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Apple iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB) 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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Compare Microsoft Surface 2 RT X Apple iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB) 09Points
7.9"
IPS

1536x2048

5
MP

1.2mp

1GB
RAM

Dual-core

6350
mAh

(Non removable)

vs
08Points Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) Compare Apple iPad mini 3 X
10.6"
TFT

1080x1920

5
MP

3.1mp

2GB
RAM

Penta-core

N/A

What's the better tablet? Apple iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)

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!

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)} 9 Advantages Apple iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB) vs Surface 2 RT (32GB)} 8 Advantages Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
+128GB (120GB available)7 times
More internal storage for applications and files
vs32GB (15GB available)
+331 grams (11.59 ounces)104%
Lighter
vs676 grams (23.66 ounces)
+7.5 millimeters (0.3 inches)19%
Thinner
vs8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches)
+TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCDAdvantage
TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD display is brighter and more vivid
vsTFT LCD
+1536x2048 pixels52%
Higher resolution screen
vs1080x1920 pixels
+324 PPI56%
Crisper display of text, images and videos because it has more pixels per inch (ppi)
vs208 PPI
+HDR photo only main cameraAdvantage
The HDR technology produced photos with more detail in dark areas
vsNot supported
+2300000 apps (App Store)11 times
More apps available to download and use
vs190000 apps (Windows Store)
+Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted)Advantage
Sensors help you use the device
vsNot supported
1.3GHz 64bit Dual-corevs+1.7GHz 32bit Penta-core31%
More powerful processor, you can open your applications faster
1GB LPDDR3vs+2GB LPDDR3100%
More RAM memory. Typically more responsive and better for multitasking.
Not supportedvs+Until 64GB microSD, microSDXCAdvantage
More external storage for files using memory cards
7.9"vs+10.6"34%
Larger screen
Not supportedvs+LED flashAdvantage
The LED flash helps in dark places or in low light
(front) 1.2MPvs+(front) 3.1MP156%
Higher resolution secondary camera to take pictures and selfies
(front) HD (1280x720)vs+(front) Full HD (1920x1080)125%
More image quality for recording videos with the secondary camera
USB 2.0 proprietary connectorvs+USB 3.0Advantage
Newer and faster USB version for transferring photos, mp3 or data.

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 mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
ModeliPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Other model namesiPad Mini 3 A1599 (Wi-Fi)Microsoft Surface RT 2, Microsoft Surface 2 RT
Country or region available(Global, International)
(Global, International)
feature not registered
BrandAppleMicrosoft
Release date10/16/20149/23/2013
Depth7.5 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)
Weight331 grams (11.59 ounces)676 grams (23.66 ounces)
Build, materialsAluminum body, glass frontfeature not registered
Protection against water and othersNot supportedNot supported

📲 Display

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Display typeTFT LED-Backlit IPS LCDTFT LCD
Screen size7.9" inches10.6" inches
Screen-to-body ratio~71.7% (screen-to-body ratio)~65.4% (screen-to-body ratio)
Display resolution1536x2048 pixels1080x1920 pixels
TouchscreenCapacitive Multitouch 10-pointsCapacitive Multitouch 5-points
Pixel density (dot pitch)324 PPI208 PPI
Colors16 million16 million
Scratch-resistant glassNot supportedNot supported
Refresh ratefeature not registeredfeature not registered
Display featuresfeature not registeredfeature not registered

🤖 Operating System

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
System versioniOS 8.0Windows RT 8.1
Firmware updateiOS 12feature not registered
User Interfacefeature not registeredfeature not registered

⚙️ Processor

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Chipset64bit: Apple A7 APL5698 (28nm)32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 4 Wayne (28nm)
CPUDual-core, 1 processor:
2x 1.3GHz Cyclone (Dual-core)
Penta-core, 1 processor:
5x 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 (Penta-core)
GPU graphical controllerPowerVR G6430 MP4NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP72 672Mhz
Performance (benchmark)feature not registeredfeature not registered

