Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+
Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) (#2, best value) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ (#5): in our Performance Tablets scoring the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) totals 9.2/10 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ 8.2/10.
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Side by side
| Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina LCD, 2360×1640, 60Hz | 12.4" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2800×1752, 120Hz |
| Processor | M4 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) | MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB/512GB + microSD |
| Battery | 28.93Wh, up to 10 hours | 10,090mAh |
| Weight | 464g | 571g |
| Thickness | 6.1mm | — |
| Brightness | 500 nits | — |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 | — |
| Biometrics | Touch ID | — |
| Price | Check price → | Check price → |
How they differ in real use
Built from our best performance tablets scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ made our Top 5 Performance Tablets, at #2 (best value) and #5. Apple's current iPad Air, which replaced the discontinued M3 model in March 2026. Its M4 and 12GB of RAM post about 3,700 single-core and 13,300 multi-core in published Geekbench 6 results, ahead of the OnePlus Pad 3's Snapdragon 8 Elite (3,125 and 9,553 in GSMArena's testing), at a far lower price than the iPad Pro and sold by Amazon itself. The trade-offs are a 60Hz LCD and 128GB of base storage. Dimensity 9300+ and 12GB RAM, one chip generation behind the Tab S11 Ultra's Dimensity 9400+, but still smooth in One UI with strong multitasking through DeX, plus an included S Pen and IP68 rating.
We score performance tablets on CPU Performance (30%), GPU Performance (30%), RAM & Storage (20%), Sustained Performance (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) totals 9.2 out of 10 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ 8.2. The widest gap is CPU Performance, where the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) scores 9.5 against 8 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: benchmarks. GPU Performance also separates them: 9.5 for the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 8 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ claws back ground on RAM & Storage.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Display: 11" Liquid Retina LCD, 2360×1640, 60Hz on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 12.4" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2800×1752, 120Hz on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+; Processor: M4 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+; Storage: 128GB on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 256GB/512GB + microSD on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+; Battery: 28.93Wh, up to 10 hours on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 10,090mAh on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+; Weight: 464g on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 571g on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+. They match on RAM.
Check current pricing at the merchant links below. Owners praise the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) for M4 chip (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) posts about 3,700 single-core and 13,300 multi-core in published Geekbench 6 results and 12GB of unified memory, 50% more than the M3 iPad Air's 8GB; the most common complaint is 60Hz Liquid Retina LCD, with no ProMotion or OLED. Owners praise the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ for 12.4" sweet spot size and s Pen included ($100+ value); the most common complaint is mediaTek trails Snapdragon.
Apple iPad Air 11" (M4)
- M4 chip (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) posts about 3,700 single-core and 13,300 multi-core in published Geekbench 6 results
- 12GB of unified memory, 50% more than the M3 iPad Air's 8GB
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 via Apple's N1 chip
- Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard support
- 60Hz Liquid Retina LCD, with no ProMotion or OLED
- 128GB base storage and no storage expansion
- Trails the iPad Pro in multi-core performance
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+
- 12.4" sweet spot size
- S Pen included ($100+ value)
- IP68 water resistant
- microSD expansion
- MediaTek trails Snapdragon
- No cellular in some markets
- Not as bright as iPad Pro
Which should you buy?
The Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) is the better fit for most iPad buyers who want Pro-class speed and students and creatives using Apple Pencil Pro; it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for CPU Performance and GPU Performance. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is the better fit for android premium buyers and s Pen users, and the stronger choice if RAM & Storage matters more to you than the overall score. The Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) is a poor fit for 120Hz or OLED display needs; the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is a poor fit for max brightness needs.
Choose the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) if
- Most iPad buyers who want Pro-class speed
- Students and creatives using Apple Pencil Pro
- Magic Keyboard productivity
Skip it if
- 120Hz or OLED display needs
- Large local storage without paying for upgrades
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ if
- Android premium buyers
- S Pen users
- Balanced size needs
Skip it if
- Max brightness needs
- Gaming performance
Common questions
Is the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+?
In our Performance Tablets ranking the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) scores higher overall, 9.2 to 8.2, with the biggest advantage in CPU Performance. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is stronger on RAM & Storage, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
What is the main difference between the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+?
The headline spec difference is Display: 11" Liquid Retina LCD, 2360×1640, 60Hz on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 12.4" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2800×1752, 120Hz on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+. In use, the gap that matters most is CPU Performance (9.5 vs 8 in our scoring): benchmarks.