iPad Pro M4 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: The Tablet Showdown | Tech Tips India

Two Tablets, Two Philosophies

The iPad Pro M4 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra represent the absolute peak of what tablets can be in 2026. They also represent fundamentally different philosophies about what a tablet should do. Apple says a tablet should be the best version of a tablet — with apps designed for the form factor and a curated experience that prioritizes polish. Samsung says a tablet should try to be everything — a laptop replacement with DeX desktop mode, a creative workstation with the S Pen, and an entertainment powerhouse with the biggest screen money can buy.

I have been using both tablets daily for the past month. The iPad Pro sits on my desk for design work and note-taking. The Tab S10 Ultra lives on my couch for media consumption and occasionally serves as a secondary work screen via DeX. Neither is perfect, and which one you should buy depends entirely on what you actually do with a tablet.

After exhaustive testing — benchmarks, creative work, media consumption, productivity tasks, and battery life runs — here is the complete comparison.

Display: Both Stunning, Different Strengths

iPad Pro M4: Tandem OLED

Size: 11-inch or 13-inch (testing the 13-inch model)
Resolution: 2752 x 2064 pixels (264 PPI)
Technology: Tandem OLED (two OLED layers stacked)
Peak brightness: 1,600 nits HDR, 1,000 nits full-screen SDR
Refresh rate: ProMotion — adaptive 10Hz to 120Hz
Color: P3 wide color, True Tone

The Tandem OLED technology is Apple's big innovation here. By stacking two OLED panels, Apple achieves brighter HDR highlights while maintaining the deep blacks OLED is known for. The result is genuinely impressive — HDR video content looks spectacular, and the 1,000-nit full-screen SDR brightness makes outdoor usage far more practical than any previous iPad.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Size: 14.6-inch
Resolution: 2960 x 1848 pixels (239 PPI)
Peak brightness: 930 nits (adaptive peak higher in sunlight)
Refresh rate: Adaptive 1Hz to 120Hz
Color: DCI-P3, Vision Booster

The Tab S10 Ultra's screen is simply enormous. At 14.6 inches, it is noticeably larger than even the 13-inch iPad Pro. For watching movies, reading comics, or sketching on a large canvas, the extra real estate is addictive. Once you get used to it, going back to an 11-inch tablet feels cramped.

Display Comparison

Feature	iPad Pro M4 (13")	Tab S10 Ultra
Screen size	13 inches	14.6 inches
Panel type	Tandem OLED	Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution	2752 x 2064	2960 x 1848
PPI	264	239
Max brightness (HDR)	1,600 nits	~930 nits
Refresh rate	10-120Hz	1-120Hz
Aspect ratio	4:3	16:10
Anti-reflective coating	Nano-texture option	Standard

My take: The iPad Pro has the objectively better panel — brighter, sharper per inch, and the Tandem OLED HDR performance is unmatched. But the Tab S10 Ultra's sheer size makes it a better media consumption device. The 16:10 aspect ratio is also more suited for widescreen video, while the iPad's 4:3 ratio is better for documents and note-taking.

If I could only have one display for watching movies, I would pick the Samsung. For everything else — photo editing, reading, note-taking — the iPad Pro wins.

Performance: M4 Is in Another League

iPad Pro M4

Apple's M4 chip is a desktop-class processor crammed into a tablet that is 5.1mm thin. The performance numbers are almost absurd for this form factor.

Geekbench 6: Single-core ~3,800 / Multi-core ~14,800
GPU (Metal): ~52,000
Neural Engine: 38 TOPS
RAM: 16GB (1TB+ models) or 8GB (base models)
Storage: 256GB to 2TB

The M4 handles 4K video editing in Final Cut Pro, complex Procreate canvases with hundreds of layers, and Logic Pro music production without breaking a sweat. It is more powerful than most laptops people use daily.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

Samsung uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy — a custom-tuned version of Qualcomm's flagship chip. It is powerful for an Android device but cannot match Apple's silicon.

