iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: The Ultimate Tablet Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 12.9 shines with its optimized M1 chip and seamless iPadOS integration, ideal for creative professionals. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra boasts a larger, vibrant display, S Pen functionality, and Android versatility, making it a strong contender for entertainment and productivity.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra |
| 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, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2379, A2461, A2462 | LTE |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2379 | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2461, A2462 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 20 | 2022, February 09 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 21 | Available. Released 2022, April 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 in) | 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5 mm (12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G) (1.50 lb) | 726 g (Wi-Fi), 728 g (5G) (1.60 lb) |
| Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic) | Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density) | 1848 x 2960 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~240 ppi density) |
| Size | 12.9 inches, 515.3 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 14.6 inches, 612.6 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Apple M1 | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) | Adreno 730 |
| OS | iPadOS 14.5.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 2TB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| - | UFS | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF 10 MP, f/2.4, 125˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF 6 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) |
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide) 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) |
| Features | Face detection, HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@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 | 5.2, 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 4 (Thunderbolt 4), DisplayPort, 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| - | Wireless Samsung DeX | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | 45W wired, 100% in 82 min |
| Type | Li-Po 10758 mAh (40.88 Wh) | Li-Po 11200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Graphite |
| Models | A2379, A2461, A2462, iPad13,8, iPad13,9, iPad13,10, iPad13,11 | SM-X900, SM-X906, SM-X906B, SM-X906U, SM-X906N |
| Price | About 1200 EUR | About 1150 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (body) |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)
- Unmatched M1 performance
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display
- Seamless iPadOS integration
- Excellent battery life
- Higher price point
- Limited Android app compatibility
- Slower charging speed
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
- Massive, vibrant Super AMOLED display
- Included S Pen stylus
- Versatile quad-camera system
- Faster charging (45W)
- Android tablet optimization can vary
- Pricey
- Software updates can be slower than iPadOS
Display Comparison
Both tablets feature exceptional displays. The iPad Pro 12.9 has a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting, offering incredible brightness and contrast. The Tab S8 Ultra has a massive 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Tab S8 Ultra's larger size is a significant advantage for multitasking and media consumption.
Camera Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 features a dual-camera system with a 12MP wide and 10MP ultrawide lens. The Tab S8 Ultra boasts a more versatile quad-camera setup with a 13MP main, 6MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro lens. Both offer decent front-facing cameras, but the Tab S8 Ultra's under-display camera provides a cleaner look.
Performance
The iPad Pro 12.9's M1 chip delivers blazing-fast performance, particularly in tasks optimized for Apple's silicon. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Tab S8 Ultra is also incredibly powerful, handling demanding games and applications with ease. iPadOS is generally more optimized for tablet use, while Android offers greater customization options.
Battery Life
The iPad Pro 12.9 offers excellent battery life, typically lasting a full day of moderate use. The Tab S8 Ultra's larger battery also provides solid endurance, though heavy usage can drain it faster. The Tab S8 Ultra's 45W charging is faster than the iPad Pro's charging speed.
Buying Guide
Who should buy Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)? Creative professionals, iPadOS enthusiasts, and those deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem. Who should buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra? Android users, S Pen lovers, those seeking a large, immersive display for media consumption, and those needing broader app compatibility.