LCD, the iPad Pro’s display offers deep blacks, vibrant colours and a more noticeable HDR support.
That’s not to say the Surface Pro 12 doesn’t provide a decent viewing experience. Although it is just an LCD panel and lacks vibrancy, we were still impressed with the display and declared it on par with the iPad Air. Even so, the Surface Pro 12 can’t quite match the specs of the iPad Pro, as it has just a 90Hz refresh rate and doesn’t support HDR either.
We’d argue that these differences shouldn’t necessarily be a dealbreaker, however there’s undoubtedly a winner in this category.
Winner: iPad Pro
Microsoft Surface Pro 12
iPad Pro M4
Performance and Software
- Snapdragon X Plus vs Apple’s M4 chip
- The Surface Pro 12 is a CoPilot Plus PC and includes AI tools, such as the controversial Recall feature
- Apple Intelligence is available on the iPad Pro
The Surface Pro 12 and iPad Pro are powered by chipsets that promise the smooth running of their respective AI toolkits. While the Surface Pro 12 uses Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon X Plus, 8-core Arm chip, the iPad Pro runs on Apple’s M4 processor.
Although Snapdragon X Plus isn’t as powerful as the pricier Snapdragon X Elite alternative, and therefore can’t quite cope with all intensive tasks like gaming or video editing, we still concluded the device to be a capable and quiet machine. Plus you can use the majority of standard Windows 11 apps and aren’t restricted to tablet versions.
Annoyingly iPadOS isn’t quite as flexible, with the iPad Pro still not able to run certain Mac apps. Considering the M4 is a seriously powerful chip, we think this is something that needs fixing.
Even so, there’s no denying that the iPad Pro M4 boasts a jaw-dropping level of power, as it scored impressively high scores and surpassed Android competition in our benchmarking tests. However, this means the iPad Pro is perhaps overkill for anyone who just wants a tablet for casual use.
Both tablets include a built-in AI toolkit, although how useful either are is certainly up for debate. In fact, we’d argue you shouldn’t buy the Surface Pro 12 purely for its AI prowess with Editor Max Parker hailing the tools as “frankly forgettable”. Sure, there’s some useful tools like Eye Contact found within the front camera to give the impression you’re looking directly at the lens, but otherwise there aren’t any features that drastically change the experience.
Equally, the iPad Pro is fitted with the entire Apple Intelligence toolkit which includes writing tools, a revamped and more natural Siri plus many more.
Winner: iPad Pro
Accessories
- Almost all accessories for both the Surface Pro 12 and iPad Pro are sold separately
- The Surface Pro 12 has a built-in kickstand, whereas you’ll need to buy a Smart Folio case for the iPad Pro
- Both have their own supported magnetic keyboard and stylus
If you’re planning on investing in either the Surface Pro 12 or iPad Pro then you’ll need to factor in the cost of additional accessories. Considering the iPad Pro starts at an eye-watering £999/$999, this might be a tough pill to swallow.
Both tablets do offer similar accessories. With the Surface Pro 12 there’s the Surface Pen which charges when magnetically attached to the back of the tablet, which is similar to the iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil. Then there’s the Surface Pro 12’s magnetic keyboard which is a necessary purchase, as the tablet isn’t particularly functional without it.
On the other hand, while the addition of an Apple Magic Keyboard elevates the iPad Pro experience, the device is still perfectly usable without one.
However, if you’d like to use the iPad Pro upright, then you’ll need to invest in a separate kickstand or cover which doubles up as one, like the Smart Folio. The Surface Pro, however, has a built-in kickstand which means it can always be used in tabletop mode.
Winner: iPad Pro
Microsoft Surface Pro 12
iPad Pro M4
Battery Life
- We found the Surface Pro 12’s battery to be efficient
- The iPad Pro M4’s battery drains quickly during intensive tasks, although it can last a full work day
- Neither come with a dedicated charger in the box
Both the Snapdragon X Plus and M4 chips are energy efficient, with the Surface Pro 12 especially achieving impressive longevity. While a typical day saw the Surface Pro offer between six and ten hours of life, depending on the exact tasks, video playback offered up to around 17 hours in our battery tests.
The iPad Pro M4 is also capable of lasting a full work day when used as a laptop replacement. Not only that but for video playback the device lasted for a solid ten-hours, with 20% left in the tank. However, the iPad Pro does let itself down when it comes to intensive tasks such as gaming and photo editing, as we saw just an hour of each depleted the battery by just under 40%.
One annoying aspect of both tablets is the fact neither comes with a charger, so you’ll need to ensure you have a USB-C cable and charger to hand.
Winner: Surface Pro 12
Microsoft Surface Pro 12
iPad Pro M4
Verdict
There’s no denying that the iPad Pro M4 is a mighty machine. Not only is it seriously powerful and surpasses the Android competition without breaking a sweat, but its display is stunning and at just 5.1mm, it’s unbelievably lightweight and easy to carry around. However, this comes with a jaw-dropping price tag.
If you want Apple’s best iPad and have a genuine need for serious power, then the iPad Pro is a no-brainer. However, there are cheaper and better options available if you need a tablet purely for everyday, casual use.
Whether the Surface Pro 12 is a solid alternative is debatable. Yes it may seem cheaper to start with, but once you factor in the addition of a keyboard (which is a necessity) then you’re creeping closer to the iPad Pro’s price.
If you can nab the Surface Pro 12 with a price drop or a bundle deal, then it’s a great option for students or anyone who wants a tablet that doubles as a laptop.