Microsoft is pretty confident with the Surface Pro 3, having directly compared it with Apple's MacBook Air in a few of its ads. It clearly emphasizes that it's "the tablet that can replace your laptop", having shown what the hybrid can do what the Mac can't.
The company, of course, highlights the fact that the Surface is a tablet, thus it has a touchscreen, and it can be carried around and used just about anywhere. The Mac, on the other hand, has to be placed on a desk or on, well, a surface. It also stresses the Surface Pen, which allows users to easily jot down notes, highlight text, edit photos, and more. Furthermore, since the device is equipped with a full Windows 8.1 Pro OS, users can install the Microsoft Office Suite, as well as numerous productivity and entertainment apps.
Comparing what's under the hood, the Surface Pro 3 runs on an Intel Core processor (i3, i5, i7),while the MacBook Air is powered by an Intel Core i5 but can also be configured to i7.
The Surface has a 64GB or 128GB storage with 4GB RAM or 256GB or 512GB storage with 8GB RAM. The MacBook Air, on the other hand, has a 128 or 256GB storage which can be configured to a 512GB flash storage, and 4GB RAM that can be upgraded to 8GB.
Microsoft's device boasts two 5-megapixel cameras (front and rear), plus a full-size USB 3.0, microSD card reader, mini DisplayPort, and cover port for its optional keyboard. Apple's device has a 720p FaceTime HD camera, plus two USB 3.0 ports, one Thunderbolt port, and one MagSafe 2 power port.
Furthermore, the Surface Pro 3's 12-inch screen has a resolution of 2160 x 1440, while the 11.6-inch MacBook Air has a native resolution of 1366 x 768 and the 13.3-inch model has a native resolution of 1440 x 900.
For now, Microsoft seems to be ahead of Apple, but it has been speculated that Apple will be releasing a 12.9-inch tablet. It remains to be seen whether the rumored Apple tablet will likewise serve as a laptop replacement.
