iPad Pro 11-inch (7th Gen) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Main differences to expect

Introduction

Apple is widely expected to refresh its entire iPad lineup, from the entry-level iPad mini to the larger-than-life iPad Pro. Knowing Apple and the lineup in particular, this will be yet another superb productivity device with tons of useful features, premium hardware, and tons of useful accessories. Certainly, we've never been closer to a viable laptop alternative than the upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a 3nm chipset and OLED display.

Let's untangle the differences and see how these two tablets will perform.

Design and size

High-end tablets

No major changes are expected on the 11-inch iPad Pro. Of course, it is widely believed that the tablet's display will get a slight increase, from 11 inches to 11.1. This is by no means a major increase and should not force Apple to significantly change the design of the tablet. This increase is said to be due to some shrinking of the bezel, which could come from Apple's anticipated move to OLED displays on its high-end tablets. The latest iPads feature miniLED displays, which are excellent, but still lack the exceptional color rendition of OLEDs.

Display differences

The “big” intergenerational change results in a slight 0.1-inch size increase for the 7th generation iPad Pro, which isn't major at all and certainly wouldn't change the experience too much. What could be a much more exciting change is the anticipated move from miniLED to OLED, a first for the iPad line. MiniLED displays are by no means inferior, but they will have to give way to OLED displays.

This change would bring the 7th generation iPad Pro into compliance with the Galaxy Tab S9, which comes with an 11-inch OLED display, an improvement over the LCD screens on Samsung's previous small flagship slates. In terms of size, you need to understand that you will get more screen real estate with the iPad because it uses a 3:2 aspect ratio, while the Galaxy Tab S9 is a tablet with a 16:10 screen more suitable for movies and other media.

Performance and software

The power of 3nm

The 7th generation iPad Pro will come with the 3nm Apple M3 chip, Apple's latest desktop chipset that delivers exceptional performance. It would surely be in a league of its own in the tablet space, dominated by mobile chipsets. This is the case of Samsung Galaxy Tab S9which is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, an SoC aimed at mobiles.

Needless to say, we expect the M3 chip to dominate the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in terms of raw performance and benchmarks. However, you'll probably be hard-pressed to notice a clear difference between the two: either one will be as fast as possible and will surely not disappoint you, whether for casual daily tasks or intensive gaming.

Software-wise, the next iPad Pro will likely arrive with iPadOS 17 or iPadOS 18, depending on Apple's release date. THE Galaxy Tab S9, on the other hand, comes with Samsung's One UI. The iPad will be supported for longer, both because it will be released later and it will have at least five years of support.

Camera

While the iPad Pro likely won't move away from a dual-camera setup on the back, the Galaxy Tab S9 comes with a single rear camera. Besides dual cameras, the iPad will likely also include a LiDAR sensor like its predecessors, which allows for more advanced spatial awareness.

Up front, both tablets use 12MP cameras, which should be enough for video calls and casual selfies.

Audio and haptic quality

We expect the iPad to continue to use the quad-speaker setup that has become synonymous with the iPad Pro line. These should look great. But in all honesty, the Galaxy Tab S9although we're not counting on it to beat the iPad in terms of audio quality.

In terms of haptic feedback, the Galaxy Tab S9 is pretty disappointing with a mushy vibrator on deck, so it wouldn't take much for the upcoming iPad Pro to come out on top.

Battery life and charging

THE Galaxy Tab S9 comes with a built-in 8,400 mAh battery, which offers exceptional battery life in concert with the integrated Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

The iPad Pro will likely come with a 20W charger in the box like its predecessor, while the Galaxy Tab S9 comes with 45W fast charging, but no charger in the box.

A new feature for the iPad line is the supposed MagSafe wireless charging coming to the iPad Pro, if the rumor is to be believed. We could see a magnetic connector like the one on the MacBook, although a circular MagSafe port on the back could be a possibility. However, this would not work well with the metal back.

Specification Comparison

Summary

Which one you choose will likely depend on your ecosystem of choice, as the most significant differences between the iPad and the Galaxy Tab S9 will ultimately be differences in software and interface.