Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs. iPad Pro – Who reigns supreme in the world of tablets?

There is no doubt that one of the great battles in the technological world is, always, Samsung vs Apple. They are the two big players in the sector, and each one champions a different ecosystem. Basically, you’re either Samsung or Apple. It is, saving the distance, like when you decide if you are more in favor of Madrid or Barça. Therefore, every time brands market new devices, it is inevitable and essential to compare them to see which one is more worth it. That is what we are going to do now with the most advanced tablets of each brand: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs iPad Pro.

The truth is that, from the point of view of corporate identity, we cannot deny that Apple has managed to get us to talk directly about its iPad, and not about the Apple tablet. However, Samsung has gone all out with its tablets, and the ones it has just marketed in the S9 series have nothing to envy of the iPad. Now, does it really manage to outshine it in terms of performance and value for money?

To analyze it, we are going to look closely at all their differences and similarities. Roughly speaking, we will tell you that, in terms of price, there are practically no differences, which makes us think that the features will also be very similar. However, we are going to look at those details that vary, which are the ones that will help us the most in choosing. We already told you that some of the most important differences have to do with the size of the screen, the battery capacity, the front camera and the occasional sensor. Let’s see the details!

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs iPad Pro – Comparison Table

If you want to know what the most important differences are between the most complete Samsung and Apple tablets, we advise you to take a look at our comparison table:

Screen: Samsung has more surface area

Logically, the screen is one of the most important aspects when comparing two tablets, because it is the surface on which we are going to work and view all the data. In this sense, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has a 14.6-inch screen, somewhat larger than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Despite being larger, it is a thinner screen, with a thickness of 5.5 mm. It should be noted that there is another version of the iPad with an 11-inch screen, although for this comparison we have focused on the largest one.

Consequently, Samsung’s tablet is somewhat heavier than Apple’s, although the difference is not much. And, if we look at the type of screen, Samsung has opted for Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, which greatly improves the fluidity of the images compared to previous Samsung tablets. For its part, the iPad Pro has a Liquid Retina XDR screen, made up of mini LED technology. The resolution of the iPad screen is higher than that of the Samsung tablet, although, from our point of view, the quality of the images in terms of contrast is better on the Samsung model. Especially in the contrast of blacks.

Each tablet with its processor

The processor is another of the distinctive elements of each brand; especially, in the case of Apple, whose processors no one else has. In this case, the iPad Pro has Apple’s M2 chip, and the truth is that it is a processor that is difficult to beat. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has is close, but the performance offered by the iPad is superior. The performance of its CPU is higher than that of Samsung, and we notice this because it can have numerous applications that use a lot of CPU open and it does not affect its speed.

As for storage options, it should be noted that it is also Apple that takes the cake, although Samsung has managed to solve this lack quite well. The iPad Pro can be purchased with 8 GB of RAM and 128, 256 or 512 GB of internal memory, but it also has two premium options, with 16 GB of RAM and 1 or 2 TB internal. In the case of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, we find 12 GB of RAM and 256 or 512 GB of internal storage. However, we can incorporate a microSD card of up to 1 TB, which makes it more equal to the iPad.

Finally, it should be noted that the Samsung tablet is based on the Android 13 operating system, while the iPad Pro has its own operating system, iPadOS 17. In this case, the difference is that the Android ecosystem is more open to others. devices and Apple’s is more hermetic, but, at the application level, they are quite similar and offer access to the most important apps today.

Battery: Samsung beats Apple

In general, battery life is one of the aspects where Apple can improve the most, especially with competitors like Samsung. The S9 Ultra has a battery capacity of 11,200 mAh, which translates into an approximate autonomy of 16 hours of video playback.

On the other hand, the iPad Pro has a 7,538 mAh capacity battery, reducing its autonomy to about 10 hours of video playback. Be careful, this capacity is not bad at all if we compare it with the rest of the tablets on the market; but, comparing it to Samsung, it falls short. What both tablets do share is the incorporation of a USB port compatible with Thunderbolt 4.

Do both tablets include a pencil?

No, and this is another of the differences between them. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra includes the S-Pen, the pencil designed by Samsung and included in all its tablets. On the other hand, the iPad Pro does not include the Apple Pencil in its standard equipment. It is compatible with both it and the Magic Keyboard, but you have to buy them separately, which increases its price. Additionally, we love that Samsung’s S-Pen is IP68 certified, ensuring that it is resistant to both water and dust.

Similar rear cameras, with more differences in the front ones

Another element that we must analyze is the set of cameras, and it is another of the differentiating points between the two brands. If we look at the rear cameras, we see a dual system in both tablets. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has a 13 MP and an 8 MP wide-angle main camera, while the iPad Pro has a 12 MP and a 10 MP main camera. As for results, they are quite even, because the fact of having a double wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle camera.

Where we find the main difference is in the front cameras. The iPad Pro has a 12 MP selfie camera, the same as the Samsung tablet. However, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra complements this camera with a second front camera, also 12 MP. A plus point for holding meetings and video calls with clients by transmitting high-quality images.

Sensors and connectivity: many similarities and some small differences

Regarding the sensors, we are forced to comment that only the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has a fingerprint sensor, while the iPad Pro lacks this sensor. In compensation, it has a LiDAR-based scanning system that we do not find in the Samsung tablet. The rest of the sensors are practically the same.

Speaking of connectivity, it should be noted that the two tablets are compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6, and are not compatible with NFC technology to enable contactless payments.

Resistance certification, only on the Samsung tablet

Before finishing, we want to clarify that only Samsung has reported that its tablet has the IP68 resistance rating, which guarantees the maximum possible tolerance against splashes of water or specks of dust. Apple, for its part, did not want to express this resistance certification, although we suspect that it will be very similar. Simply, since the brand has not stated it, we are not going to test it as a precaution.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs iPad Pro: Which tablet wins the eternal battle?

The two tablets from Samsung and Apple are the most complete, so far, in their respective brands. And they are, perhaps, the most similar to each other so far of all the ones they have released. So much so that they even have the same price, although it is important that we look at the small details to know which one fits us best. Of course, this decision will be highly dependent on rather objective issues.

Overall, Apple wins the battle in terms of performance, because it is difficult to compete with the M2 processor of this brand. It is true that Samsung has closed the gap with the Snapdragon, but it does not reach the level of perfection of Apple. On the other hand, the Samsung tablet is more versatile in terms of connectivity and compatibility with other devices, because the Apple ecosystem is more closed. In addition, it has a double front camera and includes the S-Pen, which makes the quality-price ratio more interesting.

Therefore, think about what qualities are most important to you before making a decision. Either tablet is perfect for use at work; Perhaps the iPad is more interesting for designers, architects or other professionals who need applications that support great performance. But, for the rest, both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra and the iPad Pro are two excellent options.