{"id":1070,"date":"2026-10-27T00:50:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T00:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thegists.com\/?page_id=1070"},"modified":"2026-10-27T00:56:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T00:56:19","slug":"galaxy-tab-s12-plus-vs-ipad-air-m4-13","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thegists.com\/?page_id=1070","title":{"rendered":"Galaxy Tab S12+ vs iPad Air M4 (13-inch): Which Large Tablet Fits You?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

WORK AND STUDY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Galaxy Tab S12+ vs iPad Air M4 (13-inch): Which Large Tablet Fits You?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

An included S Pen and OLED screen versus Apple M4 and iPadOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Updated October 26, 2026 \u00b7 Manufacturer specifications \u00b7 Not a hands-on review<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The gist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These large tablets cater to different workflows. Samsung pairs its 12.6-inch AMOLED screen with DeX, expandable storage and an S Pen in the box. Apple’s 2026 iPad Air emphasizes iPadOS, a 13-inch-class display and the M4 chip, while compatible Apple Pencils are sold separately.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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At a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Best for:<\/strong> Android students, note-takers and multiwindow users who value AMOLED, DeX and an included pen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What stands out<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 S Pen bundled; Samsung DeX<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 microSD expansion and IP68<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider before buying<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Android software may differ from specific iPad creative apps<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 S12+ uses Wi-Fi 6E<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
View official specifications<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Apple iPad Air M4 (13-inch)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Best for:<\/strong> Students and creatives invested in Apple devices and the iPadOS app ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What stands out<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 Apple M4 with 12GB unified memory<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 13-inch-class P3 display<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 Apple Pencil Pro-compatible<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider before buying<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Pencil and keyboard cost extra<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 No microSD; IPS panel rather than OLED<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
View official specifications<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Side-by-side specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Source: manufacturer-published details. Storage, regional bundles and pricing can vary; launch MSRP is historical, not a live quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specification<\/th>Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+<\/th>Apple iPad Air M4 (13-inch)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Display<\/td>12.6-inch AMOLED 2X, 2800\u00d71752, 120Hz<\/td>12.9-inch measured IPS, 2732\u00d72048<\/td><\/tr>
Chip<\/td>Dimensity 9500<\/td>Apple M4<\/td><\/tr>
Memory<\/td>12GB RAM<\/td>12GB unified<\/td><\/tr>
Storage<\/td>256\/512GB; microSD up to 2TB<\/td>128GB\u20131TB, no microSD<\/td><\/tr>
Wi-Fi model weight<\/td>553g<\/td>616g<\/td><\/tr>
Wireless<\/td>Wi-Fi 6E<\/td>Wi-Fi 7<\/td><\/tr>
Pen<\/td>S Pen included<\/td>Apple Pencil Pro or USB-C, sold separately<\/td><\/tr>
Operating system<\/td>Android 17 \/ One UI 9<\/td>iPadOS<\/td><\/tr>
Water\/dust resistance<\/td>IP68<\/td>No advertised IP rating<\/td><\/tr>
Current price<\/td>Check retailer listing<\/td>Check retailer listing<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How they compare in real life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lecture notes and PDF markup: Samsung includes the pen, while iPad Air may suit people whose classes rely on specific iPad apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art and media: S12+ has deep-black OLED and 120Hz; Air supports Apple Pencil Pro and iPad-specific creative software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laptop-like tasks: Samsung DeX and iPadOS windowing differ. Check your preferred desktop apps, file export, and external-display needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Gists buying recommendation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Choose S12+ if the pen-in-box, AMOLED, DeX and microSD are priorities. Choose iPad Air M4 13-inch if you already depend on Apple apps or want Pencil Pro compatibility. Compare the complete tablet, pen and keyboard bundle rather than tablet price alone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is the Samsung S Pen included?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, Samsung lists the S Pen as supplied with the S12+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does iPad Air include Apple Pencil?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No, Apple Pencil is a separate purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I install Windows or macOS software on these tablets?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Neither runs standard Windows or macOS desktop applications natively. Check each app’s iPadOS or Android version.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Primary sources and disclosure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Editorial method: desk research using official manufacturer specifications, reviewed October 26, 2026. We have not personally tested these tablets, measured benchmarks, or checked live stock levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samsung S12 official specifications<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple iPad Air M4 specifications<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affiliate disclosure:<\/strong> Links to manufacturer specifications on this page are informational. If future retailer affiliate links are added, any commission relationship should be disclosed clearly at the point of recommendation. Browse all 2026 tablet comparisons.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An included S Pen and OLED screen versus Apple M4 and iPadOS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1070","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nSamsung Tab S12+ vs iPad Air M4 13-inch | The Gists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Compare Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ and Apple's 13-inch iPad Air M4: OLED vs IPS, S Pen, apps, specs, and which tablet fits work and school.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thegists.com\/?page_id=1070\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Samsung Tab S12+ vs iPad Air M4 13-inch | The Gists\" \/>\n<meta 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