Galaxy Tab A (8.4", 2020) vs iPad Pro (2021, M1 series)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) and the Apple iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series represent distinct approaches to tablet computing, catering to different user needs and expectations. Released in March 2020, the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 operates on Android, offering a compact and accessible experience. In contrast, the iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series, launched in May 2021, runs on Apple's iPadOS and is designed for demanding tasks and professional workflows. The primary differentiators lie in their operating systems, performance capabilities, and display technologies, shaping their suitability for various applications.

When considering the long-term usability of these tablets, their release timelines and software support play a significant role. The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) was introduced in March 2020, while the iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series followed in May 2021, giving the iPad Pro a slight advantage in terms of its newer release date and potentially longer future software support.

• Software Longevity: The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) launched with Android 9.0 Pie and was upgradeable to Android 10 and 11, indicating a typical Android update cycle for its category. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series, starting with iPadOS 14.5, benefits from Apple's generally longer software support, often receiving major updates for five to six years or more from its release.
• Build Materials and Durability: The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 features a plastic body, contributing to its lighter weight and compact design. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series, on the other hand, boasts a premium glass and metal construction, offering a more rigid and robust feel. Neither device is officially rated for water resistance, but the iPad Pro's construction generally suggests a higher degree of structural integrity.
• Repairability: General tablet repairability can vary, but neither device is specifically highlighted for exceptional ease of repair. The availability of parts and service for both Android and Apple devices typically extends for several years post-release, supporting their practical lifespan.

The performance capabilities of these two tablets cater to vastly different user demands, largely due to their underlying hardware and software ecosystems. The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) is designed for everyday tasks, while the iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series is built for intensive workloads.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 is powered by an octa-core processor, which handles common applications, web browsing, and media consumption smoothly. However, some users have reported occasional sluggishness and jittery animations in the user interface, particularly with more demanding applications or extensive multitasking. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series integrates a powerful processor with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, enabling it to manage professional-grade applications, complex multitasking, and graphics-intensive gaming with exceptional responsiveness and efficiency.
• Multitasking and Storage: With 3GB of RAM, the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 is suitable for light multitasking, such as switching between a few apps. It comes with 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded significantly via a microSD card, offering flexibility for storing media and documents. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series offers 8GB or 16GB of unified memory, providing substantial headroom for running multiple demanding applications simultaneously without performance degradation. Storage options range from 128GB up to 2TB, but this storage is not expandable.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 features a 5000 mAh battery, providing approximately 10-12 hours of video playback or general usage on a single charge, making it suitable for extended media consumption. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series is rated for up to 10 hours of web browsing or video watching, with real-world usage often aligning with this estimate, though heavy tasks like gaming can reduce this duration.

The visual experience offered by these two tablets differs significantly, primarily due to their display technologies, sizes, and refresh rates. These distinctions impact everything from casual browsing to professional creative work.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 features an 8.4-inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 270 PPI. This provides a clear and sharp image for media consumption and reading. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series offers two display options: an 11-inch Liquid Retina (IPS LCD) with a 2388 x 1668 pixel resolution and a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, which uses mini-LED technology, both at 264 PPI. The mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch model delivers deeper blacks, higher contrast, and more precise local dimming zones, enhancing the visual experience for HDR content.
• Brightness and Color Accuracy: The Galaxy Tab A 8.4's display offers adequate brightness for indoor use and general viewing. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series, particularly the 12.9-inch model, achieves significantly higher brightness levels, reaching up to 1000 nits for full-screen content and 1600 nits peak for HDR content, making it highly visible even in bright outdoor conditions. Both iPad Pro models support a wide color gamut (P3), ensuring vibrant and accurate color reproduction, which is beneficial for creative professionals.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 operates at a standard refresh rate, providing a consistent viewing experience for everyday tasks. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series features ProMotion technology, offering an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz. This results in noticeably smoother scrolling, more fluid animations, and a more responsive feel, particularly during gaming or when using the Apple Pencil.

The camera systems on these tablets are designed with different priorities, reflecting their intended use cases. While both can capture photos and videos, their capabilities vary significantly.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) is equipped with an 8MP rear camera with autofocus, capable of recording 1080p video at 30 frames per second. It performs adequately for casual photos and document scanning in good lighting conditions. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series features a more advanced dual-camera system on the rear, including a 12MP Wide camera (f/1.8) and a 10MP Ultra-Wide camera (f/2.4 with a 125° field of view), along with a LiDAR Scanner for enhanced depth sensing. This setup allows for higher-quality photos, more versatile shooting options, and 4K video recording.
• Front Camera and Video Conferencing: For video calls and selfies, the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 has a 5MP front-facing camera, which is sufficient for clear video conferencing. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series features a 12MP TrueDepth Ultra-Wide front camera with a notable feature called Center Stage. Center Stage automatically pans and zooms to keep the user in the frame during video calls, even as they move around, providing a more engaging and dynamic video conferencing experience.
• Audio Quality: The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 includes dual speakers, but some reviews note them as being tinny and lacking in richness, suggesting headphones for a better audio experience. The iPad Pro 2021 M1 Series features a four-speaker audio system that delivers a more immersive and higher-quality sound output, suitable for media consumption and calls. Both tablets include microphones for calls and recordings.