iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) vs Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: The Ultimate Tablet Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 12.9 shines with its M2 chip's raw power and optimized iPadOS. The Tab S8 Ultra boasts a larger, more versatile display and the flexibility of Android. For creative professionals deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, the iPad Pro wins. For Android users seeking a large-screen experience and S Pen integration, the Tab S8 Ultra is the better choice.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) | 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 - A2764, A2437 | LTE |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2764 | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2437, A2766 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 18 | 2022, February 09 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 26 | 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 (4x3.49 GHz performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Apple M2 | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (10-core graphics) | Adreno 730 |
| OS | iPadOS 16.1, 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, ProRes | 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, HDR | 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 | 5.3, 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 3), DisplayPort, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, compass, 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 | A2764, A2437, A2766, A2436, iPad14,5, iPad14,6 | SM-X900, SM-X906, SM-X906B, SM-X906U, SM-X906N |
| Price | About 1450 EUR | About 1150 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (body) |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)
- Unmatched performance with M2 chip
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display
- Optimized iPadOS
- Excellent camera quality
- Strong app ecosystem
- Limited charging speed (20W)
- Higher price point
- Less versatile than Android
- Lightning port (older standard)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
- Massive 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display
- Included S Pen for note-taking and drawing
- Android OS flexibility
- Fast charging (45W)
- Expandable storage (microSD card slot)
- Performance slightly behind iPad Pro
- Android tablet app ecosystem not as mature
- Software updates can be slower
- Larger size may be unwieldy for some
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 boasts 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, while the iPad Pro's mini-LED technology delivers superior HDR performance.
Camera Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 features a dual-camera system with a 12MP wide and a 10MP ultrawide lens, plus a LiDAR scanner for improved AR experiences. The Tab S8 Ultra has a quad-camera setup with a 13MP main, 6MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro lens. While both are capable, the iPad Pro generally produces better image quality, especially in video recording, thanks to Apple's image processing.
Performance
The iPad Pro 12.9's M2 chip delivers blistering performance, easily handling demanding tasks like video editing and 3D rendering. iPadOS is highly optimized for Apple's hardware. The Tab S8 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a powerful Android chip, but the M2 generally holds a performance edge, particularly in sustained workloads. However, the Tab S8 Ultra's larger RAM capacity (up to 16GB) can help with multitasking.
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 (10,000 mAh) provides comparable battery life, but the larger display and more demanding Android OS can impact longevity. The Tab S8 Ultra supports 45W fast charging, while the iPad Pro is limited to 20W.
Buying Guide
Who should buy Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)? Creative professionals, artists, designers, and anyone heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem who prioritize raw processing power and iPadOS optimization. Who should buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra? Android users, note-takers, those who value a larger display for multitasking and media consumption, and those who appreciate the versatility of the S Pen.