Microsoft Surface Pro 11 vs. Apple iPad Pro M4: Which Should You Choose in 2025?

Introduction

In 2025, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 and the Apple iPad Pro M4 continue to dominate the premium tablet and 2-in-1 market. Both are widely used by professionals, designers, and digital creators for their blend of portability, power, and high-quality displays. These devices appeal especially to those who want a tool that supports both productivity and creativity.

However, alongside these well-established names, a new category of dedicated creative tablets has emerged. Among them, the XPPen Magic Drawing Pad has drawn attention as a lightweight, portable, and art-focused solution designed specifically for digital artists.

Quick Specs Comparison Table (2025)

Design and Portability

• Surface Pro 11: A 2-in-1 detachable laptop with a built-in kickstand. While versatile, it leans more toward the laptop category, which makes it slightly heavier and bulkier to carry around compared to pure tablets.

• iPad Pro M4 (SV700): Sleek, ultra-thin, and made from premium materials. It is one of the most portable tablets available, making it ideal for those who value a minimalist aesthetic and a lightweight design.

• XPPen Magic Drawing Pad: Weighing only 590g and measuring just 6.9mm thin, this device is lighter than both the Surface Pro and iPad Pro. It’s designed purely with creators in mind, offering maximum portability without sacrificing functionality.

Display Experience

• Surface Pro 11: Features a high-resolution PixelSense display with excellent sharpness and accurate colors. It supports both touch and pen input, making it versatile for work and drawing.

• iPad Pro M4: Equipped with Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR display and ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate, it delivers smooth interactions and stunning color accuracy, perfect for professional visual work and media consumption.

• XPPen Magic Drawing Pad: Uses a 12.2-inch X-Paper Display that mimics the feel of paper while drawing. It offers a 97% sRGB color gamut and is TÜV Rheinland certified for low blue light emission. This makes it particularly comfortable for long creative sessions without straining the eyes.

Stylus and Drawing Experience

• Surface Pen: Provides 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt support. It’s responsive and integrates well with Windows apps, though it still requires charging.

• Apple Pencil (2nd Gen): Known for low latency and smooth performance. It attaches magnetically to wireless charging. While excellent for sketching and note-taking, its pressure sensitivity is more limited compared to professional-grade pens.

• X3 Pro Slim Stylus (Magic Drawing Pad): Stands out as the world’s first stylus with 16,384 pressure levels. Powered by EMR technology, it requires no charging or pairing. At only 10g, it feels incredibly close to traditional drawing tools, with 60° tilt support for shading and precision.

Performance and Software Ecosystem

• Surface Pro 11: Runs full Windows 11, making it the only device in this comparison that can use full desktop creative software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. This makes it ideal for professional workloads.

• iPad Pro M4: Runs on iPadOS, which has a wide range of creative apps such as Procreate, Affinity Designer, and LumaFusion. It also integrates seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPhone, AirDrop, iCloud).

• Magic Drawing Pad: Operates on Android 14 as a standalone device. It comes pre-installed with Clip Studio Paint, ibis Paint X, and Medibang, each with exclusive artist benefits. Users can expand through Google Play to access other creative apps. It’s a dedicated drawing tool rather than a general computer.

Storage and Battery Life

• Surface Pro 11: Offers multiple configurations up to 1TB SSD, providing plenty of storage for large creative projects. The battery lasts around 10–12 hours under typical use.

• iPad Pro M4: Configurable up to 2TB storage, with Apple’s excellent battery optimization, making it a reliable all-day device.

• Magic Drawing Pad: Comes with 8GB RAM + 256GB storage, expandable up to 1TB via MicroSD. Its 8000 mAh battery supports up to 13 hours of continuous drawing, plus 33W fast charging and reverse charging to power other devices.

Extra Features

• Surface Pro 11: Functions as a full laptop replacement, complete with keyboard support and desktop multitasking advantages.

• iPad Pro M4: Features Face ID, professional-grade cameras, and AR tools that make it versatile for both creative work and media.

• Magic Drawing Pad: Equipped with 4 speakers, a 13MP rear + 8MP front camera, and can act as a secondary display (DP-IN) for laptops. It also has child-friendly features like eye-protection mode and a drop-resistant case.

Price and Value for Creators

• Surface Pro 11: Premium pricing ($1,200–$2,500+ depending on configuration), best suited for professionals who want a laptop and creative device in one.

• iPad Pro M4: Expensive ($999–$2,300+ depending on size and storage), but with unmatched versatility and an excellent ecosystem for both personal and professional use.

• Magic Drawing Pad: More affordable ($400–$500) compared to the other two. It’s designed for artists and illustrators who want a lightweight, cable-free, standalone studio for drawing.

Recommendation: Who Should Buy What?

• Surface Pro 11: Best for professionals who need Windows productivity and desktop-level creative tools alongside drawing capabilities.

• iPad Pro M4: Perfect for Apple ecosystem users who want versatility for media, productivity, and creative apps like Procreate.

• XPPen Magic Drawing Pad: The top choice for dedicated artists who want precision, portability, and distraction-free creativity all day long.

FAQ

1. Which one is better, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 or the Apple iPad Pro M4?

   It depends on your needs. Generally speaking, the Surface Pro 11 is essentially a Windows laptop. So, if you want a true laptop experience with full desktop apps (like Photoshop and Illustrator) available, go for the Surface Pro 11. Or, if you’re more into a sleek tablet experience and love creative apps like Procreate, the iPad Pro M4 can be your choice.

2. Can the XPPen Magic Drawing Pad replace a laptop like the Surface Pro?

   No, the XPPen Magic Drawing Pad is not specifically designed as a laptop replacement. Instead, it’s a dedicated creative device focused on drawing and digital art. If you are looking for a lightweight pad for drawing and note-taking, the XPPen Magic Drawing Pad can perfectly meet your needs.

3. Does the XPPen Magic Drawing Pad support Procreate like the iPad Pro?

   No, Procreate is exclusive to iPadOS. However, the Magic Drawing Pad comes with Clip Studio Paint, ibis Paint X, and Medibang, which are highly popular among artists.

4. Which device is better for animation and heavy graphics work?

   Surface Pro is better for running full desktop applications like After Effects, while the Magic Drawing Pad and iPad Pro are excellent for mobile drawing and illustration.

Conclusion

The Surface Pro 11 and iPad Pro M4 are excellent choices for professionals who want versatile, general-purpose devices that balance productivity and creativity. However, for artists who want a pure, studio-quality, and distraction-free mobile drawing experience, the XPPen Magic Drawing Pad emerges as the most focused option in 2025.