Android Tablet vs. iPad: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Get?

If you are looking for a tablet, you may have probably hit a snag because you don’t know which one to get. If you already own an iPhone, you are probably leaning towards an iPad, but Android tablets make such a compelling case that you cannot ignore them. As for Android users, isn’t it exciting to have at least one Apple device in your collection?

Luckily, we are here to solve your dilemma. Below is an Android tablet vs. iPad review to determine which option offers better value for money. Keep reading to find out!

Android Tablet Vs. iPad: Side-By-Side Comparison

Supports Multi-Tasking

Apple 2022 iPad Air (5th Generation)

$649.99

• 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with anti-glare coating
• M1 chip with Neural Engine
• Up to 256GB of available storage
• 12MP wide camera and 12MP Ultra Wide front camera
• Comes in space gray, pink, blue, purple, and starlight

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09/13/2023 06:47 am GMT

Android Tablet vs. iPad: What’s the Difference?

Most tablet companies design and manufacture devices to provide highly portable yet fully-functional personal computers. However, though the manufacturers have similar goals for their end products, they strive to make their devices unique. For example, manufacturers use different operating systems, hardware, and technologies to differentiate their tablets. Below is an Android tablet vs. iPad review from a technical viewpoint.

Design

Do you know why tablet manufacturers invest millions of dollars into their designs? Well, it all comes down to an old marketing tactic that customers are always drawn to attractive things.

Clearly, Apple did their assignment with their iPads’ designs, because they are masterpieces. The uniformity in all iPads has its pros and cons. All iPads have a similar aluminum build, making them solid and compact. However, buying two different iPads with the same design can be monotonous. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all iPads have a similar design, but you may see the similarities if you look closely.

Customers want variety when shopping, which you will get with Android tablets. Remember, these Android tablets are a collection of devices made by different manufacturers. So, expect each company to conceptualize innovative designs. Case in point, have you seen the Galaxy Z Fold 3? Thanks to Samsung’s mind-blowing design, you can fold this Android tablet into a smartphone.

Besides getting multiple designs, Android tablets come in many colors. This is where iPads fail, because you may be excited to own a red iPad and not find it on the market. If your main focus is on a tablet’s design, go for Android tablets, which offer more options than iPads.

Display

Next on our Android tablet vs. iPad debate is the display. Here, both Android tablets and iPads share common ground. You can get a tablet with different display sizes based on your preference. For instance, the iPad mini 6 has an 8.3-inch diagonal multi-touch display, ideal for users who prefer small-sized devices. Similarly, gamers, movie fanatics, interior designers, and others who prefer bigger displays will enjoy the 12.9-inch and 13-inch displays on the iPad Pro 2021 and Lenovo Yoga Tab 13, respectively.

However, contrary to what many believe, a bigger display doesn’t necessarily mean a superior user experience. It all comes down to how the display complements the tablet’s intended use. You should take an iPad over an Android tablet on this standard measure. Though Samsung tablets aren’t far behind regarding display quality, several features make iPads stand out. For instance, iPads have a retina display that makes their pixels invisible to the naked eye. It means you won’t see bold letters that sometimes appear huge and unclear because the pixels have been refined to make the details on the screen clear and crisp.  

While it’s human nature to choose a tablet with a large screen size, take a minute and switch it on to check its clarity. Although iPads are usually smaller than Android tablets, their display clarity is unmatched.

High-Performance Device

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra 14.6-inch 256GB Graphite

$1,184.30

• 14.6-inch display
• 256GB of available storage
• 12GB RAM
• Includes S-Pen
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor

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09/12/2023 02:57 pm GMT

Performance

Is a tablet’s performance important? Well, it depends on your usage. For instance, you need a tablet with a good processor when running heavy applications. Generally, all Android devices, including Samsung and Lenovo tablets, use Android processors. However, there are different variations of Android processors. For example, Samsung S8 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, while the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 870. 

As for iPads, they use the iPadOS processor. This isn’t new, as Apple devices use iOS. Besides the iPadOS processor, iPads have either the M1 chipset, like the iPad Air 2022, or the M2 chipset, like the sixth-generation iPad Pro. The M1 chipset has eight cores, making it good for multitasking. For instance, you can split your screen and multitask between designing a product and watching a movie without the iPad hanging. Most people want a tablet that supports multitasking, so the iPad wins the performance debate.

Stylus Pen

Samsung was the pioneer of phone and tablet-compatible stylus pens. The company released its first stylus pen with the Galaxy Note 1 in 2011. Since then, Samsung has released several models, each new stylus pen improving on its predecessor. For example, whereas the first stylus pen mainly functioned as a pen and marker, the latest-generation stylus pen incorporates AI technology and gesture controls for an improved user experience. 

Apple released its first-generation stylus pen in 2015. The Apple pencil was 6.92 inches long and weighed 20.7 grams. The stylus pen is compatible with most iPads, including first and second-generation iPad Pros, third-generation iPad Air, and fifth-generation iPad mini. Apple released its second-generation stylus pen in 2018. The pen’s notable features included pixel-perfect precision, wireless charging, and tilt and pressure sensitivity. The second-generation Apple pencils are compatible with third to sixth-generation iPad Pros (12.9-inch), sixth-generation iPad minis, and fourth and fifth-generation iPad Air tablets.

