Which Tablet Should You Choose Between The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra And The iPad Pro 2022?

It makes a lot of sense to compare the Apple iPad Pro 2022 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. After all, they are all equipped with sizable displays, potent performance, and sleek, contemporary designs. They can also serve as a replacement for laptops thanks to available attachable keyboards. Artists may also bring their creations to life with the help of their individual digital pens.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and iPad Pro 2022 are without a doubt some of the best tablets money can buy. Which one, though, is best for you? To assist in addressing this query, we will go through each of their key characteristics.

I gave both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and the iPad Pro 2022 reviews. While the latter has a 14.6-inch (2960 x 1848) AMOLED display, 512GB of storage, and 16GB of RAM, the former has a 12.9-inch XDR display, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. Our review units cost $1,999 and $1,399 when configured (respectively). We’ll compare these setups in the section below.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra vs. iPad Pro 2022: Pricing

The Apple online store sells the iPad Pro 2022. (opens in new tab). The price of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is $1,099, £1,249, or AU$1,399. This entry-level model only provides Wi-Fi connectivity since it is one.
The 12-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular model starts at $1,299/£1,429/AU$2,149 if you want Wi-Fi + Cellular. The price is greatly increased by the separate purchase of the Magic Keyboard ($349 value) and Apple Pencil 2nd generation ($129).

The starting pricing for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra on Samsung’s website(opens in new tab) is $1,099/£799/AU$1,799. You can receive a discount in the US by exchanging an eligible device (or checking our Samsung promo codes page). This configuration comes in graphite and features 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Tab S8 Ultra is exclusively available in Wi-Fi variants from Samsung, just like the Galaxy Tab S8.

You can get the Book Cover Keyboard for the Tab S8 Ultra for $349. (opens in new tab). This effectively transforms the tablet into an Android laptop when paired with DeX mode.

In the US, both tablets are available for $1,099 upfront. The cost of the Samsung tablet is $1,448 whereas the cost of the Apple tablet is $1,597 when you factor in their respective peripherals. The keyboard add-ons for the tablet are $349 each. The Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard must be purchased separately, whereas the Samsung Book Cover Keyboard includes the S Pen for free.

Design comparison between the iPad Pro 2022 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra The iPad Pro 2022 is identical to the iPad Pro 2021 and iPad Pro 2020 in terms of design. This isn’t a drawback because its svelte machined aluminum frame and tiny bezels continue to be eye-catching.

The dimensions of the iPad Pro 2022 are 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches, and it has the same weight of 1.5 pounds as the model from the previous year. The weight is increased by the Magic Keyboard to 3 pounds, which is slightly more than the 2.7 pounds each of the MacBook Air 2022 and Dell XPS 13 OLED 2022. The tablet’s small weight makes it comfortable to carry for extended periods of time even without the keyboard connection.

As far as buttons and ports are concerned, nothing has changed. While holding the iPad vertically, like a sheet of paper, there are two volume control buttons on the right side, a single Thunderbolt 4/USB-C port on the bottom edge, and a button along the top right edge for locking the screen and activating Touch ID.

The Samsung Tab S8 Ultra is a massive tablet, measuring 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 inches. You might see Moses hauling it down from Mount Sinai since it is so enormous. It weighs 1.04 pounds, which is remarkably light considering its biblical size. Even if it’s challenging to grip with one hand, two hands are more secure.

The Tab S8 Ultra has the same streamlined, lightweight design as Samsung’s premium slates. Even when linked to the Book Cover Keyboard, the tablet looks sleek overall. Whether you carry it in your hands or a backpack, it’s simple to do so.

The power and volume buttons are located on the slate’s right side. A microSD card slot is also present, but you must use the provided tool to access it. It is located close to the bottom right corner of the device. Rear-facing cameras and a magnetic strip to hold the S pen are located on the back of the Tab S8 Ultra. At the bottom edge are two speakers and a USB-C port. There isn’t much of a headphone jack, so you’ll need to use Bluetooth or the USB-C connector to attach headphones.

