Head-to-head · Best Kids Tablets

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.4 vs 3.8). The gap is mostly about professionals needing top-tier performance — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Kids Tablets

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch

4.4

$1,199as of Jul 9

The Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch Gen 6 is praised by Laptop Mag as a top-tier tablet that 'straight up slays the competition' with its stunning display, powerful M2 chip, and excellent cameras. Reviewer Rami Tabari notes it's 'easily one of the best tablets' but acknowledges the 'Apple tax' makes it unaffordable for many. YouTube reviewer Mike finds the M2 iPad Pro integrates well into daily workflows, though he notes that upgrading from previous M1/12x models isn't necessary. The device is lightweight at 1.5 pounds despite its large 12.9-inch screen, and offers a premium experience for professionals willing to pay a premium.

Strengths

— Incredible 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with 2732 x 2048 resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
— Powerful Apple M2 chip delivering strong performance
— Impressive stereo speakers and killer cameras

Watch-outs

— Expensive price tag starting at $2,477
— Limited color options (only Space Gray and Silver)

$1,199 · Buy at apple.com Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Kids Tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition

3.8

$16.99as of Jul 9

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition offers a kid-friendly design with a bright puffy case, crayon styluses, and the Samsung Kids app for safe browsing. Android Police reviewer Brian Barnes praised its build quality and storage capacity but criticized its underpowered performance with only 4GB RAM. YouTube reviewer noted the case is durable and separate from the device, though the tablet's performance may frustrate users. This tablet is best for parents seeking a secure, colorful kids tablet but not ideal for those needing robust multitasking capabilities.

Strengths

— Cute and colorful puffy case with kickstand for durability and visibility
— Includes three crayon-shaped styluses and stickers for kids
— 64GB internal storage with microSD expandable up to 1TB

Watch-outs

— Only 4GB RAM makes it underpowered for multitasking
— Puffy case design has misaligned cutouts and hard-to-reach buttons

$16.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch

The Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch delivers unmatched performance and display quality compared to the iPad Air, which it outperforms in every aspect except price. However, it's significantly more expensive than the iPad (11th generation) and lacks the value proposition of the OnePlus Pad Go 2 for casual users.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition offers a unique puffy case design and included crayon styluses that the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro 2023 lacks, but it's underpowered compared to the iPad (11th generation) and lacks the robust parental controls of the Amazon tablet. It also doesn't match the Android 15 tablet's ruggedness or storage expansion capabilities.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch	Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition
Display Size	12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR	11 Inches, 1920 x 1200 pixels
Resolution	2732 x 2048	1920 x 1200 pixels
RAM	16GB	4GB
Storage	1TB	64GB, microSD expandable 1 TB
Processor	Apple M2	ARM Cortex A53
Operating System	iPadOS 16	Android 14
Weight	1.5 lb	1.06 lb
Battery Capacity	38.99-watt-hour	7040 mAh

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