iPad Air vs. Microsoft's Surface Go: Which Is a Better Laptop Replacement?

[sracer]

...yet.

it looks like the direction apple is headed in, however.
all that iPadOS needs is a Smart Keyboard that allows trackpad input.
maybe spring 2020?

Perhaps. Just as Files.app was far less than the universally-accessible file system people were hoping for, and USB-C support, I'll way until iPad OS is released to see just how far Apple has moved the ball down the field.

When I need to do laptop-y things, my iPads are the last that I choose. It's sad that I can do more advanced productivity tasks using a Fire HD 10 than I can with an iPad (Pro or non).

 

[derekamoss]

Apple's iPad Air, which was resurrected in March as essentially a tweaked version of the previous 10.5-inch iPad Pro, offers a significant amount of utility at a solid $499 price point, but how does it compare to other competitors in the market?

In his latest video, MacRumors videographer Dan compared the iPad Air to Microsoft's Surface Go to determine which one he liked better for on-the-go computing.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

For this comparison, Dan decided to focus on using the iPad Air and the Surface Go as somewhat of a laptop replacement. The iPad Air starts at $499 while the Surface Go comes in at a $399 base price, but in an effort to look at these as potential laptop replacements Dan opted to consider the devices equipped with first-party keyboard accessories, which pushes the iPad Air up to $659 and the Surface Go to $529.

In his video, Dan shares his impressions on the design and features of each, including important productivity accessories like respective keyboards and styluses.

As potential laptop replacements, performance is really where the rubber meets the road, and Dan came away somewhat unimpressed with the Surface Go. He wanted to like its relatively full-fledged Windows 10 operating system, and it was fine for basic tasks like emails, web browsing, and document writing, but he found things bogging down a bit when trying to multitask.

With the iPad Air, you don't really get a desktop-class operating system, at least for now, but it generally works very well when you need to multitask, switching easily among Safari, Messages, Notes, Mail, iWork and more with no performance issues. And with iPadOS 13 coming later this year, the iPad will become even more powerful.

So where do we come down on the iPad Air versus the Surface Go? It's a challenging comparison considering they have some significant spec differences and everyone's use case is different. Overall, Dan found the iPad Air to offer a more enjoyable user experience, although it's not quite a laptop replacement. But neither is the Surface Go in his experience, and he wonders whether it isn't better to just point someone toward a Chromebook or more traditional Windows notebook if they're looking for a cheap laptop experience.

Article Link: iPad Air vs. Microsoft's Surface Go: Which Is a Better Laptop Replacement?

Could u put a link to the surface device thread in the Mac alternatives forum as well for the article. It would be helpful for answering some questions!

 

[lionsy]

The surface line in general deserved/deserves so much more. the iPad is and always has been a fantastic tablet, and definitely the tablet, it's still star trek levels of awe for me.

I have a Surface 3 pro, and it truly is the best of both worlds, it is one of the best consumer devices ever made. The price point is always what dragged it down, it is a pro device, it was never going to catch on to the general market.

Microsoft were stupid to try and take on the iPad with the Go, it's a reletively tiny market and the iPad has cornered it, because it's the best, nobody is asking for full on windows on a tablet - they are asking for full on Windows on a pro device... and Microsoft already own that market.

Weird move by Microsoft.

 

[PurpleDragon]

Unfortunately I'm avoiding Google and Google based stuff like it's a plague, but the guys at Apple must take a look at your app and learn how to make the iPadOS a little more powerful because even with the 13 update (I'm using it now), still lacks a lot of options in file management.

Pretty cool. How much time did it take to write this app?

It was just me working on a project and it took 6 months of work. Also, it took me another 6 months to completely re-create this app in Android after Apple rejection. Android version is available on Google Play (Android tablet is needed to install it):

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.toplinesoft.wincommander.one


Here is video a presentation of Android version (some gestures were changed to get rid of Apple-patented designs):

So totally took me 1 year for iOS+Android versions. These are just my side-projects. I am trying to follow the Best: Bill Gates created Windows for PC, I created Windows for iOS and then for Android

 

[ZipZap]

I had a chance to see the new Microsoft Surface tablets (not the laptop) and I think they are damn good laptops. I was thinking of ditching the MacBook Air and getting the 15".

It Beats the iPad and the Macbook. Tick Tock Apple.

