Tablet Comparison
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 vs Apple iPad 3 Comparison
A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tablet.
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Verdict
Pros & cons
Galaxy Tab S 10.5
+
What's good
+
Excellent display
+
Plenty of battery life
+
Light weight
+
Thin, comfortable to hold design
+
Multi-user mode with parental controls
−
What's not
−
Finicky fingerprint scanner
−
Simple Clicker case attachments are tricky
−
Occasional performance delays
iPad 3
Galaxy Tab S 10.5
+
Good
+
Excellent display
+
Plenty of battery life
+
Light weight
+
Thin, comfortable to hold design
+
Multi-user mode with parental controls
−
Not
−
Finicky fingerprint scanner
−
Simple Clicker case attachments are tricky
−
Occasional performance delays
iPad 3
Spec data
How they compare
Galaxy Tab S 10.5
iPad 3
Price (MSRP)
—
—
OS
Android
iOS
Processor
Samsung Exynos 5 Octa core
Dual-core Apple A5X
Camera zoom
—
—
Battery life
—
—
Wired charging
—
—
Wireless charging
—
—
Display
Color
Color
Software support
—
—
Repairability
—
—
Weight
465g (16.4 oz)
652g (23 oz)
Fingerprint
Yes
Unknown
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
Spec data
How they compare
Galaxy Tab S 10.5
iPad 3
Price (MSRP)
—
Price (MSRP)
—
OS
Android
OS
iOS
Processor
Samsung Exynos 5 Octa core
Processor
Dual-core Apple A5X
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
—
Battery life
—
Battery life
—
Wired charging
—
Wired charging
—
Wireless charging
—
Wireless charging
—
Display
Color
Display
Color
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
—
Repairability
—
Weight
465g (16.4 oz)
Weight
652g (23 oz)
Fingerprint
Yes
Fingerprint
Unknown
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
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Physical comparison
Size & weight
Footprint · to scale
Galaxy Tab S 10.5
7" × 9.7"
iPad 3
0.9" × 0.7"
Thickness · to scale
Galaxy Tab S 10.5
0.3"
iPad 3
0"
Galaxy Tab S 10.5
iPad 3
Height
7" (177 mm)
0.9" (24.1 mm)
Width
9.7" (247 mm)
0.7" (18.6 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
0" (0.9 mm)
Weight
465g (16.4 oz)
652g (23 oz)
Screen
10.5"
9.7"
Height
7" (177 mm)
Height
0.9" (24.1 mm)
Width
9.7" (247 mm)
Width
0.7" (18.6 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
Depth
0" (0.9 mm)
Weight
465g (16.4 oz)
Weight
652g (23 oz)
Screen
10.5"
Screen
9.7"
Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.
Common questions
Galaxy Tab S 10.5 vs iPad 3: FAQ
Which is better, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 or iPad 3?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPad 3 earns a Compass Score of 8.8 compared to 8.3 for the Galaxy Tab S 10.5. That 0.5-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.
Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →