Apple has unleashed its newest tablet offering - the iPad Pro 9.7-inch. We take a look at how the tablet compares against old warhorses from Samsung and Google, i.e. the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 and the Google Pixel C.
Processor
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro houses an A9X processor and M9 co-processor. The Pixel C is powered by an Nvidia Tegra X1 chipset, which is supported by a Maxwell GPU.
The Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 houses an octa-core Exynos processor (two quad-cores, one is clocked at 1.9 GHz and the other at 1.3 GHz).
The Google and Samsung tablets both boast 3 GB of RAM. The iPad Pro reportedly packs 2 GB of RAM. Only benchmark tests will be able to determine how the tablets stand against each other when it comes to processor speeds.
Display
The iPad Pro touts a 9.7-inch Retina display with True Tone technology. The resolution offered by the tablet is 2,048 x 1,536. The Apple tablet has a pixel density of 264 ppi.
The Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 also has the same screen size as the Apple tablet with the same pixel density and resolution. However, Samsung uses a Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen for its tablet.
The Google Pixel C, on the other hand, has the biggest screen of all the three devices - a 10.2-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen.
Weight
At 0.96 pounds, the iPad Pro is heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, which weighs 0.86 pounds (Wi-Fi version). Still, both are lighter than the Google pixel C, which weighs 1.14 pounds.
Storage
The iPad Pro will be available in 32, 128 and 256 GB on-board storage options. There is not option to expand the memory further.
The Google Pixel C comes in 32 and 64 GB storage options. This tablet, too, does not have a microSD card slot to enable memory expansion.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 comes in a 32 GB storage options, however, unlike the other two tablets, one can expand the memory further through a microSD card - up to 128 GB.
While this may seem to give the Samsung offering an edge over the other two, Apple's 256 GB version is clearly the one with the maximum capacity.
Camera
The iPad Pro boasts a 12 MP rear-facing camera with True Tone flash, which betters the 8 MP one on the Google Pixel C and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2.
The Apple offering also has the edge when it comes to the selfie camera, as it sports a 8 MP camera with Retina Flash, which betters the 2.1 MP and 2 MP one on the Samsung tablet and Google Pixel C, respectively.
Moreover, the new iPad Pro has the Live Photos features.
Operating System
The iPad Pro will come pre-loaded with iOS 9.3, whereas the Google Pixel C runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The Samsung tablet is on the older-gen Android 5.1 Lollipop, making it the one with the oldest OS.
Battery
The iPad Pro houses a 27.5-watt-hour battery, which the company claims will offer support for 10 hours of usage on a single charge.
The Samsung Tab S2 has a powerful 5,870 mAh battery, which offers support for up to 8 hours of Internet use. The Google Pixel C has a 34.2-watt-hour battery, but the usage support offered is not known.
Colors And Price
The iPad Pro will hit the shelves on March 31, and will be available in four hues: Silver, Space Gray, Gold and Rose Gold. The 32, 128 and 256 GB (Wi-Fi variant) versions will cost $599, $749 and $899, respectively.
The Galaxy Tab S2 retails in white, black and gold colors, and the Wi-Fi only 32 GB model is priced at $499.99.
The Google Pixel C is available in Silver and the 32 and 64 GB versions are priced at $499 and $599, respectively.
