If we are to learn anything from these competitive tech companies going at each other, it's that designing your very own original hardware and then pairing it with your companies own self-designed software is the best way to attract people into liking it. Apple has been practicing this system ever since the company's inception, and just recently, Google has embraced this method through their Pixel devices. Microsoft is also doing the same with Surface, resulting in some top-tier Windows devices. Microsoft surprised a lot of fans with the surprise launching of the Surface Studio. People were expecting an All-In-One, which is why a Studio was a complete surprise. At some levels, it is a natural competitor against Apple's iMac 2016. With that being said, here's how the two machines square up:
Design
Among the two, the Surface Studio is thinner and more flexible. The iMac, on the other hand, has a more minimal design. But similarly, a layer of glass meets with acres of aluminum with the two desktop devices. The devices are unique in that the new Surface Studio opts for maximum thinness and flexibility through its display, while Apple is more focused on minimalism on your desktop.
Hardware and power
Both the Microsoft Studio and Apple iMac offers various configurations for their hardware. The Surface Studio offers an option between Intel Core i5 and i7 CPU. The same goes for the iMac. Both devices are also offering 1TB and 2TB hybrid drive options, along with further options for 3TB Fusion, or SSD. At the entry-level, both devices also have a 7200rpm 1TB hard drive. So you can see that both products actually boast similar features
Price
Though both play in the same space since they both have seemingly similar overall specs, the Surface Studio will naturally have a stronger play toward every type of creatives who want to draw. Despite the similarities, the support for touch feature by Windows 10 and the range of movement that the Studio offers to its users makes it more versatile, as well as appealing towards designers, rather than any other average desk user who only wants a good-looking PC. The Studio is about touch interaction rather than just the pure hardware. The starting prices are at $2,999 for the Surface Studio and $1,799 for the iMac, which is pretty reasonable, to say the least considering that the Studio does offer a lot more into it despite the major similarities.
