Tablet Comparison
Apple iPad Air vs Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Comparison
A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tablet.
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Verdict
Pros & cons
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
Surface Pro 8
Spec data
How they compare
iPad Air
Surface Pro 8
Price (MSRP)
—
$1,099
OS
iOS
Windows
Processor
Apple A7 Dual core
Intel Core i5-1135G7 Quad-core
Camera zoom
—
—
Battery life
—
—
Wired charging
—
—
Wireless charging
—
—
Display
Color
Color
Software support
—
—
Repairability
—
—
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
889g (31.4 oz)
Fingerprint
No
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
Spec data
How they compare
iPad Air
Surface Pro 8
Price (MSRP)
—
Price (MSRP)
$1,099
OS
iOS
OS
Windows
Processor
Apple A7 Dual core
Processor
Intel Core i5-1135G7 Quad-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
478g (16.9 oz)
Weight
889g (31.4 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
iPad Air
9.4" × 6.6"
Surface Pro 8
11.3" × 8.2"
Thickness · to scale
iPad Air
0.3"
Surface Pro 8
0.4"
iPad Air
Surface Pro 8
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
11.3" (287 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
8.2" (208 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
0.4" (9.3 mm)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
889g (31.4 oz)
Screen
9.7"
13"
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
Height
11.3" (287 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
Width
8.2" (208 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
Depth
0.4" (9.3 mm)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Weight
889g (31.4 oz)
Screen
9.7"
Screen
13"
Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.
Common questions
iPad Air vs Surface Pro 8: FAQ
Which is better, the iPad Air or Surface Pro 8?
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 →