Apple iPad vs Microsoft Surface RT vs Google Nexus 10 head to head review

Connectivity
The Apple iPad is the only tablet to boast 3G or 4G connectivity options, with the Nexus 10 and Surface currently being Wi-Fi-only devices.

Outside of this all three feature bluetooth connectivity, though the Nexus 10 is the only tablet to boast NFC, packing Google's Android Beam service.

Winner: The Apple iPad

Storage
When it comes to storage, the iPad offers the most options coming in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models. Below it the Surface comes in second being available in 32GB and 64GB options, while the Nexus ranks in last offering users 16GB and 32GB options.

However, despite only offering two storage options, Microsoft's Surface is the only tablet to feature a microSD card slot. This means the tablet is the only tablet that will let users expand the device past 64GB, making it the only valid choice for users looking to load the device full of large files such as video, music or digital artwork projects.

Winner: Microsoft Surface RT

Battery
The Google Nexus 10 and Microsoft Surface RT are both listed on paper as having nine hour battery lives with "multimedia use". Above them both Apple lists the iPad as having a 10-hour battery life.

Testing the three devices batteries by constantly looping videos with the screen set at automatic brightness, we found the Apple iPad lived up to its on paper dominance, outlasting the Nexus 10 and Surface.

Enacting our test three times we found the iPad lasted over 10 hours, even for continual video playback. The Nexus, which took second place, generally managed to make it to roughly the seven-hour mark before petering out. In third, the Microsoft Surface RT fared the worst with its battery dying at five and half hours on our first test, six on our second and roughly seven on our third.

Winner: The Apple iPad.

Price
Of the three tablets, the Nexus 10 is the cheapest, costing £319 for the 16GB model and £389 for the 32GB version.

The similarly specced Wi-Fi-only iPad and Surface models cost significantly more, with the 32GB versions of both costing £479 and £399 respectively.

Winner: The Google Nexus 10

Next: Overall winner