In 2012, Microsoft forayed into the tablet space with the launch of its Surface line-up of tablets, i.e. Surface RT and Surface Pro, which hit the shelves in Nov. 2012 and Feb. 2013, respectively.
Both the tablets pack in impressive features under the hood and are seen as worthy challengers to the Apple and Samsung offerings. But which one is worth the money?
Here's a look at how the Surface Pro and the Surface RT stack up against each other:
Form Factor
The Surface RT measures 10.81 x 6.77 x 0.37 inches, compared to the Surface Pro's 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53 inches dimensions, making the latter slightly thicker and taller than the former. Moreover, at 2.0 pounds, the Surface Pro is heavier than the Surface RT which weighs 1.50 pounds.
Display
Both the Surface Pro and Surface RT tout a 10.6-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen. However, what sets the two tablets apart is the screen resolution and pixel density. The Surface RT has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, which pales in front of the Surface Pro's 1920 x 1080 pixels.
What's more, the Surface Pro has a higher pixel density of 208 ppi vis-à-vis the Surface RT's 148 ppi.
Processor
The Surface RT is powered by the Nvidia Tegra 3 T30 quad-core processor, which is clocked at 1.4GHz. On the other hand, a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor (1.7GHz) powers the Surface Pro.
The Surface Pro's processor is much faster than that of the Surface RT and is more in the class of a MacBook Air or Ultrabook than an ARM-based tablet.
Memory
The Surface RT comes in 32/64GB on-board storage options, whereas the Surface Pro is available in 64/128GB internal storage choices. Moreover, both the tablets have the option to expand their memory by 64GB using a microSD card.
The Surface RT has 2GB of RAM, whereas the Surface Pro has double the memory i.e. 4GB of RAM.
OS
The Surface RT runs on the Microsoft Windows RT operating system, whereas the Surface Pro has the Surface Windows 8 Pro operating system.
Moreover, Surface RT users get Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote optimized for tablets. On the other hand, Surface Pro users need to purchase and run the full Office Suite.
Camera
Microsoft has kept mum on the pixel count. Both the tablets feature a 720p primary and secondary cameras.
Connectivity And Ports
Both the Surface RT and Surface Pro have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but no cellular versions, which basically means that if you do not have Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot then the tablet cannot be connected to the Internet.
Battery
The Surface RT is equipped with a 31.5 Wh battery compared to the Surface Pro's bigger 42.0 Wh one. However, owing to its more power hungry processor, the Surface Pro's battery offers support for 3 to 4 hours, compared to the Surface RT's 7 to 8 hours.
Colors & Price
Both the Surface RT and the Surface Pro are available in Dark Titanium. However, the Surface RT is cheaper with a starting price tag of $499, while the Surface Pro starts at $899.
If you want to purchase the Surface's keyboard, you'll need to fork out an additional $120.
With both tablets offering robust features, consumers will face a difficult choice in opting for either of the two Microsoft offerings. We think the Surface Pro is a better buy; however, price could be a deciding factor for some consumers. Which tablet would you pick?
