Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Apple iPad 10th Gen: Which Tablet Offers The Best Value For Money

Samsung and Apple dominate the tablet market, offering sleek designs, powerful hardware, and seamless user experiences. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is a powerhouse packed with high-end features, while the Apple iPad 10th Gen brings a balance of performance and affordability with the classic iPadOS experience. Whether you're a student, a professional, or a casual user, picking between these two devices depends on your specific needs. To make things easier, let's compare them side by side, breaking down their price, design, display, performance, battery life, cameras, software experience, and overall value for money.

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S9

Apple iPad (10th Gen)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Apple iPad 10th Gen; Photo Credit: Pexels

1. Price Comparison: Which One Offers Better Value?

Price is always a deciding factor when choosing a tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 comes with a premium price tag of ₹61,999 (for the base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage). On the other hand, the Apple iPad 10th Gen starts at a more affordable ₹49,490 for the 256GB variant.

Samsung's tablet is positioned as a flagship device, boasting cutting-edge specs and a top-tier display, while Apple's iPad 10th Gen sits in the mid-range segment, offering an excellent balance between performance and price. If budget is a concern and you need more storage at a lower price, the iPad 10th Gen might be a better deal. However, if you're after premium features and high-end performance, the Galaxy Tab S9 justifies its price.

2. Design and Build: Premium vs Practical

Both devices sport premium designs, but they cater to slightly different preferences.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Features a sleek aluminium body, an ultra-slim profile, and a graphite finish that gives it a sophisticated look. It's also IP68-rated, meaning it's dust- and water-resistant, a rarity in tablets.
• Apple iPad 10th Gen: Apple has modernised the iPad's design with flat edges, uniform bezels, and a USB-C port (finally!). It comes in four vibrant colours, Blue, Pink, Silver, and Yellow, giving it a more playful appeal.

While Apple's design is fresh and youthful, Samsung's tablet feels more premium and durable, making it ideal for professionals and power users.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Apple iPad 10th Gen; Photo Credit: Pexels

3. Display: AMOLED vs Liquid Retina

The screen is one of the biggest differences between these two devices.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Comes with an 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (2560 x 1600 pixels) with a 120Hz refresh rate. This means deep blacks, punchy colours, and buttery smooth scrolling, perfect for content creation, gaming, and media consumption.
• Apple iPad 10th Gen: Features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display (2360 x 1640 pixels). While it delivers sharp visuals and true-to-life colours, it lacks the deep contrast of AMOLED and is limited to 60Hz, making scrolling and animations slightly less fluid.

If display quality is a top priority, the Galaxy Tab S9 wins hands down with its superior contrast and smoother refresh rate.

4. Performance: Power vs Efficiency

Both tablets are equipped with powerful processors, but Samsung has a clear edge in raw performance.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, one of the fastest mobile processors available. Paired with 8GB RAM, it handles multitasking, gaming, and high-performance tasks effortlessly.
• Apple iPad 10th Gen: Runs on the A14 Bionic chip, which, while efficient, is a generation behind Apple's latest processors. It's fast for everyday tasks but might struggle with intensive gaming and heavy-duty applications compared to the Tab S9.

For power users and gamers, the Galaxy Tab S9 is the better choice, but for casual users, the iPad 10th Gen is still plenty fast.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Apple iPad 10th Gen; Photo Credit: Pexels

5. Battery Life: All-Day Performance

Battery life is crucial, especially for students and professionals who need all-day usage.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Packs an 8400mAh battery, promising long-lasting performance even with heavy use. Thanks to fast charging, you can quickly top up the battery when needed.
• Apple iPad 10th Gen: While Apple doesn't disclose battery capacity, real-world tests suggest around 10 hours of usage, similar to the Tab S9. However, charging speeds are slower, and no fast charger is included in the box.

Both devices offer excellent battery life, but Samsung wins in fast charging convenience.

6. Cameras: Which Tablet Clicks Better?

Tablets aren't primarily used for photography, but good cameras are still a plus.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Features a 13MP rear camera and a 12MP front ultra-wide camera. The front camera is great for video calls and selfies, while the rear camera performs well for scanning documents and casual shots.
• Apple iPad 10th Gen: Comes with a 12MP rear camera and a 12MP front camera, but what makes it unique is the landscape front camera placement, perfect for FaceTime and video conferencing.

While both have decent cameras, Apple's landscape front camera is a big plus for virtual meetings and online classes.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Apple iPad 10th Gen; Photo Credit: Pexels

7. Software Experience: Android vs iPadOS

Software can make or break the tablet experience.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Runs on Android 13 with One UI 5.1, offering customisation, multi-window support, and Samsung DeX for a desktop-like experience.
• Apple iPad 10th Gen: Powered by iPadOS 16, which is optimised for tablets. It offers Stage Manager, excellent app support, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration (AirDrop, iCloud, and Universal Control).

If you love customisation and desktop-like multitasking, go for Samsung. But if you're deep into the Apple ecosystem, the iPad is the way to go.

8. Value for Money: Which One Should You Buy?

Choosing between these two tablets depends on your priorities.

• If you want a premium tablet with a stunning display, flagship performance, and better durability, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is worth the premium price.
• If you're looking for a more affordable yet capable tablet with Apple's smooth ecosystem and long-term software support, the iPad 10th Gen is a solid choice.
• For creative professionals and power users, Samsung wins. But for students, casual users, and those in the Apple ecosystem, the iPad 10th Gen is a better deal.

Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 and the Apple iPad 10th Gen ultimately depends on what you need from a tablet. If you're after a premium experience, the Galaxy Tab S9 stands out with its AMOLED display, high-end performance, S Pen included, and expandable storage, making it a great choice for creatives, professionals, and multitaskers. On the other hand, if you prefer a simple, reliable, and budget-friendly device, the iPad 10th Gen offers smooth performance, a clean iPadOS experience, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration, making it ideal for students and casual users. While Samsung dominates in display quality, productivity, and versatility, Apple remains a strong contender for those who value ease of use and affordability. Ultimately, the best tablet is the one that fits your lifestyle and priorities.

Disclaimer: The images used in this article are for illustration purpose only. They may not be an exact representation of the products, categories and brands listed in this article.