Samsung Tablet vs iPad: How to choose the right one for your daily use

Why you can trust this comparison 

We don't like to blow our own trumpet too loudly, but as one of the leading global platforms for refurbished electronics, we've learned a thing or two from the technical experts with whom we work. We have close working relationships with our certified third-party refurbishment specialists. We also review the user experiences of virtually all the devices we offer. This gives us the ability to create meaningful comparisons between brands, down to specific models.  

Our own experts have years of experience covering each new generation of tablets as they're released. This deep level of knowledge informs comparisons like this. We will tell you how it is, without fear or favor. So that you can make the best decision, find the right tablet, and avoid any buyer's regret. 

"I have ordered from Back Market for years and have had several Apple products from them. Everything was what you ordered, came in on time, and never hesitated to help if I ever needed anything. You cannot go wrong from going to Back Market"

- Catherine J. 

Budget-friendly: Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 vs iPad 8 

Overview 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 and the iPad 8 are both entry-level tablets. They're ideal for first-time owners, pre-teens getting their first tablets, and those who are looking for a budget device that covers all the basics. They have almost the same screen size, at 10.5-inch and 10.2-inch, respectively. The Galaxy's display is LCD, while iPad offers its own Retina display. As you'd expect, the Galaxy runs on Android and the iPad on Apple's iPadOS.  

You'll notice some difference in performance between the two models of iPad vs Samsung tablets. The Apple A12 Bionic chip is somewhat faster than the Galaxy's Unisoc T618, giving it an edge to light gaming and multitasking.  

Main specifications 

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 

• Operating system: Android 

• Chipset: 2GHz Octa-Core 

• Screen size: 10.5 in 

• Display: LED 

• Memory: 3 GB RAM 

• Storage: 32 GB 

• Camera: 8 MP 

• Weight: 508g 

• Audio: 4-speaker stereo + 3.5mm headphone jack 

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi Direct 

• Battery life: 8 – 14 hours (depending on usage) 

• Colors: Graphite / Silver / Pink Gold 

 Apple iPad 8 

• Operating system: iPadOS 14 

• Chipset: A12 Bionic chip 

• Screen size: 10.2 in 

• Display: Retina 

• Memory: 3 GB 

• Storage: 32 GB / 128 GB 

• Camera: 8 MP 

• Weight: 490g 

• Audio: Stereo speakers + 3.5mm headphone jack 

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 

• Battery life: Up to 10 hours of browsing 

• Colors: Silver / Space Gray / Gold 

Benefits and features 

The Galaxy Tab A8 offers a very comfortable viewing experience, whether browsing the Internet, reading e-books or watching videos. You can also use it for gaming, although some modern games may be too demanding. The four-speaker system creates an immersive sonic environment. You can access a vast array of apps through Google Play. It's easy to customize using the Samsung One UI.    The iPad 8 shines in the way that it combines good value with performance and ease of use. It was one of the most popular iPads for everyday use when it was first released, and it's still a great device. It has a relatively fast chip for its price point, so it can easily handle everything from web browsing to app multitasking. It also offers access to the Apple ecosystem.    There's not much to choose from between this specific Samsung tablet vs iPad, except that if you want better performance, choose the iPad, even if it's a little more expensive.  

"…it's the least expensive iPad Apple offers, and miles ahead of just about any other tablet you can find at this price." 

- PCMag 

Pros and Cons 

Mid-range: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs iPad Air 5 

Overview 

Both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 and the Apple iPad Air 5 deliver the performance that will suit you if you use them heavily for work and multitasking. One thing that distinguishes them from each other is that the Galaxy is designed slightly more for multimedia consumption, creative work and flexibility, whereas the iPad focuses on high speed and Apple system integration for its power.  

The Galaxy Tab S9 has a superior display too, thanks to its Dynamic AMOLED technology. The iPad also delivers great resolution, but the Liquid Retina display isn't as vibrant. The Galaxy supports an S Pen stylus that's included, and the iPad uses the Apple Pencil, but you'll have to buy that separately. 

Main specifications  

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 

• Operating system: Android 

• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 

• Screen size: 11 in 

• Display: Dynamic AMOLED 

• Memory: 8 GB / 12 GB RAM 

• Storage: 128 GB / 256 GB 

• Camera: 13 MP 

• Weight: 498g 

• Audio: 4-speaker stereo 

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi Direct 

• Battery life: Up to 15 hours 

• Colors: Graphite / Beige   

Apple iPad Air 5 (2022)  

• Operating system: iPadOS 15.4 

• Chipset: Apple M1 

• Screen size: 10.9 in 

• Display: Liquid Retina 

• Memory: 8 GB RAM 

• Storage: 64 GB / 256 GB 

• Camera: 12 MP 

• Weight: 461g 

• Audio: Stereo speakers 

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 

• Battery life: 8 – 14 hours (depending on usage) 

• Colors: Space Gray / Pink / Blue / Starlight / Purple 

Benefits and features 

As you can see from the specs above, there's very little to choose between the Galaxy Tab S9 and the iPad Air 5. The Galaxy Tab S9 excels when it comes to multimedia and entertainment, while the iPad is a flat-out high-performance workhorse. If you work in digital design or your hobby is graphic art, the Galaxy offers more features and benefits. It excels at drawing, with an accurate and easy-to-use S Pen. Besides that, it has everything you could want from a tablet to watch movies, stream, play games and do all types of work and productivity.  

