Apple users who want a lighter, more portable alternative to a laptop can turn to the iPad Pro, known for being slim yet extremely powerful. Fortunately for Android users, there’s now a similar device that can support their needs–the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. While these two models are seen as counterparts in the tech world, there are some pretty huge differences between them so it’s important that you spend your money wisely. If you’re torn between the two, here’s an in-depth comparison that takes their design, hardware, software, and cameras into consideration.
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Galaxy Tab S7 vs iPad Pro Comparison Chart
| Model | Galaxy Tab S7 | iPad Pro |
| Amazon product | Amazon product | |
| Price | Amazon product | Amazon product |
| Colors | Black, silver, and bronze | Silver and gray |
| Display Resolution | 11-inch–2,560 x 1,600 pixels 12.9-inch–2,800 x 1,752 pixels | 11-inch–2,388 x 1,668 pixels 12.9-inch–2,732 by 2,048 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 599 nits |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset | A12Z chipset |
| Storage | 128GB with 6GB of RAM or 256GB with 8GB of RAM (expandable to 1TB via a microSD card) | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB all with 6GB of RAM |
| Battery Capacity | 11-inch–8,000mAh 12.9-inch–10,900mAh | 11-inch–7,812mAh 12.9-inch–9,720mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Software | Android 10 | iPadOS |
| Camera | 13MP primary lens, 5MP ultra-wide lens, 8MP front-facing camera | 12MP primary lens, 10MP ultra-wide sensor, LiDAR scanner, 7MP front-facing camera, TrueDepth camera |
Design and Display
The Galaxy Tab S7 and the iPad Pro are both solidly built and provide impressive displays.
The screen on the Galaxy Tab S7 pretty much takes up the entire front of the device, leaving very little room for the aluminum frame and bezels. Flip the Galaxy Tab S7 over and you’ll see that there’s a small camera bump as well as a magnetic strip that houses the S Pen. On the right, you’ll find the USB-C connector while the power button / fingerprint sensor nestles on the top edge of the device along with the volume rocker. If you want to expand local storage, there’s an SD memory reader on the bottom edge.
As for the display, the 11-inch Galaxy Tab S7 has a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, allowing it to deliver crisp and vibrant images with motion that’s as smooth as butter. There’s also a larger 12.9-inch Galaxy Tab S7+ which boasts of a Super AMOLED display, a resolution of 2,800 x 1,752 pixels, and a refresh rate of 120Hz. As for brightness, the Galaxy Tab S7 clocks in at 500 nits which is pretty impressive.
The iPad Pro shares a lot of similarities with the Galaxy Tab S7 in terms of looks. It’s an all-screen slate as well that comes with thin bezels and a dynamic quad speaker arrangement, all held together by an aluminum frame. It does have a noticeably larger camera bump though and comes in different colors. It’s offered in silver and gray while the Galaxy Tab S7 comes in black, silver, and bronze.
Display-wise, the 11-inch iPad Pro’s specs are in the same range, equipped with an LCD screen, a 2,388 x 1,668 display resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and brightness of 599 nits. As for the 12.9-inch version, it has a resolution of 2,732 by 2,048 pixels but everything else is the same. However, both iPad Pro models have True Tone technology so you can expect them to provide more realistic colors than the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+. Nevertheless, both are solidly built and have extraordinary displays.
Hardware and Storage
The iPad Pro is better at handling heavy tasks than the Galaxy Tab S7 and also comes with more storage options.
The Galaxy Tab S7 blows all other Android tablets out of the park when it comes to speed. Equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset, it’s easily the fastest of the bunch and can perform tasks with ease. As for storage, you can choose from 128GB with 6GB of RAM or 256GB with 8GB of RAM, both of which are expandable to 1TB via a microSD card. When it comes to battery life, the Galaxy Tab S7 has an 8,000mAh capacity while the S7+ has 10,900mAh, with both models capable of 45W fast charging.
While the Galaxy Tab S7 is impressive in its own right and is capable enough for most users, the iPad Pro has to take this round. Thanks to its A12Z chipset and 6GB of RAM, it can power through heavy tasks even faster than its Samsung counterpart. To boot, the iPad Pro provides more storage options, allowing you to choose from 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and even 1TB versions. As for battery capacity, the 11-inch iPad Pro has 7,812mAh while the 12.9-inch version comes with 9,720mAh, both able to support 18W fast charging. While these numbers are lower than that of the S7 and S7+, the iPadOS makes up for it through efficient power management.
Software
The iPadOS wins over the Android 10 for being more secure and having more regular updates.
The Galaxy Tab S7 comes installed with the Android 10 as well as the Samsung One UI. The most recent update of the One UI allows you to enjoy pretty neat features such as automatic syncing among your devices, integrated syncing with Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive, as well as wireless DeX mode. As for the Android 11 update, Samsung hasn’t released a final date yet but rumors have it that they’ll make it available around the end of the year.
As for the iPad Pro, it ships with the iPadOS which has gotten an update late last year. With the iPadOS 14, you get to experience better widgets, improved menu and search functions, as well as handwriting-to-text conversion. While the software battle between the Galaxy Tab S7 and the iPad Pro is a very close one, we have to give this round to the latter yet again for being more secure and having more regular OS updates .
Camera
The iPad Pro’s camera technology is more advanced than the Galaxy Tab S7’s.
Both the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ make use of a dual camera stack, made up of a 13MP primary lens and a 5MP ultra-wide lens. As for the front-facing camera, it has an image resolution of 8MP. On the iPad Pro, you’ll spot a much bigger camera bump which consists of a 12MP primary lens, a 10MP ultra-wide sensor, and a LiDAR scanner. Out front, you get a 7MP camera as well as a TrueDepth camera that’s responsible for the Face ID feature.
While their camera specs are neck and neck, the iPad Pro has the upper hand over the Galaxy Tab S7 as it’s equipped with more advanced technology. The LiDAR scanner, which is able to measure the distance between objects and improve overall accuracy, is an example of that.
Verdict
The Galaxy Tab S7 is for productivity while the iPad Pro is geared for heavier workloads.
Amazon productWhile the iPad Pro is able to edge out the Galaxy Tab S7 in many areas such as hardware, software, and camera technology, don’t forget to factor in your work needs and budget when you’re deciding. The Galaxy Tab S7 should be more than enough if your goal is to simply be more productive. It will allow you to multitask, it’s able to integrate your apps with Microsoft Office, plus its display is very pleasing to the eyes. The best part is that you don’t have to fork over as much money for it.
As for the iPad Pro, it’s definitely a bigger investment. But if you’re a creative, you’ll find that it’s worth every penny. It has more horsepower and storage, its OS is more seamless, and there are a ton of apps to help you out with your work. The iPad Pro, especially when coupled with the Apple Pen and the Magic Keyboard, can absolutely work as a laptop replacement.
FAQs
While the Galaxy Tab S7, which runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset, is powerful in its own right, the iPad Pro has more horsepower, thanks to its A12Z chipset.
The Galaxy Tab S7 ships with the Android 10 while the iPad Pro runs on the iPadOS. The iPad Pro wins because its OS is more secure and seamless and its updates are more regular.
While their camera specs are pretty similar, the iPad Pro is equipped with more advanced technology. Aside from the primary lens, ultra-wide lens, and front-facing camera, it also has a LiDAR scanner and a TrueDepth camera.
If all you want is to improve your productivity, get the Galaxy Tab S7. But if you’re in the creative field and you’re willing to invest more money, go with the iPad Pro.