Best Premium Tablets to Buy Right Now: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad and Galaxy Tab S12 Compared by Budget

A tablet that costs $1,199 and one that costs $449 can both browse the web, stream video and run your email. The difference shows up in what you do with it over the next four or five years, and in what the bill looks like once you add a pen, a keyboard and the storage tier you actually need. This guide covers what to weigh before you buy, then names the models worth considering at each price, using US and India prices listed by Apple and Samsung on October 29, 2026.

What actually matters in a tablet

Start with the display, because it is the part you look at for hours. OLED panels give deeper blacks and better HDR video. Apple's iPad Pro uses a tandem OLED panel that it rates at 1,000 nits full-screen and 1,600 nits peak HDR, with an adaptive 10 to 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and S12+ use Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels at 120Hz with a 1,600 nit peak. The iPad Air and the base iPad use LCD screens, which are pleasant but a clear step down for movies and photo editing.

Memory and storage come next, and this is where many buyers get caught. The iPad Pro ships with 12GB of memory on its 256GB and 512GB versions and 16GB on the 1TB and 2TB ones, so the extra RAM is tied to the extra storage. Samsung's S12 line starts at 12GB with 256GB. If you plan to edit video, run several apps side by side or keep large offline libraries, treat 256GB as the floor.

The sticker price is the entry fee. The pen, the keyboard case and the storage upgrade are what you actually pay for.

Software support is the quiet factor. Samsung says its current Galaxy line gets up to seven OS upgrades and security updates, a figure that appears in a series-wide block on its US site, so check the footnote for your exact model. Apple does not publish a fixed number, but its iPads have historically been supported for many years. Finally, match the tablet to your workflow. iPadOS has the deeper catalogue of creative and tablet-native apps, while Samsung's desktop mode and bundled S Pen appeal to people who want a laptop-like setup.

Pitfalls that inflate the bill

Accessories are the biggest one. Industry roundups put a stylus at roughly $100 to $150 and a keyboard case at $150 to $350. In India, Samsung's Pro Keyboard Cover alone costs Rs 27,999 for the S12 Ultra and Rs 26,499 for the S12+. Samsung includes the S Pen in the box on both S12 models, which is a real saving. Apple sells the Pencil Pro separately, and the iPad Pro and iPad Air both support it.

Cellular versions add a premium. On Apple's India store the 11-inch iPad Pro with cellular costs Rs 24,000 more than the Wi-Fi model at the same 256GB, so ask whether your phone's hotspot would do. Be wary of old-generation stock, too. Retailers are clearing Galaxy Tab S11 units now that the S12 has arrived, and a discount is only a bargain if you accept a generation less of software runway. Last, the base iPad with the A16 chip does not support Apple Intelligence, which matters if you want Apple's assistant features.

Best under $500: iPad (A16)

The base iPad remains the easy recommendation for students, families and anyone who wants a dependable tablet without thinking about it. Apple lists the 11-inch Liquid Retina model from $449 in the US and from Rs 49,900 in India for the 128GB Wi-Fi version, with 256GB at Rs 61,900 and 512GB at Rs 85,900. It supports the USB-C Apple Pencil. The trade-offs are the lack of Apple Intelligence and an LCD that cannot match the pricier screens. For homework, reading, video calls and casual gaming, it does everything most people need.

Best for most people: iPad Air (M4)

The iPad Air in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes sits in the sweet spot. It uses the M4 chip, has 12GB of unified memory, supports Wi-Fi 7 and works with both the Apple Pencil Pro and the USB-C Pencil. It also supports Apple Intelligence, which the base model does not. Apple lists it from $749 in the US. In India the 11-inch starts at Rs 89,900 for 128GB, rising to Rs 1,01,900 for 256GB, and the 13-inch starts at Rs 1,19,900. The screen is LCD at 60Hz, so if smooth scrolling and OLED contrast matter to you, step up to the Pro. If they do not, the Air gives you near-Pro performance for a lot less money.

Best for creators and power users: iPad Pro (M5)

This is the tablet to buy if you want the best screen and the fastest chip and will use both. The M5 iPad Pro starts at $1,199 in the US. Apple India lists the 11-inch from Rs 1,39,900 for 256GB and the 13-inch from Rs 1,99,900, with the 11-inch reaching Rs 2,71,900 at 2TB. Apple says it fast-charges to 50 percent in around 30 minutes. Nano-texture glass, which cuts glare for studio and outdoor work, is offered only on the 1TB and 2TB models, so it comes with a large price jump. Pick the Pro only if you need the tandem OLED display or the headroom for video, music production or illustration. For a casual user, it is a lot of tablet to leave on a couch.

Best Android alternative: Galaxy Tab S12+ and S12 Ultra

Samsung's S12 series went on sale on October 7. Both models run MediaTek's Dimensity 9500, carry IP68 dust and water resistance and include the S Pen. The S12+ has a 12.6-inch display and a 10,600mAh battery in a 550g body. The S12 Ultra steps up to 14.6 inches, an 11,600mAh battery and 690g. Samsung's US page lists the S12 line from $1,199.99, and Tech Insider attributes that starting price to the S12+. The US Ultra price is quoted by only one source we found, so confirm it at checkout.

In India, Samsung priced the Galaxy Tab S12+ at Rs 1,29,999 for the Wi-Fi model with 12GB and 256GB, and Rs 1,49,999 for 512GB. The 5G versions cost Rs 1,44,999 and Rs 1,64,999. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at Rs 1,49,999 for Wi-Fi with 256GB and goes to Rs 1,84,999 for 5G with 512GB, according to FoneArena's launch report. Launch offers include up to Rs 5,000 bank cashback and no-cost EMI for up to 24 months, and the offers cannot be combined. Samsung's India page did not show prices when we checked, so these figures rest on launch coverage.

At a glance

Model	US price	India starting price	Screen	Best for
iPad (A16)	$449	Rs 49,900	11-inch LCD	Students and families
iPad Air (M4)	$749	Rs 89,900	11 or 13-inch LCD	Most buyers
iPad Pro (M5)	$1,199	Rs 1,39,900	11 or 13-inch tandem OLED	Creators and pros
Galaxy Tab S12+	$1,199.99	Rs 1,29,999	12.6-inch AMOLED	Android fans, S Pen users

Which one should you buy

If you spend under $500 or Rs 50,000, buy the base iPad and put the savings toward a case. If you want one tablet that handles school, work and streaming for years, the iPad Air is the safest choice. Choose the iPad Pro only if the display and chip will earn their keep, and choose the Galaxy Tab S12+ if you prefer Android and want the pen included. Whichever you pick, budget for storage and accessories before you look at the base price, since that is where the real cost of a tablet is decided.

Apple India offers up to 12 months of No Cost EMI and up to Rs 5,000 instant cashback on eligible cards, with the EMI window running through November 11, 2026. Prices are list prices from Apple, Samsung and launch coverage as of October 29, 2026, and may change.

Published October 29, 2026. Gadgets365 will update this article as more information becomes available.