Which Galaxy Tablet Is Equivalent To The iPad Pro?

When we talk about tablets that can work as pseudo-laptops, the iPad Pro immediately comes to mind. With its powerful M5 chip, tandem OLED display, and huge library of apps, the iPad Pro has long been the gold standard in tablets. It's versatile, and can be used both casually and professionally. Apple also offers the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil or Apple Pencil Pro, which make the iPad even more resourceful for productivity.

On the Android side, Samsung's Tab series of devices goes head-to-head with Apple and offers the best one-to-one comparison. Its Samsung Tab S11 Ultra is the closest thing to the iPad Pro, offering similar features with a lower price tag. However, Samsung goes a step further, featuring a larger 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, an S Pen without any additional cost, and more integrated AI. While both tablets have nearly the same functionality, here's how the two compare.

While the largest available size in the iPad Pro is 13 inches, Samsung offers a bigger 14.6-inch model. It may not sound like a lot, but in head-to-head comparisons, the Samsung Tab S11 Ultra makes the iPad Pro look much smaller. Both displays feature a 120Hz panel and are comparable, reaching 1,000 nits full screen and 1,600 nits peak with HDR. However, the Samsung Tab features an anti-reflective coating with no extra charge, whereas Apple makes its nano-texture glass a $100 add-on.

Performance, on the other hand, favors Apple. The M5 chip on the iPad Pro packs extreme raw processing power. Geekbench 6 scores for the iPad Pro are almost double those of the Tab S11 Ultra, making the iPad the clear winner. Even though the Samsung Tab has less processing power, it's much better at multitasking with different apps due to its larger screen and UI. In most use cases, both devices will get the job done equally well, but Apple has the juice in case you need it.

Samsung, however, provides more bang for your buck. The Tab S11 Ultra starts at $1,299 for the 256GB variant, and includes an S Pen at no additional cost. Storage on the Tab S11 Ultra is also expandable up to 2TB, and it has a dedicated SD card slot. While the iPad Pro has a max 2TB variant, Apple doesn't offer the option of expandable storage, and markets the Apple Pencil as an add-on. Additionally, the 13-inch iPad Pro has a starting price of $1,499 for the 256GB configuration, making it the more expensive choice.

In terms of everyday use, both the Samsung Tab S11 Ultra and Apple iPad Pro offer the same functionality. They can be used for video editing, watching content, and can be transformed into a pseudo-laptop, but Samsung tends to give you a bit more flexibility. Featuring DeX, the Tab S11 Ultra offers a true desktop-style UI, which allows it to function like a real PC. Even though Apple has been getting better at integrating multitasking with iPadOS updates, Samsung still maintains an edge in this use case.

Apple, on the other hand, shines in apps. Since the tablet landscape is much more catered towards Apple, the App Store contains a multitude of apps that complement the iPad Pro. From Final Cut to Logic to Procreate, the iPad Pro acts as the perfect tool for creators. While Samsung can't closely compete in terms of apps, it wins on intelligence. Channeling the raw power of Gemini, Galaxy AI is much more nuanced than Apple Intelligence and can be a better assistant than Siri.

On paper, Samsung offers a few more benefits as well, like a bigger battery, IP68 water resistance, and 45W fast charging. Overall, though, the iPad Pro is a more polished product with an ecosystem catered to creators. While the Samsung Tab packs versatility for no additional cost, the iPad thrives due to its app library, premium accessories, and overall user experience.