iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) vs Galaxy Tab S8+: The Ultimate Tablet Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) boasts the M2 chip, delivering unparalleled performance and tight integration with the Apple ecosystem. The Galaxy Tab S8+ shines with its versatile S Pen, vibrant display, and Android flexibility. Ultimately, the choice depends on your preferred operating system and workflow.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ |
| 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 14 |
| 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) | 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 | 682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G) (1.50 lb) | 567 g (Wi-Fi), 572 g (5G) (1.25 lb) |
| Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic) | Stylus, 6.2ms 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) | 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 | 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, 512GB 8GB 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/2.4, 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 10090 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold |
| Models | A2764, A2437, A2766, A2436, iPad14,5, iPad14,6 | SM-X800, SM-X806, SM-X806B, SM-X806U, SM-X806N |
| Price | About 1450 EUR | About 950 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.68 W/kg (body) |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)
- Unmatched performance with M2 chip
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display
- Excellent camera system with LiDAR
- Tight integration with Apple ecosystem
- Smooth ProMotion 120Hz display
- Higher price point
- Limited charging speed (20W)
- Less expandable storage
- iPadOS can feel restrictive for some
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
- Versatile S Pen included
- Vibrant Super AMOLED display
- Faster charging (45W)
- More open Android operating system
- Expandable storage via microSD card
- Performance slightly behind iPad Pro
- Camera system not as impressive as iPad Pro
- Software updates can be slower
- S Pen can be a bit slippery
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 Galaxy Tab S8+ has an 12.4-inch Super AMOLED display, known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks. The iPad Pro's ProMotion technology (120Hz adaptive refresh rate) provides smoother scrolling, while the Tab S8+ also has a 120Hz refresh rate. The iPad Pro's mini-LED offers slightly better HDR performance.
Camera Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 has a dual-camera system (12MP Wide, 10MP Ultrawide) with LiDAR scanner, offering improved AR capabilities and better low-light performance. The Galaxy Tab S8+ has a triple-camera system (13MP Wide, 6MP Ultrawide, 5MP Macro). While both are capable, the iPad Pro generally produces more detailed and accurate photos and videos.
Performance
The iPad Pro 12.9’s M2 chip is a significant advantage, consistently outperforming the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in benchmarks and real-world tasks. While the Tab S8+ is no slouch, the M2’s efficiency and raw power are hard to match. Gaming performance is excellent on both, but the iPad Pro handles demanding creative applications with greater ease.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Tab S8+ has a larger battery capacity (10,090 mAh) compared to the iPad Pro 12.9 (approximately 9,980 mAh). However, the iPad Pro’s M2 chip is more efficient, often resulting in comparable or slightly better battery life in real-world usage. The Tab S8+ supports 45W charging, while the iPad Pro is limited to 20W.
Buying Guide
Who should buy Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)? Creative professionals, Apple ecosystem users, and those prioritizing raw processing power. Who should buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+? Android enthusiasts, note-takers, and users seeking a more open and customizable tablet experience.