10 Tablet, Notebook Alternatives to Apple’s iPad Pro

The iPad Pro may be the perfect PC replacement, but it’s not buyers’ only choice. Here are 10 alternatives to the iPad Pro, including both tablets and notebooks.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 is arguably the closest competitor to Apple’s iPad Pro. The device, which runs on Windows 10 Pro, comes with the customer’s choice of the Intel Core m3, i5 or i7 processor. It has up to 16GB of RAM and supports Intel Iris graphics. The tablet, which has a 12.3-inch screen and comes with the Surface Pen, is a nice option for anyone who wants an experience similar to the one offered in the iPad Pro.

For those who like the iPad Pro, but not its price, there’s the Apple’s iPad Air 2. While the device has a smaller 9.7-inch screen and it’s not as powerful as the iPad Pro, it’s far more affordable at a starting price of $499. The iPad Air 2 is a great option for anyone who wants the iOS experience but doesn’t want to spend the kind of money it takes to get an iPad Pro.

Google’s Nexus 9 is easily the best tablet the company sells through its Nexus line. The tablet has an 8.9-inch screen, making it notably smaller than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but it’s ideal for those who want the standard Android experience. Plus, the Nexus 9 is somewhat powerful, boasting a 64-bit Nvidia Tegra 1 processor featuring a 2.3GHz clock speed. It also has a 192-core Kepler GPU and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. And at a starting price of $399, it’s a perfect option for anyone who wants to save some cash.

For those who want a big screen, the Samsung Galaxy View might just be the solution. The tablet’s screen measures 18.4 inches and is designed for those who want a full entertainment experience. In fact, it comes with a special operating system skin that makes it easy to access entertainment applications such as Netflix and Hulu. One other interesting move: The Samsung Galaxy View has a stand and handle to make it easier to carry around.

As one of the largest tablet makers, Samsung has several appealing options. The Galaxy Tab S2 is one such device. The Galaxy Tab S2 comes in two sizes—9.7 inches and 8 inches. The Android-based tablet also ships with Microsoft Office solutions and OneDrive cloud storage. With help from the Samsung Book Cover Keyboard, Samsung’s tablet can be propped up and used like a notebook. It’s a solid, but smaller, alternative to the iPad Pro.

Apple’s MacBook is the company’s lightweight notebook designed to take on hybrids and other slim notebooks. The device has a 12-inch screen and is surprisingly thin at 0.14 inches. Inside, the computer comes with Intel’s HD Graphics 5300, and it supports dual display and video mirroring. The one difference, of course, is that it runs on OS X, so it will deliver a different software experience from the iPad Pro. Customers who want a traditional notebook will like what they find in Apple’s MacBook.

While the MacBook is a capable option for many tasks, it’s still a lightweight notebook that won’t be able to match the MacBook Pro on power. If that’s an issue, there’s always Apple’s MacBook Pro line of notebooks, ranging in screen sizes from 13.3 inches to 15.4 inches. The 13-inch models start with the Intel Core i5, while the 15-inch version has an Intel Core i7. Like the MacBook, the MacBook Pro runs on OS X. The computer, which comes with up to 1TB of flash storage, is nice and thin at just 0.71 inches tall. Those seeking more power than the iPad Pro will likely find it in the MacBook Pro.

Dell’s recently announced XPS 13 is among the best-looking and most-high-powered lightweight notebooks in this roundup. The computer, which runs on Windows 10, starts with 4GB of memory and the Intel Core i3 processor. The device comes in several configurations, offering everything from an Intel Core i7 processor to a quad-HD display. It also has a touch display option for those who want to control Windows in a different way. The XPS 13 is among the best lightweight notebooks available now.

Microsoft’s Surface Book is another high-powered lightweight notebook that offers users a slightly different experience than what’s offered in the iPad Pro. The device has a 13.5-inch screen with a 3,000-by-2,000-pixel resolution. The Windows 10-based notebook comes with Microsoft’s Surface Pen stylus and weighs just 3.34 pounds. Microsoft has delivered ample power in the computer, offering up to the sixth-generation Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GPU for graphics-intensive tasks.

Like Microsoft’s Surface Book, Lenovo’s LaVie Z lightweight notebook runs on Windows 10. Unlike the Surface Book, however, the 13.3-inch device runs on the fifth-generation Intel Core processor, rather than the sixth-generation version. Arguably the best feature in the LaVie Z is its thin and lightweight design, coming in at 1.87 pounds. One other thing: The LaVie Z offers up to nine hours of battery life.