Lenovo and Amazon Fire tablets are also compatible with stylus pens. For example, Lenovo recommends the Lenovo Precision Pen 2 as the best input device for its Yoga Tab 13 tablet. You can use the EDIVIA Digital Pencil or Amazon Basics Stylus Pen for the Amazon Fire tablets. All in all, Samsung and Apple tablets have the most advanced stylus pens.

Battery

In the battery debate, iPads fare poorly. The iPad Air 2022 has a 7600mAh battery, which is disappointing for such a high-end device. Though we are used to Apple products having a low battery, we expected the iPad Air to have high capacity as it was among Apple’s best flagship iPads of 2022. Still, the iPad Pro provides at least 10 hours of usage when surfing Wi-Fi or watching videos.

We recommend getting an Android tablet if you spend significant time watching or gaming on your devices. Some notable tablets include the Samsung S8 Ultra, which has a 11200mAh battery. The tablet provides up to 14 hours of video playback time and eight hours when surfing using Wi-Fi. The Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 competes reasonably well, given its 10000mAh battery. It provides at least 11.7 hours of watch time when streaming 1080P online content. Ultimately, Android tablets offer better battery capacity and usage time than iPads.

Price

Last but certainly not least, let’s discuss the price. This is the most sensitive section because you wouldn’t want a tablet that isn’t worth the cost.

Apple products are often pricey; however, some iPad tablets are pocket-friendly. For example, iPad mini tablets cost $499 and $649 for 64GB and 256GB storage, respectively. Conversely, other iPad models like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021 will set you back $2,199 for a tablet with 2TB storage. 

As for Android tablets, it depends on the model. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra costs over $800 for a tablet with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. You can still get a cheap Android tablet like the Amazon Fire HD 10 for less than $150.

Overall, Android tablets are cheaper than iPads. However, it depends on the tablet you choose, as some Android tablets, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, are more expensive than some Apple tablets, like the iPad mini and Air.

Great Value

Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet

$119.99

• Octa-core processor plus 3GB RAM
• 12-hour battery life
• Up to 64GB internal storage (up to 1TB with a microSD card)
• 10.1-inch full HD display

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09/13/2023 07:57 am GMT

History of Android Tablets

Android tablets came about in 2009 when phone manufacturers worked hard to release a new device that would shock the world. True to their word, these devices did cause a buzz because they were gadgets like no other. With Android 1.4 and a 5-inch display, everyone flocked to buy these tablets. Things didn’t slow down after this new invention as more manufacturing companies joined the race.

Soon after, Samsung released a 7-inch Galaxy Android tablet in 2010. The tablet had limited functions as a personal computer and was considered a smartphone with a large display. Amazon was next with its Kindle Fire tablet, released in 2011. The tablet used FireOS, a forked version of the Android OS. Whereas the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 and Amazon Kindle tablets were underwhelming, they proved there was a market for Android tablets.

Fast forward, there are more than 20 Android tablet manufacturers globally. Companies like Samsung and Lenovo have established themselves as market leaders in this niche, manufacturing tablets with advanced features and technology like AI, virtual assistants, and stylus pens. Android tablets are priced competitively, which has made them formidable against smartphones and computers.

History of iPads

Thanks to Steve Jobs’ brilliant idea to manufacture small laptops that are highly portable, we now have iPads. The official launch dates back to 2010, which isn’t a coincidence that it was one year after the first Android tablet was released. The original iPad was nothing like the Android tablets. Its distinguishing feature was the iOS processor, also used in the iPhone. However, today’s iPads use the iPadOS.

Since releasing the first iPad in 2010, Apple has released multiple iPad models and versions, including the iPad Air, mini, and Pro. Apple continues releasing newer versions of each model, differentiated using generations. For example, Apple released six iPad Pro generations between 2015 and 2022.

Android Tablet vs. iPad: 5 Must-Know Facts

• Most iPads have similar exterior designs, which could make the aesthetics seem monotonous.
• Android tablets are typically more affordable than iPads when accounting for their specs.
• Most iPads and Android tablets are compatible with stylus pens.
• Android tablets have the best batteries for those buying these devices for entertainment.
• Most iPads use the M1, M2, or Bionic processors.

Android Tablet vs. iPad: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Choose?

Like with most electronics, the final purchase decision comes down to personal preferences. Some buyers may opt for iPad tablets because of their loyalty to the Apple brand. Others may buy iPads to benefit from their unique features, like the split view that supports multitasking.

Conversely, some people prefer Android tablets as they come in more variety. For example, Samsung tablets differ from Lenovo tablets in design and function. Beyond aesthetics, buyers may opt for Android tablets for their performance, advanced features, and battery life. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor that guarantees high performance, even when running heavy tasks. Ultimately, the final decision depends on your desired tablet specifications and budget.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Jes2u.photo/Shutterstock.com.