Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs iPad Pro (M5) – Who Wins in 2026?
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs iPad Pro (M5), which one you want to buy? If you are planning to buy a flagship tablet this year, you are stuck between the same two names as everyone else – Samsung’s biggest beast and Apple’s most powerful iPad.
On one side is the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. Samsung has already confirmed the name in its own One UI 9 announcement, and all leaks point to a launch on October 7, 2026. On the other side is the Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip, launched in October 2025 and currently selling in India starting at Rs 99,900.
We have used both line-ups extensively on USNMix – from Tab S9 Ultra to Tab S11 Ultra, and from iPad Pro M2 to M4/M5. So let’s do an honest, practical comparison for Indian buyers. No brand fanboy talk, only what matters for movies, work, studies, and gaming.
Buy: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus
Quick Note: Samsung has not yet published the full spec sheet for the Tab S12 Ultra. Specs below are based on Samsung’s confirmation + strong leaks from certifications, software code, and reliable sources like SamMobile and SammyGuru. We will update this article on usnmix.com after the official launch.
Quick Verdict – Who Wins?
Don’t have time to read 2000 words? Here is the short answer:
Buy the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra if you want: A massive 14.6-inch AMOLED screen, S Pen in the box, Samsung DeX laptop mode, microSD storage expansion, and better value for media + office work.
Buy the iPad Pro M5 (13-inch or 11-inch) if you want: Raw performance, the best display brightness for HDR, the best apps for video editing, drawing and music, longer resale value, and tight Apple ecosystem with iPhone/Mac.
Our USNMix Winner? It’s a tie, but split by use:
- Best for movies, YouTube, and big-screen multitasking – Tab S12 Ultra
- Best for creators, video editors, and Apple users – iPad Pro M5
- Best value out-of-the-box – Tab S12 Ultra (because keyboard + pen cost extra with Apple)
Now let’s talk details.
Also Read: Sony K-43S22BM2 Bravia 2M2 Review
Price in India – The Real Cost
This is where most comparisons mislead you. They compare base prices, but forget Apple charges extra for everything.
Apple iPad Pro M5 – Official India Price:
- 11-inch Wi-Fi 256GB – Rs 99,900
- 13-inch Wi-Fi 256GB – Rs 1,29,900
- 13-inch 1TB Wi-Fi + Cellular Nano-texture – Goes above Rs 2,20,000
- Apple Pencil Pro – Rs 11,900 extra
- Magic Keyboard for 13-inch – Rs 33,999 extra
So a proper 13-inch iPad Pro setup for work easily crosses Rs 1,75,000.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra – Expected India Price:
Samsung launched the Tab S11 Ultra at $1,299 in the US. The Tab S12 Ultra is leaked at $1,399.99 in the US and €1,539 in Europe.
For India, expect:
- 12GB + 256GB Wi-Fi – Rs 1,34,999 to Rs 1,39,999 (expected)
- 16GB + 512GB / 1TB 5G – Rs 1,50,000+ (expected)
But – and this is big – Samsung includes the S Pen in the box, gives 45W charger support, launch offers with trade-in bonus, and Book Cover Keyboard bundles at heavy discount. Your real cost stays close to the MRP.
Winner on price: Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. What Samsung gives free, Apple sells for Rs 45,000 extra.
Full Specs Comparison
| Feature | Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra (Expected) | iPad Pro M5 13-inch / 11-inch |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2960 x 1848, 120Hz, anti-reflective | 13-inch / 11-inch Tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR, 2752 x 2064 / 2420 x 1668, 10-120Hz ProMotion |
| Brightness | ~800-1000 nits typical (1600 nits rumored, not confirmed) | 1000 nits SDR full-screen, 1600 nits peak HDR |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 9500 (3nm) | Apple M5 – 9-core CPU (256/512GB) / 10-core CPU (1TB/2TB), 10-core GPU |
| RAM / Storage | 12GB/16GB RAM, 256GB-1TB + microSD up to 2TB | 12GB (256/512GB) / 16GB (1TB/2TB), 256GB-2TB, No SD slot |
| Rear Camera | 13MP + 8MP Ultrawide, 4K 30fps | 12MP Wide f/1.8, 4K 60fps + ProRes |
| Front Camera | 12MP Ultrawide in notch | 12MP TrueDepth Landscape Center Stage |
| Battery | 11,600mAh typical, 45W wired | 10-hour web/video claim, 20W charger in box, fast charging via USB-C |
| Build | 5.1mm thin, ~718g, IP68 + IP68 S Pen, Aluminium | 13-inch: 5.1mm, 579g / 11-inch: 5.3mm, 444g, No IP rating |
| Stylus | S Pen included | Apple Pencil Pro / USB-C – sold separately |
| Software | Android 17 + One UI 9.0, 7 years updates, DeX, Galaxy AI | iPadOS, Apple Intelligence, Stage Manager |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4, USB-C 3.2, 5G option | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thunderbolt / USB 4, 5G sub-6 GHz |
| Colors | Gray, Silver (leaked) | Silver, Space Black |
1. Design and Build – Samsung is Practical, Apple is Premium
Okay friends, now let’s see the design.
The Tab S12 Ultra looks almost identical to the Tab S11 Ultra – 326.3 x 208.4 x 5.1mm, flat aluminium frame, dual camera module, and a small notch for the front camera. Some people don’t like the notch, but for video calls in landscape, it makes sense.
What Samsung does better: IP68 dust and water resistance for both tablet AND S Pen. No iPad has that. If you carry your tablet to college, office, or shoot outdoors, this is real peace of mind.
Buy: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite
The iPad Pro M5 is an engineering marvel. The 13-inch model is only 5.1mm thin and weighs just 579g – almost 140g lighter than Samsung. In hand, the iPad feels noticeably sleeker and better balanced. Apple’s aluminium finish and speaker grille detailing also feel more premium.
Winner: iPad Pro for portability and finish, Tab S12 Ultra for durability. If you travel a lot, you will feel that weight difference every day.
Also Read: Hisense E8S ULED Mini-LED TV Series Features
2. Display – Big vs Bright
This is the biggest decision point.
The Tab S12 Ultra gives you 14.6 inches. That’s not a tablet, that’s a portable OLED TV. For Netflix, YouTube, PDFs, and split-screen with 3 apps, nothing beats it. Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X has deep blacks, punchy colors, and now an anti-reflective coating like the S24 Ultra phone. Indoors, it’s stunning.
The iPad Pro M5 gives you 11-inch or 13-inch Tandem OLED. It’s smaller, but technically superior – 1000 nits full-screen SDR, 1600 nits peak HDR, 2,000,000:1 contrast, True Tone, and optional nano-texture glass for reflection control. For HDR movies and color-accurate editing (ProRes, DaVinci, Lightroom), the iPad display is more accurate.
In simple words:
- Want theatre at home? Tab S12 Ultra wins.
- Want studio-accurate screen for editing? iPad Pro wins.
For most Indian users who watch movies in bed and attend online classes, the bigger Samsung screen is more enjoyable.
Winner: Tie – Size goes to Samsung, Quality goes to Apple.
3. Performance – M5 is in Another League
Now the performance of this tablet – so how much power does it have?
The Tab S12 Ultra will use MediaTek Dimensity 9500. This is a flagship 3nm chip and a solid jump over the Dimensity 9400+ in last year’s model. For gaming (BGMI 120fps, Genshin Impact), 4K video playback, and DeX multitasking, it will be more than enough. Samsung pairs it with 12GB RAM base, which is great for Android.
But let’s be honest. Apple M5 is not a tablet chip, it’s a laptop chip. 9-core / 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU with hardware ray tracing, 153GB/s memory bandwidth, and 16-core Neural Engine for AI. In Geekbench, export tests, and 3D rendering, M5 beats every Android tablet by 40-60%.
Buy: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE
More important than benchmarks is apps. LumaFusion, DaVinci Resolve for iPad, Final Cut for iPad, Logic Pro, Procreate – these are desktop-class apps optimized for M-series. Android still doesn’t have the same level of pro apps. Samsung tries to cover it with GoodNotes, Clip Studio, and Galaxy AI, but for professional creators, iPad is ahead.
Winner: iPad Pro M5, by a big margin. If your work is video editing, music, or 3D, don’t think twice.
4. Software – DeX vs iPadOS
This decides your daily experience.
Samsung One UI 9 on Android 17: More free, more flexible. Multiple windows, pop-up view, Samsung DeX – connect to a monitor and it becomes a Windows-like desktop. You can install APKs, use torrent clients, use Samsung Notes with S Pen drag handwriting, Circle to Search, Live Translate, and expand storage with microSD. 7 years of updates means you are safe till 2033.
iPadOS with Apple Intelligence: More polished, more secure, but more closed. Stage Manager is now good, but still not as flexible as DeX. What you get instead is continuity – copy on iPhone, paste on iPad, AirDrop to Mac, answer calls, use iPad as second display with Sidecar. If you already own an iPhone or MacBook, this magic is hard to leave.
For students in India who want one device for notes + YouTube + file juggling + HDMI to college projector – Samsung is easier. For office workers already in Apple ecosystem – iPad fits better.
Winner: Tab S12 Ultra for flexibility and laptop mode, iPad Pro for ecosystem.
5. S Pen vs Apple Pencil Pro
Friends, this is where Samsung saves you Rs 12,000.
Tab S12 Ultra: S Pen in the box, magnetic charging on back, IP68, 2.8ms latency, full Samsung Notes AI features. No extra cost.
iPad Pro: Apple Pencil Pro Rs 11,900 extra, or Pencil USB-C Rs 7,900. Yes, hover, squeeze gesture, and barrel roll are excellent for artists, but you have to pay for it. Same with keyboard.
If you are a student who takes handwritten notes daily, Samsung gives you everything day one.
Winner: Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra – no debate.
6. Battery and Charging
The Tab S12 Ultra keeps the same 11,600mAh battery with 45W charging. With the more efficient Dimensity 9500, expect 12-14 hours of video playback. Full charge in ~90 minutes.
iPad Pro M5 claims up to 10 hours, real life 8-11 hours depending on brightness. It comes with a slow 20W adapter in the box, though it supports faster charging if you buy a bigger brick.
For long train journeys Delhi to Mumbai, Samsung lasts longer. For daily office use, both need charging every night.
Winner: Tab S12 Ultra for battery size and charging speed.
7. Cameras and Speakers – Don’t Overthink
Let’s be clear – nobody buys a Rs 1.3 lakh tablet for cameras. Both are good for scanning documents and video calls.
Samsung: 13MP + 8MP rear, 12MP ultrawide front. Good Center Stage-like auto framing.
Apple: 12MP rear with True Tone flash + LiDAR, 12MP landscape front with Center Stage. Video quality, especially 4K 60fps + ProRes, is better.
Speakers: Both have quad speakers. iPad sounds slightly cleaner, Samsung sounds slightly louder. With Galaxy Buds or AirPods, difference disappears.
Winner: iPad Pro for video recording, otherwise tie.
Buy: Apple iPad Pro [11″] (M5)
Who Should Buy What? – Simple Guide for India
Buy Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra if:
- You want the biggest screen for movies and split-screen study
- You need DeX mode to replace a laptop in office/college
- You take handwritten notes and want S Pen free
- You need microSD to store movies, wedding videos, UPSC PDFs
- You use Android phone (Galaxy S25/S26, Pixel, OnePlus)
Buy iPad Pro M5 if:
- You are a video editor, designer, musician, or architect
- You already own iPhone + MacBook – Handoff and AirDrop will save hours
- You want best resale value after 2-3 years (iPads hold price better in India)
- You need specific apps like Final Cut, Logic Pro, Procreate
- You travel daily and want lighter 11-inch option
Final Verdict
So now the price — so how much value do you get?
If we count total setup cost in India:
- Tab S12 Ultra 256GB + free S Pen + discounted keyboard cover = ~Rs 1.45 lakh all-in
- iPad Pro 13-inch 256GB + Pencil Pro + Magic Keyboard = ~Rs 1.75 lakh all-in
That Rs 30,000 difference is huge.
For 70% of Indian buyers – students, movie lovers, office workers – the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra wins. Bigger display, included stylus, DeX, and expandable storage just make more sense.
For 30% pro creators and Apple ecosystem users – the iPad Pro M5 wins and no Samsung can change that. The M5 chip + pro apps + update reliability is worth the premium if you earn from your tablet.
If you ask us personally on USNMix? If you already have a laptop and want a media + notes tablet, go Samsung. If you want to replace your laptop for creative work, go Apple.
Hope you will enjoy this guide and thanks for reading. If you plan to buy, links are in the description box of our YouTube video, and if you have any questions, comment in the comment section below – we reply to every buyer query.
Subscribe to USNMix for full unboxing the week Tab S12 Ultra launches in India.
FAQs
When will Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra launch in India? Expected October 7, 2026 globally, India sale likely mid-October 2026 via Samsung Store, Flipkart and Amazon.
What is the expected price of Tab S12 Ultra in India? Expected Rs 1,34,999 for 12GB/256GB Wi-Fi. Samsung has not confirmed yet.
Is iPad Pro M5 better than Tab S12 Ultra for students? For notes + free S Pen + big PDFs, Tab S12 Ultra is better value. For design students using Procreate, iPad is better.
Does Tab S12 Ultra come with charger? Samsung usually doesn’t include charger in box in India, but supports 45W fast charging. iPad Pro includes 20W charger.
Which tablet gets longer software updates? Both are excellent – Samsung promises 7 years for Tab S12 Ultra, Apple typically gives 6-7 years of iPadOS updates.
Disclaimer: Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra specs and price are based on leaks and early reports as of September 18, 2026. Please check Samsung India official listing after launch for final confirmation.