2025 Tablet Showdown: Five Flagship Tablets Compared

The tablet market in 2025 has evolved beyond “bigger smartphones” into specialized productivity powerhouses. With dedicated NPU processors for on-device AI, mature desktop experiences like Samsung DeX, and advanced haptic stylus technology, tablets are now serious work and creative tools.

We’re comparing five flagship models that represent different philosophies: Apple iPad Pro (M4), Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro, OnePlus Pad 2, and Lenovo Tab Extreme.

The Contenders at a Glance

Apple iPad Pro (M4): Raw Power Meets Elegant Design

The iPad Pro powered by Apple’s M4 chip represents peak engineering. The base models (256GB/512GB) pack a 9-core CPU with 8GB RAM, while top-tier models (1TB/2TB) upgrade to a 10-core CPU with 16GB RAM. The 16-core Neural Engine handles on-device AI tasks for Apple Intelligence features.

The standout feature? The Tandem OLED display delivering 1000 nits SDR and 1600 nits peak HDR brightness. This display technology makes every other screen look dull. The new Apple Pencil Pro introduces Squeeze (palette activation), Barrel Roll (gyroscopic brush control), and haptic feedback - transforming creative input.

Battery life maintains the 10-hour standard despite the incredibly thin chassis. However, the fundamental paradox remains: the M4’s “overpowered” performance versus iPadOS’s limitations.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: AI-Powered Productivity Beast

Samsung’s largest and most ambitious Android tablet runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor (4nm). While controversial compared to Snapdragon, it delivers solid performance with excellent thermal management thanks to a large vapor chamber.

The massive 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display at 120Hz offers a 90.7% screen-to-body ratio for an almost bezel-free experience. New anti-glare coating improves outdoor usability. The 11,200mAh battery supports 45W fast charging (though it takes about two hours to fully charge).

Key differentiators include the S Pen with 2.8ms latency (included in box), IP68 water and dust resistance (unique in this class), and deep Samsung DeX and Galaxy AI integration. Galaxy AI’s Samsung Notes integration (summarization, formatting) provides real productivity gains.

Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro: Value-Focused Powerhouse

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro delivers aggressive price-to-performance with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 platform (4nm). While “a notch below flagship 8 Gen 3,” it’s “plenty fast for virtually every activity.”

The 11.2-inch 144Hz IPS LCD panel at 3.2K resolution (2136x3200) may be “far from OLED” but pushes LCD boundaries with 800 nit peak brightness and Dolby Vision support. The 8,850mAh battery charges via 67W HyperCharge - exceptionally fast for this segment.

The real strength lies in software: Xiaomi HyperOS 2 offers deep ecosystem features like “Cross-device camera” (use your phone camera in tablet meetings) and “Network collaboration.” Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos and Xiaomi Focus Pen support round out the package.

OnePlus Pad 2: Multitasking Efficiency Champion

OnePlus Pad 2 runs the full flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, delivering “excellent processor performance” that handles demanding games at Epic settings near 90fps.

The 12.1-inch 3K (3000 x 2120) 144Hz IPS display features a unique 7:5 aspect ratio - designed for productivity rather than media consumption. This “paper-like format for note-taking” excels at full-page PDF and textbook viewing. The 9,510mAh battery achieved nearly 15 hours in testing, supported by 67W fast charging.

Six-speaker audio system and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity are notable, but the killer feature is “Open Canvas” multitasking software. This system “almost pushes apps off-screen” rather than minimizing them - described as “a real game-changer” and “the most natural multitasking solution.”

Lenovo Tab Extreme: Multimedia Entertainment King

The Lenovo Tab Extreme, still popular in 2025, takes a different philosophy. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 (considered dated by 2025 standards), it compensates with 12GB RAM but lacks latest NPU capabilities.

The device exists for one reason: the 14.5-inch 3K (3000 x 1876) OLED 120Hz display. This “gorgeous” panel, backed by the largest battery in this group (12,300mAh), creates a portable cinema. The unrivaled feature is 8 JBL speakers delivering “loud and clear” audio.

