This week, Microsoft announced a new Surface device. The Surface 3 is the latest tablet to come out of the company's arsenal, and observers are quick to note that with its 10.8-inch screen and a thin, light body, the Surface 3 is mobile enough that every user can take and use it almost anywhere. The tech community is already checking features as opposed to that of another tablet made by rival Apple, the iPad Air 2.

Design and dimensions

In terms of design, the iPad Air 2 is not that much different from its predecessors. Indeed, Apple's ways of design changes seem to be focused in the internals and body materials. It measures 6.1 mm and weighs less than a pound, with an iSight camera and TouchID fingerprint reader on its 9.7-inch display.

The new Surface 3, on the other, also doesn't look that much different from other Microsoft hybrids. It almost looks like a watered-down version of the Surface Pro 3. What makes it different from the iPad Air 2 is the included kickstand in the back that makes Surface 3 literally stands out on its own.

Display

Since both tablets are part of their respective company's flagship line up, both boast of a multi-touch technology, but Microsoft focuses on this more than Apple does. The Surface 3 highlights its pen support rather well and makes it a part of its marketing. iPad Air 2, on the other hand, have third-party styluses.

The Surface 3 also offers a bigger view with 10.8-inch display at 1920 x 1280 resolution, as opposed to iPad Air 2's 9.7-inch. However, the Apple device, since it is more compact, focuses more pixels on its display at 2048 x 1536 resolution.

Processor and Battery

It seems Microsoft intend for the Surface 3 to become a workhorse for the budget-conscious, or those that wants to experience full Windows OS but cannot go for the higher-end Surface Pro 3. The new Surface has a quad-core Intel Atom chipset that runs at 1.6 GHz, and with the right burst technology, can be clocked up to 2.4 GHz. The iPad Air 2, on the other hand, has a 1.5 GHz triple-core Apple A8X chipset. Both run on 10 hours of battery life.