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Budget tablet showdown: Apple 10.2-inch iPad (2019) vs. Microsoft Surface Go

Apple just launched, but in a month it will be Microsoft's turn.
By Mark Hachman
PCWorld Sep 11, 2019 6:55 am PDT
surface go 4 vs ipad
Image: Rob Schultz / IDG

In about a month’s time, Microsoft may unveil the next generation of its year-old, entry-level Windows tablet, the Surface Go. For now, however, Apple has fired the first shot: a $329 10.2-inch iPad that offers a lot of what the Surface Go does, and for slightly less.

While many Microsoft Surface tablets feel bulky when detached from their Type Cover keyboards, the $399 Surface Go does not. However, it’s also powered by a somewhat poky Intel Pentium Gold processor, while Apple’s latest iPad has its optimized A10 Fusion chip under the hood. It’s not that much different than the Apple 9.7-inch iPad (2018), though. The iPad also makes the camera a focus, though you’ll look slightly ridiculous taking photos using any tablet, Apple or Windows.

Of course, there’s a vast gulf between Windows 10’s tablet mode and Apple’s iPadOS, which now powers the iPad. (For more iPad coverage, see Macworld’s story.) Your preference of app and operating system will probably be the determining factor in making your choice, but let’s compare some of the key specs.

apple new ipad new seventh generation 091019 Apple

Apple refers to its new 10.2-inch iPad (2019) as a seventh-generation iPad. 

Apple 10.2-inch iPad: Basic specs

  • Display: 10.2-inch (2160×1620) IPS technology, 264 PPI, multitouch
  • Processor: A10 Fusion chip
  • Graphics: A10 Fusion chip
  • Memory: 2GB LPDDR4 (probably—this won’t be known until a teardown is performed)
  • Storage: 32GB or 128GB
  • Ports: Lightning connector (Lightning to USB cable included), Smart Connector, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Wireless: 802.11ac dual-band, HT80 with MIMO, Bluetooth 4.2; Gigabit LTE models available with eSIM
  • Cameras: 8 Mpixel (HDR/image stabilization/Live Photos)/1080p video/ slo-mo 720p @120fps, 3X video zoom
  • Battery: 32.4Wh
  • Operating system: Apple iPadOS
  • Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 inches
  • Weights: 1.07 pounds (tablet), 
  • Optional Accessories: Smart Keyboard: $159Remove non-product link, Apple Pencil: $99Remove non-product link  
  • Colors: Silver, Space Gray, Gold
  • Price: 32GB: $329Remove non-product link (Cellular: $459); 128GB: $429.00Remove non-product link (Cellular: $559); 
microsoft surface go with signature type cover Microsoft

Microsoft’s Surface Go Signature Type Cover is equipped with a touchpad and backlit keys.

Microsoft Surface Go: Basic specs

It’s the last line of the Surface Go specs that’s important: the price—or, more importantly, the discounts that Microsoft and retailers are offering before the Surface event at the beginning of October. That brings the prices of both machines almost into parity.

Performance

We can make a strong claim that, right now, the Apple iPad outperforms the Surface Go. According to Macworld’s 9.7-inch iPad (2018) review, the A10 chip within that iPad, as well as the latest model, scored 3463 on Geekbench’s single-core CPU test and 5845 on the multi-core test. The Surface Go, on the other hand, barely breaks 2200 on the single-core test, and scores about 4000 or so, max, on the multi-core test. Though it’s very possible that a new Surface Go will make up ground and then some, the edge right now goes to the iPad.

Usability

You can break this down in a couple of different ways. As a naked tablet, the Surface Go and iPad are both comfortable to hold and to use. (At press time, we haven’t had a chance to handle the new 10.2 inch version.) From strictly a hardware perspective, though, they’re about equal.

apple pencil ipad 2019 Apple

The Apple Pencil is good for both art and work…

When you start adding peripherals, however—the Apple Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil, versus the Surface Go’s pen and Type Cover—the edge starts moving to Microsoft’s corner. While the Apple Smart Keyboard can be folded back into a stand, the Surface Go’s kickstand is still clearly superior. We’re willing to buy Apple’s claims about e-ink latency and so forth at face value, but Apple’s going to have a difficult time convincing anyone that the Pencil is the differentiating factor.

Microsoft Surface Go Mark Hachman / IDG

…but the kickstand is still superior on the Microsoft Surface Go.

Unfortunately, both keyboards have their weaknesses. The Surface Go shaves 0.5mm of key travel off its other Type Covers, with just 1mm of travel. Apple’s keyboard, on the other hand, forgoes backlighting and sits absolutely flat. 

From an OS standpoint, we still believe in Microsoft. iPadOS now has better support for multitasking, for example, with Split View. But Microsoft offers virtual desktops, a more useful way in adding more apps to a tablet’s tiny screen. In fairness, however, Apple offers picture-in-picture mode, which Windows 10 does not.

Multimedia

We still say that it’s ridiculous to take pictures with a tablet—any tablet. But the advantage in terms of multimedia consumption falls squarely in the Apple iPad’s corner. Not only is the camera far, far better, but the numerous apps and games that are optimized for the iPad elevate it far above the Surface Go.

ipad 2019 7th generation Apple

The new iPad lets you keep the comfortable size of the old model while enjoying more screen room. Apple’s own app store, too, simply has more to offer than Windows.

Note, though, that streaming apps like Netflix appear on both platforms. And with the Surface Go, you don’t have to constantly hold it—the Surface Go’s built-in kickstand comfortably supports it.

App environment

Microsoft’s always aimed the Surface Go at road warriors who need a browser, Office, and not much else. Apple, unquestionably offers a richer app environment, in addition to the Office apps that straddle both platforms. We’d argue that there’s a richer ecosystem of browsers and utilities within the Windows platform, though it’s highly unlikely you’ll be running Photoshop on either an iPad or a Surface Go. 

galaxy tab s4 dex deskop Adam Patrick Murray/IDG

With Microsoft Word available on just about anything—even the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, shown here—you shouldn’t worry about being able to run Office on iOS.

But iOS itself offers a far richer ecosystem of both native Apple apps as well as third-party software. On either platform, however, you’ll be not doing much besides light editing and content creation. Content consumption is still largely the focus of the iPad.

It’s also worth noting that the Surface Go ships with Windows 10 in S Mode activated, which restricts you to running the limited apps available in the Microsoft Store, though you can opt to switch to the full version of Windows 10.

Conclusion: On paper, the iPad wins

This is an unfair fight: Apple’s just-introduced iPad is taking on a year-old product in the Surface Go. In early October, Microsoft will have it chance to answer back. Will it be enough to usurp the iPad? We’ll have to wait and see.

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