iPad Pro M4 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

These two tablets represent the best each platform has to offer, and they take completely different approaches to the same problem. The iPad Pro M4 is thinner than a pencil and runs on a laptop-class chip. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a 14.6-inch screen that dwarfs most laptops. Both cost over $1,000 when you add accessories.

I used each as my primary tablet for two weeks. Here's where they actually differ.

Specs at a glance

Display

Both screens are OLED, both are gorgeous. But they're different sizes and that changes how you use them.

The iPad Pro's 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR panel is one of the best screens I've ever used on any device. The tandem OLED technology pushes peak brightness to 1,600 nits for HDR content, and the anti-reflective coating (Apple calls it "nano-texture" on the upgrade) actually works in bright environments. Color accuracy is reference-grade — I could edit photos on this and trust the colors.

Samsung's 14.6-inch screen is physically larger, and that extra 1.6 inches matters more than you'd expect. Split-screen multitasking with two full-size apps feels natural in a way that 13 inches doesn't quite manage. The Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel hits 120Hz and looks stunning, though peak brightness doesn't quite match Apple's implementation.

If you're doing creative work where color accuracy matters, the iPad Pro wins. If screen real estate for productivity is the priority, the Tab S10 Ultra's size advantage is real.

Performance

The M4 chip in the iPad Pro is, frankly, overkill. It's faster than most laptops. Video rendering in LumaFusion, 3D modeling in Nomad Sculpt, running multiple Logic Pro tracks — nothing I threw at it caused a stutter. The eight-core GPU handles graphically intensive tasks that would make the Tab S10 Ultra struggle.

But here's the frustration: iPadOS doesn't let you fully use that power. You can't run desktop applications. File management is still clunky. Stage Manager multitasking works but feels like Apple is holding back. The hardware is laptop-class; the software isn't.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Tab S10 Ultra is fast for an Android tablet, but it can't keep up with the M4 in sustained workloads. Export a long 4K video, and the iPad finishes in half the time. For everyday tasks — browsing, note-taking, streaming, document editing — you won't notice a performance difference.

Where Samsung wins is software flexibility. DeX mode gives you a full desktop interface with resizable windows, a taskbar, and proper file management. Connect a keyboard and mouse and it genuinely feels like working on a computer. iPadOS Stage Manager tries to do this but remains more restrictive.

Stylus experience

The S Pen comes in the box and magnetically attaches to the back of the tablet for charging. It's responsive, the latency is low, and Samsung Notes is a capable app. Pressure sensitivity and tilt detection work well for drawing and handwriting.

Apple Pencil Pro costs $129 extra but is the better stylus. Haptic feedback gives you a physical click when switching tools. The squeeze gesture for changing modes is intuitive. Hover detection previews your strokes before you touch the screen. And the Apple Pencil simply feels more precise — the gap between input and screen response is smaller.

If the cost of the stylus is a factor, Samsung wins by default. If writing feel matters most, Apple Pencil Pro is the gold standard.

Software and ecosystem

iPadOS has better tablet-optimized apps. Full stop. From Procreate to LumaFusion to GoodNotes, the best tablet apps are either iPad-exclusive or significantly better on iPad. The trade-off is that iPadOS itself is limiting — no real file system, restricted multitasking, and no sideloading without jumping through hoops.

Android on the Tab S10 Ultra gives you more freedom. Install any APK, use a proper file manager, run apps in floating windows, connect to external displays with desktop-mode output. Samsung's One UI adds features that stock Android doesn't have, and Galaxy AI in Samsung Notes can summarize, translate, and organize your handwritten notes automatically.

The app gap is closing but hasn't closed. Some Android apps still look like blown-up phone apps on a 14.6-inch screen. Instagram, Snapchat, and several banking apps look rough. It's better than it was two years ago, but it's still behind iPadOS.

Battery and charging

Both tablets last about 10-12 hours in mixed use. The iPad Pro is slightly more efficient thanks to the M4 chip's power optimization, but we're talking 30-60 minutes difference in a full day.

The Tab S10 Ultra charges faster. Samsung's 45W charging gets you to 50% in about 30 minutes. The iPad Pro tops out at around 30W with a USB-C PD charger, taking closer to 40 minutes for the same charge.

Accessories and total cost

This is where things get eye-opening:

iPad Pro total: $1,099 (tablet) + $129 (Pencil Pro) + $349 (Magic Keyboard) = $1,577

Tab S10 Ultra total: $1,200 (tablet with S Pen) + $350 (Book Cover Keyboard) = $1,550

Nearly identical total cost, but Samsung includes the stylus. The Magic Keyboard is a better keyboard than Samsung's Book Cover, though — the trackpad and typing feel are superior.

Who should buy which

Get the iPad Pro M4 if:

• You do creative work (art, video editing, music production)
• App quality matters more than flexibility
• You want the best stylus experience (and don't mind paying for it)
• You're already in the Apple ecosystem

Get the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra if:

• Screen size is a priority
• You want a tablet that works more like a laptop (DeX mode)
• You prefer Android's flexibility and file management
• The included S Pen matters to your budget

Neither of these is a bad choice. They're both excellent tablets held back slightly by their operating systems in different ways. The iPad Pro has better hardware and apps but limiting software. The Tab S10 Ultra has more capable software but weaker app optimization.

My personal pick: the iPad Pro, but only because I use it primarily for drawing and note-taking where the Pencil Pro is unmatched. If I needed a laptop replacement, I'd lean Samsung for DeX mode.

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Frequently asked questions

Which is better for creative professionals, iPad Pro or Galaxy Tab S10?

The iPad Pro with Apple Pencil Pro is the industry standard for digital artists, illustrators, and designers. The Pencil Pro's hover detection and ProCreate app ecosystem have no direct Android equivalent. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra with S Pen is a capable creative tool, especially with Samsung Notes and supported apps, but the iPad Pro's app depth for creative workflows is significantly broader.

Which tablet is better for students?

The iPad Air is typically the better student recommendation due to the stronger academic app ecosystem and Apple Pencil compatibility at a lower price than the iPad Pro. For Galaxy Tab, the S10 FE offers similar value. The Galaxy Tab S10 series offers more flexible file management and native USB-C storage, which some students prefer. The choice often comes down to whether the student is in an iPhone or Android ecosystem.

Does the Galaxy Tab S10 have better multitasking than iPad Pro?

Samsung DeX on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra turns the tablet into a near-desktop experience with windowed apps, an external monitor mode, and a mouse and keyboard workflow that is more flexible than iPad's Stage Manager. For power users who want desktop-like multitasking, the Galaxy Tab's DeX mode is arguably more capable. iPad Pro's Stage Manager is more polished but more limited in window count and arrangement.

Which tablet has better display quality?

The iPad Pro 11-inch and 13-inch use an Ultra Retina XDR OLED tandem display starting in 2024, delivering exceptional brightness (1600 nits peak), wide color, and ProMotion 120Hz. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra uses Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120Hz with excellent color but lower peak brightness. In direct comparison, the iPad Pro's display is considered best-in-class. The Galaxy Tab S10 is excellent but a step behind the iPad Pro in pure display performance.

Which is better for gaming?

iPad Pro has the advantage for game library depth and exclusive titles. Apple Arcade provides hundreds of premium games with no ads. High-end mobile games like Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile are often optimized for iOS first. The A17 Pro chip in iPad Pro delivers console-adjacent gaming performance. The Galaxy Tab S10 is capable for Android gaming, but Android's tablet gaming library is thinner and fewer games are optimized for the larger screen.