Microsoft Surface 3 vs iPad Air 3; Which is Better? Specs & Features Here!

Microsoft has just released its Surface 3 laplet and it has indeed gained the attention of the tech community.

Proud with its new product, Microsoft has posted a statement on its Microsoft Surface Blog saying, "As we planned the next addition to the Surface family, the questions to answer for our customers became simple...We started with what we’re known for — a great tablet that works as a laptop, the ability to run all Windows apps including full Office, and a pen experience that really sets Surface apart.

"We knew we would offer all of this in a more affordable package but decided at the outset that we would make no compromise on maintaining the beautiful fit and finish, the craftsmanship that so many love in our Surface products. The result is Surface 3...It’s the thinnest and lightest Surface we’ve ever shipped."

The new laplet looks promising, but can it hold its flag against the upcoming tablet from Apple? Find out here if Surface 3 could really compete against Apple's next tablet, the rumored iPad Air 3.

Display, Design, and Size

The new Surface 3 device has a 10.8-inch screen. It is really thin at 8.7 mm and very light at 1.37 pounds or 622 grams. It has a screen resolution of 1920 x 1280.

Not much is known about the rumored iPad Air 3 but MacWorld said that it will probably have iPad Air 2's 6.1 mm thickness. Should this happen, the iPad Air 3 would then be thinner than the Surface 3.

Aside from the Retina Display, the new iPad Air 3 is expected to get a resolution upgrade. Android Origin says it is likely that Apple would keep its classic iPad design in its next-generation iPads. Current iPad lines are available on gray, silver, and gold variants. Meanwhile, Surface 3 users can choose from various colored keyboard options. Unlike the current iPad lines, Surface 3 has a USB 3.0 port and a mini DisplayPort, and a microSD card reader.

Camera

The Surface 3 has an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 3.5 megapixel front-facing camera. It is not yet confirmed what camera the iPad Air 3 would get but the current iPad Air 2 too has an 8 megapixel main camera. As for the front camera, it has a 1.2 megapixel shooter.

Processor and RAM

The Surface 3 comes with a quad-core Intel Atom x7 processor while the new iPad Air 3 is expected to get the thinner A9 chip.

As for the memory, the Surface 3 has either 64 GB or 128 GB versions. It is still not sure what memory variants the next iPad Air would have but the current iPad lines have options ranging from 16 GB to 128 GB. As for the RAM, the new Surface 3 has 2 GB or 4 GB of RAM while the iPad Air 3 is said to get a 4GB RAM, as revealed by Christian Today.

Other Features

The Surface 3 has its own pen. MacWorld said there have been calls for a new iPad Air with a stylus pen. Surface 3 has the Windows 8.1, but is expected to be updated to Windows 10 soon. The iPad Air 3 meanwhile is said to get a new OS update, the iOS 9.

Surface 3's battery could last up to 24 hours. The iPad AIR 3 on the other hand is said to bring in new improvements particularly with the virtual assistant Siri.

Price

The price of Surface 3 starts at $499. Not known to sell cheap products, it is expected that Apple's tablet will get a higher price tag.