Handy tablets with capabilities similar to laptops and personal computers have become a hit in the tech market this year. Apple's upcoming iPad Pro 2017 is hoping to give tablet fans what rival Microsoft cannot offer in its Surface Pro 5. Tech enthusiasts are curious on how the next instalment will outwit the Surface Pro device which is expected to come out before the year ends. Here are how the two are expected to compete:
Display
The Apple tablet is reported to come with a 12.9-inch display while another variant will have a 9.7-inch screen. On the other hand, the Surface Pro 5 is also expected to have a bigger screen than the earlier released Surface Pro 4 which had a 12.3-inch display. Microsoft's next tablet may also offer a sharper screen than the previous installment.
Features
Aside from its bigger display, the iPad Pro 2017 is also thought to have a quad microphone and quad speaker for better call and music experience. It is rumored to have a 12MP main camera and a smart keyboard. For the Surface Pro, the stylus is projected to have a notable upgrade in terms of design. The pen's replaceable batteries could already be built-in and rechargeable. It is still unsure, however, if the processor of the Microsoft tablet will be Skylake or Kaby Lake.
Price and release date
The iPad Pro 2 is estimated to start selling at $800 for the 32GB variant with the price expected to soar to $1,100 for the 256GB memory. Meanwhile, the Surface Pro 5 could be pegged at around $900.
Based from previous release dates, the iPad Pro 2 could come out in March 2017, the same month of earlier iPad Pro installments. The Surface Pro 5 has long been rumored to be released this month but there are also reports indicating that its release could be pushed back to next year.