Regarding their designs, both tablets take a conservative approach. No matter which option you pick, you’ll get slates that are incredibly thin and stylish. Both are equal in that regard. The bigger Tab S8 Ultra, though, unquestionably attracts more attention.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra vs. iPad Pro 2022: Display

The iPad Pro 2022 I tested had a sizable 12.9-inch mini-LED display with 2,732 x 2,048-pixel resolution and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. That is a large amount of screen real estate for watching your favorite Netflix or YouTube content. Also, the stunning XDR display makes everything on the screen look even better if you’re watching HDR material.

The Tab S8 Ultra’s imposing 14.6-inch (2960 x 1848) AMOLED display is its distinguishing feature. Anything you’re viewing, including YouTube videos, streaming entertainment, and games, looks just fantastic on its bright, brilliant screen. Although you can lock it to 60Hz to save battery, the 120Hz refresh rate guarantees that online pages flow smoothly and that apps load promptly.

Performance of the iPad Pro 2022 with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU, whereas the iPad Pro 2022 has an Apple M2 chip.

The iPad Pro 2022 achieved 8,500 on the multi-core test in Geekbench 5.4, which measures overall performance, and 1,862 on the single-core test. The Samsung Tab S8 powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is completely destroyed by these values (1,223 single-core, 3,380 multi-core).

On the 3D Mark Wild Life Unlimited test for graphics, the iPad Pro 2022 achieved a score of 25,259 and 151 frames per second. With a score of 9,152 and 54 frames per second in the same test, the Tab S8 Ultra came nowhere close.

The new iPad Pro transcoded a video using Adobe Premiere Rush in 23 seconds as opposed to the Tab S8 Ultra’s 47 seconds.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra vs. iPad Pro 2022: Battery life

The iPad Pro 2022 lasted 10 hours and 39 minutes on the Tom’s Guide battery test, which entails continuous web browsing at 150 nits of screen brightness. The Tab S8 Ultra lasted 9 hours and 22 minutes in the same test.

When utilizing the provided 20W charger, charging times are reasonable. In our tests, it took the iPad Pro 15 minutes to reach 10% battery capacity and 30 minutes to reach 20%. The Tab S8 Ultra charged up to 15% and 41% in 20 and 30 minutes, respectively.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra vs. iPad Pro 2022: Keyboard and pen

Two of my favorite accessories are the Apple Magic Keyboard ($349 USD) and Apple Pencil 2 ($129 USD). The former delivers the iPad Pro laptop-like features, while the latter lets you use the tablet to write or draw on. You can find the ideal viewing angle thanks to the floating cantilever design.

Hours of comfortable typing can be done on the keyboard alone, and the trackpad is snappy and fluid. The cost of each of these accessories continue to be my only gripe. Having already paid for an expensive tablet, spending an additional $478 (before taxes) hurts.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra vs. iPad Pro 2022: Audio

The iPad Pro’s four speakers enable it to produce loud, resonant sound, just like its predecessor. The sound quality of the music and streaming content is excellent, but the bass wasn’t as strong as I would have expected.

When the volume is turned all the way up, the speakers on the Tab S8 Ultra are pretty loud. Whether you’re watching your favorite content creator or listening to music, the sound quality is clean and sharp. You may enable Dolby Atmos support in the Settings menu as well. Similar to the iPad Pro, I didn’t like this tablet’s weak bass.

Which tablet should you choose between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and the iPad Pro 2022?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and iPad Pro 2022 both have features in common. Each is perfect for video conferences, web browsing, and viewing videos. They can write and draw beautifully on their touchscreens as well. Additionally, they make halfway respectable laptop replacements thanks to their keyboard accessories.

What is best for you, then? The Samsung Tab S8 Ultra is a no-brainer if you want a tablet with a big screen. The iPad Pro 2022 is a better choice, though, if performance is more crucial. Get the equivalent tablet if you’re wed to the Apple or Samsung ecosystem.