Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) vs Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPad Air 2 vs Microsoft Surface 2 RT tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
9.7"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
8
MP
MP
1.2mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Triple-core
7340
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
What's the better tablet? Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
14 Advantages 
7 Advantages | 16 Common items in both devices |
| 2GB LPDDR3 |
| 16 million |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus |
| Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| +9 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Model | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Surface 2 RT (32GB) |
| Other model names | iPad Air 2 A1566 (WiFi), iPad 6 | Microsoft Surface RT 2, Microsoft Surface 2 RT |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | feature not registered |
| Brand | Apple | Microsoft |
| Release date | 10/24/2014, Announced: 10/16/2014 | 9/23/2013 |
| Depth | 6.1 millimeters (0.24 inches) | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 169.5 x 240 millimeters (6.67 x 9.45 in) | 172.5 x 274.6 millimeters (6.79 x 10.81 in) |
| Weight | 437 grams (15.3 ounces) | 676 grams (23.66 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum body, glass front | feature not registered |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD | TFT LCD |
| Screen size | 9.7" inches | 10.6" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~71.6% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~65.4% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1536x2048 pixels (4:3) | 1080x1920 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 264 PPI | 208 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | feature not registered |
| Display features | Not supported | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| System version | iOS 8.0 | Windows RT 8.1 |
| Firmware update | iPadOS 13 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Apple A8X (20nm) | 32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 4 Wayne (28nm) |
| CPU | Triple-core, 1 processor: 3x 1.5GHz Typhoon (Triple-core) | Penta-core, 1 processor: 5x 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 (Penta-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR GX6450 Rogue (8-core) | NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP72 672Mhz |
| Performance (benchmark) | Basemark X: 29753 | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| RAM memory | 2GB LPDDR3 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 16GB (10GB available) | 32GB (15GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | Not supported | Not supported |
| Maximum Download / Upload | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Network technology | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 8 megapixels | 5 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 2592x1944 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | Not supported | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/2.4 (aperture) | feature not registered |
| Focal length | 31mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.12µm pixel | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Not supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | feature not registered |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Not supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video and HDR photo on front camera | Not supported |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 1.2 megapixels | 3.1 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 1280x960 pixels | 2048x1536 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | HD (1280x720) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | feature not registered |
| Focal length | 31mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.264, MOV | MP4, DivX, XviD, H.264, H.263, WMV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, eAAC+ | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, AC3, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| USB | MicroUSB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | Proprietary TV-out | Micro HDMI Type D |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 + A2DP | 4.0 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) |
| DLNA | Supported | Not supported |
| GPS | Not supported | Not supported |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Not supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 7340 mAh | feature not registered |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Not supported | feature not registered |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Call control | Not supported | Not supported |
| Messaging | E-mail, Push mail | E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5, Flash player |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Dock with QWERTY keyboard |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Space Gray, Silver, Gold • Retina display • Oleophobic coating • AirDrop file sharing • iCloud service • iCloud Keychain • FaceTime HD | • Colors: Dark Titanium • Dual-position kickstand • Optional Touch Cover with keyboard • WiFi Direct • Microsoft Office 2013 RT • USB On-The-Go 1.3 • SkyDrive 200GB for 2 years • Skype free international calls and WiFi for 1 year |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |