The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is the better fit if you want the largest screen and Android with Samsung’s S Pen included. The iPad Pro with M5 is the stronger choice if your work depends on iPadOS apps or you prioritize the higher processor scores in published head-to-head testing. Apple offers 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models; Samsung’s Ultra has a 14.6-inch display. Neither is a universal winner, and accessories and local prices can change the value calculation.
How the sizes and displays compare
Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and S12+ on September 30, 2026; the company said the series would be available in the United States from October 7. The Ultra’s 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display supports adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. Samsung lists peak brightness up to 1,600 nits, with a footnote specifying 1,000 nits outdoors in High Brightness Mode. Its India product page lists a 2960 × 1848 resolution; that regional listing should not be treated as a US announcement specification. Samsung’s launch announcement and regional product page.
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Apple’s October 2025 announcement specifies iPad Pro with M5 in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with Ultra Retina XDR displays and iPadOS 26. The 14.6-inch Samsung is larger than either iPad option, but diagonal alone does not determine which screen is best: think about whether you want a spacious canvas for documents and split-screen work or a smaller device that is easier to carry. Apple’s announcement.
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In Tom’s Guide’s review measurements, the Samsung produced 862 nits SDR and 916 nits HDR; the iPad Pro M5 produced 561 nits SDR and 965 nits HDR. These are the publication’s test results, not the same thing as Samsung’s advertised peak-brightness specification. Tom’s Guide also measured Samsung color coverage at 149.8% sRGB and 105.5% DCI-P3, compared with 116% and 82.1% for the iPad; the reviewer cautioned that Samsung’s reproduction was oversaturated relative to targets. These figures describe that review’s measurements, not a universal assessment of every viewing condition. Tom’s Guide’s comparison and test results.
#1 Best Overall
- NO Warranty in the USA. Tablets are only WIFI, no Calls or Data. Country selection may not be available during setup. select any country, as Country will updated later after Connecting to WIFI in Settings. English Language is available
- Connectivity Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, EHT320, MIMO, 4096-QAM USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 Bluetooth v5.3 Bluetooth Profiles A2DP,AVRCP,DI,HID,HOGP,OPP,PAN,PBP,TMAP Location Technology GPS,Glonass,Beidou,Galileo,QZSS Earjack USB Type-C MHL No Wi-Fi Direct Yes
- 14.6” Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz Anti-Reflective, 2960 × 1848 (WQXGA+) Accelerometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor Size (Main_Display) 369.9mm (14.6" full rectangle) / 367.2mm (14.5" rounded corners)
- Front: 12 MP UW Rear: 13 MP + 8 MP UW UHD 4K (3840 x 2160)@30fps dimmesion : 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.20 in.
Operating system and apps may decide it
The choice is between Android on Samsung’s tablet and iPadOS 26 on Apple’s. Start with the apps and services you actually need: verify that your essential creative, work, education, or accessibility apps are available on the platform and support the specific functions you rely on. A similar app name does not guarantee identical features or workflows.
Samsung positions DeX as a desktop-like interface, but it is still worth checking whether your workflow works in your required apps and with your peripherals. Tom’s Guide found that DeX benefits from an external monitor for its fuller desktop-like layout and described the large tablet as cumbersome for some prolonged handheld use. Those are the reviewer’s observations, not a guarantee that every user will have the same experience. iPadOS likewise should not be assumed to replace a desktop operating system for every task. If you are considering either as a laptop substitute, list the applications, file handling, external display, keyboard, mouse or other peripherals you need, and check those specific workflows before buying.
Performance: use head-to-head results carefully
Tom’s Guide’s listed Geekbench 6 results were 3,229 single-core and 9,763 multi-core for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, versus 4,155 and 16,517 for the iPad Pro M5. In the publication’s 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited test, Samsung scored 6,608 at 39.7 frames per second, while iPad scored 9,934 at 59 frames per second. These are results from one review’s tests; benchmarks do not predict every app’s speed or establish how much difference you will notice in your own workload. Tom’s Guide’s benchmark results.
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- Brilliant 14.6" Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display – Features ultra-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and crisp 1848x2960 resolution. Powered by an 11,600 mAh battery. Includes S Pen and 25W Samsung Super Fast Charger.
