If you’re in the market for a mid-range tablet that can handle all your everyday tasks without a flinch, there are two pretty excellent options in the market: the newly-launched Samsung Galaxy Tab S10FE and the Apple iPad 11th Gen (A16).
Given that both tablets are available at a similar price point, here’s a detailed comparison that will help you make an informed decision.
Galaxy Tab S10FE vs. iPad 11th Gen: Tech Specs
| Galaxy Tab S10FE | iPad 11th Gen | |
| Dimensions | 254.3 x 165.8 x 6 mm | 248.6 x 179.5 x 7 mm |
| Weight | 497 grams | 477 grams |
| Screen | 10.9-inch IPS LCD screen; 90Hz | 11-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD screen |
| Processor | Exynos 1580 (4nm) SoC | Apple A16 Bionic (4nm) |
| Operating System | One UI 7.0 | iPadOS 18 |
| Cameras | Rear: 13MP Front: 12MP | Rear: 12MP Front: 12MP |
| Battery Capacity | 8,000 mAh | 29.93Wh |
| Stylus | S Pen (included in the box) | Apple Pencil (1st Generation) & Apple Pencil (USB-C); both sold separately |
| IP Rating | IP68 | – |
Galaxy Tab S10FE vs. iPad 11th Gen: Design
Both the Galaxy Tab S10FE and the iPad 11th Gen look similar, but there are a few subtle differences, the dimensions and colors being one of the key ones.
Materials
In terms of materials, both the tablets feature an aluminum frame/back and a glass front.
Dimensions & Weight
- Galaxy Tab S10FE: 254.3 x 165.8 x 6 mm; 497 grams
- iPad 11th Gen: 248.6 x 179.5 x 7 mm; 477 grams (Wi-Fi) and 481 grams (LTE)
Even though the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10FE is thinner, the iPad 11th Gen (Wi-Fi) weighs 20 grams less.
Design
The Galaxy Tab S10FE and the iPad 11th Gen have symmetrical bezels on the front. However, the corners on the iPad are noticeably rounder than those on the Tab S10 FE. On the back, both tablets feature a camera situated at the top left, with an otherwise plain aluminum back.
What’s good is that both tablets have the front camera placed on their longer sides, making it more convenient to use them for video calls or conferences.
Regarding buttons, the Tab S10 FE has the power and the volume rockers on the left side (when viewing from the front), while the iPad features the power button (and built-in Touch ID) at the front (toward the right) and the volume rockers on the right frame.
Colors
- Galaxy Tab S10FE: Light Blue, Gray, Silver
- iPad 11th Gen: Blue, Silver, Pink, and Yellow
IP Rating
It’s good that the Samsung tablet has an official IP68 dust and water resistance rating, implying that it can survive an immersion of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
However, the iPad 11th Gen doesn’t have an IP rating, and we can’t find a good reason for it.
Galaxy Tab S10FE vs. iPad 11th Gen: Display
The Tab S10FE features a 10.9-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 2304 x 1440 pixels (249 ppi) and a peak brightness of 800 nits in the high-brightness mode. What’s good is that the screen also supports a 90Hz refresh rate.
The iPad 11th Gen also has an 11-inch Liquid Retina (IPS LCD) screen with a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels (264 ppi), but the screen can only achieve a peak brightness of 500 nits. Further, it is capped at a 60Hz refresh rate.
Between the two tablets, Samsung’s Tab S10 FE should provide a better viewing experience owing to its high peak brightness. Further, the system animations and scrolling should feel significantly smoother, thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate.
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Galaxy Tab S10FE vs. iPad 11th Gen: Processor
Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S10FE runs on the Exynos 1580 (4nm) SoC, the same processor that powers the Galaxy A56 5G. The chipset features one 2.9GHz prime core, three 2.6GHz performance cores, and four 1.9GHz efficient cores.
Further, the chipset features the Xclipse 540 GPU, up to 12GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage (expandable with a micro SD card). On the Galaxy A56 5G, the Exynos 1580 chipset scores around 919K points on the Antutu 10 benchmark and 1380/3870 points on the GeekBench 6 CPU test.
On the other side of the spectrum, the iPad 11th Gen features the Apple A16 Bionic (4nm) chipset, which first debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro. The chipset has a five-core CPU, a four-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Besides, the iPad has 6GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
On GeekBench 6, the iPad 11th Gen scores 2470/4350 points in the single/multi-core CPU test. Hence, purely in terms of raw processing power, the Apple iPad does much better than the Tab S10FE. While daily tasks like browsing through the internet, checking emails, and streaming videos should feel smoother on the iPad, games should run at higher graphics settings, too.
Galaxy Tab S10FE vs. iPad 11th Gen: Software
Out of the box, the Galaxy Tab S10FE runs on One UI 7 based on Android 15. Apart from the iconic One UI design and customization feature, the tablet offers plenty of GenAI features, including Circle to Search, new Samsung Notes features like Solve Math for quick calculations, Handwriting Help for tidying up handwritten notes, Object Eraser, Best Face, and Auto Trim.
However, there seems to be some confusion about the Tab S10FE’s software update policy. While the Korean giant is known for committing to its flagship smartphones for seven years and mid-range models for up to six years, neither the official press release nor the product page mentions anything in this context about the Tab S10FE.
In response to a querier, Samsung’s customer care executive said that the device will get seven years of software updates, but whether that includes seven years of Android and security updates or fewer operating system updates and up to seven years of security patches isn’t clear yet.