Hardware uniqueness includes dual USB-C ports - one for DisplayPort input (use tablet as external monitor), another for DisplayPort output.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Best Tablet for Your Needs

For Professionals: iPad Pro M4 vs. Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

The professional market splits into two camps:

iPad Pro M4 wins on raw processing power (M4 chip) and display quality (Tandem OLED). Creative professionals benefit from Apple Pencil Pro’s haptic and gyroscopic controls - an unmatched creative input method. However, iPadOS remains “limiting” for the “overpowered” hardware.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra targets iPad’s weakness: software. Samsung DeX transforms the tablet into a genuine desktop-like interface. The 14.6-inch massive screen excels at multi-window work. Galaxy AI integration with Samsung Notes (summarization, formatting) provides practical productivity gains. IP68 rating adds durability for field professionals.

The battle is “Raw Power” (iPad) versus “Software Flexibility” (Samsung DeX + AI). Samsung comes closer to “laptop replacement” claims with its maturing DeX experience.

For Students: OnePlus Pad 2 and Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro

This category prioritizes practicality, battery life, and value over raw performance.

OnePlus Pad 2 feels purpose-built for students. The 7:5 aspect ratio provides “paper-like format for note-taking” - perfect for viewing PDFs, textbooks, and websites full-page without splitting. “Open Canvas” enables the most natural workflow: taking lecture notes (with stylus) while researching simultaneously. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ensures longevity throughout college years. 67W charging perfect for quick library top-ups.

Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro offers more traditional aspect ratio but stands out with “tremendous value.” Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 provides more than enough performance. HyperOS ecosystem delivers major convenience for students with Xiaomi phones (file transfer, shared clipboard). Excellent balance of note-taking and media consumption.

Both devices sacrifice OLED screens to focus on what students actually need: 1) A processor powerful enough for years, 2) Fast charging, 3) Smart multitasking software.

For Multimedia & Home Use: Lenovo Tab Extreme

This segment seeks “most suitable” rather than “best.”

Lenovo Tab Extreme dominates this category. The 14.5-inch massive 3K OLED screen combined with 8 JBL speakers creates a portable cinema system, not just a tablet. While it may fall short in productivity and have shorter software support, this hardware combination (giant OLED + 8 speakers) remains unrivaled in 2025 for premium content consumption.

Apple iPad (10th Gen/A16) represents the standard tablet definition. A16 chip handles daily gaming and browsing easily. iPadOS ecosystem offers widest app support. It’s the default choice for families and less tech-savvy users seeking simplicity, reliability, and ease of use.

Model Breakdown: Strengths and Weaknesses

Apple iPad Pro (M4)

Pros:

• Best-in-class Tandem OLED display with incredible brightness and contrast
• M4 chip and 16-core Neural Engine deliver highest raw performance (“overpowered”)
• Incredibly thin and light with premium aluminum build
• Apple Pencil Pro with haptic feedback, Squeeze, and Barrel Roll revolutionizes creative input

Cons:

• iPadOS remains “completely limiting” for M4’s hardware potential
• Extreme thinness sacrifices potentially larger battery (confusing design philosophy)
• Professional desktop apps still lacking compared to macOS
• Premium pricing at segment’s top tier

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

Pros:

• Massive 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel perfect for multitasking and media
• Samsung DeX and Galaxy AI integration transforms tablet into powerful productivity tool
• S Pen and microSD support included/supported in box
• IP68 water and dust resistance (unique security)

Cons:

• Dimensity 9300+ chip trails M4 performance; some analyses show battery and performance gaps versus iPad
• 14.6-inch size may be “unwieldy” and “not ideal for couch browsing”
• 45W charging “slow” for massive 11,200mAh battery

Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro

Pros:

• “Tremendous value” - premium features (144Hz, fast processor) at aggressive pricing
• 67W HyperCharge among fastest in segment
• HyperOS 2 ecosystem offers innovative deep integrations like “Cross-device camera” especially for Xiaomi phone users
• 3.2K resolution 144Hz LCD panel very sharp and smooth despite not OLED

Cons:

• Not having OLED in premium segment is a shortcoming
• Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 may rarely experience “stutters” in intensive gaming
• Xiaomi Focus Pen can feel more “clacky” compared to S Pen

