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      Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Apple iPad Pro 11

      Mondo Admin / 12-04-2024 / Tech

      Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Apple iPad Pro 11

      ": Finding Your "Just Right" Tablet


      Need a new tablet that’s not too big and not too small, not too expensive and not too cheap, and premium but not the most premium? Something like the Goldilocks of tablets that has everything 'just right'.

      Say no more!

      It sounds like, you need the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 or the Apple iPad Pro 11" in your life.


      These 11-inch, 5G tablets are entry-level flagships that hit the sweet spot between size, affordability, and fancy features. But which one is right for you? Let’s help you answer that in our Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Apple iPad Pro 11" tablet takedown.


      Displays: Bringing the heat


      Start with the basics. Both of these bad boys bring the heat with displays that are simply spectacular. Scrolling is buttery-smooth, the screen resolution delivers crystal clarity even in the most challenging lighting conditions, and they feature premium hardware that supports all your questionable habits—whether it’s spending hours gaming each day or lounging in your PJs reluctantly watching the latest TikTok trends.


      A closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, shows it is a big upgrade from the previous generation. It’s the first time an entry-level device from the series sports a top-tier AMOLED screen. That's right, it ditched the standard IPS display and has joined the ranks of its pricier siblings, the Galaxy Tab S9+ and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Now, here's what really sets the Galaxy tablets apart from their competitors: the S Pen stylus is included right in the box! We love that Samsung is sticking to this tradition with the Galaxy Tab S9. It means your doodling days are far from over!


      On to the iPad Pro 11". Everything about it screams premium. From the stunning Liquid Retina screen to its adaptable refresh rate, ranging from a battery-saving 1Hz to a lightning-fast 120Hz. And let's not forget about that anti-reflective coating that ensures crisp outdoor use. When it comes to displays, Apple never disappoints. While it may not boast as significant an upgrade as Samsung, it stays true to its legacy of delivering amazing displays, just as we've seen in previous generations. The only downside? You’re not getting an Apple Pencil in the box. That's a doodle downer.


      Performance: Can you keep up?


      If you're in the market for some of the fastest tablets around (maybe even a bit too fast for your own good) then you've landed in the right spot. Both the Galaxy Tab S9 and the iPad Pro 11" are absolute speed demons, capable of blitzing through any task you throw their way, no matter how demanding. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 custom-made for Galaxy and the Apple M2 chip, it's no wonder these devices are powerhouses.


      But, since we're here to compare, we've got to hand the title of the fastest tablet in this showdown to the iPad Pro 11”. Benchmark after benchmark shows that the custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 doesn't quite stack up to the M2, although it does come close. Plus, the iPad Pro offers more RAM and storage options, starting from 8GB paired with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage, all the way up to 16GB RAM paired with a whopping 1TB or 2TB of storage.


      However, if expandable storage is what you're after, Samsung gives you that freedom with up to 1TB via MicroSD. The Galaxy Tab S9 is available with 8GB or 12GB RAM and 256GB onboard storage. So yes, it’s not as varied as the iPad, but major brownie points for the MicroSD slot.


      Cameras: Always ready for the fun


      Nobody really uses the cameras on their tablets for anything other than work stuff. Unlike the latest smartphones and DSLR cameras, tablets aren't designed to capture world-class images that will leave you questioning if you should leave your day job to become a full-time photographer. Instead, they're used for work calls, video meetings, and other fun activities like scanning documents and annotating images.


      With this in mind, the Apple iPad Pro 11" and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 don’t disappoint. The iPad Pro will have you looking dashing during FaceTime calls thanks to its 12MP front camera. Plus, it sports a dual-camera setup on the back, featuring a 12MP main camera and a 10MP ultrawide lens. Video recording is no slouch either. You can enjoy crisp 4K recording at 60fps, and with the new chipset, the iPad Pro now supports even higher-quality ProRes videos.


