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The Editor's Choice
iPad Pro (M2, 2020)
The iPad Air 2024 features Apple's M2 chipset and rivals even the iPad Pro. It offers excellent performance for productivity and entertainment and comes in two different sizes. However, the battery life could be better and unlike the Galaxy tablet, it doesn't come with a stylus.
Per- Significantly more powerful SoC
- Two size options
- Superior rear camera
- Comfortable 3:2 touchscreen
Disadvantages- More expensive
- Below average battery life
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Budget-friendly alternative
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
There's no getting around it: The iPad Air M2 is superior to the Galaxy Tab S9 FE. However, Samsung's budget Android tablet is still a viable option for those on a budget or who simply prefer the Android ecosystem and don't need the power of Apple's M2 chip.
Per- Attractive price
- IP68 water and dust resistance
- Generous battery and fast charging
- Including S Pen
Disadvantages- Significantly weaker CPU
- Less RAM
Apple and Samsung proudly top our list of the best tablets, and although the iPad still has the lion's share of the market, Android-based Galaxy devices hold their own. One of the main selling points of Galaxy tablets is their price, but with the iPad Air 2024 now featuring the M2 chip, Apple's mid-range tablet is a very attractive proposition for its price. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is Samsung's entry-level S-series tablet, but how does it stack up against the new iPad Air M2? Let's compare the two and see.
Price, availability and specifications
The M2 iPad Air is new for 2024, while Samsung released the Galaxy Tab S9 series in October last year. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is Samsung's more budget-friendly alternative to the flagship Tab S9, with a starting price of just $450. It features a 10.9-inch display and is available from Samsung and third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
The sixth-generation iPad Air M2 comes in two sizes: 11 and 13 inches. It features an M2 chip, making it the second iPad Air to feature Apple silicon after the 2022 iPad Air M1. Pricing for the iPad Air M2 starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. It is currently sold by Apple and major third-party retailers.
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iPad Pro (M2, 2020) Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB CPU AppleM2 Samsung Exynos 1380 Memory 8GB LPDDR5 6GB, 8GB Operating system iPadOS 17.5 Android13 battery 11 inch: 28.93 Wh, 13 inch: 36.59 Wh Lithium-ion battery, 8,000 mAh Ports USB C USB Type C version 2.0, microSD (up to 1 TB) Camera (rear, front) Rear: 12 MP wide angle, AF, f/1.8; Front: 12 MP ultra wide angle, f/2.4 Rear: 8 MP, Front: 12 MP Display type 11 inch: LCD, 60 Hz, resolution 2360 x 1640; 13 inch: LCD, 60 Hz, resolution 2732 x 2040 10.9 inch, WUXGA+ (2304 x 1440), LCD Price 11 inch: $599, 13 inch: $799 $450 Size 11 inch: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm, 13 inch: 280.4 x 214.9 x 6.1 mm 10.01 x 6.53 x 0.26 inches Weight 11 inch Wi-Fi only: 462 g, 11 inch Wi-Fi only + cellular: 462 g, 13 inch Wi-Fi only: 617 g, 13 inch Wi-Fi only + cellular: 618 g 1.15 pounds IP protection class No rating IP68 Connectivity Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, optional 5G mobile network Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 Colors Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, Blue Grey, silver, mint, lavender Loading speed Up to 30W Up to 45W
design
Samsung makes no compromises here
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes in a 10.9-inch size and weighs 1.15 pounds, while the 11-inch iPad Air M2 weighs 1.02 pounds. The iPad Air M2 is a bit thinner at just under a quarter of an inch, but users are unlikely to notice this difference. Both tablets have a USB-C port, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity. The 13-inch iPad Air is, of course, a bit heavier at 1.36 pounds.
Despite its lower base retail price, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE offers notable advantages over the iPad Air M2. It has an IP68 water and dust rating, while the iPad has no rating. It also has a microSD card slot. The biggest bonus of the Tab S9 FE is that it comes with the S Pen stylus included. If you want a stylus for your iPad, such as the Apple Pencil, you'll have to pay extra.
Winner: Galaxy S9 FE
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Is Retina lagging behind?
The 11-inch iPad Air M2 and Galaxy Tab S9 FE have similar displays. One of the immediately noticeable differences is the aspect ratio. The Tab's 10.9-inch LCD touchscreen has a resolution of 2304 x 1440 (16:10), while the 11-inch iPad Air's display offers a resolution of 3:2 (2360 x 1640). The iPad's aspect ratio and pixel density are superior, but its brightness is not: the 11-inch Air maxes out at 500 nits (600 nits on the 13-inch model), but the Galaxy Tab S9 FE offers brightness up to 750 nits. Considering that the iPad Pro now has a bright and vibrant OLED display, you start to feel like the iPad Air's Retina panel is lagging behind the competition.
