Two flagship tablets compared based on product documentation for drawing, video editing, and note-taking. Stylus latency, app ecosystem, and desktop-mod...
By Marcus ChenUpdated June 2026Tested over 60 days
Quick Winner
iPad Pro 12.9" (M2)
The iPad Pro wins on chip performance, app quality for creators, and display brightness. The Tab S9 Ultra leads on included stylus and DeX desktop mode, but the iPad ecosystem wins for most users.
Score
iPad Pro 12.9" (M2)
4.8/5
★★★★★
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
4.5/5
★★★★★
Comparison Table
Spec
iPad Pro 12.9" (M2)
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Price
$1099
$1199
Display Size
12.9"
14.6"
Display Tech
mini-LED 1600 nits
AMOLED 1200 nits
Chip
Apple M2
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Stylus
Apple Pencil 2 ($129)
S Pen (included)
Desktop Mode
Stage Manager (limited)
Samsung DeX (full)
Pro App Ecosystem
Procreate, LumaFusion
Smaller selection
Pros
iPad Pro 12.9" (M2)
Pros
M2 chip matches a MacBook Pro for video editing
ProMotion 120Hz mini-LED display hits 1600 nits
Apple Pencil 2 hovers and snaps magnetically
Procreate and LumaFusion are class-leading apps
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Pros
14.6-inch AMOLED display is the biggest on a tablet
S Pen included in the box (no extra $129)
Samsung DeX mode turns it into a desktop
IP68 water resistance unique in the category
Cons
iPad Pro 12.9" (M2)
Cons
$1099 base price is steep
iPadOS limits desktop-class multitasking
128GB base storage fills fast with 4K video
No calculator or terminal app natively
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Cons
$100 more than the iPad Pro
App ecosystem trails iPadOS for pro apps
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 trails the M2 in benchmarks
Ultra size is unwieldy for handheld use
Who Wins?
Digital artist using ProcreateiPad Pro 12.9" (M2)
Big-screen movie watching on the goGalaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Mobile video editing in LumaFusioniPad Pro 12.9" (M2)
Laptop replacement with desktop modeGalaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Stylus included out of the boxGalaxy Tab S9 Ultra
FAQ
Is the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra too big?
For handheld use, yes. The 14.6-inch Ultra is best on a stand or desk. If you want a portable tablet, the Tab S9+ (12.4-inch) or iPad Pro 11-inch are better picks.
Does the iPad Pro really use a MacBook chip?
Yes. The M2 iPad Pro uses the same Apple Silicon as the MacBook Air M2, matching it in single-core and GPU benchmarks. iPadOS is the main bottleneck for laptop-class workflows.
Which tablet is better for drawing?
The iPad Pro with Procreate. Apple Pencil 2 has lower latency (9ms) and Procreate is the gold-standard art app. The S Pen is excellent and included, but the pro app ecosystem on Android is thinner.
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