Ever since Apple made the big announcement for their new iPad Pro tablet, some have been questioning the “Pro” part of the name. More specifically, critics and fans alike are wondering about the purpose of the device on the market, and questioning who it’s aimed at specifically. The name implies it’s supposed to be a business device targeted at professionals who need serious performance, but on the other hand, the specifications of the tablet are closer to that of a device designed specifically for media consumption.
And while some have accepted the fact that the iPad Pro is a tablet for watching videos in HD and enjoying demanding applications, some have started to compare it to similar devices from other manufacturers, namely Samsung with their Galaxy Tab S2. It’s true that the two devices share a lot in terms of specifications and design, but which one is better for a user who just wants to relax with some films and games?
The Galaxy Tab S2 is specifically designed and advertised as a multimedia device, unlike the iPad Pro which is claimed to be meant for professionals. On the other hand, since it’s an Android device, it should have plenty of support from the community, with people putting out custom ROMs and other types of software that will enhance the experience with the tablet. This is an important distinction with Apple’s devices which are a more closed ecosystem.
Comparing the hardware specifications of both devices doesn’t have much of a point to it as they are pretty close in what they offer. A large screen, powerful processor and a lot of memory await users on both sides, and it mostly comes down to choosing the right operating system. On the other hand, there are some subtle differences in hardware that are important to note, as they could actually become deciding factors in the long run.
Among those is the fact that the iPad Pro also has an optional stylus – something which was seen as quite controversial within the community, and people are still commenting on that situation in a pretty negative way. On one hand, Steve Jobs once spoke out negatively about the idea of using a stylus for a touch device.
On the other, people have definitely gotten used to the idea of navigating their touch interfaces with their hands lately, and it’s not the ideal time to introduce a tablet with a stylus. Especially when that stylus is designed in a rather questionable way, being prone to breaking and not offering the user that much over regular pen input. Except for those who like to draw on their tablets, of course, but that’s a rather niche market in itself. And even then, would those people really pay $100 just for a stylus, when they can get much better offers that are actually aimed at professionals from companies like Wacom?
In the end, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 might not offer anything special over the iPad Pro, and both devices are clearly aimed at people who like to consume media. But those who want to get the added freedom of using Android as their primary operating system should definitely opt for the Samsung offer, but on the other hand, iOS has been evolving quite fast lately and the operating system has reached a situation where it’s attracting the attention of people from other ecosystems as well.