The Surface Go 2 has an advantage here: It has a nifty integrated kickstand on the back that pops out for perking up the tablet on a flat surface.This kickstand is not only versatile—it works just as well propped up on your thighs as on a side table or desk—but it also adds only negligible weight and bulk. Surface Go 2 vs. iPad: Software. The Surface Go 2 review unit we tested also packs adequate horsepower, but it’s equipped with the more capable Core m3 and 8GB of memory. Both tablets can also be configured with optional LTE modems for an additional charge. The rear camera will also have a new Camera app that makes scanning documents and whiteboards a simpler process.The Surface Go 2 features a 5MP front camera capable of producing sharp images even in low light. The Surface Go 2, on the other hand, has received a 64% performance boost from its predecessor thanks to new 8th Generation Intel Core M options – though you may have to pay out for this chipset.Both tablets are compatible with Wi-Fi and LTE, and the iPad Air works with Bluetooth 5.0. Mobile productivity in tablet form is more competitive than ever, thanks to the latest slates from Microsoft and Apple. The kickstand-less iPad weighs 1.07 pounds and is 0.29 inch thick, compared with 1.2 pounds and 0.33 inch for the Surface Go 2.Even though you don’t need to buy a separate stand for your Surface Go 2, both it and the iPad can achieve their full potential only when combined with cases and accessories, many of which are pricey. The Go 2 has a rear-mounted 8-megapixel autofocus camera that shoots 1080p video, while the iPad has an 8-megapixel rear camera with an f/2.4 aperture that also supports 1080p video recording at 30fps. While Windows 10 is a more capable operating system than iPadOS, the Surface Go 2 is limited out of the gate as … Meanwhile, the Surface Go 2 offers several different memory and CPU options. They’re compact tablet PCs that—thanks to recent updates—come as close as tablets have ever come to credibly replicating the functions of a full-fledged While both tablets are available in expensive “Pro” versions aimed at digital artists and others with complex computing needs, the base-level Tablets are ideal tools for tasks like browsing the latest online-store blowout sale on your couch. In several key areas, it also has a leg up on its chief competitor, the iPad. Microsoft claims the new Surface tablet has undergone some improvements in this area so we would expect the battery life to either match or surpass the up to 10 hours available on the iPad Air.The iPad Air features an 8MP ƒ/2.4 rear camera with 1080p HD video and slo-mo and a 7MP ƒ/2.2 front camera for Facetime. The Surface Go 2 is positioned to compete against Apples 10.2” iPad (starting at $329) and Apples 10.5” iPad Air (starting at $499). He previously covered the consumer tech beat as a news reporter for PCMag in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, where he rode in several self-driving cars and witnessed the rise and fall of many startups. Also, the Surface Go 2's 1.2-megapixel, 1080p shooter is a vast improvement over most laptop webcams, which typically employ low-quality cameras with 720p resolution that deliver grainy video quality even when the room is brightly lit.The iPad’s front-facing camera is, alas, similar to these lower-resolution cameras, coming in at 1.2-megapixels with 720p video.
You can order Surface Type Covers and Surface Sleeves in multiple different colors, including Platinum, Black, Poppy Red, and Ice Blue, but the tablet itself is available only in a silver magnesium finish. In his spare time, he's written on topics as diverse as Borneo's rain forests, Middle Eastern airlines, and big data's role in presidential elections. The Surface Go 2 is an eminently satisfying tablet. The Microsoft 2-in-1 looks to have been designed with video chats in mind, with the addition of dual-microphone solution Studio Mics to improve clarity and minimise background noise in calls.Both tablets can effectively be turned into laptops with the addition of a detachable keyboard – at an additional cost to you, of course.Apple charges £159 for its Smart Keyboard, a lightweight keyboard and stand that folds into a cover when not in use. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.As a hardware analyst, Tom tests and reviews laptops, peripherals, and much more at PC Labs in New York City. In general, we found the iPad to offer smooth computing performance, even when faced with challenging tasks like opening a dozen windows using App Exposé and Slide Over. The Surface Go’s PixelSense screen has a 3:2 aspect ratio and a 1800 x 1200 resolution, while the iPad Air’s True Tone display boasts a more impressive 2224 x 1668 resolution.The iPad Air is powered by Apple’s A12 Bionic SoC – the same chip used in the iPhone XS, iPhone XR and the iPad Mini, and a step down from the A12Z Bionic found in the most recent iPad Pro. Both of the tablets can be upgraded to 128GB of storage space, which we highly recommend if you plan on installing lots of apps and storing local copies of your photos and videos for offline viewing. You can choose from either 4GB or 8GB of memory and an Intel Pentium or Core m3 processor. Tell us what you think – The original Surface Go came with Windows Hello face authentication, so we assume this will also be present in the Surface Go 2.The Surface Go also had a battery life of up to 9 hours playing video on Wi-Fi and up to 8.5 hours on 4G. The version we reviewed, with optional LTE, costs $729.99. Type Covers are priced at £124.99 each.Unlike other sites, we thoroughly review everything we recommend, using industry standard tests to evaluate products. iPadOS now has rudimentary cursor support when The Surface Go 2’s 10.5-inch PixelSense screen is just 0.3 inch larger than the iPad’s Retina Display, so both offer essentially the same amount of viewable real estate when measured diagonally.