Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) vs Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB)
Side by side comparison between Microsoft Surface 2 RT vs Apple iPad mini 3 tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
vs
7.9"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
5
MP
MP
1.2mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
6350
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better tablet? Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB)
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!
8 Advantages 
12 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 | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| Model | Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) |
| Other model names | Microsoft Surface RT 2, Microsoft Surface 2 RT | iPad Mini 3 A1601 (4G LTE) |
| Country or region available | feature not registered |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | Microsoft | Apple |
| Release date | 9/23/2013 | 10/16/2014 |
| Depth | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) | 7.5 millimeters (0.3 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 172.5 x 274.6 millimeters (6.79 x 10.81 in) | 134.7 x 200 millimeters (5.3 x 7.87 in) |
| Weight | 676 grams (23.66 ounces) | 341 grams (11.94 ounces) |
| Build, materials | feature not registered | Aluminum body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LCD | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 10.6" inches | 7.9" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~65.4% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71.7% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x1920 pixels | 1536x2048 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 208 PPI | 324 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 | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| System version | Windows RT 8.1 | iOS 8.0 |
| Firmware update | feature not registered | iOS 12 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 4 Wayne (28nm) | 64bit: Apple A7 APL5698 (28nm) |
| CPU | Penta-core, 1 processor: 5x 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 (Penta-core) | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.3GHz Cyclone (Dual-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP72 672Mhz | PowerVR G6430 MP4 |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| RAM memory | 2GB LPDDR3 | 1GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 32GB (15GB available) | 64GB (56GB available) |
| External storage | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | Not supported | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | feature not registered | 100/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | feature not registered | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Not supported | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | Not supported | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | Not supported | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | LTE Cat3 (Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20) TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40) |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE |
| 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 | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| 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 | LED flash | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | f/2.4 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 32mm lens |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Not supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | feature not registered | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Supported |
| HDR | Not supported | HDR photo only main camera |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 3.1 megapixels | 1.2 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 2048x1536 pixels | 1280x960 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | Full HD (1920x1080) | HD (1280x720) |
| 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 | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| 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, DivX, XviD, H.264, H.263, WMV | MP4, H.264, H.263, MOV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, AC3, FLAC | MP3, WAV, eAAC, M4A |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| USB | USB 3.0 | USB 2.0 proprietary connector |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | Micro HDMI Type D | Proprietary TV-out |
| 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 | Not supported | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Not supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | feature not registered | 6350 mAh |
| 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 | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| Call control | Not supported | Voice recorder |
| Messaging | E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | feature not registered | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5, Flash player | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Dock with QWERTY keyboard | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • 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 | • 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 |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 64GB) | |
| 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 |