Samsung has recently unveiled one of its most significant tablet offerings in recent memory, aiming to establish itself as a genuine alternative to the iPad. Apple has maintained an unyielding grip on this market segment, quarter after quarter and year after year. With this latest release, the Galaxy Tab S9, can it truly surpass the iPad Pro? Let’s delve into the details.
When Samsung decided to enter the high-stakes arena of iPads, it might not have fully comprehended the challenges and the immense effort required to compete with Apple in a market it has dominated. Nevertheless, Samsung has decided to play its cards, and the Galaxy Tab S9 emerges as a strong contender. It’s time for an in-depth comparison of these two devices to determine which one prevails and, most importantly, to assess whether Samsung has successfully narrowed the gap or even leveled the playing field. Let’s explore this further.
Design
Both products showcase exemplary design engineering, with each tablet family prioritizing elegance and portability while offering subtle differences.
The 11-inch iPad Pro boasts a sleek and sophisticated design, measuring 9.74 inches in height, 7.02 inches in width, and 0.23 inches in depth. On the other hand, Samsung’s offering shares a similar depth but is slightly wider and thinner, measuring 10.01 inches in height and 6.53 inches in width.
Turning to the 12.9-inch models, they feature dimensions of 11.04×8.46×0.25. In comparison, the Tab S9 and Tab S9 Ultra measure 7.2×12.8×0.2, respectively.
In terms of weight, the 11-inch iPad Pro weighs 466 grams, while the 12.9-inch version tips the scales at approximately 682 grams. In this regard, the Samsung tablet falls in between, with a weight of 581 grams for its standard version but goes slightly heavier in its Ultra version, weighing 732 grams.
iPad Pro vs Galaxy Tab S9 screen
All Samsung displays feature the Galaxy Tab S9 panel, which boasts a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display known for vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high contrast ratios—ideal for both media consumption and professional tasks.
Meanwhile, the iPad panel offers a Liquid Retina screen, an Apple-developed technology that has evolved over the years to deliver realistic colors tailored for professional use. In this generation, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro introduced Liquid Retina XDR technology.
The 12.9-inch iPad achieves up to 600 nits brightness for SDR content, with a maximum of 1,000 nits for full-screen content and an impressive 1,600 nits for HDR content. The 11-inch model maintains a constant 600 nits for all content. Although there is a slight difference in features, both models perform exceptionally well.
Samsung’s Tab series offers impressive brightness levels as well, with the S9 reaching 750 nits, the Tab 9+ offering 650 nits, and the Tab S9 Ultra boasting 930 nits. Despite Samsung’s commendable display performance, Apple manages to outshine its competitors in this area.
It’s worth noting that actual brightness experienced by users may vary depending on factors like ambient lighting conditions, screen content, and device capabilities.
Lastly, both tablets offer a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, delivering responsive touch interactions and fluid visual experiences.