Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) vs Apple iPad Air (WiFi 16GB)
Side by side comparison between Microsoft Surface 2 RT vs Apple iPad Air tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
vs
9.7"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
5
MP
MP
1.2mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
8820
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better tablet? Microsoft Surface 2 RT (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!
9 Advantages 
9 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 (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Model | Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) |
| Other model names | Microsoft Surface RT 2, Microsoft Surface 2 RT | iPad Air A1474 (WiFi), iPad 5 Air, iPad Air 1 |
| Country or region available | feature not registered |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | Microsoft | Apple |
| Release date | 9/23/2013 | 11/1/2013, Announced: 10/22/2013 |
| 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) | 169.5 x 240 millimeters (6.67 x 9.45 in) |
| Weight | 676 grams (23.66 ounces) | 469 grams (16.42 ounces) |
| Build, materials | feature not registered | Aluminum body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LCD | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 10.6" inches | 9.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~65.4% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71.6% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x1920 pixels | 1536x2048 pixels (4:3) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 208 PPI | 264 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | 60Hz |
| Display features | feature not registered | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| System version | Windows RT 8.1 | iOS 7.0 |
| Firmware update | feature not registered | iOS 12 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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 1.4GHz Cyclone (Dual-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP72 672Mhz | PowerVR G6430 (4-core, 450MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | Basemark X: 13597 |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| RAM memory | 2GB LPDDR3 | 1GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 64GB (45GB available) | 16GB (10GB available) eMMC |
| External storage | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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 | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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 | 33mm 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 (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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 (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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, MOV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, AC3, FLAC | MP3, WAV, eAAC+ |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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 | Supported |
| GPS | Not supported | Not supported |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Not supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | feature not registered | 8820 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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, 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: Space Gray, Silver • Retina display • Oleophobic coating • AirDrop file sharing • iCloud service • iCloud Keychain • FaceTime HD |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (64GB) | iPad Air (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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 |