Microsoft Surface Pro 9 vs. Apple iPad Pro: High-End Tablets Face Off

pcmag.com:

Microsoft's rolling out updates to the entire Surface family of tablets, laptops, and even desktops, headlined by the newly updated Surface Pro 9. The latest version of the iconic Surface tablet PC is getting an expectedly great upgrade, with Intel 12th Gen processors and a new 5G variant that is powered by the updated Microsoft SQ3 ARM processor, a Microsoft exclusive made by Qualcomm. (See our hands-on with the Surface Pro 9.)

For years, Surface has been the undeniable leader in tablet PCs running Windows, and it's shaping up to continue the trend in 2022. But what about that other iconic, powerful tablet, the Apple iPad? The amped-up iPad Pro, in particular, is vying to replace your mobile computer with its powerful, laptop-grade processing and support for laptop-emulating accessories.

So, which is better for you? To help you make the choice, we've compared the new Microsoft Surface Pro 9 to the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro on both specs and value.

The new Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is available starting at $999, and will be available for pre-order this month. This model comes equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD for storage.

A second configuration sells for $1,899, which gets you a more powerful Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. The top configuration of the Intel-based Surface Pro 9 is outfitted with that same Core i7 processor, but pairs it with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, selling for $2,599.

However, there is also a second variation of the Surface Pro 9 tablet, which comes outfitted with 5G mobile broadband and an Arm-based Microsoft SQ3 processor, the product of a close collaboration between Microsoft and chipmaker Qualcomm. The Surface Pro 9 (5G) starts at