# iPad vs Samsung Tablet: Which Should You Buy in 2026? > iPad or Samsung tablet? Most people should get the iPad (A16). Screen, price, stylus, water resistance, warranty and complaints next to the Galaxy Tab S10 FE. Guide: https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/ipad-vs-samsung-tablet/ · Updated 2026-10-15 · By TwelveTabs · Search it live: https://twelvetabs.com/?q=ipad%20vs%20samsung%20tablet&guide=ipad-vs-samsung-tablet As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. Our picks are independently researched, written by TwelveTabs AI and never sponsored. Prices and ratings change often: see the guide for today's. ## The top picks - **Most people: the cheaper tablet with the A16 chip and tablet-ready apps:** Apple iPad 11-inch (A16), Liquid Retina display, 128GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP cameras, Touch ID. Apple's base iPad: an 11 inch Liquid Retina display, the A16 chip, 128 GB, Wi-Fi 6, a 12 MP back camera and a 12 MP Center Stage front camera, Touch ID, a USB-C port and stereo speakers. - **Android users who want an included S Pen, water resistance and a longer warranty:** Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 128GB Wi-Fi Android tablet, US version, with S Pen. Samsung's mid-range Android tablet: a 10.9 inch 90 Hz screen, an Exynos 1580 chip, an 8,000 mAh battery, an included S Pen, IP68 water and dust protection, dual speakers and a 2-year manufacturer warranty. Most people should get the **[Apple iPad (A16)](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/ipad-vs-samsung-tablet/#pick-1)**. It costs about $126 less, weighs 1.05 pounds, and has Touch ID and an A16 chip. Get the **[Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/ipad-vs-samsung-tablet/#pick-2)** if you want an S Pen in the box, water resistance, a 2-year warranty or an Android tablet. We compared the two best-selling tablets in their families at the 128 GB Wi-Fi size. They sit in different price tiers, so the iPad is the cheaper, plainer choice. Both listings pool reviews from other sizes and colors. ## The short version - **Want to spend less?** The [Apple iPad (A16)](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/ipad-vs-samsung-tablet/#pick-1), about $126 under the Samsung. - **Want to write or draw?** The [Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/ipad-vs-samsung-tablet/#pick-2) includes an S Pen. The iPad works with an Apple Pencil, sold separately. - **Want it in the rain or the bath?** The Samsung lists IP68 protection. The iPad listing lists none. - **Use an iPhone or Mac?** Juice Box says Apple's devices work together more tightly, and that app makers favor the iPad. - **Want an SD card slot or a longer warranty?** The Samsung. Owners mention its SD card, and its page lists 2 years. ## How to choose between them Juice Box compared higher-end models of both brands. It found iPadOS polished and well supported by app makers, and Samsung's Android more flexible, with windowed multitasking and an S Pen included. Both of those points carry to these two. - **Screen.** The iPad is 11 inches at 2360 by 1640 and 500 nits. The Samsung is 10.9 inches at 2304 by 1440 with a 90 Hz refresh rate. - **Chip.** The iPad has Apple's A16. The Samsung has an Exynos 1580. Neither page lists RAM. - **Battery.** The Samsung lists 8,000 mAh. The iPad page says all-day battery and gives no number. - **Weight.** 1.05 pounds against 1.15 pounds. - **Stylus.** Samsung includes one. Apple does not, and the page gives no Pencil price. - **Warranty.** The Samsung lists 2 years. The iPad page gives none. - **Seller.** Both are sold by Amazon. ## Our picks in detail ### 1. Apple iPad (A16): best for most people **Why it made the list** - About $126 less than the Samsung. - An 11 inch Liquid Retina display at 2360 by 1640, with True Tone. - The A16 chip, 128 GB, Wi-Fi 6 and a USB-C port. - A 12 MP Center Stage front camera and a 12 MP back camera that records 4K at up to 60 frames a second. - Touch ID in the top button, and a 20 watt charger in the box. **Drawbacks** - No stylus in the box, and the listing gives no Pencil price. - One owner says 128 GB is no longer enough. - One owner wants it brighter, and another says price is the one complaint. - No battery hours, RAM or warranty length on the page. **Skip it if** you want a stylus included or water resistance. ### 2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: best with a stylus included **Why it made the list** - An S Pen in the box. - IP68 water and dust protection, rated for 5 feet for 30 minutes. - A 90 Hz screen, dual speakers and an 8,000 mAh battery. - A 2-year manufacturer warranty, per the listing. - Amazon's summary says owners get more than two and a half days of battery. **Drawbacks** - It costs about $126 more. - Fast charging needs a 45 watt charger sold separately. - Owners report Wi-Fi trouble, a tricky SD card slot and a loose stylus tip. - The page says Galaxy AI features were free until the end of 2025, so check what they cost now. **Skip it if** you want the lowest price, or the apps iPad owners praise. ## What owners complain about - **On the [Apple iPad (A16)](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/ipad-vs-samsung-tablet/#pick-1):** storage that feels small at 128 GB, a screen one owner wishes were brighter, and price. - **On the [Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/ipad-vs-samsung-tablet/#pick-2):** Wi-Fi connectivity in Amazon's summary, an SD card that is hard to install, a stylus tip that got loose, and a non-US owner whose US model had no warranty at home. - **On both:** the complaints are few, and none repeats across the visible reviews. ## What we left out, and why We read two listings and 17 reviews. - **iPad Air and iPad Pro.** Higher-priced iPads on the compare chart. For the Air, see [iPad vs iPad Air](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/ipad-vs-ipad-air/). - **Galaxy Tab S10 FE with 256 GB or 512 GB.** Other sizes of the same listing family. We did not open them. - **Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, S10 Lite and S10+.** Other styles on the Samsung page. We did not open them. - **The "international" S10 FE listing.** It is not a US version, so we left it out. ## Questions people ask ### Is an iPad or a Samsung tablet better? The iPad suits most people because it costs less and apps are tuned for it. The Samsung suits shoppers who want an included S Pen, water resistance and a 2-year warranty. ### Does the Samsung tablet come with a stylus? Yes. The S Pen is in the box, per the listing. The iPad does not include an Apple Pencil. ### Is 128 GB enough? It is enough for many people, but one iPad owner says it is not in 2026. The Samsung also lists 128 GB and has an SD card slot, per its owners. ### How did TwelveTabs choose between them? We read the Amazon listings for one iPad and one Samsung tablet, their spec lists, Amazon's review summaries and the reviews we could see, plus Juice Box's comparison. We put the facts side by side and checked each against its listing. For school use, see our [best tablets for students](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-tablets-for-students/). ## How we researched On October 15, 2026 we read the Amazon listing pages for the Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE. We read each page's bullets and specs, Amazon's review summaries and the reviews we could see. We also read Juice Box's iPad vs Galaxy Tab comparison and checked Google's top results for this question. AI wrote this guide from that research. Neither listing showed a 1 to 3 star US review among the eight or nine we could see, so complaints come from critical lines inside 4 and 5 star reviews, Amazon's summaries and a few non-US reviews. Both ratings pool every size and color, so some reviews describe 256 GB or 512 GB units. The Samsung page gives no RAM, camera or battery-hour figures, and the iPad page gives no battery hours, RAM or warranty length. Juice Box compared higher-end models in both families, so we use it for how the two ecosystems differ. ### Sources - [Juice Box: iPad vs Galaxy Tab](https://juiceboxonline.co.uk/ipad-vs-galaxy-tab-which-tablet-is-right-for-you-in-2025/)