Geekbench 6: Single-core ~2,200 / Multi-core ~7,100
GPU (Vulkan): ~18,000
RAM: 12GB or 16GB
Storage: 256GB to 1TB (plus microSD slot up to 1.5TB)

Performance Comparison

Benchmark	iPad Pro M4	Tab S10 Ultra	iPad Advantage
Geekbench Single	~3,800	~2,200	73% faster
Geekbench Multi	~14,800	~7,100	108% faster
GPU	~52,000	~18,000	189% faster
Storage speed	~NVMe level	~UFS 4.0	iPad faster

The M4 is roughly twice as fast in CPU tasks and nearly three times faster in GPU tasks. That said, both tablets handle everyday tasks — web browsing, streaming, document editing, video calls — with zero lag. The performance gap only becomes apparent in demanding creative work and heavy multitasking.

The practical reality: If you are editing 4K video on a tablet, the iPad Pro is the only serious choice. If you are watching Netflix, taking notes, and browsing the web, you will never notice the difference.

Stylus: Apple Pencil Pro vs S Pen

Both tablets pair with excellent styluses, and this is one area where the competition is genuinely close.

Apple Pencil Pro (Rs 10,900)

Hover detection (detects before touching screen)
Squeeze gesture for tool switching
Barrel roll for rotating brush angles
Haptic feedback
Magnetic attachment and wireless charging on iPad
Find My network support

The squeeze gesture is brilliant for creative work — squeeze to access a quick-select menu without lifting your hand. The barrel roll feature tracks the angle of the pencil, which matters enormously for calligraphy brushes and shaped tools in apps like Procreate.

S Pen (Included in the box)

Hover detection with Air Actions (gestures while hovering)
Bluetooth remote control (camera shutter, presentation control)
Write-to-text conversion anywhere
Screen-off memo (write notes without waking the tablet)
Samsung Notes handwriting recognition
Stored inside the tablet body (always available)

The S Pen's biggest advantage? It comes included. You do not pay extra. The Apple Pencil Pro costs Rs 10,900 on top of an already expensive iPad. The S Pen also stores inside the tablet, so you never forget it — my Apple Pencil has lived in my bag's side pocket for a month because there is nowhere to stow it when I am not using the iPad.

Writing and Drawing Feel

I tested both extensively for note-taking (Samsung Notes vs GoodNotes 6) and digital art (ibisPaint vs Procreate).

For writing: Both are excellent. The S Pen's screen-off memo feature is something I use multiple times daily — grab the tablet, pull out the pen, scribble a quick note without even unlocking it. The Apple Pencil's writing experience in GoodNotes is marginally smoother — the palm rejection is flawless and the latency is fractionally lower.

For drawing and art: The Apple Pencil Pro wins. The barrel roll for brush angle rotation, the squeeze for quick tool access, and Procreate's industry-leading creative tools make the iPad the preferred choice for serious digital artists. The Tab S10 Ultra is capable, but the Android app ecosystem for professional art (Clip Studio Paint, ibisPaint) does not match Procreate's polish and feature depth.

Keyboard Cases and Laptop Replacement

Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (Rs 29,900)

Floating cantilever design
Full-size keyboard with function row
Large trackpad with haptic feedback
USB-C passthrough charging port
Adjustable viewing angle
Adds significant weight (about 700g for the 13-inch)

The Magic Keyboard transforms the iPad Pro into something that looks and feels like a laptop. The typing experience is excellent — comparable to a MacBook Air. The trackpad works seamlessly with iPadOS's cursor support. But at Rs 29,900, it costs nearly as much as a budget laptop.

Samsung Book Cover Keyboard (Rs 19,999)

Traditional folio design with kickstand
Full keyboard with function row
Smaller trackpad
DeX mode integration for desktop-like experience
Lighter than Magic Keyboard
Less adjustable viewing angles

The Book Cover Keyboard is more affordable and lighter, but the typing experience is noticeably less premium. The keys have less travel, the trackpad is smaller, and the kickstand design means it is less stable on a lap compared to the Magic Keyboard's cantilever design.

Laptop Replacement Verdict

Can either tablet replace a laptop? It depends on your work.

iPad Pro can replace a laptop if: You primarily consume content, take notes, do light document editing, manage email, and occasionally edit photos or videos. Creative professionals who use Procreate, Affinity Photo, or LumaFusion can go iPad-only.

iPad Pro cannot replace a laptop if: You need full desktop applications, file system access beyond Files app limitations, multiple monitor support without restrictions, or run specialized software.