To be clear, I am impressed by the new and current surface machines. If you are using an older one as the basis of your opinion.....you are wrong.

 

[rp2011]

Windows is such a large operating system that you need a good spec’ed system or else it really bogs down.
Ive wanted to like a chrome book but it bogs down as well with low specs.
Ultimately, as everyone has been saying, if you want a full laptop experience, get a laptop.
For basic computing an iPad plows through effortlessly.

 

[Dave-Z]

I was thinking of ditching the MacBook Air and getting the 15".

The current line up is nice. But if you really are planning to make a purchase, wait until Fall, if possible, as MS is rumoured to be releasing new models then.

 

[MauiPa]

The fact that the Surface can DFU restore a bricked iPad and not vice versa makes the iPad the lesser device. iPad is a blown up iPod with the same limitations while the Surface Go is a shrunken laptop but with the same versatility. Neither would be my first choice but if I was forced to choose one I'd take versatility over blown up limitations. What's holding back the Surface Go though is choice of crappy Intel CPU with weak iGPU. Would like to see AMD APU in the 2nd gen Surface Go.

LOL. when was the last time an iPad bricked? not in my experience, last bricked iOS device was an iPhone 4
[doublepost=1562976818][/doublepost]

I wouldn’t use either one. But of the two choices the surface go wins easily as a laptop replacement. It’s not even close.

Have you tried using it? the iPad single core score easily beats the multi-core on the Go, and it has a better operating system for small devices. The Go might be better if it wasn't so damn slow!
[doublepost=1562976950][/doublepost]

I have both (Surface Pro 3 and 2017 iPad Pro). If I was in a desperate situation and productivity mattered, it would be Surface Go. Love watching videos, looking at photos and listening music on my iPad Pro though. You can do some basic productivity like email and even word processing. But when you are working on content between multiple apps it’s inconvenient. I remember one day I carried my iPad Pro to the bank thinking with split view I would be able to get work done.

It was a disaster, copying and pasting content, moving between apps, getting files off Dropbox was frustrating. The web browser interface was cramped and it was just so difficult to do more than one thing.

Surface go, if productivity matters? Dude that makes no sense, the Go doesn't even have a grown up CPU
[doublepost=1562977063][/doublepost]

iPad = 98% consumption device for 98% of iPad users. The GO is a joke with its weak CPU. The best laptop replacement is a laptop.

Until the iPad has real mouse support (trackpad or mouse) I will not consider it at all as a replacement.

I have used a 12.9 inch iPad Pro, with Jump Destop, and a Citrix X1 BT mouse to RDP into a Windows computer at work. It works just like a laptop and was a fantastic experience since the iPad is lighter, thinner and has a better battery life than most laptops out there. Too bad the mouse does not work with the iPad in any other way.

So WP, spreadsheets, email, photo editing, video creation, PDF editing, is consumption? Gee, I didn't know that. Your argument on mouse/trackpad is valid though

 

[rp2011]

LOL. when was the last time an iPad bricked? not in my experience, last bricked iOS device was an iPhone 4
[doublepost=1562976818][/doublepost]

Have you tried using it? the iPad single core score easily beats the multi-core on the Go, and it has a better operating system for small devices. The Go might be better if it wasn't so damn slow!
[doublepost=1562976950][/doublepost]

Surface go, if productivity matters? Dude that makes no sense, the Go doesn't even have a grown up CPU

Exactly. Never. Everything an iPad can do, it can it effortlessly without a problem. Windows needs a a powerful intel chip do run the basics without bogging down.

 

[insoft.uk]

What idiot charges the Apple Pencil stuck into the iPad Air like that, I prefer the cable like you do to charge the iPad Pro, iPhone,

 

[Dave-Z]

Windows is such a large operating system that you need a good spec’ed system or else it really bogs down.

Yes it's a large OS, but even cheap CPUs are plenty fast today.
[doublepost=1562977678][/doublepost]

Have you tried using it? the iPad single core score easily beats the multi-core on the Go, and it has a better operating system for small devices. The Go might be better if it wasn't so damn slow!

[...]

