Microsoft Surface 2 vs. iPad 5 vs. Nokia Lumia 2520: Who Will Win?

With the Microsoft Surface 2 enjoying the limelight for now, two other rumoured contenders can easily snatch its place once the reveal for the iPad 5 an the Nokia Lumia 2520.

Considering all that is known about the other two devices, just how will the Microsoft Surface 2 fare with the rumoured specs?

Round 1: Display

Word on the Retina+ display has always been surfacing, but for the iPad 5, what's expected is for the Apple device to feature GF2 technology in the display, reports TechRadar. This technology is expected to make the display brighter and more efficient. Still, as for the display, a 9.7-inch display is also expected.

Microsoft's Surface 2 is reported to have a 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD display with 1080p, which Microsoft had stated to be a great for movie and show-watching.

The display size for Nokia's first-ever Windows tablet is pegged at 10.1 inches and bearing a resolution of 1080p. This seems to be the standard for upcoming tablets, and anything less than the 1080p cannot tap into the premium industry.

What is pretty unique about the Nokia Lumia 2520 in appearance is the addition of a keyboard accessory, which will be battery-powered. This QWERTY keyboard, according to Phone Arena, can become a protective cover for the device.

Round 2: Processor

Microsoft's newest contender in the tablet industry, the Surface 2 will be running on the NVIDIA Tegra 4 chip for better speed and graphics. This may also be a great improvement considering that it will run on Windows 8.1.

For Nokia's tablet, it will sport a 2.15GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which will hopefully be able to power the 5-point multitouch feature of the Nokia Lumia 2520's display.

As for Apple's champion, the processor is expected to be the A7 chip, just like what was released for the iPhone 5S. But Laptop Magazine reports that there are still talks that an A7X chip may possibly be the processor for the tablet. However, what can be assured is that, with Apple's drive towards a more pleasant gaming experience with the iDevice, the A7 processor may at least make it to the iPad 5.

Round 3: Battery and OS

While Nokia's Lumia 2520 was not given definitive specs, it has the capability of 10 hours of power time, according to T3.

The same capability for the iPad 5 was reported, if only basing it on the previous device. For this round, Microsoft's Surface 2 may win the battle, as iDigital Times reports that it will have the additional battery padding of a Power Cover accessory to prolong the battery life.

On the other hand, the Surface 2 will be sporting the Windows RT 8.1, to make tasks such as personalisation, multitasking, and cloud connectivity even more possible. Similarly, Nokia will also have the Windows RT 8.1 OS.

Round 4: Camera

Nokia's run for best smartphone camera may not necessarily reflect in the Lumia 2520 tablet, as it only features a 6.7-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens. However, it features a higher resolution than the upgraded 5-megapixel camera of the Surface 2.

The hopes are now turned to the iPad 5. Though the specific features have not yet been revealed, CNet reports that the upgrades can take its cue from the iPhone 5S, with low-light exposure, True Tone action, and slow-motion features.

Round 5: Release date and price

An October launch date for the iPad 5 is also expected since its previous generation arrived with the iPad Mini in tow last October 2012. As for the price, a consensus of $499 is expected for the Wi-Fi 16GB version going up to a $799 for the 64GB version.

Given how the supposed cheaper iPhone 5C still surprised fans with its price tag, don't expect Apple to pull down its premium price any time soon.

As for Nokia's tablet, you can expect it to sell at $499, just like the iPad 5, reports Digital Trends. The release date for the Nokia Lumia 2520 is still based on rumours, with either a September 26 or an October 22 expected reveal with no confirmations yet from the company.

The price of the Surface 2 will probably keep it afloat above the rest, as the device starts at a 32GB version costing $449, a full $50 below the two other devices. The Surface 2 will already be available in 22 initial markets including Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. Spain, and the U.S. come October 22.