Apple's M4 iPad Pro vs. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

[MacRumors]

With the introduction of OLED displays, a thinner design, and more in the M4 iPad Pro, we thought it was worth taking another look at Samsung's flagship OLED tablet, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, to see how the two compare and which one might be the better purchase for you.

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Both tablets offer excellent OLED displays, though the Tab S9 Ultra's 14.6-inch 16:10 display is better optimized for video consumption than the iPad Pro's 13-inch 4:3 display. The wider aspect ratio on the Tab S9 Ultra means widescreen video content fits much better on the display, offering a larger content view with much less letterboxing than on the iPad Pro.

The Tab S9 Ultra's display is rated just a bit brighter than the iPad Pro's, but in real-world usage the difference isn't noticeable. HDR content on the Tab S9 Ultra can get a bit too bright, however, washing out other content. The iPad Pro also does a better job of handling glare, and that's not even accounting for the Nano-Texture option available on higher-end iPad Pro configurations.

The iPad Pro and Tab S9 Ultra have similarly thin profiles, with the iPad Pro's new design making it just a hint thinner than Samsung's offering, but the difference feels negligible. The Tab S9 Ultra maxes out at 1TB of built-in storage while the iPad Pro goes up to 2TB, but Samsung includes a microSD slot that makes it simple to pop in extra storage at a much lower cost than boosting the integrated storage on an iPad Pro.

Apple removed the Ultra Wide camera in the latest iPad Pro, leaving only the standard Wide camera for capturing video content. Samsung includes both styles of camera on the Tab S9 Ultra, but we don't think most people should be using their iPads for capturing video anyway.

Where Apple really sets itself apart on the hardware side with iPad Pro is the redesigned Magic Keyboard, which offers a premium feel, solid typing performance, an excellent trackpad, and an additional USB-C port for charging the iPad. Samsung's first-party keyboard accessory for the Tab S9 Ultra looks and feels good, and the typing experience is pleasant, but the trackpad is simply awful.

One note in favor of Samsung's keyboard is that it can be separated into two pieces, leaving the back cover attached to the tablet for protection. While Apple has a keyboard design like this for cheaper iPads, the Magic Keyboard can not be removed from the iPad Pro without also removing the back cover.

Alongside the new iPad Pro, Apple introduced a new Apple Pencil Pro with more advanced capabilities including new gestures and Find My support, but Samsung has the S Pen that also offers excellent integration with Android. Significantly for stylus adoption, the S Pen is included in the box with the Tab S9 Ultra, while the Apple Pencil Pro is an extra $129 purchase for iPad Pro owners.

As with most purchasing decisions for Apple and Android, it's likely to come down to platform preference. If you're already thoroughly invested in the Apple ecosystem, you're probably going to want to go with the iPad Pro to reap all of the benefits that come with Apple's tight integration. But if you're looking for something a bit different, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra offers some great features and a huge display at a price that well undercuts the iPad Pro.

Would you consider picking up a Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, or is the iPad Pro a better fit for your needs? Let us know in the comments below.

Article Link: Apple's M4 iPad Pro vs. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

 

[contacos]

everyone remember … competition is good so take a deep breathe

 

[Steve Job's Cousin]

everyone remember … competition is good so take a deep breathe

Exactly, they're both excellent devices.

Competition is always needed for innovation.

 

[DavidLeblond]

Oh my god I'm having to set up 16 Samsung Galaxy tabs at work for a project and I don't think I could use an Android (or I guess specifically Samsung) because man I hate today. Getting anything done on those tablets is like pulling teeth. I've seen "Something went wrong." way too many times.

 

[I am Sampson]

Does the Samsung use the duel OLED panel thing? If not, and the screen is barely any difference, it suggests the Apple talk about how amazing duel layer OLED is is just nonsense.

