Surface Pro 3 vs. Toshiba Portege Z20T: Can We Just Merge These Two?

The Surface Pro 4 is getting a lot of traction in the press due to both its impending release (tentatively slated for the end of October 2015), and for speculative main improvements including a faster Intel Skylake processor with Core i3, i5 and i7 configurations, a battery that lasts eight to nine hours, and the incorporation of the N-trig stylus10 which allows the user to write on websites, screenshots of documents and make sketches. The device also comes with the option of using Windows 10.

Since its introduction, the previous generation Surface Pro 3 has dominated the market share for 2-in-1 devices. Despite the prevalence of the Surface Pro, devices such as the Toshiba Portégé Z20t tablet are worth exploring. They both have options for use, such as a touch screen or external keyboard. The Surface Pro 3 weighs 2.42 lbs and measures 0.55 inches. If you are using it without the external keyboard, then it weighs 1.76 lbs and measures 0.36 inches thick. The Portégé Z20t, in comparison, weighs in at 3.3 lbs with an external keyboard, measures 11.8 x 7.6 inches, and is 0.85 inches thick. Without the keyboard, you’ll get four hours less of battery life, but the device will be only 1.60 lbs and 0.35 inches thick.

Overall, the Z20t is heavier, but it has a longer lasting battery. I don’t think many engineers would regularly use these devices in tablet mode, except when showing people designs in the field. As well, touch typing on any tablet is difficult to do for long periods of time. A keyboard is an essential part of the package.

Each device runs on a different type of processor. The Surface Pro’s Core i3, i5 and i7 series are based on the Haswell architecture, compared to the Z20t’s Core M 571 processor, which is based on Intel’s Broadwell Y family of processors. While the i7 may be somewhat faster, it drains battery power more quickly than the M 571.

The Core M processor, coupled with the Toshiba double agent keyboard and extra battery, make the Z20t’s battery life last up to twice as long as the Surface Pro 3 – solving what has been a problem with the Surface Pro since it first came out. The battery will last nine hours maximum with the Surface Pro 3, but will last 16 hours with the Toshiba Portégé Z20t.

Ports are another measure of usefulness, and the Surface Pro has one USB 3.0 port, one Mini DisplayPort and a micro SD slot. Without a keyboard, the Z20t has a micro HDMI port, a micro USB port and a microSD card slot as well. The double agent keyboard adds two USB 3.0 ports, one full-size HDMI port and an Ethernet port. The more ports the better, so I would go with the Toshiba here.

However, for the price, the Surface Pro 3 packs in twice as much RAM, which may more than compensate for the slower processor (i7 clocks in at 1.70 GHz versus the 1.9 GHZ M-5Y10c). Plus you get twice the hard drive storage as the Toshiba Z20t for the same price.

Choosing between these two devices is really a toss-up for me. I would prefer the RAM, storage and lighter weight of the Surface Pro 3 with the processor, extra battery life and extra ports of the Toshiba Portégé Z20t.

Features of the Toshiba Portégé Z20t and the Surface Pro 3:

We’ll see if the new Surface Pro 4 incorporates the successor to the Broadwell architecture with the Skylake family, but they should at least upgrade to Broadwell and demonstrate to engineers how the new stylus will be useful. We can count on them incorporating the 2K display into a larger screen (possibly up to 14 inches), and increasing the price by $300-400. But that’s just my guess.