Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) vs Apple iPad 2 (3G 16GB)
Side by side comparison between Microsoft Surface RT vs Apple iPad 2 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
9.7"
IPS
IPS
768x1024
0.7
MP
MP
0.3mp
512MB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
6930
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better tablet? Microsoft Surface 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!
15 Advantages 
9 Advantages | 17 Common items in both devices |
| 16 million |
| Only digital zoom |
| EIS: Digital stabilization |
| HD (1280x720) |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| +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 RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| Model | Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) |
| Other model names | Tablet Microsoft Surface RT 1 | iPad 2 A1396 (Wi-Fi + 3G) |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Microsoft | Apple |
| Release date | 10/26/2012 | 3/11/2011 |
| Depth | 9.4 millimeters (0.37 inches) | 8.8 millimeters (0.35 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 172 x 274.6 millimeters (6.77 x 10.81 in) | 185.7 x 241.2 millimeters (7.31 x 9.5 in) |
| Weight | 680 grams (23.8 ounces) | 613 grams (21.46 ounces) |
| Build, materials | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LCD | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 10.6" inches | 9.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~65.6% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~65.1% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 768x1366 pixels | 768x1024 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 148 PPI | 132 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | feature not registered |
| Display features | Not supported | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| System version | Windows RT 8.0 | iOS 4.0 |
| Firmware update | Windows RT 8.1 | iOS 9.0 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 3 (T30L) (40nm) | 32bit: Apple A5 APL0498 (45nm) |
| 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 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 (Dual-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP12 (416MHz) | PowerVR SGX543MP2 |
| Performance (benchmark) | Browsermark: 73180 (v1) | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| RAM memory | 2GB LPDDR2 | 512MB LPDDR2 |
| Internal storage | 64GB (45GB available) SSD | 16GB (12GB available) |
| External storage | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | Not supported | 1 slot (Single-SIM) micro-SIM (3FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | feature not registered | 14.4/2 Mbps |
| Network technology | feature not registered | 2G, 3G |
| 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 850/900/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA |
| 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 (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 1 megapixels | 0.7 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 1280x720 pixels | 960x720 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | HD (1280x720) 30 fps | HD (1280x720) 30 fps |
| 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 |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Not supported |
| Touch focus | Not supported | Not supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Not supported | Not supported |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Not supported |
| HDR | Not supported | Not supported |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 1 megapixels | 0.3 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 1280x720 pixels | 640x480 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | HD (1280x720) | VGA (640x480) |
| 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 (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | Not supported |
| 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, AAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| 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 | 2.1 + 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 |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Not supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) P21GK3 | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4120 mAh | 6930 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Not supported | feature not registered |
| Talk time autonomy | 8 hours | 9 hours |
| Standby | 360 hours (15 days) | 720 hours (30 days) |
➕ Other features | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| 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 |
| 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, White • Oleophobic coating • iCloud service |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (64GB) | iPad 2 (3G 16GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | 1.19W/kg (body) |