This isn't true - the iPad Pro is every bit as powerful (even more so) than comparable Surface devices.
The things people run into having issues with are their desire to continue to use specific versions of applications. If Photoshop is what you use, I'd recommend checking out Affinity Photo - fully featured photo editing application that is every bit as powerful as Photoshop but on iPad.
Combine it with the fact that iPad Pro is lighter, smaller, has better battery life, a better display, a more accurate Pencil, and the iPad Pro can most certainly be the device of choice here.
I was under the impression that the 2017 surface pro had better battery life than the ipad pro 12.9", at least going by stated specs, 10 hours video on the ipad pro versus 13.5 hours on the SP2017. The difference in screen size is also quite minimal, it's hard to quantify though because they are different screen sizes/aspect ratio, but at the very minimum IPP 2732x2048 versus SP 2736 x 1824 is pretty minimal, and the SP actually beats out the ipad in PPI, 264 versus 267. Weight IPP 677 grams versus SP 768 grams, pretty close. Otherwise size is quite similar, once again being hard to quantify because of their different aspect ratios. The pencil, from the reviews I've read, is more accurate in terms of tilt recognition for the most part, but the 2017 SP made some great strides in improving the pen and it's pretty awesome IMO.
As for a photoshop equivalent on an ipad, I think the Achilles heel is the lack of mouse support, or at least that's the feeling I get thinking about how I use a program like photoshop, or autocad, or any other number of very intensive menu/selection type programs. But I haven't tried out Affinity Photo and don't know if it truly replicates the majority of photoshop features. I also quite like the surface dial, makes my keyboard redundant to a certain degree.
The SP also has some absolutely killer features that I just could never live without, but again just my opinion. The type keyboard is amazing for being so functional, yet so thin. I also don't see how anyone could live without the kickstand on a tablet, I guess maybe one of those flimsy, single position, adding weight and thickness covers. MicroSD card, letting me add 128gb of fast memory instead of letting Apple chisel me on buying more memory. And of course the millions of programs available for windows, which IMO easily replicate almost all apps on iOS in some form or shape. Video out (mini displayport) has been a godsend for using my projector in presentations, no dongles to carry just one small cable. USB port, can't even begin to list the uses this brings, etc etc.
What I do know is the days of the ipad being superior because of size, weight, battery life or screen are officially now gone. The most important choice now is OS and what programs or apps do you want to use. Both are awesome devices, and truly neither of them would exist in such refined forms if it wasn't for the competition the other provided.