Tab S10 Ultra with DeX can replace a laptop if: You need a desktop-like interface with floating windows, file manager access, and multi-window productivity. DeX mode is genuinely impressive — it gives you a taskbar, resizable windows, and a desktop browser experience.

Tab S10 Ultra cannot replace a laptop if: You need Windows or macOS-specific software, need consistent high-performance multitasking, or require professional-grade creative tools.

Multitasking: Stage Manager vs DeX

iPadOS Stage Manager

Stage Manager lets you have overlapping, resizable windows — up to four apps simultaneously on screen. Connected to an external display, you can have a separate workspace with additional apps. It has improved significantly since its rocky launch, but it still has limitations.

The good: multiple windows, drag and drop between apps, external display support, smooth performance on M4.

The frustrating: window sizing options are limited (you cannot freely resize to any dimension), not all apps support Stage Manager properly, and the experience still feels more constrained than a desktop OS.

Samsung DeX

DeX mode transforms the Tab S10 Ultra into a desktop experience — complete with a taskbar, system tray, and freely resizable windows. Connected to a monitor via USB-C, it becomes a full desktop workstation.

The good: true desktop-like window management, any app can run in a window, better external display support than iPadOS, familiar desktop paradigm.

The frustrating: some Android apps are not optimized for large windows and look stretched, performance can stutter with many apps open, and certain desktop-class workflows still feel compromised.

Multitasking verdict: DeX provides a more desktop-like experience with more flexibility. Stage Manager is more polished but more constrained. If multitasking productivity is a primary use case, the Tab S10 Ultra with DeX is arguably the better choice.

App Ecosystem

This is where the iPad Pro creates significant distance from the Tab S10 Ultra, and it is honestly the most important factor in the comparison.

iPad Pro App Advantages

Procreate — The best digital art app. Android has nothing comparable.
Final Cut Pro — Full video editing on a tablet. Remarkably capable.
Logic Pro — Professional music production.
Affinity Suite — Photo, designer, and publisher — all optimized for iPad.
GoodNotes / Notability — Best-in-class note-taking apps.
LumaFusion — Professional video editing alternative to Final Cut.
Developer tools — Swift Playgrounds, Codea, Working Copy (Git client).

Tab S10 Ultra App Advantages

Full Samsung ecosystem — Samsung Notes, Gallery, DeX apps
Side-loading freedom — Install any APK without restrictions
Game emulators — RetroArch, Dolphin, etc. run freely
File management — Full file system access without Apple's limitations
Customization — Launchers, widgets, icon packs, automation with Tasker

The Hard Truth

iPadOS has significantly more tablet-optimized apps than Android. Many Android apps on the Tab S10 Ultra are stretched phone apps that look awkward on a 14.6-inch screen. Google has pushed developers to create adaptive layouts, and the situation has improved, but it is still noticeably behind iPadOS.

For creative professionals, the iPad's app ecosystem is the primary reason to choose it. For general productivity and consumption, Android's flexibility and Samsung's built-in apps are competitive.

Media Consumption

Video Streaming

Both tablets support HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, though the iPad Pro's brighter display produces more impactful HDR highlights. The Tab S10 Ultra's larger 16:10 screen means less letterboxing with widescreen content — a 16:9 video fills more of the Samsung's screen than the iPad's 4:3 panel.

Speakers

Both have quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support. The Tab S10 Ultra's speakers are louder due to the larger body providing more room for driver placement. The iPad Pro's speakers are more precise with better spatial audio reproduction. For casual media consumption, the Samsung is more immersive. For music with headphones, both are excellent.

Reading

The iPad Pro's 4:3 aspect ratio is better for reading — books, PDFs, articles, and comics all feel more natural in portrait mode. The Tab S10 Ultra in portrait mode is unwieldy at 14.6 inches. In landscape mode, the Samsung's 16:10 ratio makes it good for two-page comic book viewing.

