iPad Pro M4 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Which Premium Tablet Wins in 2025?
Premium tablets have never been more capable. Whether you’re sketching in Procreate, running virtual desktop sessions, or binge-watching in 4K, Apple’s iPad Pro M4 and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra represent the pinnacle of tablet tech in 2025. Both sport cutting-edge displays, powerful SoCs, and robust accessory ecosystems—but their philosophies and strengths diverge in meaningful ways. Here’s a deep dive to help you pick the one that best fits your workflow and budget.
⚡️ 1. Performance & Power Efficiency
- iPad Pro M4
- Chip: Apple M4 (5-nanometer fabrication), 12-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16 Neural Engine cores
- Benchmark highlights: Scores ~20% higher than M3 Pro in single-core and multi-core Geekbench tests, excelling at complex shaders and AI-driven tasks.
- Battery life: Up to 11 hours of video playback; superior energy efficiency thanks to custom architecture.
- Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
- Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for Galaxy, octa-core CPU, Adreno 740 GPU
- Benchmark highlights: Strong multi-core performance, particularly in Android-optimized workloads; AI accelerator for on-device filtering and camera processing.
- Battery life: Around 10 hours mixed use; Snapdragon’s power management narrows the gap with Apple.
Mason’s Take: For sustained, CPU- and GPU-heavy workflows—3D rendering, ProMotion-enabled gaming, AI accelerations—the M4 pulls ahead. The Tab S10 Ultra, however, handles Android multitasking and background services more flexibly.
🖥 2. Display & Stylus Experience
- iPad Pro M4
- Screen: 12.9″ Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED, 1 000 000:1 contrast ratio, 1 600 nits peak HDR brightness, 120 Hz ProMotion
- Apple Pencil 3: Magnetic attach & charge, 2 ms latency, tilt and pressure sensitivity with haptic feedback
- Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
- Screen: 14.6″ Super AMOLED, 120 Hz refresh, 2 000 000:1 contrast, 1 750 nits peak brightness
- S Pen Pro: Bluetooth gestures, 3 ms latency, programmable shortcut button, slim form factor
Mason’s Take: If you need pixel-perfect HDR for video grading or comic-book contrast, the iPad’s mini-LED wins. For an expansive canvas and inky blacks—plus built-in pen slot—the Tab S10 Ultra’s AMOLED is compelling.
🔌 3. Accessories & Ecosystem
- iPad Pro M4
- Magic Keyboard Folio: Backlit keys, trackpad, adjustable angle, works seamlessly with iPadOS.
- Apple Pencil 3: Deep OS integration—handwriting conversion, Scribble, toolbox gestures.
- Software: iPadOS 18 with Stage Manager multitasking, Sidecar for Mac, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro native.
- Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
- Book Cover Keyboard 2: Floating keyboard hinge, trackpad support through One UI 6.
- S Pen Pro: No pairing required; Air actions and remote shutter.
- Software: One UI 6 for tablet, DeX mode for desktop-style windows, seamless Android–Windows integration via Link to Windows.
Mason’s Take: Apple’s accessory support and pro apps ecosystem remain unmatched for creative pros. Samsung’s DeX and native multi-window mode can replace a laptop entirely for productivity users.
📷 4. Cameras & Audio
- iPad Pro M4
- Cameras: 12 MP ultra-wide front with Center Stage, 12 MP wide + 10 MP ultrawide rear, LiDAR sensor for AR.
- Audio: Four-speaker system with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.
- Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
- Cameras: Dual 12 MP front for video, 13 MP wide + 8 MP ultrawide rear; Director’s View and AI scene optimizer.
- Audio: Quad-speaker tuned by AKG, Dolby Atmos support.
Mason’s Take: For video calls and AR apps, Apple’s Center Stage and LiDAR deliver more polished experiences. Samsung’s Director’s View and color-tuned audio make it a solid multimedia companion.
🧠 Mason’s Final Word
- Choose the iPad Pro M4 if you value top-tier pro-grade apps, best-in-class pen performance, and mini-LED HDR visuals for creative work.
- Choose the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra if you prefer a larger canvas, flexible multitasking with DeX, and seamless integration into Android/Windows ecosystems.
Both are exceptional. Your decision hinges on which ecosystem and form factor best elevate your daily workflows.
