Surface Pro 3 vs MacBook Air
Though both differ very much in the design concept, the interest to know the difference between Surface Pro 3 and MacBook Air surfaces due to the fact that both have the processor and RAM in the comparable range. Surface Pro 3 is a tablet computer designed by Microsoft, that can be used as a laptop when the detachable keyboard is connected. It is a touchscreen device, which is very small and lighter that runs Windows 8.1 as the operating system. MacBook Air is an ultraportable laptop designed by Apple that runs OS X Yosemite as the operating system. Its keyboard is built-in and it does not have a touch screen. The thickness and the weight of the MacBook Air are higher than the Surface Pro 3, but it has an edition with a large screen of 13 inches apart from the 11 inch edition. The screen size of Surface Pro 3 is in-between; it is 12 inches, but a major difference is in the aspect ratio. The native resolution of Surface Pro is 3:2 while it is 16:9 on MacBook Air.
Surface Pro 3 Review – Features of Surface Pro 3
Surface Pro 3 is a surface series tablet by Microsoft which they released this year in June 2014. This device is known as a laplet rather than a tablet because it is a combination of a laptop and a tablet. The device has a detachable keyboard where without the keyboard it is like a tablet that works on touch but when the keyboard is fixed , with the massive specification the device has it is powerful as a laptop. It has dimensions of 11.5″ x 7.93″ x 0.36″ with a screen size of 12″. The weight of the device is just 1.76 lbs. The screen supports multi-touch with a resolution of 2160 x 1440, which is of 3:2 aspect ratio. The processor on the device is a powerful Intel 4th Generation Core processor where the customer has the choice to select i3, i5 or i7 when buying. The RAM capacity also can be selected from 4GB or 8GB and the storage capacity also is to be selected from 64, 128, 256 or 512 GB. The battery would last for 9 hours of web browsing. Wireless connectivity technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are available and sensors such as Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope and Magnetometer are built in. There are two cameras one at the back and one at the front, each of which are 5 megapixels. A microphone and stereo speakers are built in. The interfaces available are full-sized USB 3.0, microSD card reader, Headset jack and Mini DisplayPort. The operating system running on the device is Windows 8.1 pro and hence any familiar windows application can be installed and used just like on your Windows PC.
MacBook Air Review – Features of MacBook Air
MacBook Air is an ultraportable laptop computer released by Apple where the latest release was done in April 2014. The device is not a laplet like Surface Pro where the keyboard can be detached, but a traditional laptop with a fixed keyboard. There are currently four models in the series that the prices range is from $899 to $1199. There are two available screen sizes; 11.6 inch and 13.3 inch whose native resolutions are 1366 x 768 and 1440 x 900 respectively. The display is not a touchscreen like in Surface Pro. Storage size can be selected from 128GB and 256GB while, if preferred, it can be configured to have 512GB storage as well. The processor is a 4th generation Intel i5 processor and the RAM capacity is 4GB or 8GB. The battery in the 11 inch edition can sustain only 9 hours of web browsing, but the 13 inch edition can sustain up to 12 hours. The device consists of one 720p camera and features such as dual microphone and stereo speakers are built-in. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity technologies are available and two USB 3.0 ports are available. Apart from that, a thunderbolt port and a MiniDisplay Port are available. The 13 inch edition has an SDXC card slot. The 11 inch edition has dimensions of 11.8” x 7.56” x 0.68” and the weight is 2.38 lbs. The 13 inch edition is bit bigger and heavier with dimensions of 12.8” x 8.94” x 0.68” with a weight of 2.96 lbs. The operating system is the latest version of Apple OS X, which is Yosemite.
What is the difference between Surface Pro 3 and MacBook Air?
• Surface Pro 3 is designed by Microsoft while Apple designs MacBook Air.
• Surface Pro 3 is a laplet where it is a tablet that can be converted to a laptop by fixing a detachable keyboard. MacBook Air is a traditional laptop, which is very portable.
• Surface Pro 3 has a touchscreen while MacBook Air does not have a touch screen. On the other hand, Surface Pro 3 does not have a touchpad, but MacBook Air has.
• Surface Pro 3 does not have a native keyboard where, if preferred, a detachable keyboard must be separately purchased and fixed. However, MacBook Air has a fixed keyboard.
• The size of Surface Pro 3 is 11.5” x 7.93” x 0.36” while there are two sizes in MacBook Air where they are 11.8” x 7.56” x 0.68” and 12.8” x 8.94” x 0.68”. Surface Pro 3 is much slim because there is no keyboard.
• The weight of Surface Pro 3 is 1.76 lbs. The 11 inch edition of MacBook Air is 2.38 lbs and the 13 inch edition is 2.96 lbs.
• The screen size of Surface Pro 3 is 12” and MacBook Air has two versions of screen sizes 11.6” and 13.3”.
• The native resolution of Surface Pro 3 is 2160 x 1440. The native resolutions of 11” and 13” versions of MacBook Air are respectively 1366 x 768 and 1440 x 900. The aspect ratio of Surface Pro 3 is 3:2 while the native resolutions of MacBook Air are 16:9.
• The storage capacity of Surface Pro 3 can be selected from 64,128, 256 or 512 GB. A 64 GB storage capacity edition does not exist for MacBook Air and only 128GB and 256GB is available and, if preferred, it can be configured up to 512 GB as well.
• The processor of Surface Pro 3 can be selected from i3, i5 or i7, but MacBook Air only has i5 as the processor.
• Surface Pro 3 has two 5MP cameras one at front and one at rear. However, the MacBook Air only has one 720p camera.
• The operating system running on Surface Pro 3 is Windows 8.1. On MacBook Air, the operating system is OS X Yosemite.
• The MacBook Air has a Thunderbolt port, but this is not found in Surface Pro 3.
• Surface Pro 3 has only 1 USB port, but MacBook Air has 2 USB ports.
• Surface Pro 3 can be used with a surface Pen, if needed, but this capability is not for MacBook Air.
• Surface Pro 3 has additional sensors such as Accelerometer, Gyroscope and Magnetometer, which are not included in MacBook Air.
Summary:
Surface Pro 3 vs MacBook Air
The major difference is that Surface Pro 3 is a laplet where it is a tablet that can be made into a laptop by fixing a detachable keyboard while MacBook Air is a traditional laptop with a fixed keyboard. Surface Pro 3 is having a smaller size and weight when compared to MacBook Air and hence it is more portable. Another major difference is in the operating system where Surface Pro 3 designed by Microsoft runs Windows 8.1 and MacBook Air designed by Apple runs OS X Yosemite. The processor in Surface Pro has a choice to be selected from i3, i5 and i7, but MacBook Air is constrained to i5.
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