- Premium Performance & Storage – Backed by 256GB storage, 12GB RAM, and expandable microSD slot (dedicated). Runs on the advanced Mediatek Dimensity 9400+ (3nm) chipset, Octa-core CPU, and Immortalis-G925 MC12 GPU with Android 16 and One UI 8.
- Advanced Camera & Connectivity – Rear: 13MP (f/2.0 wide) + 8MP (f/2.2 ultrawide); Front: Dual 12MP (wide & ultrawide). Also supports Bluetooth 5.4, USB Type-C 3.2, and magnetic connector for seamless accessory pairing.
- Wi-Fi Only Model – Designed for high-speed wireless use. This model does not support SIM cards or cellular network connections.
- International Version – Global model without U.S. domestic warranty. Covered under return policy for hassle-free protection.
Apple separately says M5 delivers AI performance up to 3.5 times that of iPad Pro with M4 and up to 5.6 times that of iPad Pro with M1 for specified workloads. Those are Apple-published comparisons against earlier iPads, not a direct comparison with Samsung. Don’t combine those claims with the third-party benchmark scores as if they used the same test or baseline. Apple’s M5 announcement.
Battery figures depend on the test
In Tom’s Guide’s Wi-Fi web-surfing test at 150 nits, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra lasted 11 hours 31 minutes and the iPad Pro M5 lasted 13 hours 16 minutes. These are that publication’s results under its stated method, not a promise of runtime in your day-to-day mix of apps, brightness, connectivity, and video. Tom’s Guide’s battery test.
Samsung advertises up to 23 hours of video playback for the S12 Ultra, based on local 720p playback under specified brightness and network settings. That manufacturer test is a different scenario from Wi-Fi web browsing, so it cannot be compared directly with Tom’s Guide’s browsing figures. Samsung’s stated test conditions.
Rank #3
- INNOVATIVE ART POWER: Turn your simple sketches into works of art instantly using Sketch to Image¹ with Galaxy AI.²
- SEARCHING MADE EASY: Quickly search for just about anything you see on your Tab — all without switching apps — using Circle to Search with Google.³
- MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT: Capture your lecture, meeting, or daily notes and let Note Assist⁴ with Galaxy AI² do the hard work of organizing and even summarizing them for you.
- NEXT-LEVEL NOTE TAKING: Get transcripts and summaries of recorded lectures and meetings, just like that.⁵
- PACKED WITH POWER: No matter what you take on or where you take your Galaxy Tab S10+, enjoy every experience with a powerful tablet processor.
Included items, accessories, and price
Samsung says the S12 Ultra includes an S Pen, but not a device charger. Compatible accessories—including the Pro Keyboard, Book Cover Keyboard Slim, Book Cover, Frame Cover, and anti-reflecting screen protector—are sold separately. Samsung identifies the Frame Cover as exclusive to the Ultra. Add the keyboard and any other items you need to the total before comparing configurations; the advertised tablet price does not represent a complete work setup. Samsung’s product information.
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Samsung’s US launch-era starting price for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra was $1,399.99. This is a dated US starting figure, not a guaranteed current street price or a price for every storage configuration or market. The cited product information does not establish a comparable current Apple price, so check local prices for the exact iPad size and configuration you are considering before making a value judgment. Samsung’s US availability announcement.
Samsung says the S12 Ultra supports up to seven OS upgrades and security updates. This is the company’s stated support policy; it does not specify a guaranteed schedule for each future update. Samsung’s product information.
Which tablet should you choose?
- Choose the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra if you specifically want a 14.6-inch screen, prefer Android, and value having an S Pen included. Budget separately for any keyboard or other accessories you need.
- Choose an iPad Pro with M5 if your required apps or workflow depend on iPadOS, or if the higher scores in Tom’s Guide’s cited processor and graphics tests matter for your work. Pick between the 11-inch and 13-inch model based on the size you want to carry and use.
- Pause before buying either as a laptop replacement if your essential work depends on desktop software, particular file workflows, or peripherals. Confirm that the exact apps and setup work on the tablet platform you choose rather than relying on a general desktop-like mode.
Before deciding, price the complete setup in your own market: tablet, storage configuration, keyboard or case, and any other required accessories. Then weigh that total against the screen size and apps you will use most.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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