OnePlus Pad 2

Pros:

• True flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip provides excellent gaming and app performance
• “Open Canvas” among “most natural multitasking” experiences on Android
• 7:5 screen ratio ideal for note-taking, reading, and web browsing
• Excellent battery life and 67W fast charging combination

Cons:

• Cost-saving areas like “no fingerprint scanner” and “poor camera quality”
• LCD panel “doesn’t look as gorgeous as OLED” despite high resolution
• Accessory keyboard reported as “unstable on lap”

Lenovo Tab Extreme

Pros:

• Unmatched “portable cinema” experience with massive 14.5-inch 3K OLED and 8 JBL speakers
• 12,300mAh capacity - highest battery in this list
• Dual USB-C ports with DisplayPort input and output provide unique hardware flexibility

Cons:

• MediaTek Dimensity 9000 dated by 2025 standards
• Launched with Android 13, received Android 14 update; software longevity post-2025 uncertain
• “Somewhat insufficient” for laptop replacement

2025 Tablet Trends

On-Device AI: The NPU Wars

What makes a tablet “Pro” in 2025 isn’t just CPU or GPU speed - it’s NPU (Neural Processing Unit) capability. The new “Copilot+ PC” era brings a 40+ TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) standard. Apple’s 16-core Neural Engine in M4, MediaTek NPU 790 powering Galaxy AI, and Qualcomm AI Engines in Snapdragon chips prove this trend.

This high processing power targets on-device AI rather than traditional apps - meaning better privacy (data stays local) and lower latency (instant responses). A student “constantly” using AI summarization in Samsung Notes shows this technology moved from “gimmick” to “indispensable tool.”

Display Tech: OLED and Mini-LED Dominance

IPS LCD is ending in premium tablets. OLED market reached $31.6 billion in 2025 with “rapid” tablet growth. Apple’s Tandem OLED sets the peak, while Samsung and Lenovo standardize large OLED panels. Mini-LED expected to cover over 30% of premium segment.

Xiaomi and OnePlus still using LCD positions these devices in “Price/Performance” segment. OLED becoming an expected standard makes this choice a clear “compromise.”

Advanced Stylus: More Than a Pen

Stylus has evolved beyond “marking and drawing.” Apple Pencil Pro pioneered this revolution with Squeeze (menu opening), Barrel Roll (gyroscope-controlled brush direction), and Haptic feedback - making the pen a new interface layer for tablet interaction.

Samsung’s S Pen focuses on “technical perfection” with 2.8ms latency, while Apple’s new haptic and gyroscopic features target “experiential perfection.” The market shifts from “latency wars” to “interaction wars.”

Ecosystem Lock-in: Cross-Device Fusion

The most important purchase factor: how your device talks to other devices. In 2025, this goes beyond “copy-paste”:

• Samsung DeX: Most mature platform transforming tablet into desktop
• Apple Continuity: Seamless transition between Mac, iPad, iPhone (Handoff, Universal Clipboard) - smoothest but “closed” ecosystem
• Xiaomi HyperOS: Aggressive approach physically unifying ecosystem with features like “Cross-device camera” and “Shared clipboard”
• OnePlus Open Canvas: Philosophy from company’s foldable phone brought to tablet, unifying different form factors

The most important strategic battleground for 2025 and beyond is ecosystem - not the sum of devices you own, but their ability to replace each other. Samsung DeX and Xiaomi HyperOS directly challenge Apple’s “different device for each task” philosophy by melting boundaries between hardware form factors (phone-tablet-PC).

The Verdict

There’s no single “best tablet” in 2025 - each excels in its intended role:

• Creative Professionals: iPad Pro M4 for unmatched power and Pencil Pro innovation
• Productivity Users: Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra for DeX and AI-powered workflows
• Students: OnePlus Pad 2 for perfect note-taking form factor and Open Canvas
• Budget-Conscious: Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro for tremendous value and ecosystem benefits
• Entertainment: Lenovo Tab Extreme for cinematic display and audio experience

The tablet market has matured beyond one-size-fits-all. Choose based on your primary use case - that’s where 2025’s specialized tablets truly shine.