Microsoft Pits Surface Pro 7 Against iPad Pro, Says Surface is 'Still the Better Choice'

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Microsoft today shared an ad that pits the Surface Pro 7 against Apple's iPad Pro, in a continuation of a Surface Pro 7 vs. MacBook ad campaign that kicked off in January.


The ad highlights the Surface Pro 7's kickstand, pointing out that the iPad does not have a built-in kickstand option, and it calls the ‌iPad Pro‌'s keyboard "a lot heavier" than the Surface option.

Microsoft also goes for the dongle angle, pointing out that the ‌iPad Pro‌ only has a single USB-C port while the Surface Pro 7 has several available ports. "You wanna be this guy?" says the actor in the ad, while holding up an ‌iPad‌ with a dongle attached.

"‌iPad Pro‌'s just a tablet," adds the actor. "Surface is a whole computer and a tablet." The ad ends by pointing out the price with the ‌iPad Pro‌ Smart Keyboard, which comes to $1,348 for the 12.9-inch model ($999 + $349 for the keyboard). Microsoft's Surface Pro 7 is priced starting at $750, and Microsoft says the version used in the ad is $880, which includes the cost of the keyboard.

Microsoft's previous Surface Pro 7 ad compared the tablet to the MacBook Pro, pointing out its touchscreen vs. the Touch Bar and calling the Surface Pro a "much better gaming device" than the MacBook Pro.

Microsoft often likes to position its Surface line as a tablet/computer experience that Apple is unable to compete with because it has no convertible devices. Intel too has been claiming that touchscreen-based convertible computers are better than Apple's M1 Macs in its ongoing anti-Mac ad campaign.

Apple executives have long said that they have no plans to combine the Mac and ‌iPad‌ lineups, and Apple engineering chief Craig Federighi said in November that Apple does not have plans for a touchscreen Mac.

Tag: Microsoft

Top Rated Comments

QCassidy352 Avatar
QCassidy352
24 weeks ago
I’m sure this will be an unpopular opinion here, but yes I would choose the surface pro IF I were looking for a single device solution. iPad is a better tablet by far, but even now, it’s a poor substitute for a computer with a desktop OS.
Score: 83 Votes (Like | Disagree)
swm Avatar
swm
24 weeks ago
better choice for gaming. sure. it still has solitaire preinstalled.
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
nutmac
24 weeks ago

I’m sure this will be an unpopular opinion here, but yes I would choose the surface pro IF I were looking for a single device solution. iPad is a better tablet by far, but even now, it’s a poor substitute for a computer with a desktop OS.
You are absolutely correct. And to Microsoft's credit, their Surface ads are fact-based.

At the same time, Microsoft cherry picks its strength. That is, Surface Pro is neither a great notebook nor great tablet. iPad has far more compelling selection of apps and superior industrial design, and iPadOS offers superior tablet experience.

I would much rather carry entry level iPad ($329) and entry level MacBook Air ($999) than 2-in-1 Jack-of-all-trade-master-of-none device like Surface Pro 7.
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nvmls Avatar
nvmls
24 weeks ago
"Surface Pro carries Windows"

Comparison over.

PS: ..and Intel.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
jz0309
24 weeks ago
What else are they supposed to do? Endorse the iPad and Mac?????
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
apparatchik Avatar
apparatchik
24 weeks ago
That Surface is running an Intel i3 processor, has a fan, and its thicker, bulkier & heavier, almost a no go as a tablet (and let's not talk about tablet optimized apps in Windows), and at the same time is very slow as a laptop. The 2 in 1 Intel devices have always being a compromise, as they're usually inferior as both a tablet & a traditional laptop.

The iPad Pro is no laptop, but you get the best tablet experience available, best performance, battery life, app support, etc.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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