Tablet Comparison
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 vs Apple iPad Air Comparison
A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tablet.
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Verdict
Pros & cons
Surface Pro 8
iPad Air
+
What's good
+
Fast performance
+
High-quality design
+
MIMO support
+
Beautiful display
+
Plenty of model options
−
What's not
−
Price
−
Lack of Touch ID
−
Mediocre camera
Surface Pro 8
iPad Air
+
Good
+
Fast performance
+
High-quality design
+
MIMO support
+
Beautiful display
+
Plenty of model options
−
Not
−
Price
−
Lack of Touch ID
−
Mediocre camera
Spec data
How they compare
Surface Pro 8
iPad Air
Price (MSRP)
$1,099
—
OS
Windows
iOS
Processor
Intel Core i5-1135G7 Quad-core
Apple A7 Dual core
Camera zoom
—
—
Battery life
—
—
Wired charging
—
—
Wireless charging
—
—
Display
Color
Color
Software support
—
—
Repairability
—
—
Weight
889g (31.4 oz)
478g (16.9 oz)
Fingerprint
No
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
Spec data
How they compare
Surface Pro 8
iPad Air
Price (MSRP)
$1,099
Price (MSRP)
—
OS
Windows
OS
iOS
Processor
Intel Core i5-1135G7 Quad-core
Processor
Apple A7 Dual core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
—
Battery life
—
Battery life
—
Wired charging
—
Wired charging
—
Wireless charging
—
Wireless charging
—
Display
Color
Display
Color
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
—
Repairability
—
Weight
889g (31.4 oz)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
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Physical comparison
Size & weight
Footprint · to scale
Surface Pro 8
11.3" × 8.2"
iPad Air
9.4" × 6.6"
Thickness · to scale
Surface Pro 8
0.4"
iPad Air
0.3"
Surface Pro 8
iPad Air
Height
11.3" (287 mm)
9.4" (239 mm)
Width
8.2" (208 mm)
6.6" (168 mm)
Depth
0.4" (9.3 mm)
0.3" (7 mm)
Weight
889g (31.4 oz)
478g (16.9 oz)
Screen
13"
9.7"
Height
11.3" (287 mm)
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
Width
8.2" (208 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
Depth
0.4" (9.3 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
Weight
889g (31.4 oz)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Screen
13"
Screen
9.7"
Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.
Common questions
Surface Pro 8 vs iPad Air: FAQ
Which is better, the Surface Pro 8 or iPad Air?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPad Air earns a Compass Score of 9.0 compared to 8.4 for the Surface Pro 8. That 0.6-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.
Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →