The tablet market is more crowded than a subway car at rush hour, but two models stand out from the pack: Apple’s iPad Air and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Both have earned rave reviews from tech experts and everyday users alike. In this head-to-head comparison, we’ll dissect the key differences to help you choose the perfect tablet for your work, play, and everything in between.
According to tech reviewers and users, the iPad with the absolute best customer reviews is the Apple iPad Air. It got an average rating of 4.74 out of 5 based on over 6,000 reviews on Apple’s website. The winner on the Android side is the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on over 2200 user ratings on Amazon, Best Buy, and TechRadar.
Here’s why users love them
iPad Air (5th Generation)
- Delivers exceptional performance for multitasking and creative tasks.
- The Liquid Retina display is beautiful for watching videos, gaming, and drawing.
- The sleek and lightweight design is comfortable to hold and carry around.
- The Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is perfect for note-taking and drawing.
- The USB-C port for faster charging and data transfer.
- Available in various colors, like Silver, Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight.
Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
- Praised for its massive 14.6-inch AMOLED display, excellent for multitasking and productivity.
- Features a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor for exceptional performance.
- S Pen stylus is included, offering pressure sensitivity and gesture control for note-taking and creative work.
- Offers a massive battery with long life and superfast charging.
Both tablets have impressive features and capabilities, but which one is the better choice? Let’s compare them head-to-head to find out.
Display
The iPad Air features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display (2360 x 1640 pixels) with excellent color accuracy, a wide color gamut (P3), and an anti-reflective coating. While some might find this size a bit small for multitasking, it excels at displaying vibrant colors and sharp text, making it perfect for reading, browsing, and editing documents.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra boasts a massive 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display (2960 x 1848 pixels) with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. This makes it ideal for watching movies, playing games, and multitasking with split-screen mode. The larger size does make the tablet less portable, but the incredible visual quality is worth the trade-off for many users.
Performance
The iPad Air and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are both powered by impressive processors. The iPad Air has the Apple M1 chip, which excels at multitasking and creative tasks like photo and video editing. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is a powerhouse for most tasks, including gaming.
Camera
While tablets aren’t typically known for their photography prowess, they can be handy for video calls, document scanning, or quick snapshots. The iPad Air has a single 12MP wide rear camera and a 12MP ultrawide front camera. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra sports a dual rear camera (13MP wide and 6MP ultrawide) and a dual front camera (12MP wide and ultrawide). While both devices take decent photos, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra’s superior camera system offers more versatility and better image quality.
Battery Life
Apple claims up to 10 hours of battery life for browsing the web on Wi-Fi or watching videos. While Samsung claims up to 14 hours of video playback for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. In real-world use, both tablets should easily last a full day for most users.
S Pen/Stylus
The Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is known for its pressure sensitivity and low latency, which make it great for note-taking and drawing. You can buy the Apple Pencil separately. However, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra includes an S Pen and offers functionality similar to the Apple Pencil.
Magic Keyboard
Both Apple and Samsung offer keyboard accessories for their respective tablets. The Apple Magic Keyboard, designed for the iPad Air, features a full-sized, backlit keyboard with a multi-touch trackpad and a comfortable typing experience. Samsung’s Book Cover Keyboard for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra also offers a keyboard and trackpad, but some users find the typing experience slightly less refined. Both keyboards are pricey, but you can always opt for a cheaper third-party Bluetooth keyboard if you prefer.
Choosing between the iPad Air and the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra depends on your needs and preferences. The iPad Air is a great choice if you prioritize portability, Apple’s ecosystem, and a balance between performance and price. However, if you prefer a large, high-quality display, the best possible performance (especially for gaming), longer battery life, and the S Pen stylus, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a better choice. Regardless of your decision, both are excellent tablets offering a premium user experience.
FAQs
Which ecosystem should I choose, iPadOS or Android?
The iPadOS integrates seamlessly with other Apple devices and offers a user-friendly interface. However, Android offers more flexibility and customization.
Do I need to buy the keyboard separately for both the iPad Air and the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra tablets?
Yes, neither the iPad Air nor the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra comes with a keyboard included in the base price. The iPad Air pairs with the Apple Magic Keyboard, and the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra works with Samsung’s Book Cover Keyboard. A cheaper solution would be simply using a third-party Bluetooth keyboard with them.
Does the iPad Air or the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra have a better display?
The iPad Air has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display that is good quality and has excellent color accuracy. On the other hand, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a 14.6-inch exceptional AMOLED display with a higher resolution and smoother refresh rate, better for watching movies or playing games.
Does the iPad Air or the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra have a better performance?
The Apple M1 chip excels at multitasking and creative tasks like photo and video editing, while the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor is a powerhouse for most tasks, including gaming.
Photo credits: apple.com, samsung.com,
