Nevermind Joshua vs Dubois…
The real heavyweight fight of 2024 is Samsung Galaxy Tab vs iPad and it’s a closely fought battle.
Apple stepped up its game in 2024, with the launch of a new iPad Pro (M4) and iPad Air (M2).
But don't count out Samsung Galaxy Tabs just yet – they're still strong contenders.
To find the winner, we've put the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ toe-to-toe against the iPad Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 against the iPad Air.
(Please note: we wrote these reviews before the Galaxy Tab S10 series was released in late 2024.)
iPad Pro (2024) Vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+
Design & Build
The iPad Pro is easy to hold and carry, at just 5.1mm thick for the 13-inch model and super lightweight. Apple finally moved the front camera to the right spot for landscape mode, which is perfect for video calls.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is also thin at 5.7mm. The glass design and aluminum frame gives it a sleek look. It’s also waterproof, a rarity for tablets.
Display
The iPad Pro’s OLED “Ultra Retina XDR” display looks lovely, with great contrast and vibrant tones.
The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus has a 12.4-inch AMOLED screen. This too offers deep contrast and a wide spectrum of colors. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling feel more fluid.
If you're planning on using your tablet outside a lot, the iPad Pro might be a bit better since its screen gets a tad brighter, but the Samsung display still performs well in bright conditions.
Performance
The iPad Pro (2024) packs the new M4 chip which is a beast. Benchmarks show it's about 50% faster than the already impressive M2. It can handle pretty much anything you throw at it and rarely overheats, even when you're pushing it hard.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 Plus runs on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is also a powerhouse. It too handles intense tasks without overheating.
Software Experience
The iPad Pro is limited a bit by iPadOS. The software doesn’t quite match the hardware. The lack of pro-level apps make it harder for the iPad Pro to fully replace a laptop.
Samsung’s OneUI feels a lot more like using a laptop. Samsung DeX turns your tablet into a desktop-style interface – perfect if you need to get work done or use your tablet for customer-facing tasks.
Accessories
Both the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro are great, but pricey.
For the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, the S Pen is included in the box, which is kind on your wallet. The Samsung keyboard is good, but not as ergonomic or sleek as Apple’s Magic Keyboard, so that’s something to consider if typing is important to you.
Price
The iPad Pro starts at $999 for the base model. If you add in the accessories (Pencil and Magic Keyboard), you could be looking at $2,000+.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus also starts at around $999, but feels like a better deal since the S Pen is included.
Verdict
- If you’re looking for raw performance, then the iPad Pro nudges ahead. But don’t forget that Apple's closed ecosystem means it can't quite replace a laptop, making it less desirable for business use.
- The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus wins if you’re looking for a tablet that’s more versatile, especially as it offers laptop-like features, thanks to Samsung DeX.
iPad Air (2024) Vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Design and Build
The Samsung Tab S8 is slim at just 6.3mm thick, meaning it’s light and easy to hold. The Gorilla Glass 5 does a decent job of protecting the screen, but it lacks dust and water resistance.
The iPad Air is slim and portable too, although Apple doesn’t seem to have pushed any real design innovations with the new model.
Display
The Samsung Tab S8 uses a 120Hz LCD display. It’s sharp and responsive, but doesn’t come close to matching the contrast and vibrant colors of OLED screens.
The iPad Air sticks with an LCD panel too. Again, it’s bright and sharp, but doesn’t feel like much of an upgrade from older models.
Performance
The Samsung Tab S8 has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip inside. It's got plenty of muscle for multitasking. It comes with 8GB or 12GB RAM, making it powerful enough to handle some of the more serious business tasks.
The iPad Air runs on Apple's M2 chip. This makes it ideal for everyday tasks and can handle some of the more demanding tasks. Although it’s not as powerful as the iPad Pro’s M4, it's still fast enough for most users and is fairly future-proof.
Software Experience
The Galaxy Tab S8 runs Samsung’s OneUI, which is built on Android. Android isn't great for tablets (it's better for phones), but Samsung has done a good job of making it work with the DeX feature.
The iPad Air runs iPadOS which is good for tablet-specific apps. It also integrates well with other Apple devices.
Accessories
The Samsung Tab S8 comes with the S Pen in the box, at no extra charge, which is a nice bonus if you need a stylus.
The iPad Air works with the Apple Pencil Pro, but you have to buy it separately.
Verdict
- The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 starts at around $499, which is a good price, especially as you get the S Pen included. It's a solid choice for most users, including businesses.
- The iPad Air is powerful too and starts at $599. It’s not as cheap as the basic iPad and not as powerful as the iPad Pro. This makes it a bit hard to justify unless you really need the larger screen and the M2 chip.
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