iPad Air vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S: Best Tablet for Artists

19 August 2025

In the world of digital art, having the right tablet can either make or break your creative flow. Whether you're a professional artist or just love to doodle in your free time, choosing between the iPad Air and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S can be quite the challenge. Both are powerful devices, packed with incredible features for artists—but which one truly stands out?

Let's break it down and see which tablet takes the crown as the best digital canvas for creative minds!

🎨 Display & Color Accuracy

One of the biggest factors when choosing a tablet for digital art is the display quality. After all, you want your colors to pop and details to be crisp, right?

✅ iPad Air Display

Apple's iPad Air doesn't disappoint when it comes to visuals. It features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts colors based on ambient lighting. This means your artwork will look consistent whether you're indoors or outside under the sun.

The P3 wide color gamut ensures your colors are rich and vibrant—essential for digital painting. Plus, the laminated display reduces reflections, making it easier to see those tiny details.

✅ Samsung Galaxy Tab S Display

Samsung isn't one to back down in the display department either. The Galaxy Tab S series boasts a stunning Super AMOLED display, which offers deeper blacks and more contrast than the iPad Air. This is a game-changer for artists who love dramatic shading and high-contrast artwork.

On top of that, Samsung tablets often have higher refresh rates (120Hz), making strokes feel buttery smooth. A faster refresh rate means reduced lag when sketching, bringing a natural pen-on-paper experience.

🎯 Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S

For display quality alone, Samsung's AMOLED technology gives a slight edge over the iPad Air, especially for artists who work with dark or high-contrast artwork.

✏️ Stylus & Drawing Experience

A great display is nothing without a solid stylus to match. Both Apple and Samsung have invested heavily in their stylus technology—but which one feels better in hand?

✅ Apple Pencil (2nd Gen)

Apple’s Pencil 2 is a favorite among artists for a reason. It attaches magnetically, charges wirelessly, and supports tilt and pressure sensitivity, making it feel just like a real pencil.

The ultra-low latency ensures that your strokes appear instantly on the screen—no annoying lag. Plus, the double-tap feature lets you quickly switch brushes or erasers, adding to the seamless experience.

✅ Samsung S Pen

Samsung’s S Pen comes included with the Galaxy Tab S (a major win since Apple makes you buy the Pencil separately). It also supports tilt and pressure sensitivity, and thanks to Samsung’s 120Hz refresh rate, the latency is incredibly low.

What gives the S Pen an advantage? Customization! You can tweak pen pressure settings and even use Air Gestures to control the tablet without touching the screen. Some artists love this extra functionality, while others might find it gimmicky.

🎯 Winner: Apple iPad Air with Apple Pencil 2

Both styluses perform exceptionally well, but the Apple Pencil 2 feels more accurate and intuitive for professional artists. However, if you prefer customization options, Samsung's S Pen could be a better fit for your workflow.

💾 Performance & Software

✅ iPad Air Performance

The iPad Air is powered by Apple’s M1 or M2 chip, making it ridiculously fast. Whether you're working on high-resolution digital paintings or 3D modeling, this tablet can handle it all.

Apple’s ProMotion technology (on higher-end models) provides smooth animations, but sadly, the Air lacks this feature. Still, overall performance is top-notch, with apps running effortlessly.

✅ Galaxy Tab S Performance

Samsung’s Tab S series runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon or Exynos chips, depending on the model. While it's fast and snappy, Android apps aren't always as optimized for art as they are on iPadOS.

Procreate—the go-to app for many digital artists—is exclusively available on iPads. Meanwhile, Samsung users rely on apps like Clip Studio Paint or Infinite Painter, which are good but may not match Procreate’s fluidity.

🎯 Winner: iPad Air

The hardware is comparable, but iPadOS has better app support for artists, making the iPad Air the better choice when it comes to performance and software.

🛠️ Customization & Compatibility

✅ iPad Air

Apple is known for its closed ecosystem, meaning things work perfectly within its system—but you have fewer customization options. If you're deep into Apple products (Mac, iPhone, iCloud, etc.), this seamless connectivity is a major plus.

✅ Galaxy Tab S

Android thrives on customization—you can tweak settings, install third-party apps, and even use different file management systems. If you love having full control over your device, Samsung gives you that freedom.

🎯 Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S

If you value customization and flexibility, Samsung wins this round. However, if you prefer a smooth Apple ecosystem, the iPad Air is a solid pick.

🔋 Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is vital, especially when you're working on long art projects that require hours of screen time.

✅ iPad Air Battery Life

Apple promises up to 10 hours of battery on the iPad Air with regular use. This is great for a full day of sketching, but if you’re using power-hungry apps, expect to charge up sooner than advertised.

✅ Galaxy Tab S Battery Life

Samsung tablets often boast larger batteries, sometimes lasting 12+ hours depending on usage. But since AMOLED displays consume more power when displaying bright content, battery life varies based on how you use it.

🎯 Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S

Samsung’s larger battery and efficient power management give it a slight edge in endurance.

💰 Price & Value for Money

✅ iPad Air Pricing

Apple products are premium-priced, and the iPad Air is no exception. Plus, if you want the Apple Pencil 2, that’s another extra cost.

✅ Galaxy Tab S Pricing

Samsung generally offers more value for money, as the S Pen comes included with the device. If you're on a budget, a Samsung tablet often provides better specs for the price.

🎯 Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S

For those looking for the best value, Samsung is the smarter buy. However, if you can afford the Apple ecosystem, the iPad Air offers a better long-term investment.

🏆 Final Verdict: Which One Should You Get?

Go for the iPad Air if:

✔️ You want top-tier drawing apps like Procreate.
✔️ You're already using Apple products for a seamless workflow.
✔️ You prioritize performance and stylus accuracy over customization.

Go for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S if:

✔️ You want a stunning AMOLED display and higher refresh rates.
✔️ You love Android's open ecosystem and customization options.
✔️ You’re looking for better overall value with the included S Pen.

At the end of the day, both iPad Air and Galaxy Tab S are superb choices for digital artists. Picking the best tablet depends on personal preference and how you plan to use it.

Which tablet would you pick for your art projects? Let us know in the comments!