Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 vs iPad Pro: What’s the difference?
Just a week ahead of the hotly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 9 launch, Samsung has pulled the wraps off a new premium tablet − the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4.
With productivity at the fore of the S4’s messaging, we wanted to see how it stacks up against its most prominent rivals, Apple’s iPad Pro line.
Which should you pick? Read on to make your decision easier.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 vs iPad Pro specs – How do they compare?
Whilst Apple’s tablets pack nearly identical specs − save for the larger, heavier screen and frame of the iPad Pro 12.9-inch − the only real similarity that the Tab S4 shares with either is its 4GB of RAM.
[videoai]The 16:10 aspect ratio renders the Tab S4 markedly narrower than the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, but it’s also pushed Samsung to drop the fingerprint sensor that was available on last year’s Tab S3.
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Instead, the Tab S4 sports both iris and face recognition, as we’ve come to know from the company’s most recent Galaxy S and Note phones. Apple’s tablets, meanwhile, still boast Touch ID-based fingerprint-sensitive home buttons.
| Galaxy Tab S4 | iPad Pro 10.5 | iPad Pro 12.9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 10.5-inches | 10.5-inches | 12.9-inches |
| Screen resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2224 x 1668 | 2732 x 2048 |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 4:3 | 4:3 |
| Audio | Tuned quad speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack | ||
| Dimensions | 249.3mm x 164.3mm x 7.1mm | 250.6mm x 174.1mm x 6.1mm | 305.7mm x 220.6mm x 6.9mm |
| Weight | 482g (Wi-Fi)/483g (LTE) | 469g (Wi-Fi)/477g (LTE) | 677g (Wi-Fi)/692g (LTE) |
| OS | Android 8.1 Oreo | iOS 11 | iOS 11 |
| Front cameras | 8MP | 7MP | 7MP |
| Rear cameras | 13MP | 12MP w/ OIS | 12MP w/ OIS |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 | Apple A10X Fusion | |
| Memory | 4GB RAM | ||
| Storage | 64GB/256GB + microSD up to 400GB | 64GB/256GB/512GB. Non-expandable | |
| Battery | 7300mAh | 8134mAh | 10891mAh |
| Colours | Black, grey | Silver, gold, Space Grey, Rose Gold | Silver, gold, Space Grey |
| Accessories | S Pen (included), Book Cover, Book Cover Keyboard, charging dock | Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard, Smart Cover (all sold separately) | |
On the inside, Apple’s enhanced A10X Fusion chip serves as a worthy adversary to Qualcomm’s 2017 flagship processor, the 835, although the latter boasts higher base clock speeds, which in theory implies faster overall performance (albeit at the expense of battery life).
Speaking of battery life, Samsung was quick to tout the Tab S4’s improved longevity over the Tab S3, however, against Apple’s most recent Pros, it falls short of the mark, with the smallest cell of the bunch.
The use of Super AMOLED technology will no doubt help level things out (as both iPads rely on LCD panels). However, with more pixels to push than the Pro 10.5, there’s a chance the S4 will still power down before either of the iPads.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 vs iPad Pro features and software
Samsung also showcased a host of tempting accessories to augment the productivity chops of the Galaxy Tab S4. Unlike the pricey Apple Pencil, Samsung throws an S-Pen stylus in the box with its new tablet for free, so you can draw, sketch and write on it from the off − even when the screen isn’t switched on.
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The Apple Pencil, meanwhile, still costs a pretty penny and only works within select iOS experiences. The showcase video for the Tab S4 shows its stylus being used to translate text in real-time, plus Air Command and other established S Pen features are also on-hand too.
As for multitasking and the like, Samsung’s DeX experience launches when the Tab S4 is mounted into the optional Book Cover Keyboard accessory. Like Apple’s Smart Keyboard Cover for the iPad Pro, it provides a more robust typing experience but it also modifies the Android Oreo-based OS so that it more readily behaves like a desktop computing experience − complete with floating apps and real-time multitasking.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 vs iPad Pro – Price – Which is better value?
All these tablets are expensive, so if you’re looking for a budget option then you’d best be served elsewhere. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 starts at £599 and rises to £649, while the 10.5-inch iPad Pro starts at £619 for 64GB. Adding LTE to add an iPad costs another £100, while the 12.9-inch version starts at £769.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
