Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4-inch (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2

9.3/10 Excellent

4.7★ (8,400 owners)

M2 chip, 13" Liquid Retina, 12MP front camera, Apple Pencil Pro. Best iPad for most people.

Full Review

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4-inch

9.1/10 Excellent

4.6★ (6,800 owners)

Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, IP68, S Pen included. Android's best tablet.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2	Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4-inch
247Verdict Score	9.3/10	9.1/10
Owner Rating	4.7★ (8,400)	4.6★ (6,800)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Chip	M2	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Display	13-inch Liquid Retina	12.4-inch AMOLED 120Hz
Storage	128GB-1TB	256GB-512GB

Quick Verdict

Both are strong choices, but the Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2 edges ahead with a 9.3/10 vs 9.1/10. M2 chip, 13" Liquid Retina, 12MP front camera, Apple Pencil Pro. Best iPad for most people. That said, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4-inch is worth considering if Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, IP68, S Pen included. Android's best tablet. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2

M2 chip provides iPad Pro-class performance for 80% of iPad Pro price
13-inch Liquid Retina display is the best-in-class tablet screen for content consumption and drawing
Apple Pencil Pro support enables precision drawing, note-taking and PDF annotation
Stage Manager enables true multi-window desktop-class app usage
iPadOS with Mac-level productivity apps (Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro available)

No OLED display — iPad Pro 11/13 inch has OLED for significantly higher price
No MagSafe charging — Lightning or USB-C depending on generation
Apple ecosystem required for maximum value — AirDrop, Handoff, Universal Clipboard

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4-inch

Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz — the best Android tablet display available, comparable to iPad Pro OLED
S Pen included in the box — no additional stylus purchase needed
IP68 water resistance — the only premium tablet IP-rated for submersion
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers flagship performance across all Android apps
DeX mode creates a desktop-like interface for productivity use on a monitor

Android tablet app ecosystem significantly smaller than iPadOS
Heavy at 581g — noticeable for extended one-handed reading
Price matches iPad Air M2 despite Android app limitations

FAQ

Which is better, Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2 or Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4-inch?

Is the Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2 worth the extra cost?

Yes — Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2 scores higher at 9.3/10 vs 9.1/10.

Who is the Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2 best suited to?

M2 chip, 13" Liquid Retina, 12MP front camera, Apple Pencil Pro. Best iPad for most people.

Who is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4-inch best suited to?

Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, IP68, S Pen included. Android's best tablet.

What are the main downsides of each?

Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2: No OLED display — iPad Pro 11/13 inch has OLED for significantly higher price; No MagSafe charging — Lightning or USB-C depending on generation. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4-inch: Android tablet app ecosystem significantly smaller than iPadOS; Heavy at 581g — noticeable for extended one-handed reading.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Apple iPad Air 13-inch M2 sits at 4.7★ from 8,400 verified Amazon owners, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4-inch at 4.6★ from 6,800.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.