iPad Pro vs Android Tablet 2025: Price, Power & Apps
iPad Pro dominates professional workflows with M4 chip performance, exclusive software ecosystem, and premium build quality, while Android tablets offer greater hardware variety, lower prices, and file system flexibility for budget-conscious users.
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
High-performance tablet with desktop-class processor for creative professionals and demanding applications.
Content creators, graphic designers, video editors, students in design programs, professionals requiring Adobe Suite, and anyone prioritizing performance and ecosystem maturity over cost.
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
Flexible tablet platform with hardware variety, expansible storage, and open ecosystem at multiple price points.
Budget-conscious buyers, students needing basic note-taking and browsing, content consumers (Netflix/reading), anyone requiring expandable storage or file system flexibility, and users in ecosystems with multiple Android devices.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryiPad Pro dominates professional workflows with M4 chip performance, exclusive software ecosystem, and premium build quality, while Android tablets offer greater hardware variety, lower prices, and file system flexibility for budget-conscious users.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose iPad Pro if you're a creative professional, student, or power user needing industry-standard apps like Photoshop, fast processors, and a mature tablet ecosystem—the $1,099+ investment pays off with productivity. Choose an Android tablet if you need budget flexibility ($249-$499), want a 10-inch screen option, require file system access, or prefer hardware customization like expandable storage.
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Choose Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024) if
Best pickContent creators, graphic designers, video editors, students in design programs, professionals requiring Adobe Suite, and anyone prioritizing performance and ecosystem maturity over cost.
Choose Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra) if
Budget-conscious buyers, students needing basic note-taking and browsing, content consumers (Netflix/reading), anyone requiring expandable storage or file system flexibility, and users in ecosystems with multiple Android devices.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Processor Performance:✓ Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024) wins(Apple M4 (12-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU) vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version (8-core CPU))
- Starting Price (2024/2025):✓ Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra) wins($249-$499 USD (typical range) vs $1,099 USD (11-inch M4))
- App Ecosystem Size:✓ Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024) wins(2.2M+ iPad-optimized apps in App Store vs 900K+ tablet-optimized apps in Google Play)
Key Facts & Figures
5 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024) | Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor Performance (Geekbench 6 Multi-Core)(score) | iPad Pro M4: 21,400 | Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1): 10,200 | |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1,099 | $249-$499 | |
| Display Brightness (HDR Peak)(nits) | iPad Pro XDR: 1,000 nits sustained | Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra AMOLED: 200 nits (SDR) | |
| Battery Life (typical use)(hours) | iPad Pro M4: 10-12 hours | Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: 9-10 hours | |
| Tablet-Optimized Apps Available(count (thousands)) | iPad App Store: 2,200+ tablet apps | Google Play: 900+ truly tablet-optimized |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- Apple M4 (12-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU)(winner)Processor PerformanceSnapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version (8-core CPU)
- $1,099 USD (11-inch M4)Starting Price (2024/2025)$249-$499 USD (typical range)(winner)
- 2.2M+ iPad-optimized apps in App Store(winner)App Ecosystem Size900K+ tablet-optimized apps in Google Play
- 11-inch or 13-inch Liquid Retina XDR (120Hz)Display Options7-14 inches, LCD/AMOLED (60-144Hz depending on model)(winner)
- Files app with limited access to internal storageFile System AccessFull file system access like desktop OS(winner)
- Full versions: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro (native)(winner)Pro App Support (Adobe/Affinity)Lite/web versions or third-party alternatives only
- Fixed storage (128GB-2TB), non-removable batteryHardware CustomizationMicroSD card expansion, removable batteries on some models(winner)
- Processor Performance
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
Apple M4 (12-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU)(winner)
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version (8-core CPU)
- Starting Price (2024/2025)
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
$1,099 USD (11-inch M4)
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
$249-$499 USD (typical range)(winner)
- App Ecosystem Size
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
2.2M+ iPad-optimized apps in App Store(winner)
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
900K+ tablet-optimized apps in Google Play
- Display Options
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
11-inch or 13-inch Liquid Retina XDR (120Hz)
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
7-14 inches, LCD/AMOLED (60-144Hz depending on model)(winner)
- File System Access
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
Files app with limited access to internal storage
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
Full file system access like desktop OS(winner)
- Pro App Support (Adobe/Affinity)
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
Full versions: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro (native)(winner)
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
Lite/web versions or third-party alternatives only
- Hardware Customization
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
Fixed storage (128GB-2TB), non-removable battery
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
MicroSD card expansion, removable batteries on some models(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024) | Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Performance (Geekbench 6 Multi-Core)(score) | iPad Pro M4: 21,400(winner) | Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1): 10,200 |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1,099 | $249-$499(winner) |
| Display Brightness (HDR Peak)(nits) | iPad Pro XDR: 1,000 nits sustained(winner) | Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra AMOLED: 200 nits (SDR) |
| Screen Size Options(inches) | 11-inch, 13-inch | 7-inch to 14.6-inch (10+ options) |
| Battery Life (typical use)(hours) | iPad Pro M4: 10-12 hours(winner) | Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: 9-10 hours |
| Storage Expansion(text) | No MicroSD slot; fixed 128GB-2TB | MicroSD up to 1TB on most models |
| Tablet-Optimized Apps Available(count (thousands)) | iPad App Store: 2,200+ tablet apps(winner) | Google Play: 900+ truly tablet-optimized |
| Adobe Creative Suite Native Support(text) | Full Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro (desktop feature parity) | Photoshop Express (lite), web versions only |
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
Pros
- Apple M4 chip with 12-core CPU delivers desktop-equivalent performance (Geekbench 6 single-core: 3,400+)
- Native Adobe Creative Suite: full Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro with all desktop features
- Liquid Retina XDR display with 1,000 nits sustained brightness, perfect for color-accurate work
- iPadOS 18 with Stage Manager enables true multitasking and external monitor support at 6K resolution
- Apple Pencil Pro with haptic feedback and precision hover for design work
Cons
- Starting price of $1,099 exceeds most Android tablets by 200-400%
- Limited file system access compared to desktop OS—no true folder structure in many apps
- App availability highly depends on developer optimization; many productivity apps lack full iPad versions
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
Pros
- Price range from $249 (budget models) to $1,199 (Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)—50-70% cheaper entry points than iPad
- MicroSD card expansion up to 1TB on most models; some include removable batteries for field work
- Full file system access like Windows/Mac—drag-drop files anywhere, manage folders natively
- Screen size variety: 7-inch portables to 14.6-inch productivity tablets; 144Hz refresh on gaming models
- Google Play Store integration with sideloading capability for alternative app sources
Cons
- Adobe apps exist only in lite web versions or stripped-down mobile editions (not full desktop software)
- Fragmented tablet optimization—only 15-20% of Google Play's 3.8M apps are truly tablet-optimized vs. iPad's 2.2M
- Hardware quality varies wildly; budget models have 5-8 hour battery life vs. iPad's 10+ hours
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Partially. While Android tablets offer affordable options and file system flexibility, professional design work is limited because Adobe's full Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) only exists natively on iPad Pro. Android users can access Photoshop Express (lite version) or browser-based alternatives like Photopea, but these lack advanced features like layer management and GPU acceleration. For serious design work, iPad Pro's native apps provide a 70-80% feature advantage.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
Amazon
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)
Official Site
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Wikipedia
- W
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024) on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
High-performance tablet with desktop-class processor for creative professionals and demanding applications.
- W
Android Tablet (Premium option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra) on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Flexible tablet platform with hardware variety, expansible storage, and open ecosystem at multiple price points.
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