Samsung offers two rugged tablets aimed at professionals needing durable devices for demanding environments. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active 5 share ruggedness but differ significantly in specs, battery, and price.
Price Comparison
The Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro is priced around $950 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage model. It targets users who want a larger screen and higher processing power. In contrast, the Galaxy Tab Active 5 offers the same memory and storage for about $510. This makes the Tab Active 5 attractive for budget-conscious buyers or those needing a compact device.
Design and Durability
The Tab Active 5 Pro measures 170 x 243.5 x 10.1 mm and weighs 430 grams. It features a polymer frame with Gorilla Glass Victus+ front and a matte black finish. It carries IP68 and MIL-STD-810H certifications, surviving drops from up to 1.5 meters and water immersion for 30 minutes. The removable backplate allows quick battery swaps. Additional features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and a programmable Active Key.
Meanwhile, the Tab Active 5 is smaller and slightly heavier at 126.8 x 213.8 x 10.1 mm and 433 grams. It has a polymer matte body with Gorilla Glass 5 and supports IP68 and MIL-STD-810H ruggedness as well. It includes an under-display fingerprint sensor and comes with an IP68-rated S Pen. Its compact size is more pocket-friendly, ideal for mobile tasks.
Display Technology
The Tab Active 5 Pro sports a 10.1-inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It achieves 600 nits brightness and supports glove touch and wet finger operation. The screen has an anti-reflective coating for better outdoor visibility.
The Tab Active 5 has a slightly smaller 8-inch TFT LCD at the same resolution and refresh rate (120Hz). It also hits 600 nits brightness and supports HDR10, with eye comfort features for extended use. Its smaller, flat display suits users prioritizing portability.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Tab Active 5 Pro runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 octa-core chipset (up to 2.5 GHz), paired with 8GB RAM (expandable virtually) and 256GB storage. It hits approximately 600,000 points on AnTuTu benchmarks, making it suitable for AR applications and video editing. The Adreno 720 GPU and vapor cooling enhance performance stability. It runs One UI 7 on Android 15 with Knox security and provides 5 years of updates.
The Galaxy Tab Active 5 uses the Exynos 1380 octa-core processor (up to 2.4 GHz) with 8GB RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage. It scores around 500,000 on AnTuTu. This tablet is optimized for barcode scanning and field operations, featuring One UI 6.1 on Android 14, liquid cooling, and 4 years of updates.
Camera Capabilities
The Tab Active 5 Pro features a dual rear camera setup: a 12MP main autofocus sensor and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The front camera is 8MP. It supports 4K video recording at 30fps with LED flash and AI scene detection, excelling in low-light conditions.
The Tab Active 5 carries a 13MP main rear camera and a 5MP ultrawide sensor. It has a 5MP front camera, records 1080p video at 30fps with electronic image stabilization (EIS), and integrates Knox Capture for efficient barcode scanning.
Battery Life
The Tab Active 5 Pro is equipped with a large 10,100mAh removable battery supporting 45W wired charging. It can last between 16 to 18 hours of screen-on time, suitable for extended field usage. A full charge takes about 2 hours. The Snapdragon chipset optimizes standby power for up to 4 days.
Conversely, the Tab Active 5 packs a 5,050mAh removable battery with 15W charging. It delivers around 10 to 12 hours of screen time with a full charge in approximately 2.5 hours. The Exynos processor helps extend battery life during typical workloads.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro suits professionals requiring a robust multitasking device with a larger display and longer battery endurance. It excels in heavy usage but sacrifices portability. The Galaxy Tab Active 5 appeals to users who prioritize compactness, quick scanning, and value. Both devices maintain high standards of ruggedness and security within the Samsung Knox ecosystem. Choosing between them depends on the user’s workflow, mobility, and budget needs.
