Apple iPad Air (4G 32GB) vs Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPad Air vs Microsoft Surface 2 RT tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
9.7"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
5
MP
MP
1.2mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
8820
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
What's the better tablet? Apple iPad Air (4G 32GB)
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!
13 Advantages 
8 Advantages | 17 Common items in both devices |
| 16 million |
| (back) 5MP |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus |
| Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| +10 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 (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Model | iPad Air (4G 32GB) | Surface 2 RT (32GB) |
| Other model names | iPad Air A1475 (4G LTE + CDMA), iPad 5, iPad Air 1 | Microsoft Surface RT 2, Microsoft Surface 2 RT |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | feature not registered |
| Brand | Apple | Microsoft |
| Release date | 11/1/2013, Announced: 10/22/2013 | 9/23/2013 |
| Depth | 7.5 millimeters (0.3 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 | 478 grams (16.73 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 (4G 32GB) | 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 | 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 (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| System version | iOS 7.0 | Windows RT 8.1 |
| Firmware update | iOS 12 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPad Air (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Apple A7 (APL5698) (28nm) | 32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 4 Wayne (28nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.4GHz Cyclone (Dual-core) | Penta-core, 1 processor: 5x 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 (Penta-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR G6430 (4-core, 450MHz) | NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP72 672Mhz |
| Performance (benchmark) | Basemark X: 13597 | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPad Air (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| RAM memory | 1GB LPDDR3 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 32GB (23GB available) eMMC | 32GB (15GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPad Air (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | Not supported |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 100/50 Mbps | feature not registered |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | feature not registered |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1700/1900/2100, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | Not supported |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat3 (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26) | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE | 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 (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 5 megapixels | 5 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 2592x1944 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 | 33mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 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 only main camera | Not supported |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPad Air (4G 32GB) | 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 | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPad Air (4G 32GB) | 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 (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 proprietary connector | 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 [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) |
| DLNA | Supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS | Not supported |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPad Air (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Not supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPad Air (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 8820 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 (4G 32GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Call control | Voice recorder | Not supported |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | 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 • 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 (4G 32GB) | 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 |