Surface go, if productivity matters? Dude that makes no sense, the Go doesn't even have a grown up CPU

This is one of those cases when benchmarks simply don't match real world performance. On paper the iPad CPU easily trumps the Go, in practical use (web browsing, email, word processing, videos, spreadsheets, coding, etc., etc.) it doesn't make any difference. I'm coming from a 2nd gen. 12.9" iPad and web browsing is better on the Go because it's just a fast and is a desktop web browser.

 

[Lalatoon]

This is no contest for me.

Surface Go is running a full desktop OS while iPad will be running mobile OS.

When talking about laptops aside from hardware the most important thing to consider is OS. While iOS is a good mobile OS but it cant match Windows 10.

I don't even think its right to compare iPad against Surface Go. Maybe iPad and Android Tablets is a good comparison.

So for me, Surface Go wins and its no contest.

 

[tobybrut]

I don't have a Surface Go, but I do have a Surface Pro 6. It's terrible as both a laptop and a tablet. Windows is simply painful to use as a tablet, so I never bother anymore. As a laptop, it is very mediocre. In order to double as a tablet, Microsoft compromised on poor CPU, memory, storage, and so on. I've always been opposed to hybrids. When you try to do both, you do both poorly.

This is why I oppose foldable phones that try to double as a tablet just like I oppose tablets that double as laptops. I don't mind foldables if the attempt is to simply make storage or portability easier, so a foldable iPad would be fine. It's still trying only to be a tablet and not anything else. But compromise a phone by turning it into a tablet and you get the joke that is the Samsung Fold. Apple doesn't want the iPad to be a laptop replacement, as too many people think that was the case when Apple asked the question, "What is a computer?" Apple wants people to use what they think works best for them, regardless of whether it's a tablet, laptop, or desktop or some combination of all three. They never said a tablet should replace a laptop.

 

[BFskinnerPunk]

I have an iPad Pro 9.7 and a Surface Go. The only reason I like the iPad is that I can use Notability on it.
For my usage (Office Apps), I notice zero lag on the Surface Go. I've had it for a year and it has not crashed...ever.
I'm wishing that Notability ports their app for Android or Microsoft..... otherwise, I'm hoping that the iPad OS can be just a bit more like a real computer ... I understand it is getting close!

 

[Awesom-0]

So you are a very light windows user

I have not had a problem since windows Xp. You act like everyone is incapable of thinking and need Apple to do it for you.

I have not even needed to buy anti-virus since Windows 7 came out. The built in windows defender is just fine. Which is also what I used on my mbp when I had it.

 

[Abazigal]

I was having a meeting yesterday with a few of my colleagues to plan an upcoming event. And it’s times like this when I really appreciate and love my iPad.

I connected my Apple TV to the TV and then mirrored my iPad Pro to the TV we were using as a display. As the meeting went on, I made notes using notability and bear, while referencing files stored in Dropbox.

All this while, my iPad had more than enough battery life to last through the meeting, and this was after a day of teaching.

It’s all simple stuff, and the iPad made these tasks an absolute dream to perform. I wasn’t tethered to a cable, the Apple Pencil offers a great writing experience, and I appreciate the simplicity and fluidity that lighter (read: less bloated) mobile apps offer.

I think what some critics fixate on is what each device can do on paper, and not enough on how well it performs those tasks. Yeah, so I can’t use my iPad to code or restore an iOS device or a dozen other niche tasks, and none of those limitations really apply to me. I could probably do the same things on a windows laptop or tablet, but I doubt the experience would be anywhere near as sublime.

My iPad has largely replaced my laptop, for the simple reason that I wasn’t really able to do the bulk of what I wanted / needed to do on a conventional laptop to begin with. To use an analogy, I was trying to drive in screws using a hammer in the past because the screwdriver hadn't been invented yet. The iPad is that screwdriver for me.

 

[Mainsail]

This comparison would have been more meaningful to me if he used an Air with the current beta version of iPadOS, since this will be a real improvement in multitasking, file connectivity, text manipulation, etc.. for the iPad.

Also, the context of the comparison is problematic. The iPad runs a tablet OS that is touch first and app centric. The Go uses a more traditional OS that is keyboard/trackpad first and windows centric. So, doing a comparison as a laptop replacement puts the iPad at a disadvantage for the start. When people buy an iPad they don’t just buy a laptop replacement. They also buy a great tablet that can perform many of the functions of a laptop. The iPad is a laptop alternative. By comparing it as a replacement you kind of disregard the awesome tablet benefits of the iPad. You don’t really account for the full experience of owning an iPad. I know the reviewer mentioned these benefits, but in the end, he was comparing purely as laptops replacements.

