Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) vs Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPad mini 3 vs Microsoft Surface 2 RT tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
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7.9"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
5
MP
MP
1.2mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
6350
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
What's the better tablet? Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 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!
12 Advantages 
10 Advantages | 20 Common items in both devices |
| 16 million |
| (back) 5MP |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus |
| Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| +13 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 mini 3 (4G 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Model | iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) | Surface 2 RT (32GB) |
| Other model names | iPad Mini 3 A1601 (4G LTE) | Microsoft Surface RT 2, Microsoft Surface 2 RT |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | feature not registered |
| Brand | Apple | Microsoft |
| Release date | 10/16/2014 | 9/23/2013 |
| Depth | 7.5 millimeters (0.3 inches) | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 134.7 x 200 millimeters (5.3 x 7.87 in) | 172.5 x 274.6 millimeters (6.79 x 10.81 in) |
| Weight | 341 grams (11.94 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 mini 3 (4G 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD | TFT LCD |
| Screen size | 7.9" inches | 10.6" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~71.7% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~65.4% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1536x2048 pixels | 1080x1920 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 324 PPI | 208 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Display features | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| System version | iOS 8.0 | Windows RT 8.1 |
| Firmware update | iOS 12 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Apple A7 APL5698 (28nm) | 32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 4 Wayne (28nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.3GHz Cyclone (Dual-core) | Penta-core, 1 processor: 5x 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 (Penta-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR G6430 MP4 | NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP72 672Mhz |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| RAM memory | 1GB LPDDR3 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 16GB (11GB available) | 32GB (15GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) | 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 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Primary 3G network | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | Not supported |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat3 (Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20) TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40) | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, 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 mini 3 (4G 16GB) | 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 | 32mm (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 mini 3 (4G 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 | 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 mini 3 (4G 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, H.263, MOV | MP4, DivX, XviD, H.264, H.263, WMV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, eAAC, M4A | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, AC3, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) | 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 | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS | Not supported |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Not supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) | Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 6350 mAh | feature not registered |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPad mini 3 (4G 16GB) | 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: Black on gray, White on silver, Gold • Apple SIM only USA and UK • Oleophobic coating on Retina display • Fingerprint sensor (Touch ID) • Aluminium body • FaceTime • Siri natural language • iCloud cloud service • Twitter and Facebook • Lightning connector port • OpenGL ES 3.0 | • 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 mini 3 (4G 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 |