iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+: Which Pro Tablet Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most professional users prioritizing display quality and raw processing power, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) is the superior choice. Its significantly brighter display and optimized A12Z Bionic chip offer a smoother, more visually stunning experience. However, the Galaxy Tab S7+ excels in charging speed and offers the flexibility of Android.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) | Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | Class 10 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 18 | 2020, August 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, March 19 | Available. Released 2020, August 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.23 in) | 285 x 185 x 5.7 mm (11.22 x 7.28 x 0.22 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 641 g (Wi-Fi), 643 g (LTE) (1.41 lb) | 575 g (1.27 lb) |
| Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic) | Stylus support, 5.6ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | - |
| Resolution | 2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density) | 1752 x 2800 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~266 ppi density) |
| Size | 12.9 inches, 515.3 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.4 inches, 446.1 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 600 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.5 GHz Vortex + 4x1.6 GHz Tempest) | Octa-core (1x3.09 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Apple A12Z Bionic | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) | Adreno 650 |
| OS | iPadOS 13.4, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Call records | - | 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls |
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| Phonebook | - | 500 entries |
| - | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF 10 MP, f/2.4, 11mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF 5 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 1.3 MP |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Face detection, HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| - | Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Games | - | Yes |
| Java | - | No |
| Messaging | - | SMS, MMS |
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| - | Samsung DeX | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | 45W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 200 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 8 h |
| Type | Li-Po 9720 mAh (36.71 Wh) | Li-Po 10090 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Silver, Phantom Navy |
| Models | A2069, A2232, A2233, A2229, iPad8,11, iPad8,12 | SM-T970, SM-T976B, SM-T975 |
| Price | About 1000 EUR | About 900 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.16 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.06 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 566786 (v8) GeekBench: 2690 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2020)
- Superior display brightness and contrast
- Optimized A12Z Bionic chip for smooth performance
- Tight integration with Apple ecosystem
- Slower charging speeds
- Less flexible operating system (iPadOS)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
- 45W fast charging
- Open Android operating system
- Included S Pen stylus
- Lower display brightness and contrast
- Snapdragon 865+ may throttle under sustained load
Display Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) boasts a clear advantage in display technology, achieving a measured peak brightness of 625 nits compared to the Galaxy Tab S7+'s 484 nits. This translates to better visibility in bright environments. While Samsung claims an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, the iPad Pro’s 1330:1 contrast ratio provides demonstrably deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. Both tablets feature large displays, but the iPad Pro’s superior brightness and contrast make it the better choice for content creation and consumption, particularly for professionals in fields like photography and video editing.
Camera Comparison
Neither tablet prioritizes camera performance, but the iPad Pro likely holds a slight edge due to Apple’s image processing capabilities. Detailed camera specs are not provided, but Apple generally focuses on natural-looking images, while Samsung tends towards more saturated colors. The absence of detailed camera information suggests neither device is a primary choice for photography.
Performance
Under the hood, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) utilizes Apple’s A12Z Bionic chip, an octa-core processor with a unique architecture (4x2.5 GHz Vortex + 4x1.6 GHz Tempest). This chip is designed for optimized performance within the Apple ecosystem. The Galaxy Tab S7+ counters with the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+, also an octa-core processor (1x3.09 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). While the Snapdragon 865+ is a powerful chip, the A12Z Bionic’s tight integration with iPadOS generally results in smoother performance and better power efficiency, especially in demanding tasks like video editing and 3D rendering. The A12Z’s Neural Engine also provides a significant advantage in machine learning tasks.
Battery Life
Battery life is difficult to assess without detailed usage data. However, the Galaxy Tab S7+ compensates for a potentially smaller battery capacity with its 45W wired charging, significantly faster than the iPad Pro’s charging speed (which is not specified in the provided data, but is known to be slower). This means the Tab S7+ can be quickly topped up during short breaks, making it more convenient for users on the go. The A12Z Bionic’s power efficiency may contribute to comparable real-world battery endurance despite potential capacity differences.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) if you need the absolute best display for color-critical work, seamless integration with other Apple devices, and a mature ecosystem of professional apps. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ if you prefer the openness of Android, require faster charging capabilities, and value the included S Pen for note-taking and creative tasks.