Apples iPad Pro and Microsofts Surface Pro 4 look a lot alike.

The Contenders

Every PC manufacturer has at least one 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrid in its lineup.

(The Surface Pros tagline is literally The tablet that can replace your laptop.

Apple CEO Tim Cookwonders why anyone would buy a PC anymorenow that the iPad Pro is out.)

Surface Pro 4(starting at $899):Microsofts fourth-generation Surface Pro was released in October 2015.

Specs-wise, theyre pretty close:

Specs dont tell the whole story, though.

So heres what its like using them.

The Surface Pro 4 also has a large display, but its more compact and doesnt look as ginormous.

Both tablets sharp, high-resolution displays are as good as the majority of laptops out there.

Aesthetically, I prefer the iPad Pro.

(And neither could anyone else I put through this test.)

A little background so you know where Im coming from: Im a bit obsessed with writing on screens.

Most gadgets Ive bought since then have had stylus support.

(Its how my mind works.

My current laptop is a Surface Book, a hardier version of the Surface Pro.

My phone is the pen-enabled Galaxy Note 5.

Im on my second iPad and have used a couple of styli with these tablets as well.

Apple could have at least incorporated a holder on the keyboard.

The Surface pen sports a user-replaceable AAAA battery.

This is just one feature to consider based on your charging needs and battery philosophy.

Design:Both the Pencil and the pen are comfortable to hold.

The Surface pen takes the pen/pencil analogy even further.

Thats a real timesaver, especially over pecking around for the eraser icon in whatever program youre using.

Performance:Perhaps the most important question is: How well does the stylus interact with the tablet?

In both cases, I was very pleased.

I found both tablets really responsive.

I also had more control with the Apple Pencil.

I preferred my handwriting on the iPad Pro with the Pencil to the Surface Pro 4 and the pen.

Theres a bit more friction with the Surface pen.

Neither is better than the other, I think, but it gives a slightly different stylus-to-screen feel.

It still feels like youre drawing on glass.

This ones a toss-up.

If youre a digital artist, youll likely prefer Pencil, but the Surface pen is also plenty capable.

Keyboard Cover

Neither tablet makes a good laptop replacement without a keyboard.

Ill cut to the chase here and just say that Apples Smart Keyboard is a disappointment.

The keys have a nice, slightly concave shape, which helps minimize mistakes.

Its fabric design resists spills.

Its relatively lightweight and works well to protect the screen.

The key in Covers keys are slightly larger than Apples Smart Keyboard.

I throw in about 70 words per minute (wpm) on my mechanical keyboard.

The winner is definitely the jot down Cover for this one; its most like a laptop keyboard.

Note, however, that neither tablets are easy to use in your lap with their keyboard covers.

Actually, I depend on several Chrome extensions and bookmarklets as shortcuts and other productivity tools while working.

I didnt have this problem on the Surface Pro 4 because it runs the full desktop version of Chrome.

Multitasking:The Surface Pro 4 is also better at multitasking.

you’re free to resize program windows in Windows any way you want.

That said, both screens are too small to have more than two windows open side-by-side.

Windows desktop is more versatile, though.

Also, for long hours at a keyboard, Ineeda mouse.

So I struggled with the trackpad- and mouse-less iPad Pro.

(You keyboard ninjas, however, might not mind.)

Even apps that are available on both platforms tend to be more robust on iOS.

On the other hand, the Surface Pro 4 runs full-fledged versions of Photoshop and other desktop apps.

Even with twice the RAM, some intensive apps (Age of Empires: Castle Siege?!)

Its optimized for entertainment and creative uses.

It doesnt work as well as the iPad Pro as a tablet, though.

(Or those who want to play as much as they work.)

The iPad Pro is the bettertablet.

The Surface Pro 4, however, is a betterlaptop, and a better value for most people.