The iPad doesn't deliver the immersive multimedia experience of the Galaxy, as it's a bit limited by its display technology. That's said, the M1 chip is still a fast performer, and the integration with Apple's ecosystem offers a vast selection of apps to enhance the tablet. The iPadOS also feels a bit more polished than the Android interface of Samsung. It's also still well supported, as one Reddit reviewer says:

"Love my Air 5, super snappy, and will get upgrades for many years cause of the M1." 

" You get superb colors, exceptional contrast and maximum brightness, as well as very, very decent viewing angles with the Galaxy Tab S9 all in a relatively compact package. Definitely a winner in our books!" 

- PhoneArena 

Pros and Cons 

High-performance: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus vs iPad Pro 13

Overview 

You can't go wrong with either of these tablets. Their performance is very comparable in this range of iPad vs Samsung tablets, although each has a slightly different emphasis. The Galaxy S10 Plus focuses on providing a flexible user experience. It uses the more open Android OS, compared to Apple's closed ecosystem, and has expandable storage. The iPad Pro 13 only has internal storage but has a larger screen and a more powerful M4 chip. In the end, the Galaxy is the more versatile option, with the iPad providing slightly better performance.

Main specifications  

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus 

• Operating system: Android 14 

• Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ 

• Screen size: 12.4 in 

• Display: Dynamic AMOLED 

• Memory: 12 GB RAM 

• Storage: 256 GB / 512 GB 

• Camera: 13 MP 

• Weight: 571g 

• Audio: 4-speaker stereo 

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 

• Battery life: 7 – 10 hours (depending on usage) 

• Colors: Platinum Silver / Moonstone Gray 

 Apple iPad Pro 13  

• Operating system: iPadOS 17.5 

• Chipset: Apple M4 

• Screen size: 13 in 

• Display: Ultra Retina Tandem OLED 

• Memory: 8 GB / 16 GB RAM  

• Storage: 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB 

• Camera: 12 MP 

• Weight: 579g 

• Audio: 4-speaker stereo 

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 

• Battery life: Around 10 hours (depending on usage) 

• Colors: Space Black / Silver 

Benefits and features 

The iPad Pro 13 has a few advancements over previous models that bring it up to speed with some of the Galaxy features that have traditionally surpassed it. First there's the Ultra Retina display, which is more on par with Samsung's Dynamic AMOLED technology. It also has a 4-speaker stereo sound system, which is a welcome upgrade from the 2-speaker set-up of previous models. It also has Apple's latest M4 chip, delivering eye-watering speed and performance. 

The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus can still hold its own quite happily against the iPad, thanks to a new chipset and the flexibility of the Android 14 OS. It has a handy microSD card slot so you can expand its memory capacity. It offers a longer battery life too, with fast charging. As usual, the iPad Pro 13 doesn't have an external storage slot, but it comes with up to 2 TB of internal storage. 

" The iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) is the best tablet Apple has ever made, and the company has clearly thrown everything at it. You get an amazing OLED screen, a powerful M4 chip, and a ridiculously thin and light design." 

- TechRadar 

Pros and Cons 

Shopping tips for Galaxy Tabs and iPads 

If you're on the lookout for a good deal on a Galaxy Tab or an iPad, you'll usually have to wait for the big annual sales like Cyber Monday or do a lot of shopping around to find stores that offer promotions or discounts on the model you want.  

The other option is to simply use Back Market. We give you big discounts on all kinds of electronics every day of the week, all year long. You can score up to 50% of the recommended retail price on a perfectly restored tablet that will give you a good many years of happy use. To back that up, we offer a one-year warranty and return policy. 

Benefits of buying refurbished tablets 

You'll benefit in two major ways when you buy a refurbished tablet from Back Market. First, there's the excellent discounts you'll find on any model you're interested in. You can get yourself a refurbished tablet at a fraction of the price of a new one.  

All our refurbished devices have been thoroughly restored, both inside and out. They undergo initial testing to identify any problems, and our expert refurbishers replace any necessary parts. They're then tested again to ensure that they perform the original benchmarks, ensuring that you get a high-quality tablet that you can rely on. Here's some more info on why you can trust our refurbished electronics. 

Second, you'll be doing your bit for the Earth. By buying a refurbished tablet you'll help to reduce the electronic waste that threatens our ecosystem. This is a big deal at Back Market. We're absolutely dedicated to sustainability, and we've been certified as a B Corp status company. This recognizes our commitment to transparency, accountability, and social responsibility. 

Trade in your old tablet for cash 

You can get an even better deal on a refurbished tablet by trading in your old one right here on Back Market. It couldn't be simpler. Just complete a short form giving us the basic specs and you'll get an offer from one of our certified refurbishers within minutes. Then ship your device to us (on our dollar), and you'll receive your payment within 5 working days. 

Save money on refurbished Samsung and Apple smartphones 

*Back Market prices taken at the date of publication – these are subject to change.  

Final thoughts 

The choice of an iPad vs Samsung tablet comes down to what you intend to use yours for. Both brands have sterling reputations, with devices that live up to them. Overall, Samsung tablets put the emphasis on visuals, multimedia, and creative pursuits. They offer plenty of flexibility when it comes to customization and app variety. That's not to say that they can't perform as work devices; they're simply more geared towards entertainment. iPads usually provide more power for professional purposes, and are part of Apple's closed software ecosystem, which can limit the apps you can download. Whichever you choose, you can be assured of performance, reliability, and class-leading build quality.