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In contrast, the iPad 11th Gen runs on iPadOS 18, which is quite different. The iOS-based operating system is optimized for larger screens. It offers new features like customizable Home Screen color tint and icon appearance, a revamped Control Center where users can create custom control pages, a new Photos app, and improvements in other Apple apps like Notes (including Smart Script), Calculator, Messages, and so on.
Unfortunately, the iPad 11th Gen doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, the suite of GenAI features available on high-end iPads (those powered by the M series chipsets) and iPhones (running on the A17 Pro or newer chipsets). Regarding longevity, Apple has an excellent track record of providing extended software support for its devices (around five to seven years), and the iPad should be no exception.
While there are many differences between One UI and iPadOS, you should also consider what devices you already have and how the tablet will go with them. For instance, if you own an Android smartphone and a Windows laptop or PC, getting the Tab S10FE will make more sense. Conversely, if you have an iPhone and a MacBook, the iPad is a better purchase.
Galaxy Tab S10FE vs. iPad 11th Gen: Cameras
Galaxy Tab S10FE Camera Configuration
- Rear camera: 13MP (f/2.0)
- Front camera: 12MP (f/2.4) ultrawide sensor
Whether you’re using the rear or the front camera, the Galaxy Tab S10FE can record 4K videos at 30 fps. According to early reviews of the device, the tablet relays decent audio and visual on a video call, making it an excellent work- or call-on-the-go device.
iPad 11th Gen Camera Configuration
- Rear camera: 12MP (f/1.8)
- Front camera: 12MP (f/2.4) ultrawide sensor
The iPad 11th Gen can record 4K videos at 60 fps with its rear camera, while the front camera is capped at 1080p videos at 60 fps. Further, it supports Center Stage, a feature that monitors your position and movements during a video call and keeps you in the center of the frame.
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Galaxy Tab S10FE vs. iPad 11th Gen: Battery Life & Charging Rate
The Galaxy Tab S10FE features an 8,000 mAh battery, which, according to the tablet’s specifications page, can provide up to 20 hours of video playback (via a wireless network). Further, it supports 45W wired charging, which isn’t the fastest but gets the job done in less time.
The iPad 11th Gen has a 29.93Wh battery that is rated to last for up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video, significantly less than that of Samsung’s Tab. Apple doesn’t specify the charging speed of the device, but it could be around 20W or so (based on the previous models).
If you’re looking for a tablet that lasts longer between charges, Samsung sure leads the pack with a solid 20-hour wireless video streaming claim.
Galaxy Tab S10FE vs. iPad 11th Gen: Connectivity & Accessories
Connectivity options on the tablets include dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS, and USB Type-C 2.0 port. The tablets also feature a magnetic connector (on the iPad’s side and Tab S10FE’s back panel) for attaching the stylus.
You can purchase either the Wi-Fi version or the cellular model, which costs more for the same memory/storage variant.
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About accessories, Samsung ships the Galaxy Tab S10FE with an S Pen in the box, making it a more value-for-money deal for buyers who need a stylus for taking notes or creating illustrations. The box also includes a data cable (Type-C to Type-C) and an eject pin.
Samsung also sells a Book Cover Keyboard, a Book Cover Keyboard (Slim), a Smart Book Cover, and an anti-reflecting screen protector for the tablet.
While Samsung provides a stylus in the box, Apple provides a 20W USB-C power adapter and a data/charging cable. The iPad 11th Gen is compatible with the Apple Pencil (1st Generation) and the Apple Pencil (USB-C). However, both of them are sold separately. Other accessories include the Magic Keyboard Folio and Smart Folio.
Galaxy Tab S10FE vs. iPad 11th Gen: Price And Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10FE Price
- Galaxy Tab S10FE (Wi-Fi, 8GB + 128GB): Rs. 42,999
- Galaxy Tab S10FE (Wi-Fi, 8GB + 256GB): Rs. 53,999
- Galaxy Tab S10FE (5G, 8GB + 128GB): Rs. 50,999
- Galaxy Tab S10FE (5G, 12GB + 256GB): Rs. 61,999
The Galaxy Tab S10FE offers a brighter and smoother screen, runs on One UI 7.0 (with plenty of GenAI features), can record 4K videos from the front camera, and claims to offer twice the video streaming time. It could be an excellent daily tablet for students or professionals, especially since it includes the S Pen in the box.
Its only downside could be the chipset. Although the tablet can handle everyday tasks, demanding workflows like video games or video editing might be a bit slower compared to the iPad. However, the TabS10 FE is a decent option if raw performance doesn’t concern you.
Apple iPad 11th Gen Price
- iPad 11th Gen (Wi-Fi, 128GB): Rs. 34,900
- iPad 11th Gen (Wi-Fi, 256GB): Rs. 44,900
- iPad 11th Gen (Wi-Fi, 512GB): Rs. 64,900
- iPad 11th Gen (Wi-Fi + 5G, 128GB): Rs. 49,900
- iPad 11th Gen (Wi-Fi + 5G, 256GB): Rs. 59,900
- iPad 11th Gen (Wi-Fi + 5G, 512GB): Rs. 79,900
The iPad 11th Gen offers a faster chipset, has higher storage versions, and runs on iPadOS 18. Although the tablet doesn’t provide any GenAI features, it could be a better choice for someone who uses an iPhone as their daily driver (thanks to the continuity features).
If you want an affordable tablet that can handle creative workflows better, the iPad 11th Gen could be the right option for you. Although this isn’t usually the case, the 256GB variant of the iPad is more affordable than the 256GB Galaxy Tab S10FE.
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