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Head-to-head

Google - Pixel Tablet 2 vs Microsoft - Surface Pro 12

Last updated · How Mars Score works
Pixel Tablet 2GOOGLERENDER
Probe A
Google
Pixel Tablet 2
55.7/ 100D
Performance53· 40%
Display59· 32%
Design· 28%
Surface Pro 12MICROSOFTRENDER
Probe B
Microsoft
Surface Pro 12
61.7/ 100C
Performance60· 40%
Display63· 32%
Design· 28%
Quick verdict

Between the Pixel Tablet 2 and Surface Pro 12, the Pixel Tablet 2 comes out ahead in weight and peak brightness, while the Surface Pro 12 wins on storage and ram. Overall, the Pixel Tablet 2 scores 55.7 and the Surface Pro 12 scores 61.7 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Surface Pro 12 edges ahead on the Mars Score (55.7 vs 61.7), but the 6.0-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.

Pick the Pixel Tablet 2 if the display is what you stare at all day — refresh rate, brightness, or sharpness is where the difference will be most visible. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight, peak brightness.

Pick the Surface Pro 12 if the display is what you stare at all day — refresh rate, brightness, or sharpness is where the difference will be most visible. Its strongest claims are storage, ram, screen size.

Both ship with comparable refresh rate, stylus support, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.

Bottom line: the Surface Pro 12 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.

Why Google - Pixel Tablet 2 wins

  • Weight — 188.00 g less. 498 vs 686.
  • Peak brightness — 50.00% more. 600 nits vs 400 nits.

Why Microsoft - Surface Pro 12 wins

  • Storage — 100.00% more. 256 GB vs 128 GB.
  • RAM — 33.33% more. 16 GB vs 12 GB.
  • Screen size — 9.09% more. 12 " vs 11 ".
Full readout

Spec comparison

Display

SpecGoogle - Pixel Tablet 2Microsoft - Surface Pro 12
Screen size11 "12 "lead
Refresh rate90 Hz90 Hz
PanelLCDLCD
Peak brightness600 nitslead400 nits

Performance

SpecGoogle - Pixel Tablet 2Microsoft - Surface Pro 12
ChipsetGoogle Tensor G4Snapdragon X Plus
RAM12 GB16 GBlead
Storage128 GB256 GBlead

Design

SpecGoogle - Pixel Tablet 2Microsoft - Surface Pro 12
Weight498 glead686 g
Stylus supporttruetrue
Cellularfalsefalse
OSAndroidWindowslead
Reader questions

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