Pricing in India

Configuration	iPad Pro M4	Tab S10 Ultra
Base model	Rs 99,900 (256GB, WiFi)	Rs 1,17,999 (256GB/12GB, WiFi)
Mid model	Rs 1,19,900 (512GB, WiFi)	Rs 1,31,999 (512GB/16GB, WiFi)
Top model	Rs 1,59,900 (1TB, WiFi)	Rs 1,45,999 (1TB/16GB, WiFi)
Cellular add-on	+Rs 20,000	+Rs 12,000

Accessories Cost

Accessory	iPad Pro	Tab S10 Ultra
Stylus	Rs 10,900 (Apple Pencil Pro)	Included (S Pen)
Keyboard case	Rs 29,900 (Magic Keyboard)	Rs 19,999 (Book Cover Keyboard)
Total with accessories	+Rs 40,800	+Rs 19,999

This is a huge difference. The iPad Pro base model with Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard totals approximately Rs 1,40,700. The Tab S10 Ultra base model with its included S Pen and Book Cover Keyboard totals approximately Rs 1,37,998. The Samsung becomes the better value proposition because the S Pen is free and the keyboard is cheaper.

But notice something interesting: the iPad Pro base model without accessories is Rs 99,900 — significantly cheaper than the Tab S10 Ultra at Rs 1,17,999. The Samsung only becomes competitive in total cost because it bundles the stylus. If you do not need a keyboard case, the iPad Pro is the better value.

For Artists and Designers

If you are buying a tablet primarily for creative work — digital art, illustration, photo editing, or graphic design — the iPad Pro M4 is the clear recommendation. Procreate alone justifies the choice. Add Affinity Photo, Vectornator, and the Apple Pencil Pro's barrel roll and squeeze features, and no Android tablet comes close for creative workflows.

The Tab S10 Ultra is capable for art — Clip Studio Paint, ibisPaint, and Infinite Painter are all available and work well. The larger screen is actually an advantage for drawing. But the software ecosystem and stylus refinement still favor Apple.

For Students and Note-Taking

This is closer than you might expect. Samsung Notes has become an excellent note-taking app — handwriting recognition is accurate, PDF annotation is smooth, and integration with the Galaxy ecosystem (syncing notes to a Galaxy phone) is seamless. The S Pen's screen-off memo is a killer feature for quick captures.

GoodNotes and Notability on iPad are more polished, with better organization systems, more template options, and superior handwriting-to-text conversion. But Samsung Notes is free and built-in, while GoodNotes costs Rs 849.

For students, the Tab S10 Ultra offers better value — the included S Pen, lower accessory costs, and Samsung Notes make it a complete package without extra purchases. The iPad Pro is the premium choice with a premium price tag.

Battery Life

Scenario	iPad Pro M4 (13")	Tab S10 Ultra
Video streaming (WiFi)	~10 hours	~13 hours
Web browsing	~9 hours	~11 hours
Note-taking (stylus)	~8 hours	~10 hours
Heavy creative work	~5 hours	~6 hours
Standby time	Excellent	Excellent

The Tab S10 Ultra's 11,200 mAh battery outlasts the iPad Pro's smaller cell in almost every scenario. The difference is meaningful — two extra hours of streaming or browsing matters during long flights or study sessions.

Charging speed: the Tab S10 Ultra supports 45W fast charging and charges fully in about 80 minutes. The iPad Pro with a 30W USB-C charger (not included) takes about 100 minutes.

My Recommendation

Buy the iPad Pro M4 if:

Creative work (art, design, video editing, music) is a primary use case
You want the best display technology available in a tablet
You are already in the Apple ecosystem (iPhone, Mac, AirPods)
You value app quality over quantity
Absolute performance matters (M4 chip is unmatched)

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra if:

You want the biggest possible screen for media consumption and multitasking
Budget-conscious accessory costs matter (S Pen included, cheaper keyboard)
You prefer Android's flexibility, file management, and customization
DeX desktop mode appeals to your workflow
You are in the Samsung ecosystem (Galaxy phone, watch, earbuds)
Battery life is a priority

If someone put a gun to my head and forced me to pick one, I would take the iPad Pro M4. The app ecosystem and creative tools are too good. But I would genuinely miss the Tab S10 Ultra's screen size, the included S Pen, and DeX mode. The fact that choosing between these tablets is this difficult speaks to how good both have become. Neither choice is wrong — only different priorities lead to different answers.