Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+
Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) (#3, best premium) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ (#4): in our Battery Life Tablets scoring the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) totals 9.1/10 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 8.7/10. At $1,199 versus $229, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ costs $970 less.
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Side by side
| Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) | Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1199 | $229 |
| Display | 13" Ultra Retina XDR, 2752×2064, 120Hz OLED | 11" LCD, 90Hz |
| Processor | M5 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) | Octa-Core (4nm) |
| RAM | 12GB (16GB with 1TB+) | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB-2TB | 256GB + microSD |
| Battery | 38.99Wh, 10-11 hours | 7040mAh, all-day |
| Weight | 579g | 477g |
| Thickness | 5.1mm | — |
How they differ in real use
Built from our best display tablets scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ made our Top 5 Battery Life Tablets, at #3 (best premium) and #4. Best battery in premium category at 10-11 hours despite M5 power. 38.99Wh battery with 50% charge in 30 minutes. Variable 10-120Hz refresh conserves power. 2026 successor to the Tab A9+, carrying over the same 7,040mAh battery for all-day use in a more power-efficient 4nm chipset, plus 7 years of promised updates and a starting price around $229.
We score battery life tablets on Battery Life (40%), Efficiency (25%), Charging Speed (15%), Battery Capacity (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) totals 9.1 out of 10 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 8.7. The widest gap is Charging Speed, where the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) scores 9 against 7 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ — fast charging. Value also separates them: 9.8 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ versus 7.3 for the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5).
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Display — 13" Ultra Retina XDR, 2752×2064, 120Hz OLED on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 11" LCD, 90Hz on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+; Processor — M5 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus Octa-Core (4nm) on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+; RAM — 12GB (16GB with 1TB+) on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 8GB on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+; Storage — 256GB-2TB on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 256GB + microSD on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+; Battery — 38.99Wh, 10-11 hours on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 7040mAh, all-day on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+; Weight — 579g on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 477g on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+.
Pricing as of August 12, 2026: $1,199 for the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) and $229 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+, a $970 difference in the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+'s favor. Owners praise the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) for 1600 nits peak brightness and tandem OLED technology; the most common complaint is $1,299+ entry price. Owners praise the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ for 7,040mAh battery, all-day use and 90Hz display; the most common complaint is no official keyboard cover or S Pen support.
Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5)
- 1600 nits peak brightness
- Tandem OLED technology
- M5 chip fastest
- ProMotion 120Hz
- $1,299+ entry price
- Slight warm color cast
- Overkill for basic use
Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+
- 7,040mAh battery, all-day use
- 90Hz display
- More efficient 4nm Octa-Core chip than the A9+'s Snapdragon 695
- 7 years of OS/security updates
- No official keyboard cover or S Pen support
- Screen and speakers unremarkable for the price
- Not for gaming
Which should you buy?
The Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) is the better fit for professional creatives and 4K video editing — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Charging Speed and Efficiency. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ is the better fit for android budget buyers and long battery needs, and the stronger choice if Value matters more to you than the overall score. If the $970 saving matters more than Charging Speed, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ is the better value. The Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) is a poor fit for budget buyers; the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ is a poor fit for heavy gaming.
Choose the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) if
- Professional creatives
- 4K video editing
- Display enthusiasts
Skip it if
- Budget buyers
- Basic tablet needs
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ if
- Android budget buyers
- Long battery needs
- Students and families
Skip it if
- Heavy gaming
- Stylus/keyboard productivity
Common questions
Is the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+?
In our Battery Life Tablets ranking the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) scores higher overall, 9.1 to 8.7, with the biggest advantage in Charging Speed. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ is stronger on Value, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
How much more does the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) cost than the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+?
$970 more as of August 12, 2026: $1,199 for the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) against $229 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Charging Speed — 9 versus 7 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+?
The headline spec difference is Display: 13" Ultra Retina XDR, 2752×2064, 120Hz OLED on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 11" LCD, 90Hz on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+. In use, the gap that matters most is Charging Speed (9 vs 7 in our scoring): fast charging.