Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
Decision sheet: the facts that decide it
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch: 7 of 8 decision facts sourced.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: 7 of 8 decision facts sourced.
| Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price today | Price not yet checked | $489.99 |
| Screen size | 10.9 inches bestbuy.com | 11 inches bestbuy.com |
| Resolution | 2360 x 1640 bestbuy.com | 2560 x 1600 bestbuy.com |
| Chip | M1 chip with Neural Engine bestbuy.com | Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 bestbuy.com |
| Storage | 64 gigabytes bestbuy.com | 128 gigabytes bestbuy.com |
| Battery life | 10 hours bestbuy.com | 15 hours bestbuy.com |
| Weight | 16.32 ounces bestbuy.com | 17.6 ounces bestbuy.com |
| Starting MSRP | $599.99 bestbuy.com | $799.99 bestbuy.com |
Not yet sourced — Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch: Refresh rate. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Refresh rate. No manufacturer, official or retailer source we read publishes these yet; we don't estimate them.
Pick Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch if
- Lighter — 16.32 ounces vs 17.6 ounces (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)
- Lower starting price — $599.99 vs $799.99 (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)
Pick Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 if
- More storage — 128 GB vs 64 GB (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)
- Longer battery life — 15 h vs 10 h (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)
Skip both if
- Neither publishes refresh rate yet.
Verdict: Pick Apple iPad Air (5th generation) if you want a lighter device at $599.99 with 10‑hour battery and 64 GB storage. Pick Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 if you need 15‑hour battery, 128 GB storage, and a microSD slot at $799.99. Both run modern OSes, but the iPad Air wins on price and weight while the Tab S9 wins on battery and storage.
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch lists at $599 while Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 lists at $489.99 — Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 undercuts Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch by $109.01 (22%).
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch: 7.2/10
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: 7.8/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 10.9 inches | 11 inches |
| Resolution | 2360 x 1640 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Chip | M1 chip with Neural Engine | Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 |
| RAM | 8 gigabytes | 8 gigabytes |
| Storage | 64 gigabytes | 128 gigabytes |
| Battery life | 10 hours | 15 hours |
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) 10.9-inch
What works
- M1 chip delivers iPadOS performance
- Lightest of the pair at 16.32 ounces
- Lower entry price at $599.99
What doesn't
- Battery lasts 5 hours less than Galaxy Tab S9
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
What works
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers strong Android performance
- Battery lasts 5 hours longer than iPad Air
What doesn't
- Heavier at 17.6 ounces
- Higher price at $799.99
Bottom line
Our pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9.
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