Here’s How They Stack Up
Choosing between these two powerhouse tablets might be easier than you suppose.
As ever, selecting a premium pill in 2026 comes down to 2 very completely different philosophies. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra bets on sheer display measurement, battery stamina and bundled equipment, whereas Apple’s iPad Pro prioritizes uncooked processing, show precision and a tightly built-in software program ecosystem. For professionals splitting time between video calls, spreadsheets and artistic work, or anybody who needs a dependable display for streaming and staying organized, this determination carries actual weight.
Both tablets sit on the high of their respective lineups and each include worth tags that make the choice really feel extra consequential. Samsung’s new top-of-the-line Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra begins at $1,399.99 and is simply accessible in a 14.6-inch measurement. The firm additionally launched the 12.6-inch Galaxy Tab S12+ which begins at $1,199.99. On the opposite facet of the fence, Apple’s iPad Pro ranges from $1,199 for the 11-inch mannequin and $1,499 for the 13-inch model, not together with equipment. For the aim of this comparability, as a result of specs variations, we’re focusing purely on the Tab S12 Ultra and Apple’s largest choice.
The proper selection between the 2 is dependent upon a great deal of issues, beginning with model loyalty and ending with the way you really plan to make use of the system. Do you want a pill that lasts by means of a complete workday with out reaching for a charger? Are you doing color-sensitive artistic work that calls for show accuracy? Are you already locked into Apple’s ecosystem of apps? Let’s break it down and see how the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra compares to Apple’s M5 iPad Pro and which one it’s best to get.
Display high quality
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra includes a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X show with a pointy 2,960 x 1,848 decision and a 120Hz adaptive refresh fee. The show reaches a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, and 1,000 nits in High Brightness Mode. Samsung’s Vision Booster tech adjusts brightness in actual time primarily based on ambient gentle. At 14.6 inches, it is one of many largest pill screens in the marketplace and the additional house makes a noticeable distinction when multitasking in split-screen apps or reviewing detailed paperwork. Samsung’s AMOLED panels are recognized for delivering vivid colours and we discovered this pill to be “shiny” and “dazzlingly colourful” in our review.
Apple’s iPad Pro includes a Ultra Retina XDR show, accessible in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. Apple formally charges the show for 1,000 nits and 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR content material. Plus, the Ultra Retina XDR is constructed for excessive distinction accuracy and coloration precision. These are all qualities that matter fairly a bit to photographers, video editors and designers who want their display output to match skilled coloration requirements.
The backside line is that it is dependent upon your priorities. If you need a pill that looks like a conveyable monitor for productiveness and multitasking, Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra’s bigger canvas provides it an edge. Creatives who depend on Apple-only apps and color-management workflows might want the iPad Pro.
Performance, battery life and portability
Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor constructed on a 3nm course of. Apple’s most recent iPad Pro comes with an M5 chip, which delivers a quicker Neural Engine and a 10-core GPU with neural accelerators constructed into every core. While we are able to have a look at benchmark check outcomes to extrapolate the tiny variations in velocity between the 2 tablets, on the finish of the day, actual planet expertise will probably be impacted extra by how you utilize your system.
Battery life is the place the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra distances itself from the competitors. Samsung claims its 11,600mAh battery will final for as much as 23 hours of use on a cost. In our real-world video rundown check, it lasted 19 hours and 39 minutes, which is a formidable outcome for any pill. Despite its massive battery, Samsung managed to maintain the system at simply 5.1mm thick, making it the thinnest Galaxy Tab launched to this point.
By comparability, Apple guarantees that the iPad Pro gives as much as 10 hours of battery life, which is a noticeably shorter declare than Samsung’s. Without a side-by-side check, we won’t inform you if both pill lasts considerably longer, however our reviewer Nate Ingraham did say he wished Apple was capable of bless the iPad Pro with the next battery life ranking.
As you’d anticipate, relating to portability, the 14.6-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra goes to be fairly a bit heavier than the iPad’s 11- and 13-inch fashions. Thankfully, although, none of those tablets will break your again if you’re carrying them round as a result of the Tab S12 Ultra weighs 692 grams (1.52 kilos), whereas the bigger iPad is 579 grams (1.28 kilos). You must also contemplate whether or not the a lot bigger dimensions of the Tab S12 Ultra is a match on your common purse or bag.
Accessories
Samsung bundles the S Pen stylus with the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra at no further price and the acquisition contains free trials for Adobe Photoshop, Google AI Pro and Goodnotes. That’s numerous further worth baked into that steep worth, significantly for anybody who needs to get into sketching, loves annotating recordsdata or modifying images. Two keyboard choices will probably be accessible for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra — the easier Book Cover Keyboard Slim and the Pro Keyboard with a trackpad — however we haven’t any official costs at this level. Samsung says that you’ll get them for 30 % off with the acquisition of a Galaxy Tab S12 collection system for a restricted time.
Apple takes the other method. The iPad Pro M5 helps the Apple Pencil Pro, however it’s bought individually for a hefty $129. The Magic Keyboard accent prices an additional $299-$349 (relying on pill measurement).
Samsung has a extra budget-friendly bundle right here, providing the stylus totally free. But for those who’re trying to flip your pill into extra of a laptop computer with a keyboard case, you will must pay for it it doesn’t matter what model you select.
Which pill must you really purchase?
Go for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra if you’d like a giant canvas and lengthy battery life for the cash. Its 14.6-inch display fits split-screen multitasking and studying paperwork, particularly with its spectacular battery life. The S Pen is included alongside a bunch of free trials. At $1,399, it prices lower than the 13-inch iPad Pro, too.
Choose the iPad Pro M5 if velocity and portability matter extra. It’s forward in processing energy so it is the higher selection for demanding artistic work like video modifying or graphics-heavy apps. If you already dwell within the Apple ecosystem, the M5 iPad Pro makes probably the most sense as properly.
The fact is, nonetheless, that you’re going to most likely go on your favourite ecosystem, selecting as you at all times do between Android and iOS. Either manner, finances for a keyboard.
