Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs. M5 iPad Pro: How Samsung and Apple Compare on Price, Screen and Size

Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,399.99 in a single 14.6-inch configuration, set against Apple's 13-inch M5 iPad Pro at $1,499 before accessories.

The head-to-head comes from Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs Apple iPad Pro: Here's how they stack up, by Sam Rutherford and Nathan Ingraham and published Oct. 2 by Engadget. That piece treats Apple's largest model as the relevant match for Samsung's Ultra, rather than the 11-inch iPad Pro.

On pricing, Samsung offers only the 14.6-inch Ultra at the top, with the 12.6-inch Galaxy Tab S12+ below it starting at $1,199.99. Apple divides its line the other way, with an 11-inch iPad Pro listed at $1,199 in the comparison and the 13-inch version at $1,499 without accessories. Apple's own newsroom material for the M5 iPad Pro lists the 11-inch model further, at $999 for Wi-Fi and $1,199 for Wi-Fi + Cellular. The entry math overlaps in practice. A choice between Samsung's smaller Plus and Apple's smaller Pro starts at the same $1,199 on paper, before cellular, storage, and pen or keyboard costs change the total.

The displays take different technical paths to similar brightness. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra uses a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, Samsung's term for its OLED screen technology, at 2,960 x 1,848 with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. That refresh figure means the screen can update up to 120 times per second for smoother scrolling, and can lower that rate to save power. Samsung rates the panel at 1,000 nits in High Brightness Mode and 1,600 nits peak brightness, with nits as the standard measure of screen brightness. Apple uses an Ultra Retina XDR display, offered in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, rated at 1,000 nits full-screen and 1,600 nits peak for HDR content, the high-contrast video format.

Size is the clearest practical difference. Samsung sells the Ultra only at 14.6 inches. Apple stops at 13 inches in this comparison. That 1.6-inch diagonal gap affects split-screen multitasking, stage-managed windows, drawing canvas, and video timelines. It also affects weight, bag fit, and one-handed handling. The 13-inch M5 iPad Pro measures 11.09 by 8.48 by 0.20 inches and weighs 1.28 pounds, according to PCMag. This data set does not include equivalent published dimensions for the Ultra, with Samsung framing the S12 series instead around ultra-thin design with long-lasting battery life and integrated Galaxy AI.

On chips, Samsung claims 19 percent higher CPU performance and 17 percent higher GPU power for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, figures reported in Engadget's separate S11 Ultra versus S12 Ultra breakdown. CPU covers general computing tasks and GPU covers graphics. Those are vendor-provided gains over the prior Samsung generation, not cross-platform test results against the M5, and they should be read that way. Apple introduced the M5 iPad Pro in October 2025, according to Apple. The current comparison provides no shared test results between the two shipping tablets, which leaves sustained performance, thermal behavior under load, and inference throughput, the speed of AI tasks run on the device itself, unresolved in the verified facts.

Samsung Electronics unveiled the Galaxy Tab S12 series as two models, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12+. The company describes the line as its most capable and versatile tablet experience yet, positioned for productivity for growth and mobile work. Galaxy AI integration is included in that package, inside the thin chassis and long-life battery design. Both the Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12+ ship with an included S Pen, according to Samsung's product pages. Samsung also lists a Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra 5G configuration in Gray with 256GB storage.

Accessory bundling affects the total cost. An included pen removes a separate purchase for note-taking, markup, and sketching. Apple's 13-inch price is stated without accessories, so keyboard and pencil costs sit outside the $1,499 baseline. Storage and cellular options will move both tablets quickly past entry prices. Professionals who work in PDF review, CAD markups, or classroom annotation will notice that pen cost difference at once. People who type far more than they draw may give more weight to keyboard pricing. Coverage is already grouping around this pairing. Trusted Reviews published Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs iPad Pro M5, and PCMag published a Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra Review in the same Sept. 30 window as Samsung's announcement cycle. That coverage describes these tablets as primary computers for some users, judged on window management, external display support, file handling, and accessory ecosystems as much as on screen quality.

The broader context here is that matching brightness and refresh rates shift the decision away from peak specifications and toward platform limits. In my view the deciding questions are ordinary and practical. Which operating system handles your current documents, logins, and accessories with less friction. Whether 14.6 inches improves your multitasking layout enough to accept the larger size. Whether an included pen changes how often you actually write by hand, since tools left in a drawer do not help.

Worth flagging for business buyers is how neatly the two lines point to different starting choices. Samsung leans on larger screen area, AMOLED manufacturing strength, and pen in the box to make the case for field work, review workflows, and media use on one device. Apple leans on consistent chips across Mac and iPad, a mature tablet app catalog, and a 13-inch maximum that keeps some portability. Neither choice removes trade-offs. Larger glass helps side-by-side editing and presentations. Smaller glass travels better and fits more easily into tight desk setups.

What this enables over the longer term is encouraging. High-brightness, fast-refresh large tablets with capable processors, built-in AI features, and usable pen input are now normal expectations rather than exceptions. My children grew up tapping on glass that was only for watching video. Their counterparts now edit video, sign forms, attend class, and run work apps on the same slab. The S12 Ultra versus M5 iPad Pro debate reflects that change. The hardware on both sides is good enough that fit with daily work, not peak brightness, will decide.