You might not be eyeing the 10th-generation iPad or Galaxy Tab S9 to replace your laptop, but what about their pro-level siblings? Both Apple and Samsung offer expansive, high-octane tablets that are meant to handle everything from gaming to photo and video editing, but it’s not easy to choose between the best tablets on the market. If you’re weighing up a premium tablet but unsure where to start, we have your back. Let’s compare the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Apple iPad Pro to see which is right for you.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Apple iPad Pro: At a glance
- Apple’s iPad Pro models (11-inch and 12.9-inch) are cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
- The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra charges faster than the iPad Pro, thanks to 45W wired speeds.
- Apple’s iPad Pro offers more onboard storage (up to 2TB), but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has a microSD slot to expand your storage by up to 1TB.
- Both tablets offer flagship chipsets, with the iPad Pro carrying Apple’s M2 silicon and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra packing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy.
- The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has a larger display at 14.6 inches compared to Apple’s 11-inch and 12.9-inch options.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Apple iPad Pro: Specs
| Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra | Apple iPad Pro (M2, 12.9-inch) | Apple iPad Pro (M2, 11-inch) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 14.6-inch Dynamic 2,960 x 1,848 AMOLED 2K 120Hz refresh rate |
12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR LCD 2,732 x 2,048 120Hz refresh rate |
11-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD 2,338 x 1,688 120Hz refresh rate |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Apple M2 | Apple M2 |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB | 8GB/16GB | 8GB/16GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB microSD up to 1TB |
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB |
| Connectivity | 5G/LTE Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.3 USB-C |
5G/LTE Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.3 USB-C |
5G/LTE Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.3 USB-C |
| Audio | Quad Stereo Speakers with Sound by AKG Dolby Atmos |
Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers |
| Cameras | Rear: 13MP AF + 8MP UW Front: |
Rear: 12MP AF + 10MP UW Front: |
Rear: 12MP AF + 10MP UW Front: |
| Power | 11,200mAh | 10,758mAh | 7,538mAh |
| Stylus Support | S Pen included | Apple Pencil optional | Apple Pencil optional |
| Durability | IP68 rating | None | None |
| Authentication | In-display Fingerprint Sensor | Face ID | Face ID |
| Software | Android 13 | iPadOS 16.5 | iPadOS 16.5 |
| Dimensions / weight | 208.6 x 326.4 x 5.5mm 732g |
280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4mm 682g (Wi-Fi) 685g (5G) |
247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9mm 466g (Wi-Fi) 470g (5G) |
| Colors | Beige, Graphite | Silver, Space Gray | Silver, Space Gray |
Comparing the top specs of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra and those of the Apple iPad Pro is like comparing the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro — just, you know, bigger. Apple still prefers to keep everything in-house for processing, using the desktop-grade M2 chipset (which is powering the MacBook Air used to write this comparison) on both iPad Pro models. Samsung, on the other hand, packed its premium slate with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy that sits in its Galaxy S23 series.