For the longest time, the iPad was the indisputable king of tablets. And it still is. But now it’s got its first real competition in years thanks to Google’s upcoming release of the Pixel Slate. The Slate is Google’s newest member of the Pixel family and with it, Google hopes to tear market share away from the iPad.
But Apple isn’t sitting on its laurels. The company just released its new iPad Pro–the biggest redesign to the iPad ever. The Pro features an all-screen design, Face ID, and an INSANE amount of power. But just how does it compare to the Slate? Let’s find out.
iPad Pro (2018) vs. Google Pixel Slate: Specs
iPad Pro
- Display: 11in 2388×1668 pixel at 264 pixels per inch or 12.9in 2732x2048 pixel at 264 pixels per inch; True Tone display; Wide colour display
- Storage: 64, 256, 512GB or 1TB
- Processors: A12X Bionic with Neural Engine
- RAM: 4GB or 6GB
- Cameras: front 7MP 1080p HD camera and a rear 12MP, 4k HD camera with Quad-LED True Tone flash
- Size: 280.6 mm x 214.9 mm x 5.9 mm (12.9in) or 247.6 mm x 178.5 mm x 5.9 mm (11in)
- Weight: 631 grams (12.9in) or 468 grams (11in)
- Speakers: 4
- Other: Face ID, USB-C, Apple Pencil version 2 support, Smart Connector
- OS: iOS
Pixel Slate
- Display: 12.3in 3000x2000 (293 ppi) LCD display
- Storage: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB
- Processors: 8th Gen Intel Core m3, i5 or i7 processor, or Intel Celeron processor
- RAM: 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB
- Cameras: 8MP rear and front camera, 1080p video recording
- Size: 290.85 mm x 202.04 mm x 7.0 mm
- Weight: 731 grams
- Speakers: 2 front-firing speakers
- Other: Two USB-C, Pixel accessory connector, fingerprint sensor
- OS: Chrome OS
iPad Pro (2018) vs. Google Pixel Slate: Display & Design
First things, first. In this article, I’ll just refer to one iPad Pro. Apple makes two, a 12.9in and an 11in–but the only difference between them is screen size. The internals and everything else is the same. So just know that when it comes to specs, how the iPad Pro compares to the Slate is equal for both iPad Pro sizes.
So let's talk display. As stated, the iPad Pro comes in two sizes: 12.9in and 11in. The Slate comes in a single 12.3in size. It should be noted that though the Slate features a higher resolution and a higher pixel density (293ppi versus 264pp on the iPads), the iPad Pro’s display are arguably better due to their TrueTone technology, which allows the display to accurately adapt to the color temperature of the room as well as their wide colour display. The Slate’s display lacks these features and without a doubt, there is a noticeable difference between the two tablets.
Because of its all-screen design, the iPad Pro has slimmer bezels than the Pixel Slate–as a result, it just looks sexier.
The iPad also offers better storage options. It comes in 64GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB options. The Slate offers four options, but they are only 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB. But the Slate does offer more RAM. On the iPad Pro the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB models come with 4GB of RAM, with the 1TB model coming with 6GB. The Slate’s entry-level model comes with 4GB of RAM, but most of the models offer 8GB or 16GB of RAM.
But the most speed you’re going to see from these tablets is dependent on the chipset each has. The iPad Pro features the A12X Bionic with Neural engine. This is the fastest chip Apple has ever created and even though it’s technically a “mobile” ship, it smokes the CPUs found in most PC laptops.
And that’s what you are getting with the Pixel Slate: laptop CPUs. There are four options in total. The least powerful options, the Intel Celeron and Intel m3, get smoked by the A12X. But the A12X is bested by the Slate’s two higher-end options, the Intel i5, and i7 CPUs.
iPad Pro (2018) vs. Google Pixel Slate: Cameras
The Slate has a rear and front camera that each have an 8MP sensor. That’s 1MP better than the front camera found in the iPad Pro. However, it can’t compete with the iPad Pro’s rear camera, which is 12MP and shoots 4K video. The Slate’s rear camera only shoots 1080p video.
iPad Pro (2018) vs. Google Pixel Slate: Ports & Accessories
The 2018 iPad Pros are the first to ditch the Home/Touch ID button in favor of Face ID. That alone makes these iPads a superior product as the Slate still relies on the aging fingerprint reader for login security.
Both tablets also feature USB-C, however, the iPad Pro only offers one, while the Slate offers two. While you probably won’t need more than one, it’s nice that the Slate offers a second should you require it.
Both also feature their own proprietary connection technologies for keyboard cases. In the Slate’s case its the Pixel accessory connector and for the iPad Pro it’s the Smart Connector. Both tablets also support proprietary styluses, with the Slate supporting Pixelbook Pen and the iPad Pro supporting the new Apple Pencil 2.
However, the Apple Pencil 2 DESTROYS the Pixelbook Pen. It’s much more accurate, has conductive magnetic charging and pairing with the iPad Pro, and has a touch-sensitive gesture interface. Keep in mind that both the Apple Pencil 2 and the Pixelbook Pen are sold separately.
iPad Pro (2018) vs. Google Pixel Slate: Price & Verdict
Here’s the rundown of the various costs for the different models of each iPad:
- iPad Pro 12.9in: 32 GB £969, 256 GB £1119, 512 GB £1319, 1TB £1719 (add £150 on for the cellular model).
- iPad Pro 11in: 32 GB £769, 256 GB £919, 512 GB £1199, 1TB £1519 (add £150 on for the cellular model).
And here’s the rundown of the various costs for the different models of each Pixel Slate:
- Pixel Slate Intel Celeron Processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage – £549
- Pixel Slate Intel m3 Processor, 8GB RAM, 64GB storage – £749
- Pixel Slate Intel i5 Processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage – £969
- Pixel Slate Intel i7 Processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB storage – £1,549
So which should you get? Feature-for-feature, the iPad Pro destroys the Pixel Slate. It’s got the much better display and design, much larger storage options, a modern and better biometric security feature in Face ID, better cameras, and a much better stylus.
The iPad Pro also runs iOS, which is arguably the better operating system. The Slate runs ChromeOS, but it’s still too unrefined to compete with Apple’s iOS.
So unless you are tied to Google’s ecosystem, the tablet to get is the iPad Pro. It’s still the world’s best tablet by a long shot.
by michaelg via Featured Articles
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