💽 Memory and storage

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
RAM memory1GB LPDDR32GB LPDDR3
Internal storage128GB (120GB available)32GB (15GB available)
External storageNot supportedUntil 64GB microSD, microSDXC
(dedicated slot)

📶 Mobile networks

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Dual-SIMNot supportedNot supported
SIM cardNot supportedNot supported
Maximum Download / Uploadfeature not registeredfeature not registered
Network technologyfeature not registeredfeature not registered
Frequency, bands Expand band details Collapse details
GSM MHz bandNot supportedNot supported
Primary 2G networkNot supportedNot supported
Primary 3G networkNot supportedNot supported
Primary 4G networkNot supportedNot supported
Primary 5G networkNot supportedNot supported
Primary data networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary 2G networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary 3G networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary 4G networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary data networkNot supportedNot supported

📷 Camera

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Back camera (main camera)5 megapixels5 megapixels
Main camera resolution2592x1944 pixels2592x1944 pixels
Video recording (primary)Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fpsFull HD (1920x1080) 30 fps
FlashNot supportedLED flash
Focal aperturef/2.4 (aperture)feature not registered
Focal length32mm lensfeature not registered
Sensor sizefeature not registeredfeature not registered
Pixel sizefeature not registeredfeature not registered
AutofocusAutofocusAutofocus
Touch focusSupportedNot supported
Image stabilizationEIS: Digital stabilizationfeature not registered
ZoomOnly digital zoomOnly digital zoom
Face/smile detectionFace detection, Smile detectionFace detection
BSI sensorSupportedNot supported
HDRHDR photo only main cameraNot supported
Camera extrasfeature not registeredfeature not registered

📸 Front camera

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Front camera (secondary)1.2 megapixels3.1 megapixels
Front camera resolution1280x960 pixels2048x1536 pixels
Video recording (secondary)HD (1280x720)Full HD (1920x1080)
Front flashNot supportedNot supported
Focal aperturefeature not registeredfeature not registered
Focal lengthfeature not registeredfeature not registered
Sensor sizefeature not registeredfeature not registered
Pixel sizefeature not registeredfeature not registered

🔉 Sound and multimedia

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Loudspeakerfeature not registeredSupported
Active noise cancellation2 microphones or more2 microphones or more
RadioNot supportedNot supported
TVNot supportedNot supported
Video formatsMP4, H.264, H.263, MOVMP4, DivX, XviD, H.264, H.263, WMV
Audio formatsMP3, WAV, eAAC, M4AMP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, AC3, FLAC

🔌 Connectivity

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
USBUSB 2.0 proprietary connectorUSB 3.0
Audio output3.5mm jack3.5mm jack
TV outputProprietary TV-outMicro HDMI Type D
Bluetooth4.0 + A2DP4.0 + A2DP
WiFi802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz)802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz)
DLNANot supportedNot supported
GPSNot supportedNot supported
NFCNot supportedNot supported
Infrared portNot supportedNot supported

🧭 Sensors

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
SensorsAccelerometer
Ambient light sensor
Compass
Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted)
Gyroscope
Accelerometer
Ambient light sensor
Compass
Gyroscope
Vibrating alertNot supportedSupported

🔋 Battery

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Battery typeLiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable)Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable)
Battery capacity6350 mAhfeature not registered
Charger, wattsWired chargingWired charging
Inductive / wireless chargingfeature not registeredfeature not registered
Talk time autonomy10 hours10 hours
Standbyfeature not registeredfeature not registered

➕ Other features

iPad mini 3 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
Call controlNot supportedNot supported
MessagingE-mail, Push mailE-mail, Push mail
Hands-free callingfeature not registeredSupported
Video callingSupportedSupported
Ringtonesfeature not registeredfeature not registered
Web browserHTML, XHTML, HTML5HTML, XHTML, HTML5, Flash player
AntennaInternal antennaInternal antenna
Qwerty physical keyboardNot supportedDock with QWERTY keyboard
Miscellaneous• Colors: Black on gray, White on silver, Gold
• 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 (WiFi 128GB)Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB)
SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.)feature not registeredfeature not registered
SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.)feature not registeredfeature not registered
X

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