 

[Digital Dude]

I’ve been using iPads for years, but it’s always a bit cumbersome with iOS. I always feel like I’m trying to play a violin inside a phone booth. I picked up the S9 ultra last Christmas and I really-really wanted to keep it. Unfortunately, I struggled with logging onto websites because I’m so used to using Face ID. Likewise, not even Samsung‘s own apps seem to work without bugs. It’s simply not optimized for the tablet at all in my opinion. You have to use third-party apps to get the darn thing to work. Certainly, iOS 17.x once again introduced more bugs that I didn��t have before the update, so it’s almost a draw. 🤷‍♂️

Now I have a fairly new M2 iPad Pro, but frankly, I can’t tell much difference between the M1 iPad Pro I was running during my comparison. I’m looking forward to the S10 ultra from Samsung to see if they’ve addressed any of my concerns. 🤞

One more thing; the included Samsung S Pen is much more pleasant to use than the Apple Pencil. It feels a lot more natural versus the Apple Pencil, whereby I feel like I’m signing my name on a piece of ice.

 

[waltermitty]

I tried the S9 Ultra, and returned it for a normal sized S9. It was simply too large for anything but desk use. The reason I chose an Android tablet over an iPad is for Firefox in Desktop mode with uBlock Origin for ad blocking. My phone is an iPhone, and my computers are MBP and iMac, but for a media consumption tablet it's nice not to be utterly restricted by Apple. I'll add that the screen and speakers on the S9 are fantastic.

 

[UltraMan1984]

Does the Samsung use the duel OLED panel thing? If not, and the screen is barely any difference, it suggests the Apple talk about how amazing duel layer OLED is is just nonsense.

All tandem OLED does is allow for better brightness. That’s all it was meant to do.

 

[jonnysods]

Is that a notch on the Samsung?

 

[Crow_Servo]

A spec comparison would’ve been a helpful visual here.

 

[Crow_Servo]

All tandem OLED does is allow for better brightness. That’s all it was meant to do.

I think it also adds more longevity, which appeals to me.

 

[dynamojoe]

I wish Apple offered screens larger than 12.9" for iOS devices. It didn't stop me from getting the M4 but having a 15" option would be great.

 

[trip1ex]

I don't like the look at that wide screen tablet.

 

[Biro]

All tandem OLED does is allow for better brightness. That’s all it was meant to do.

I had read that it also cuts down on the PWM effect. Dunno if that’s actually the case.

 

[coffeemilktea]

The biggest surprise here is that Samsung thought it was a good idea to put a notch on a tablet: even Apple has yet to make this particular sin against good design. 🫢

Samsung may need to dial back the Courage™ just a little.

 

[buddhistMonkey]

everyone remember … competition is good so take a deep breathe

Thanks, Econ 101 guy!

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I really like the Samsung tablets, I feel like they have a lot to offer in terms of versatility. In a vacuum, I'd pick one of those up over an iPad any day of the week.

 

[azentropy]

IMO yes 16:10 is better for video consumption, but 4:3 is MUCH better for everything else in a tablet. Especially if you use things in portrait mode.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Neither is small enough to do what the iPad mini does, neither is powerful enough to do what the Mac does, neither runs windows like the surface does. So when I have to have all three of those other things, what's left for this one to do? Be a portable tv for streaming services? Seems like a spendy option for watching low quality videos.

 

[Juanchi007]

Hydrogen Bomb vs. Coughing Baby

 

[Smittywerben]

Neither is small enough to do what the iPad mini does, neither is powerful enough to do what the Mac does, neither runs windows like the surface does. So when I have to have all three of those other things, what's left for this one to do? Be a portable tv for streaming services? Seems like a spendy option for watching low quality videos.

16PM is going to be the new iPad mini.

 

[Tagbert]

All tandem OLED does is allow for better brightness. That’s all it was meant to do.

tandem OLED also provides more resistance to burn-in as you don't have to run each emitter at as high power levels to get a normal brightness level.

FYI @Techwatcher

 

[Techwatcher]

All tandem OLED does is allow for better brightness. That’s all it was meant to do.

Ok but the Samsung is brighter as well. So what difference does tandem make?

 

[211]

everyone remember … competition is good so take a deep breathe

It’s impossible to forget. Every time there is a story about a competitor, someone always has to post this mantra

 

[one more]

What about mentioning the prices for both tablets? 🤔