Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) vs Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
Side by side comparison between Microsoft Surface RT vs Apple iPad mini 3 tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
10.6"
TFT
TFT
768x1366
1
MP
MP
1mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Penta-core
4120
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
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 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!
3 Advantages 
17 Advantages | 18 Common items in both devices |
| 16 million |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus |
| EIS: Digital stabilization |
| (front) HD (1280x720) |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| +11 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 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Model | Surface RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) |
| Other model names | Tablet Microsoft Surface RT 1 | iPad Mini 3 A1601 (4G LTE) |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Microsoft | Apple |
| Release date | 10/26/2012 | 10/16/2014 |
| Depth | 9.4 millimeters (0.37 inches) | 7.5 millimeters (0.3 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 172 x 274.6 millimeters (6.77 x 10.81 in) | 134.7 x 200 millimeters (5.3 x 7.87 in) |
| Weight | 680 grams (23.8 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 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LCD | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 10.6" inches | 7.9" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~65.6% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71.7% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 768x1366 pixels | 1536x2048 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 148 PPI | 324 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | feature not registered |
| Display features | Not supported | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| System version | Windows RT 8.0 | iOS 8.0 |
| Firmware update | Windows RT 8.1 | iOS 12 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 3 (T30L) (40nm) | 64bit: Apple A7 APL5698 (28nm) |
| CPU | Penta-core, 2 processors: 4x 1.3GHz ARM Cortex-A9 (Quad-core) 1x 500MHz ARM Cortex-A9 (Single-core) | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.3GHz Cyclone (Dual-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP12 (416MHz) | PowerVR G6430 MP4 |
| Performance (benchmark) | Browsermark: 73180 (v1) | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| RAM memory | 2GB LPDDR2 | 1GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 32GB (15GB available) SSD | 128GB (120GB available) |
| External storage | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 800/850/900/1800/1900/2100/2600 |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, 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 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 1 megapixels | 5 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 1280x720 pixels | 2592x1944 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | HD (1280x720) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | Not supported | 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 | EIS: Digital stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Not supported | 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 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 1 megapixels | 1.2 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 1280x720 pixels | 1280x960 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | HD (1280x720) | 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 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 | 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 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) P21GK3 | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4120 mAh | 6350 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Not supported | feature not registered |
| Talk time autonomy | 8 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | 360 hours (15 days) | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 • Optional Touch Cover with keyboard • WiFi Direct • Microsoft Office 2013 RT | • 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 RT (32GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 |