Microsoft yesterday took the wraps off the next generation Surface Pro, the tablet that can replace your laptop. The Surface Pro 4 is thinner, lighter and faster than its predecessor, the Surface Pro 3, and boasts a larger screen, is powered by sixth-generation (Skylake) Intel processors and has up to 1 terabyte of storage space.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 mainly faced competition from Apple’s MacBook Air in the lightweight, ultra-portable laptop space but, thanks to the arrival of new two-in-one tablets like the iPad Pro and Google’s Pixel C, the Surface Pro 4 has a few new competitors to contend with.

Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the biggest iPad to date and also the first to include an Apple-designed keyboard and stylus (Apple Pencil). Thanks to new multitasking features in iOS 9 and a number of third-party apps – including Microsoft’s Office Suite for iOS – adding functionality for the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro promises to be a versatile and productivity-focused tablet that could stand-in for your laptop.

Also joining the hybrid party is Google’s 10.2-inch Pixel C tablet running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with a cleverly designed optional full-size keyboard.

Before we take a look at what makes the Surface Pro 4 different from the iPad Pro and Pixel C, let’s see how they stack up in the technical specifications department.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 vs. Apple iPad Pro vs. Google Pixel C: Tech specs

Operating system

This is perhaps the single biggest differentiator between true two-in-one tablets and larger-screen tablets that also happen to come with a keyboard.

The Surface Pro 4 runs a full version of Windows 10 Pro and, as a result, is able to run any software program and perform any task users would expect from a traditional laptop or desktop experience. Add to that the additional functions and features made possible by the Surface Pen, and you have a productivity powerhouse.

The iPad Pro goes a long way to bridge the gap between tablet and laptop thanks to multitasking features in iOS 9 like Split View, Slide Over and Picture in Picture along with adding a slew of new applications and features for use with the Apple Pencil. The downside is that the iPad Pro cannot run the same range of software as a laptop and has to make do with app versions of popular productivity apps like Microsoft Office and others that often lack a full set of features.

Google’s Pixel C, albeit with some multitasking features in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, suffers the same shortcomings as the iPad Pro.

Storage and peripherals

The Surface Pro 4 is available with up to 1TB of storage while the iPad Pro is limited to 128GB and the Pixel C tops out at 64GB. Granted, 128GB is plenty, but with the Surface Pro 4 you are less likely to ever worry about running out of space.

As for connecting peripherals to your tablet, the Surface Pro 4 offers a full-size USB 3.0 port, microSD card reader, and a Mini DisplayPort, giving you ample room to connect a mouse, second display, or transfer files to and from your device.

The iPad Pro and Pixel C are limited to a Lightning connector and USB Type-C port respectively, significantly limiting the ability to connect most peripherals to your tablet.

The Surface Pro 4 is available for pre-order now and shipping starts October 26^th. The iPad Pro goes on sale sometime in November and the Pixel C should hit the market in time for Christmas shopping.

Image via Microsoft