iPad Pro (M5) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra — Comparison Review

Apple iPad Pro (M5)	Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
Apple iPad Pro (M5)	Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
The following comparison walks through display, performance, battery, cameras, software, and who each tablet is best for. Use this to decide whether the iPad Pro (M5) or the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra fits your needs in 2025.
Key Specs — iPad Pro (M5) Chip Apple M5 (next-gen Apple silicon; big GPU/Neural Engine upgrades) Display 11" & 13" Liquid Retina / mini-LED (model dependent); high refresh, ProMotion-like smoothing RAM / Storage Configurable (multiple unified memory/storage tiers) Battery Manufacturer-optimized for all-day use (improved efficiency with M5) Cameras High-quality front + rear cameras optimized for productivity and AR; strong video and pro apps OS & Features iPadOS 26 with Apple Intelligence, extensive pro app ecosystem, Apple Pencil support Price (starting) From ~$999 (11-inch base Wi-Fi). See official pricing.	Key Specs — Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra Chip Samsung/3nm-class flagship SoC (vendor variants per region) Display 14.6" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, very high brightness and contrast, 120Hz+ refresh RAM / Storage High memory tiers (e.g., 12GB+) and up to 1TB storage options Battery ~11,600 mAh (Ultra model) — huge capacity for long video and productivity sessions Cameras Versatile rear camera system, strong main sensor and wide-angle; S Pen-enabled workflows OS & Features Android 14 + One UI/Hi AI features (Google Gemini-style tools), Samsung DeX, S Pen included Price (est.) Starts around $1,199 (config dependent). Check Samsung for exact SKUs.
Performance & Productivity The M5 is focused on raw CPU/GPU + AI speed — excellent for pro apps (photo/video editing, 3D/AR, creative workflows). Expect desktop-class performance in heavily multithreaded and AI workloads. Who it fits: Creatives, pro users, developers who rely on iPadOS app ecosystem and optimized pro apps.	Performance & Productivity Samsung’s flagship-class SoC plus large display and DeX support make the Tab S11 Ultra extremely capable for multitasking, content creation, and laptop-replacement scenarios—especially when paired with the Book Cover Keyboard and S Pen. Who it fits: Power users who want Android flexibility, Samsung ecosystem features, or a very large canvas for media and multitasking.
Display, Battery & Cameras Display: iPad Pro retains industry-leading color accuracy and pro-level display pipelines; M5 improves HDR/compute for creative apps. Battery: Expect improved efficiency with M5 and solid real-world runtimes, but actual endurance depends on model & usage. Cameras: iPad stays strong for video calls, AR and pro workflows — camera hardware plus software optimizations are a pro advantage.	Display, Battery & Cameras Display: S11 Ultra’s 14.6" Dynamic AMOLED 2X is spectacular for media — deep blacks, huge canvas, great for drawing and watching content. Official Samsung pages list high brightness and HDR capabilities. 4 Battery: The Tab S11 Ultra’s ~11,600 mAh battery promises exceptional video playback hours and longer unplugged sessions. Samsung lists long video playback times on the Ultra. 5 Cameras: Samsung packs a versatile camera suit for tablet standards; great for scanning, wide shots and creative mobile photography.
Software & Ecosystem Apple’s iPadOS 26 + Apple Intelligence will emphasize on-device AI, deep pro-app integrations, and tight continuity with macOS/iPhone. If you use Final Cut, Logic, or pro creative apps, the iPad Pro fits naturally. 6	Software & Ecosystem Samsung layers AI features and DeX for a laptop-like experience, and includes S Pen out-of-the-box. If you prefer Android’s flexibility, customizations, and Google integration (plus Samsung’s AI tools), the Tab S11 Ultra is compelling. 7
Pros & Cons — iPad Pro (M5) Pros: Best-in-class app ecosystem for pros, leading M-series performance, optimized pro apps and accessories (Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard) Cons: Higher entry price; iPadOS multitasking is improving but still different to desktop OS; fewer ports and less modularity than Android options	Pros & Cons — Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra Pros: Huge AMOLED canvas excellent for media, included S Pen, strong battery, Samsung DeX and Android productivity features Cons: Heavier/larger (Ultra), software skin can be heavier than stock Android, pricier high-end configurations
Final Recommendation If you’re a creative pro who relies on the iPad app ecosystem, or want the absolute best on-device AI/performance for pro apps, the iPad Pro (M5) is the top choice. If you want the biggest display, included stylus, Samsung DeX laptop-like workflows and the longest battery for media, choose the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. Both are excellent — pick the one that fits your workflow and ecosystem.
Sources: Apple newsroom — iPad Pro with M5. Samsung — Galaxy Tab S11 Series. Samsung store — Tab S11 Ultra specs & pricing. Reuters — Apple M5 launch coverage.