Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A9

92 facts in comparison

Based on 183 Reddit opinions. 10.5-inch (2017) leads by 6 points.

183 opinions
10.5-inch (2017) leads by 6pts
Reddit's Pick
Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)
77%
B
Based on
3 Redditors
Winner

Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)

Limited Data
~$131
3 opinions

tldr; Aging Pro still called 'king of tablets' by some. ProMotion 120Hz pioneered but iPadOS 26 causes issues.

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VS
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9
71%
B-
Based on
346 Redditors

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9

~$196.51
180 opinions

tldr; Samsung's budget entry - good for streaming and light use. No S Pen support, skip for note-taking.

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DisplayPerformanceBattery LifeStylus & Note-takingBuild Quality
🖥️DIS
PER
🔋BAT
STY
🔧BUI
100
Points
60
Points

Score by Category

Display
100%39%
Performance
100%54%
Battery Life
88%
Stylus & Note-taking
6%
Build Quality
78%

Why is Galaxy Tab A9 better than Pro 10.5-inch (2017)?

  • ?? Around $150-200 - affordable Samsung option
  • No stylus support - A9+ doesn't either
Based on 349 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge

Reddit prefers the 10.5-inch (2017)

Winning by 6 points (77% vs 71%)

Better performance
Better display
Overall king of tablets' for apps/ecosystem
High confidence (349 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 349 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

10.5-inch (2017)
7.7/10
3 mentions
Tab A9
7.1/10
346 mentions
PERFORMANCE
10.5-inch (2017)10.0/10
Tab A95.4/10
DISPLAY
10.5-inch (2017)10.0/10
Tab A93.9/10
VALUE
10.5-inch (2017)10.0/10
Tab A99.5/10
STYLUS
10.5-inch (2017)N/A
Tab A90.6/10
BATTERY LIFE
10.5-inch (2017)N/A
Tab A98.8/10
BUILD QUALITY
10.5-inch (2017)N/A
Tab A97.8/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

10.5-inch (2017): 3|Tab A9: 3
Performance10.5-inch (2017)
10.5-inch (2017)100%
Tab A954%
Display10.5-inch (2017)
10.5-inch (2017)100%
Tab A939%
Value10.5-inch (2017)
10.5-inch (2017)100%
Tab A995%
StylusTab A9
10.5-inch (2017)N/A
Tab A96%
Battery LifeTab A9
10.5-inch (2017)N/A
Tab A988%
Build QualityTab A9
10.5-inch (2017)N/A
Tab A978%
10.5-inch (2017)77%
Tab A971%
10.5-inch (2017) wins by 6 points

Key Specs

SpecApple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)Samsung Galaxy Tab A9
Brand
Apple
Samsung
Manufacturer
Apple
Samsung
Color
Space Gray
Silver
Weight
1.53 pounds
1.5 Pounds
Height
12.0 inches
0.27 Inches

Key Highlights

Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)
📌 ?? 'Overall king of tablets' for apps/ecosystem
👍 ?? Best for Procreate - iPad-exclusive
⚠ ️ iPadOS 26 causes 'overheating/lag' on older
📌 ?? Used M1 gen3 often $300-400
🎯 '2015 iPad Pro still works like a wonder'
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9Winner
💰 ?? Around $150-200 - affordable Samsung option
📌 ?? LCD display adequate for streaming
⚠️ No stylus support - A9+ doesn't either
📏 ?? Compact 8.7-inch size for portability
🔋 ?? Good battery for basic streaming

Topic Battles

10.5-inch (2017): 2|Tied: 0|Tab A9: 3
🖥️Display
10.5-inch (2017) wins
10.5-inch (2017)
100%
Tab A9
39%
Performance
10.5-inch (2017) wins
10.5-inch (2017)
100%
Tab A9
54%
🔋Battery Life
Tab A9 wins
10.5-inch (2017)
Tab A9
88%
Stylus & Note-taking
Tab A9 wins
10.5-inch (2017)
Tab A9
6%
🔧Build Quality
Tab A9 wins
10.5-inch (2017)
Tab A9
78%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)

Best Praise
+2 pts
The iPad Pro 2nd Gen (2017) is still supported by Apple and runs the current iPad OS (17.6.1 released in August 2024). I would go with the iPad for sure.
r/tablets
View
No negative quotes found

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Samsung Galaxy Tab A9

Best Praise
+4 pts
Samsung Tablets A9+/8GB ram is good, see my reviews. Lenovo M9 is light enough to be good and under $110 at 4gb Ram. I also have a review on it. 
r/tablets
View
Top Criticism
+6 pts
Firstly,take the Tab A9 off the list.
r/tablets
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9
$120$160$200$240Apr '25May '25Jun '25Aug '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Apr '26Low: $116.8Low: $159.99Current: $119.99Current: $159.99
Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)
All-time low: $116.8(2026-02)
$6 below 90-day avg
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9
All-time low: $132.99(2025-07)

Which is Better?

Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) Wins
77%
(2017)
vs
71%
A9

Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) leads by 6 points based on 349 Reddit opinions.

Why 10.5-inch (2017)Winner
  • 📌 ?? 'Overall king of tablets' for apps/ecosystem
  • 👍 ?? Best for Procreate - iPad-exclusive
  • ⚠ ️ iPadOS 26 causes 'overheating/lag' on older
Why Tab A9
  • 💰 ?? Around $150-200 - affordable Samsung option
  • 📌 ?? LCD display adequate for streaming
  • More discussed (346 vs 3)

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

100%Positive
Positive
100%
Neutral
0%
Negative
0%
Based on 3 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

36%Positive
Positive
36%
Neutral
48%
Negative
16%
Based on 346 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) or Samsung Galaxy Tab A9?
Based on 349 Reddit comments, Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) is the preferred choice with 77% positive sentiment vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A9's 71%. Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) leads by 6 percentage points.
Should I buy Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) or Samsung Galaxy Tab A9?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) has stronger approval ratings (77% vs 71%). However, Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)?
Reddit users highlight: Overall king of tablets' for apps/ecosystem. Best for Procreate - iPad-exclusive. iPadOS 26 causes 'overheating/lag' on older. With 3 mentions and 77% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Samsung Galaxy Tab A9?
Reddit users highlight: Around $150-200 - affordable Samsung option. LCD display adequate for streaming. No stylus support - A9+ doesn't either. With 346 mentions and 71% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 349 Reddit comments: 3 about Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) and 346 about Samsung Galaxy Tab A9. Data was sourced from Tablets community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

183 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 4/14/2026