      The Galaxy Tab S9 packs one less rear camera than the iPad Pro. It boasts a 12MP selfie lens on the front and a 13MP camera on the back. You can shoot video in up to 4K resolution at 30fps. Overall, the iPad Pro edges ahead with better camera hardware, but it’s no biggie considering both tablets are geared toward basic tasks.


      Battery: Blitz that never quits


      The iPad Pro 11” and Galaxy Tab S9 pack some serious battery brawn and support pretty snappy charging. Inside the Galaxy Tab S9, you've got a huge 8400mAh battery that juices up in a flash with its 45W wired charging. The iPad's got a slightly smaller 7538mAh battery but still charges up decently with its 28.65W wired charge.


      Both tablets rock energy-efficient displays, so if you're just cruising for about 1-2 hours a day, they'll keep going for about a week before you need to charge up again. And when it comes to binge-watching new series, you can expect around 10 hours of streaming—though if you download that content ahead of time, you'll be stretching that battery life even further.


      Samsung's definitely flexing with slightly superior battery hardware. But here's the twist: The iPad throws in a power adapter right out of the box, while Samsung's making you dig into your pockets for that extra accessory. You could say, they’re charging us for charging.


      Verdict: Tablet takedown with a knock-out punch


      In this tablet takedown, picking a clear winner is a tough call. Both devices have killer displays, yet Samsung sweetens the deal by bundling the S Pen Stylus at no extra cost. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 shines in the battery department with its larger capacity and faster charging but Apple's iPad Pro 11" wins points for including a power adapter right out of the box. And the deciding factor? The iPad Pro 11" packs a knock-out punch with its beastly M2 chipset, delivering slightly superior performance and more advanced camera capabilities.


      Ultimately, the best choice depends on what you consider right for your needs—that could mean choosing between doodling without dropping extra dough and charging without being charged. Decision, decisions!

      TECH NEWS

      Samsung’s 100 Megapixel Camera is Coming!

      It’s no secret that the camera has always been the smartphone’s strongest selling point. With the growing popularity of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, users have become photo-centric, constantly chasing after the best cameras to produce the best pictures to share with their followers. In fact, digital camera sales have taken a dip since the rise of the camera phone, which allows users to carry one device that performs many functions rather than purchasing a specific device for each of their needs. The first phone with a built-in camera was manufactured by Samsung in the year 2000. This digital camera could take up 20 photos at 350 000-pixels, or 0.35-megapixels, but you could only access your photos by connecting to a computer. By the year 2003, camera phones were becoming more popular with better specs and lower prices. In 2004, Sprint released a phone with a 1.3-megapixel camera that could capture images, share them wirelessly and even allowed you to print them. Finnish manufacturer Nokia jumped on the bandwagon in 2005 and released a 2 megapixel camera on their N90 model. Shortly after, the world was introduced to Sony Ericsson, whose aim was to steal the crown from Nokia. They adopted Sony’s Cybershot digital camera branding, which earned them first place in the camera phone market. The Sony Ericsson K800i was released in 2006 with a 3.2-megapixel camera that had auto focus, image stability and a Xenon flash. The baton was passed back to Samsung when they released the first ever 5-megapixel camera and then the 8 megapixel camera in 2008. The smartphone camera race continued, with Samsung appearing to be the winner with their release of the M8910 Pixon 12, which had a 12MP camera, in 2009. However, they were soon bested by Nokia’s N8 in 2010 and then the 16MP Sony Ericsson S006 that came at the end of 2010. Fast forward a few years and Samsung are at it again! To maintain their position in the market, the technology giant has decided to partner up with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi to create the world’s first 108-megapixel camera. Current high-end smartphones typically host cameras with between 12 and 16-megapixel resolutions, so a 108 megapixel camera would be a massive improvement to the conventional smartphone camera. The Isocell Bright HMX is designed to shoot incredibly detailed photos and is said to be comparable to a top DSLR camera. You can expect to capture better low-lit images as this camera will merge pixels to absorb more light. In terms of video recording, no smartphone camera will have better capabilities than this one. It will be capable of shooting up to 6K resolution at 30 frames per second which is very impressive compared to the 4K resolution at 60 frames per second limit of other smartphones. It’s been predicted that Xiaomi will release a smartphone with a similar camera before Samsung does, and even though Samsung has announced that production on these camera lenses begun at the end of August, they’ve remained tight-lipped about when we’ll be seeing a device with the 108-megapixel camera on the shelves.

