Few days after tech giant Aplple unveiled its new line of tablets, Microsoft countered it with its flagship device last night in New York.

Microsoft has launched its much anticipated Windows 8 operating system and first tablet device, the Surface with Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro versions.

The screens measure in at 10.6-inches with resolutions of 1366 x 768 for the Surface with Windows RT and 1920 x 1080 for the Surface Pro. Despite that win in size, the Surface twins are heavier than the iPad, about 1.5 for the Windows RT version vs. 1.44 pounds for Apple's slate. The Windows 8 Pro model is nearly 2 pounds.

In the surprise of everyone, tech giant Apple unveiled not one, but two tablets yesterday at its media event at San Jose's California Theater. Apple unwrapped the iPad Mini and a revamped full size iPad.

Apple unveiled the long-rumored iPad mini, a smaller, lighter model with a 7.9-inch screen, instead of the 9.7-inch Retina display on the regular iPad. The screen resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels, the same as the iPad 2 and a quarter of the resolution of the flagship iPad.

The company also boosted the existing iPad 3 or New iPad by adding a new A6X processor, faster Wi-Fi performance, and the 8-pin Lightning connector, while keeping the price the same as before-starting at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model. Both also have 4G LTE versions available for $130 more, and you can get them all in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB varieties. Below is a closer look at the differences between each of these tablets.

Screen Display - The latest iPad will sport the same, old 9.7 inch screen display with 2048 x 1536 pixels resolution. The Microsoft Surface Windows RT is slightly bigger with 10.6 inches with 1366 x 768 pixels resolution.

Processor - 4th Gen iPad is powered by A6X chip processor. Microsoft Surface Windows RT is powered by Nvidia Tegra 3.

Operating System - iPad 4th Gen is run by Apple's latest iOS 6 while Microsoft's tablet equipped with Windows 8, which was announced on the same day.

Storage - iPad 4th Gen comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants. Microsoft Surface Windows RT, on the other hand, is available in 32GB and 64GB.

Ports - iPad 4th Gen has an 8-pin lightning connector. Microsoft Surface Windows RT packed microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 and MiMO Antenne.

Price - Both devices start at $499. The full size iPad WiFi only and WiFi + 4G/LTE cost $499 and $629, respectively.

Pre-orders for the 4th Generation of iPad will start today, with the Wi-Fi-only versions hitting Apple Stores on November 2. However, there is no concrete date as to when the Surface will go on sale.