Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022): The Ultimate Tablet Showdown

The tablet market is dominated by two giants: Samsung and Apple. The Galaxy Tab S8+ and iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) represent the pinnacle of their respective offerings. But which one deserves your money? This comprehensive comparison will delve into every aspect, from performance to features, to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) boasts superior performance thanks to the M2 chip and tight iOS integration, especially for creative professionals. However, the Tab S8+ offers a more versatile Android experience with DeX mode and an included S Pen, making it a strong contender for general use and productivity.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+	Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)

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 - A2764, A2437
5G bands	SA/NSA	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
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only	HSPA, LTE, 5G
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, February 09	2022, October 18
Status	Available. Released 2022, April 14	Available. Released 2022, October 26

Body
Build	-	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	285 x 185 x 5.7 mm (11.22 x 7.28 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	567 g (Wi-Fi), 572 g (5G) (1.25 lb)	682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G) (1.50 lb)
	Stylus, 6.2ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)	Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating
Resolution	1752 x 2800 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~266 ppi density)	2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density)
Size	12.4 inches, 446.1 cm2 (~84.6% 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 (4x3.49 GHz performance cores, 4 efficiency cores)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)	Apple M2
GPU	Adreno 730	Apple GPU (10-core graphics)
OS	Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1	iPadOS 16.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB 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, ProRes

Selfie camera
Dual	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, HDR

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	5.3, 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 3), 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/6e, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer
	Wireless Samsung DeX	-

Battery
Charging	45W wired, 100% in 82 min	-
Type	Li-Po 10090 mAh	Li-Po 10758 mAh (40.88 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold	Silver, Space Gray
Models	SM-X800, SM-X806, SM-X806B, SM-X806U, SM-X806N	A2764, A2437, A2766, A2436, iPad14,5, iPad14,6
Price	About 950 EUR	About 1450 EUR
SAR EU	0.68 W/kg (body)	-

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+

Included S Pen
Android Flexibility (DeX mode)
Vibrant AMOLED Display
Expandable Storage (via microSD)
More open ecosystem

Performance slightly behind iPad Pro
Software updates can be slower
Camera not as good as iPad Pro

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)

Blazing-fast M2 Chip
Stunning Liquid Retina XDR Display
Optimized iPadOS
Excellent Camera System
Seamless Apple Ecosystem Integration

Higher Price
Less Flexible Operating System
No Expandable Storage
Accessories are expensive

Display Comparison

Both tablets feature stunning displays. The iPad Pro 12.9” utilizes a Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting, offering exceptional brightness and contrast. The Tab S8+ has a 12.4” Super AMOLED display with vibrant colors and deep blacks. While both are excellent, the iPad Pro’s mini-LED technology gives it a slight edge in HDR performance.

Camera Comparison

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) generally offers better camera performance, particularly in video recording, thanks to Apple's image processing. The Tab S8+ has capable cameras, but they don't quite match the iPad Pro's quality. Both offer ultrawide lenses.

Performance

The Apple M2 chip in the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is a clear winner in terms of raw processing power. It consistently outperforms the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in benchmarks and real-world tasks. The Tab S8+ is still very capable, but the M2’s efficiency and speed are noticeable, especially in demanding applications like video editing and 3D rendering.

Battery Life

Battery life is comparable between the two. Both devices offer all-day battery life with moderate usage. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) might have a slight edge due to the M2's efficiency, but it's not a significant difference.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+? Users seeking Android flexibility, S Pen functionality for note-taking and drawing, and a more open ecosystem. Who should buy the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)? Creative professionals, those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, and users prioritizing raw processing power and optimized tablet apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the S Pen worth it?

Absolutely! The included S Pen on the Tab S8+ is a fantastic tool for note-taking, sketching, and navigating the tablet. It's a significant advantage over the iPad Pro, which requires a separate purchase for the Apple Pencil.

❓ Which tablet is better for gaming?

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) generally offers a smoother gaming experience due to its more powerful M2 chip. However, both tablets can handle most mobile games with ease.