Choosing between these two powerhouse tablets is probably simpler than you think. Sam Rutherford & Nathan Ingraham for Engadget As ever, choosing a premium tablet in 2026 comes down to two very different philosophies. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra bets on sheer screen size, battery stamina and bundled accessories, while Apple's iPad Pro prioritizes raw processing, display precision and a tightly integrated software ecosystem.
Samsung's new top-of-the-line Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,399.99 and is only available in a 14.6-inch size. On the other side, Apple's iPad Pro starts at $1,499 for the 13-inch version, not including accessories. The right choice depends on how you plan to use the device.
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra features a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and peak brightness of 1,600 nits. Apple's iPad Pro features a Ultra Retina XDR display, also rated for 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR content, built for extreme contrast accuracy and color precision.
Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor. Apple's iPad Pro comes with an M5 chip. Battery life is where the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra distances itself, with Samsung claiming up to 23 hours of use on a charge. In our real-world video rundown test, it lasted 19 hours and 39 minutes.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing