Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs iPad Pro: Two Flagship Tablets Take Very Different Paths

Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, giving the Android tablet market another heavyweight competitor to Apple's iPad Pro. The comparison is particularly interesting because these tablets are aimed at similar high-end buyers but take noticeably different approaches. Samsung goes big with a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a 3nm MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor, an 11,600mAh battery, expandable storage and an S Pen included in the box. Apple’s 13-inch iPad Pro, meanwhile, uses the M5 chip and a tandem OLED display inside an exceptionally thin and lighter chassis.

The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra Is Built Around Its Huge Screen

The biggest difference becomes obvious before either tablet is switched on. Samsung gives the Tab S12 Ultra a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2960 × 1848 resolution, while the largest iPad Pro has a 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED display with a 2752 × 2064 resolution. Both are high-refresh-rate OLED tablets designed for demanding visual work, but Samsung's larger canvas is particularly useful when the tablet is being used as a split-screen workstation. Samsung also claims up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness for the Tab S12 Ultra.

That extra screen real estate comes with a physical trade-off. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra measures 326.3 × 208.5mm and is just 5.1mm thick, but weighs around 695 grams in the Wi-Fi/5G configuration listed by Samsung. The 13-inch iPad Pro is smaller and considerably lighter, making Apple's tablet easier to hold for extended periods. The difference matters because these aren't really pocketable devices; once a tablet gets this large, weight and balance become part of the everyday experience.

Performance: Apple's M5 Still Has the Muscle Advantage

Samsung has moved to MediaTek's Dimensity 9500, a 3nm flagship mobile processor that represents a significant change from the previous generation. Samsung says the new Tab S12 Ultra delivers up to 19% higher CPU performance, 17% better GPU performance and 61% faster NPU processing than the Tab S11 Ultra, while a redesigned 3D Vapor Chamber is intended to keep sustained workloads under control.

Apple's iPad Pro takes a different route with the M5, Apple's desktop-class silicon adapted for its premium tablets. Independent testing of the Tab S12 Ultra has shown that Samsung's new tablet is fast and responsive, but Apple's M5 remains substantially ahead in CPU and graphics benchmarks. That doesn't mean the Samsung tablet will feel slow—far from it. For browsing, multitasking, Android applications, media consumption and many creative workloads, the Dimensity 9500 provides plenty of performance. The gap becomes more relevant for professional workloads that can take advantage of Apple's more powerful silicon and optimized iPadOS applications.

Samsung Has an Important Productivity Advantage

Samsung's strongest argument isn't raw benchmark performance. It's the way the Tab S12 Ultra functions as a larger productivity machine. Samsung DeX provides a desktop-style interface, while Multi Window can divide the enormous display into as many as three sections. The S Pen also comes in the box, rather than being an additional purchase. Samsung is further pushing the tablet toward professional use by including or offering applications such as Adobe Photoshop, LumaFusion, Clip Studio Paint and Notability, alongside new Galaxy AI features for notes, handwriting and productivity.

Apple's iPad Pro counters with an extremely mature tablet software ecosystem and the M5's performance headroom. It supports Apple Pencil Pro, but the stylus is sold separately. Apple's approach is particularly attractive for users already invested in Macs, iPhones and other Apple services because files, applications and workflows can move between devices with relatively little friction. The trade-off is that iPadOS still behaves differently from a conventional desktop operating system, just as Samsung's DeX has its own limitations compared with a full Windows or macOS computer.

Battery, Storage and Accessories Change the Equation

Samsung also has some practical hardware advantages. The Tab S12 Ultra carries an 11,600mAh battery and supports Samsung's Super Fast Charging 2.0. It also accepts microSD cards of up to 2TB, giving users a straightforward way to expand storage—something the iPad Pro does not offer. Samsung rates the tablet for up to 23 hours of wireless video playback on its specification page.

Apple instead keeps storage internal, but offers configurations reaching 2TB. Its 13-inch iPad Pro is also remarkably thin and light, which can be more valuable than a huge battery for someone who regularly carries the tablet between home, office or school. The iPad Pro also supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple's keyboard accessories, although those extras increase the overall cost of the setup.

Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs iPad Pro M5: Key Differences

Samsung's US starting price for the Tab S12 Ultra is $1,399.99 for 256GB Wi-Fi, while Apple's 13-inch iPad Pro with M5 starts at $1,499 for 256GB Wi-Fi. That $100 difference becomes more meaningful once accessories are considered, because Samsung includes the S Pen while Apple's Pencil Pro is an additional purchase.

The Real Difference Is the Philosophy

The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and iPad Pro M5 are both premium tablets, but they are not trying to solve exactly the same problem. Samsung has created a huge Android workstation with an expansive OLED screen, included stylus, expandable storage, DeX and a massive battery. Apple's tablet is more compact, substantially lighter and built around the unusually powerful M5 platform and iPadOS ecosystem.

The performance numbers currently favor Apple's hardware, while Samsung makes a strong case for people who value screen size, Android flexibility, expandable storage and a desktop-style interface. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is scheduled to become available in select markets from October 7, 2026, so regional pricing and availability will determine how closely the two actually compete in markets such as Bangladesh.