Another advantage of Samsung's offering is the refresh rate. The iPad Air M2's 11-inch and 13-inch displays have a standard 60Hz refresh rate, but the Galaxy Tab S9 FE has a smoother 90Hz refresh rate. The iPad Air 6's screen is not bad By all stretches of the imagination, but users rightly expect more from a flagship tablet in 2024. However, we prefer the iPad's 3:2 aspect ratio, which is better suited to tablet use. Samsung should consider reserving the 16:10 panels for its laptops.
Winner: Draw
software
Either way a good experience
Whether you prefer Apple or Galaxy software, the iPad Air M2 and Galaxy Tab S9 FE offer a smooth experience. Which is better is largely subjective and likely depends on what other devices you own. If you use an Android smartphone, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE (running Android 13) will share commonality with many of your apps. Likewise, for iPhone users, iPadOS 17 syncs easily with iCloud and other Apple services. You can also expect good support and regular OS updates from both brands, so you have nothing to worry about either way. However, unless you're already heavily invested in an ecosystem, this shouldn't be the deciding factor between these tablets.
Winner: Draw
Performance
Apple Silicon is a workhorse
Under the hood, there's a bigger gap between the iPad Air M2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE. The beating heart of the iPad Air 2024 is Apple's own M2 system-on-chip (SoC), which far outperform Samsung's Exynos 1380 chip. Both have 8 CPU cores, but the Apple M2 clocks at 3490 MHz, while the Exynos 1380 hits a maximum clock speed of 2400 MHz. If you're familiar with Apple silicon, it should come as no surprise that the M2 CPU delivers significantly better single-core and multi-core performance than the Exynos 1380.
Additionally, the iPad Air M2 comes with 8GB of RAM as standard, but the Galaxy Tab S9 FE has 6GB in its base configuration. You can upgrade to 8GB with the 256GB model, but that pushes the price up to $520, making the Galaxy tablet less worthwhile.
If you're looking for a tablet for productivity, the iPad Air M2 is far better suited to the task than the Galaxy Tab S9 FE. Even tasks like streaming videos, browsing the web, playing mobile games, and everyday app juggling run more smoothly on the iPad. If you place a high value on the performance of your tablet, go for the M2.
Winner: iPad Air M2
Battery life
The iPad Air disappoints
Given the general power efficiency of Apple silicon SoCs, we were a little surprised that the iPad Air's battery life (at least on the 11-inch model) was disappointing. Apple promises up to 10 hours of use on a full charge, but our experience was more like five or six hours under average usage conditions. In contrast, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE reliably lasts eight hours or more.
Additionally, Samsung's tablet offers a 45W charging speed, which is 50% faster than the iPad Air's maximum 30W charging speed (though you'll need to buy a better charger to replace the 20W unit that comes with the tablet). Not only does the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE last longer than the iPad Air M2, it also charges faster. That's no problem for the iPad Air M2, which is excellent in almost every other way—just keep your charger handy.
Winner: Galaxy Tab S9 FE
camera
For tablet photographers the choice is clear
The iPad Air M2 and Galaxy Tab S9 FE offer 12MP ultra-wide-angle front cameras for video chats and selfies. However, the iPad Air's front camera can shoot 1080p video at 60fps, while the Galaxy Tab S9 FE's selfie camera can only manage 1080p at 30fps. The difference gets bigger when we turn to the rear: Apple's tablet has a 12MP main camera that can shoot 4K video at up to 60fps. The Galaxy Tab S9's 8MP rear camera, on the other hand, can only shoot video at 30fps (even if you drop the resolution to 1080p). People who take a lot of photos and videos with their tablets may be a minority, but if you're one of them, the winner is clear.
Winner: iPad Air M2
Which one is right for you?
The 11-inch iPad Air M2 costs $150 more than the Galaxy Tab SE 9, but you get your money's worth when you consider the superior chipset and significantly stronger performance. It's objectively the better tablet of the two, thanks to the M2 SoC alone. Plus, you're probably investing less in a tablet operating system than you are in a computer, so there's no reason to consider iPadOS a hindrance. We'd like to see battery life and display quality improved on future 11-inch models, but the 13-inch iPad Air essentially addresses those shortcomings.
The Editor's Choice
iPad Pro (M2, 2020)
The iPad Air 2024 features the Apple M2 processor and a new design that comes in two sizes for the first time, adding a 13-inch model alongside an improved 11-inch version.
However, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE offers a very good Android tablet experience for little money. If you can't stretch your budget to the iPad Air M2, the Tab S9 FE is worth considering. It can also be a worthy alternative to the iPad Air if you have a Galaxy phone and want to stay in that software ecosystem.
Value alternative
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
This cheaper version of the regular Tab S9 has cut corners to achieve a lower price, including a 90Hz refresh rate LCD display instead of OLED and a less powerful Exynos 1380 chipset. But you get pretty much everything else you'd expect from a Samsung tablet.