Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra vs. Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021): The Ultimate Tablet Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) offers unmatched performance and a polished ecosystem, especially for creative professionals. However, the Tab S8 Ultra boasts a stunning display, S Pen integration, and Android's flexibility, making it a compelling choice for broader use cases. It's a close call, leaning slightly towards iPad for power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) |
| 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 | LTE | 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 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 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 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / 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 | 2022, February 09 | 2021, April 20 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 30 | Available. Released 2021, May 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5 mm (12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 in) | 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 726 g (Wi-Fi), 728 g (5G) (1.60 lb) | 682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G) (1.50 lb) |
| Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) | Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1848 x 2960 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~240 ppi density) | 2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density) |
| Size | 14.6 inches, 612.6 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.9 inches, 515.3 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Apple M1 |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1 | iPadOS 14.5.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 2TB 16GB RAM |
| UFS | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF 6 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) | 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) |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide) 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | HDR | Face detection, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| 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 | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 4), DisplayPort, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, barometer |
| Wireless Samsung DeX | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired, 100% in 82 min | - |
| Type | Li-Po 11200 mAh | Li-Po 10758 mAh (40.88 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Graphite | Silver, Space Gray |
| Models | SM-X900, SM-X906, SM-X906B, SM-X906U, SM-X906N | A2379, A2461, A2462, iPad13,8, iPad13,9, iPad13,10, iPad13,11 |
| Price | About 1150 EUR | About 1200 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.69 W/kg (body) | - |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
- Stunning 14.6-inch AMOLED display
- Included S Pen for productivity
- Versatile camera system
- Android's open ecosystem
- Fast charging (45W)
- Performance slightly behind iPad Pro
- Android tablet app optimization can be inconsistent
- Larger size may be unwieldy for some
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)
- Blazing-fast M1 chip performance
- Optimized iPadOS for tablet use
- Excellent Liquid Retina XDR display
- Strong app ecosystem
- Premium build quality
- No included stylus (sold separately)
- Less flexible operating system
- Higher price point
- Limited multitasking compared to DeX mode
Display Comparison
The Tab S8 Ultra features a massive 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) has a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED technology, delivering exceptional brightness and contrast. While the iPad's display is technically superior in HDR performance, the S8 Ultra's size provides a more immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
The Tab S8 Ultra has a more versatile camera system with a quad-camera setup on the rear, including an ultrawide lens. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) has a dual-camera system. Image quality is excellent on both, but the Tab S8 Ultra offers more flexibility in shooting scenarios.
Performance
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)'s M1 chip provides a significant performance advantage over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Tab S8 Ultra, particularly in demanding tasks like video editing and 3D rendering. The Tab S8 Ultra is still incredibly fast for everyday use, but the M1's raw power is undeniable. iPadOS is also highly optimized for the hardware.
Battery Life
Both tablets offer all-day battery life under typical usage. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) generally edges out the Tab S8 Ultra in battery endurance, likely due to the efficiency of the M1 chip. The Tab S8 Ultra's larger screen and more power-hungry processor can impact battery life under heavy load.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra? Users seeking a large, vibrant display, S Pen functionality for note-taking and drawing, and the flexibility of Android. Who should buy the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)? Creative professionals, those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, and users prioritizing raw processing power and optimized apps.