Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

98 facts in comparison

Based on 515 Reddit opinions. S9 FE leads by 8 points.

515 opinions
S9 FE leads by 8pts
Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)
80%
B+
Based on
757 Redditors

Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)

~$133
157 opinions

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

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VS
Reddit's Pick
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
88%
A-
Based on
1,290 Redditors
Winner

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

~$415
358 opinions

tldr; Mid-range Samsung with S Pen included and IP68 rating. LCD vs OLED tradeoff saves $150 over base S9.

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DisplayPerformanceBattery LifeStylus & Note-takingBuild Quality
🖥️DIS
PER
🔋BAT
STY
🔧BUI
19
Points
28
Points

Score by Category

Display
18%28%
Performance
18%25%
Battery Life
19%28%
Stylus & Note-taking
20%29%
Build Quality
17%29%

Why is Tab S9 FE better than Pro 10.5-inch (2017)?

  • Higher Reddit score (88% vs 80%)
  • Better value (28% vs 21%)
  • Better display (28% vs 18%)
  • Better stylus (29% vs 20%)
  • Better performance (25% vs 18%)
  • Better battery (28% vs 19%)
  • Better build quality (29% vs 17%)
  • ?? IP68 water/dust resistance like flagship
Based on 2,047 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge

Reddit prefers the S9 FE

Winning by 8 points (88% vs 80%)

Better value
Better display
Better stylus
High confidence (2,047 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 2,047 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

10.5-inch (2017)
8.0/10
757 mentions
S9 FE
8.8/10
1,290 mentions
VALUE
10.5-inch (2017)2.1/10
S9 FE2.8/10
DISPLAY
10.5-inch (2017)1.8/10
S9 FE2.8/10
PERFORMANCE
10.5-inch (2017)1.8/10
S9 FE2.5/10
STYLUS
10.5-inch (2017)2.0/10
S9 FE2.9/10
BATTERY LIFE
10.5-inch (2017)1.9/10
S9 FE2.8/10
BUILD QUALITY
10.5-inch (2017)1.7/10
S9 FE2.9/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

10.5-inch (2017): 0|S9 FE: 6
ValueS9 FE
10.5-inch (2017)21%
S9 FE28%
DisplayS9 FE
10.5-inch (2017)18%
S9 FE28%
PerformanceS9 FE
10.5-inch (2017)18%
S9 FE25%
StylusS9 FE
10.5-inch (2017)20%
S9 FE29%
Battery LifeS9 FE
10.5-inch (2017)19%
S9 FE28%
Build QualityS9 FE
10.5-inch (2017)17%
S9 FE29%
10.5-inch (2017)80%
S9 FE88%
S9 FE wins by 8 points

Key Specs

SpecApple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Brand
Apple
Samsung
Manufacturer
Apple
Samsung
Color
Space Gray
Gray
Weight
1.53 Pounds
1.38 Pounds
Height
12.0 inches
0.26 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 S9 FEWinner
✏️ S Pen included in box - great for notes
💧 ?? IP68 water/dust resistance like flagship
🔧 ?? 10.9-inch LCD at 90Hz - solid but not OLED
💰 ?? $300-350 range - best value Samsung with pen
⚠️ Exynos chip slower than Snapdragon in S9

Topic Battles

10.5-inch (2017): 0|Tied: 0|S9 FE: 5
🖥️Display
S9 FE wins
10.5-inch (2017)
18%
S9 FE
28%
Performance
S9 FE wins
10.5-inch (2017)
18%
S9 FE
25%
🔋Battery Life
S9 FE wins
10.5-inch (2017)
19%
S9 FE
28%
Stylus & Note-taking
S9 FE wins
10.5-inch (2017)
20%
S9 FE
29%
🔧Build Quality
S9 FE wins
10.5-inch (2017)
17%
S9 FE
29%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

Best Praise
+14 pts
Yes, they made a 2022 Tab S6 Lite, but when they call it a Tab S6 Lite, they really mean it. It's the same price as it was in 2020 and it's only slightly better than the previous version. I was hoping for something with better specs. An Tab S9 FE with cost to performance comparable to the Tab S6 Lite would be great, preferably with the HD screen and S Pen support.
r/android
View
No negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

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

Best Praise
+30 pts
I don't get the obsession with "product killers". Tab s9ultra isn't going to kill the iPad pro, but it's an amazing non-ipad option after God knows how many years. I'm moving from my iPad to a galaxy tab next. YouTube and social media has made it a perception that you need iPads only. YouTubers say how iPads have better apps, which is true, but for what percentile of the population? How many use affinity photo, or procreate or final cut pro on their tablet?
r/android
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No negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
$200$400Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jul '25Aug '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Low: $116.8Low: $390Current: $133Current: $415
Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)
All-time low: $116.8(2026-02)
$22 below 90-day avg
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
All-time low: $370(2026-01)

Which is Better?

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Wins
88%
FE
vs
80%
(2017)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE leads by 8 points based on 2,047 Reddit opinions.

Why S9 FEWinner
  • Better Value for Money (28% vs 21%)
  • More discussed (1,290 vs 757)
Why 10.5-inch (2017)
  • 📌 ?? 'Overall king of tablets' for apps/ecosystem
  • 👍 ?? Best for Procreate - iPad-exclusive

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

25%Positive
Positive
25%
Neutral
72%
Negative
3%
Based on 1,286 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

17%Positive
Positive
17%
Neutral
79%
Negative
4%
Based on 751 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE or Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)?
Based on 2,047 Reddit comments, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the preferred choice with 88% positive sentiment vs Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)'s 80%. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE leads by 8 percentage points.
Should I buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE or Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE has stronger approval ratings (88% vs 80%). However, Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017) may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE?
Reddit users highlight: S Pen included in box - great for notes. IP68 water/dust resistance like flagship. 10.9-inch LCD at 90Hz - solid but not OLED. With 1,290 mentions and 88% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say 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 757 mentions and 80% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 2,047 Reddit comments: 1,290 about Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and 757 about Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017). 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.

515 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 3/7/2026