 

[BFskinnerPunk]

When carrying my tiny computer bag with the Go in there, I sometimes have to shake the bag and really check to make sure that I didn't forget the Surface. Amazing....to have a real PC that is so light and tiny while being totally usable.

 

[alien3dx]

When I’m thinking to buy iPad mini 5 or surface go which have the same price average.

1. Keyboard issue plague my head,3 broken keyboard windows laptop.My Samsung tab 7.0 to small to type upon tablet mode.

2. Durability.

3. Are future proof for presentation.As above mention, he using Apple TV to mirror or I need some chrome cast will do same as android. I have try playing with some gizmo cable with my Samsung tab and it not suitable at all.

4. Ram. Modern os need at least 16 gb for bullet prove so it is worth 4 gb memory soldered ?

5.File Navigation.Android and Windows have the best navigator compare to macOS and iOS.Apple really need to improve this part.The only part most newbies even me will question, Did I need iTunes to transfer file or I just use airdrop to exchange file between iMac and Mac mini or I still need to paid the iCloud thing.

For me ,you can not compare mobile os with full os.And I choose iPad mini 5 instead of surface go,iPad Air,IPad pro,iPad ,windows laptop for future travel purpose work.

 

[BigBoy2018]

I understand having the trackpad below the keyboard for a laptop, but why does MS insist of keeping that design for a tablet keyboard? It's not like there's any batteries taking up space in those areas around the trackpad. Makes no sense to me. Because of this, Apple's Smart Keyboard's low profile wins aesthetics hands down.

Yea, because who cares what it can do. We only care what it looks like.

 

[Shirasaki]

So you are a very light windows user

No. He is not a heavy user that is more likely to attract the dark side of windows. In other words, his use case suits windows better than yours.

 

[Icaras]

Yea, because who cares what it can do. We only care what it looks like.

So can you actually tell me what the design purposes of having material to the left and right of the touchpad when it doesn’t house battery in it? We’ve been getting along just fine for decades in desktop computing without any wrist rests extending out from the keyboard for the most part.

And that’s ok that you don’t care about design as much as other people might. But some people do. I wouldn’t criticize you for it. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Neepman]

Anyone that is spending more money for an ipad pro/keyboard combo than a you would macbook air is is well ....more than kind of just a fool.

 

[Shirasaki]

I don't have a Surface Go, but I do have a Surface Pro 6. It's terrible as both a laptop and a tablet. Windows is simply painful to use as a tablet, so I never bother anymore. As a laptop, it is very mediocre. In order to double as a tablet, Microsoft compromised on poor CPU, memory, storage, and so on. I've always been opposed to hybrids. When you try to do both, you do both poorly.

This is why I oppose foldable phones that try to double as a tablet just like I oppose tablets that double as laptops. I don't mind foldables if the attempt is to simply make storage or portability easier, so a foldable iPad would be fine. It's still trying only to be a tablet and not anything else. But compromise a phone by turning it into a tablet and you get the joke that is the Samsung Fold. Apple doesn't want the iPad to be a laptop replacement, as too many people think that was the case when Apple asked the question, "What is a computer?" Apple wants people to use what they think works best for them, regardless of whether it's a tablet, laptop, or desktop or some combination of all three. They never said a tablet should replace a laptop.

But if you look at those crazy increased demands from people asking more for less, you will see the trend. 99% of people won’t Share your idea of “one product does one thing and does that thing extremely well”. They would rather want their phone do everything, as a tablet (phablet), professional DSLR (camera), gaming console, computer replacement (android phone with ability to hook into external display) and so on.

 

[derekamoss]

iPad - better performance, better screen, better battery, better apps, better privacy, better security, better support. You could probably go on and on.

And less productivity features, like a full Desktop OS, real mouse and keyboard support, a real file manager, a Micro SD card slot, ability to hook up to any USB device, Mouse, keyboard, a kickstand, external HD, Thumb Drive, xBox or Playstation Controller, a USB Hub etc., full MS Office, ability to install ANY app even if it isn't from the store and the better support is up in the air, because I've gotten much better support with Microsoft then I ever had with Apple.