Samsung’s new tablet is great, but can it beat your trusty iPad?
Samsung has announced a new batch of devices for 2023 at Samsung Unpacked including the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Watch 6, and its new tablet the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9.
But how does Samsung’s new tablet stack up against the popular iPad Air (2022) from Apple? This guide is here to help you answer that question so you can decide which slate is best for you.
For a more in-depth look at each gadget be sure to check out our iPad Air (2022) review and our Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 review, but read on to find out the key differences between these two tablets.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs iPad Air: Specs comparisonSamsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs iPad Air: Price and availability
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Tab S9 at Samsung Unpacked on July 26, 2023, and both the regular model and the larger S9 Plus are available to preorder – with the base model starting at $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,699. At this price, you’ll get 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Preorders will start shipping on August 11.
If you don’t want to wait until August 11 to get your hands on a new tablet, then you may prefer the iPad Air (2022) as it’s available to buy in-store or online right now. The base iPad Air model costs $599 / £569 / AU$929 however you get a model with Wi-Fi connectivity, 8GB of RAM, and only 64GB of storage.
Need more storage? Both tablets come with 256GB models; Apple’s iPad Air will cost you at least $749 / £719 / $1,159 for 256GB, while Samsung will set you back £899 (US and Australian prices to be confirmed). The Samsung model is more expensive, but it also comes with 12GB of RAM, not just 8GB like the iPad Air.
Because the tablets offer slightly different specs it’s tricky to make a one-to-one comparison, but if you’re simply after the cheapest option of the two then the iPad Air is what you need – just note you’ll likely fill up the 64GB quickly if you aren’t careful.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs iPad Air: Design
Design-wise the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 and iPad Air (2022) share plenty of similarities.