      Read More...

      Samsung Galaxy A Series: Flagship Experiences on a Budget

      South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung has blazed a trail in the local smartphone market with the launch of their mid-tier A series cell phones that give their more expensive flagship counterparts a run for their money. Most likely, this range was created in response to stiff competition in the mid-tier smartphone category from the likes of Chinese rivals Huawei and Xiaomi. The company launched the Galaxy A2 Core, A10, A20, A30, A50, A70 and the A80 in South Africa this year, with the A90 expected soon. The A Series is a welcome change in pace for the company’s mid-tier devices, as the range now offers you a premium look and feel at a lower cost, as well as upgrades to the internals to give these devices more power and features, such as triple-lens camera systems on selected models. Let’s take a quick look at each model in the Galaxy A range: Galaxy A2 Core A simple but powerful entry-level device, the Galaxy A2 Core features the Android Go operating system, which is designed to optimise performance through the device’s hardware. Android Go is a lite version of the OS but allows devices like the A2 Core to offer a smooth user experience at an affordable cost. The A2 Core also features 5 MP cameras on the rear and face of the device and can support an SD card of up to 512GB, complementing its 8GB or 16GB of onboard storage. This will allow the user to cram more music and pictures into the device. The A2 Core also comes fitted with a 5-inch display. Galaxy A10 & A20 The Galaxy A10 and Galaxy A20 smartphones have many similarities. While both come with the Android 9.0 operating system, one of the most distinct differences is the screen size, as the A10 features a 6.2-inch display, while the A20 features a slightly larger 6.4-inch AMOLED display. Both devices feature the same processor, with the A10 featuring 2GB of RAM and the A20 fitted with 3GB of RAM. Another major difference between the devices is that the A20 features a dual 13MP and 5MP rear camera, while the A10 offers a 13MP rear camera. The A20 offers an 8MP front camera versus the A10’s 5MP shooter. Both smartphones pack 32GB of internal storage. Galaxy A30 & A50 The A30 and A50 smartphones set a new benchmark for affordable smartphones in the mid-tier category. The A30 comes with 64GB of onboard storage, while the A50 offers a massive 128GB of storage. Both devices feature a gorgeous 6.4-inch AMOLED display, the Android 9.0 operating system, 4GB of RAM and all-day battery-life thanks to a colossal 4000 mAh battery, usually found in premium smartphones. The A50 smartphone features a triple rear camera setup with a 25MP, 8MP and 5MP cameras offering great wide screen shots, while the A30 features a dual 16MP and 5MP rear camera configuration. The A50 sports a powerful 25MP selfie camera and the A30 a 16MP front camera. Galaxy A70 & A80 Essentially competing in the premium smartphone segment, the A80 is set to become one of the most unique smartphones available on the South African market. The A80 will feature one of the first pop-up rotating camera modules, consisting of a powerful 48MP wide lens, 8MP ultra-wide lens and a Time of Flight (TOF) 3D camera to capture not only images from the rear but also for selfies. The device sports a 3700mAh battery and 128GB of onboard storage, with a 6.7-inch display. The Galaxy A70 features a slightly larger 4500mAh battery compared to the A80 but will run off the same processor and operating system – Android 9.0. The A70 smartphone features a triple camera module consisting of a 32MP lens, 8MP wide-angle lens and 5MP depth sensing lens with a 32MP selfie camera. Read the reviews: Galaxy A2 Core Galaxy A10 Galaxy A20

      Read More...