Is there a difference between the tab symbols when using "Show White Space and TAB"?

Solution 1:

There is no difference between the types of arrows. Convince yourself by replacing \t with 2 spaces. Make sure the "Search mode" is set to "Extended". There shall be no arrows afterwards.

Solution 2:

The other person didn't really answer the question... the reason for the different sizes of arrows (in case you never figured it out) is because the arrow is showing the number of spaces remaining to the next full tab stop. If your tab number is 4 (default setting), when you create a new tab the arrow is 4 spaces long. If you press tab after typing 3 characters, for example, it's a tiny arrow, because there is only one more space left to the next tab stop. Make sense?

Demo to see the tab length decreases when there are fewer characters to the next tab stop: