QOTW: Apple iPad Air 2 or Microsoft Surface 3?

Following several years of massive growth, tablet sales are beginning to slow as smartphones get bigger and laptops get thinner. You could argue that the lines between such devices are blurring at a rapid rate, but tablets are still practical computing devices for a wide range of consumers, and with over 200 million units expected to ship this year, the industry's biggest names are battling for their slice of the lucrative tablet pie.

Two of the most prominent competitors are Apple and Microsoft, whose latest models - the iPad Air 2 and Surface 3 - go head-to-head with prices starting at £399 and £419, respectively.

Both are impressive machines in their own right, yet while the base specifications appear similar, there are unique perks to each device.

Apple's iPad Air 2 is backed by an extensive app store, it has a fingerprint sensor, and as with most Apple products, there's a wide range of accessories readily available. With the Surface 3, Microsoft offers a built-in kickstand, a one-year subscription to Office 365, and if you're eyeing up a laptop replacement, there's the option of a Surface Pen or a backlit keyboard dubbed the Type Cover.

Plenty of food for thought, so let's hear it from you, the consumers. Given the choice, would you opt for an iPad Air 2 or a Surface 3? Let us know your pick, and your reasons for or against, in the comments section below.