With the newly released iPad Pro by Apple, the tablet market has again become a hotbed for a contest. This time, the new professional-level iPad took on the business hybrid made by another competitor, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4.

The iPad Pro took the new Surface Pro 4 into a head-on collision, even coming out with its own Apple Pencil accessory. How will the new iPad iteration rate against the new 2-in-1 from the established Surface Pro lineup and its Surface Pen?

According to industry follower Mac Rumors, first impressions of the Apple Pencil are that the interface is much more responsive in the iPad Pro than what the Surface Pen for the Microsoft hybrid. Meanwhile, the report also quoted a reviewer as saying that the Surface Pen's stylus pressure is harder to control, and writing small type is much tougher than when done with the iPad Pro.

However, in terms of overall interface use, partnered with familiarity with the Windows environment, the Surface Pro 4 is still the top choice for businesspeople. The iPad Pro, meanwhile, is being promoted by Apple as a contender in the graphics-intensive field tasks, and gathers favorable reviews for it.

Having both advantages and drawbacks with a pen accessory for both Apple and Microsoft has opened another niche in the tablet market. While there are other contenders in the 2-in-1 tablet market, both Apple and Microsoft are considered the top contenders in the market. Releasing products with focused new interface options other than a keyboard and touchscreen, the two tech giants may have opened a new trend in tablet hybrids, and it is expected that other companies may follow suit with pen-and-tablet, convertible workstations of their own.