Tablets Android tablets are dead

[nickdalzell1]

I got some excellent deals on ancient tablets on Amazon (used, to reduce my impact on the planet) that still work 100%. Galaxy Note 10.1 from 2012, still plays games of the era, takes notes, browses and does YouTube. Paid $80 for it a couple years ago. It's cellular enabled and yes, despite what they tell you, the 3G STILL works today via Straight Talk (although I cancelled it since all I use it on is wifi). I bought it after a week long Spectrum outage that left me cut off. But now I just got some DVDs to watch instead of streaming. I just cancelled every subscription I had. It was...interesting how much it cost added up.

I also got some exellent cheap Walmart tablets that work amazingly well, charge rapidly, feature USB C and nave night shift/auto dark mode. That's one thing I don't miss about the classic Note tablet-the headaches from staring long periods of time at a bright, super low resolution display with aging LED backlighting. Migraine, anyone?

My latest challenge is doing as much as possible on-device, offline. I got a canned YouTube consisting of videos (long purged from the site) that I had backed up on a NAS, all on a tablet. I also got older versions of mobile games that don't rely on a cloud or the internet (original Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Plants vs. Zombies, etc) and of course my music collection, 1,000+ MP3s and counting. I recently confined Bixby mostly to the phone (limited but works) and Google Assistant is offline via NetGuard blocking access to it. You can use commands such as 'turn on/off wifi/bluetooth', 'volume up' 'volume down' 'pause/play' and 'dim/brighten screen' offline. It's one way of having the Assistant and your privacy, too. Our devices are more than capable of doing a ton of stuff offline, not sure why so many depend on the internet for something as mundane as reading an ebook.

 

[jimimac71]

Well Nick, my tablet would be useless without the Internet. Even my PC.
My favorite card games are online.
Everything I do requires the Internet.
I have some music on my Sansa Clip+.
I have a favorite podcast but don’t download it. I just listen to it on Spotify.
So technically, I’m a perfect candidate for a Chrome device.
All my favorite music requires being online.
A stupid thing! Apple TV cannot download anything but apps. 64 Gigs going to waste. I purchased a movie from Apple. It can be downloaded to my iPad but not Apple TV.
I can’t watch TV with an antenna. If my Xfinity goes out, we’ll, I do have some DVDs.
I don’t distrust Google. I don’t trust Apple. I just know they want me to believe 2-step verification will protect me.
Overall, I am not fond of huge corporations. You know the usual suspects.
Google looks over my shoulder, because it’s a living for them.
Apple has my address and phone number. Google, and even Microsoft, do not.
I was forced to give my information to Apple before I could use my old iMac in 2007.

 

[Aoligei]

Not everybody needs iPad for basic tasks like web browsing, watching videos or read books. I recently got enough points through my credit card to get Amazon Fire 8 and Fire 10 tablet for free. Even though those tablet are just pure low end specs (especially fire 8 with 1200x800 screen with 2GB RAM) and stuck with Android 9, but it gets job done. I can read my Kindle books, watching YouTube videos, browsing internet and play some local video through SD card.

I mean, yeah, I have iPad Pro 12.9 inch and iPad 8th generation. But for what i need from tablet, those cheap Android tablet can easily do what i need to do.

 

[Aoligei]

Unless Amazon released some amazing new tablet that I'm unware of, the Fire tablets will remain a laggy, ad-filled piece of garbage with outdated SoC (and running on extremely outdated Android forks) and adding Google to the mix will only make them ten time worse. Google Play Services has insane permissions and kills performance on even a flagship product. Heck, years ago, I could reduce an Android 2.3 smartphone to its knees by merely logging onto a Google Account and letting it sync/update. It'd lag or freeze, run hot, kill battery in minutes and eat up all the storage too.

Kindle Fire are bottom of the barrel devices that if it weren't for being harmful to the planet I'd have tossed them both into the garbage. I can only hope they improved them but I refuse to buy another. Heck, my Fire Stick was horrible after the 'new UI update' that made it a laggy mess. Everyone said 'sideload Wolf Launcher' but all I got was 'error parsing package'. It never worked for me so I just unplugged the thing. Alexa devices also had major issues with my internet and constantly disconnected requiring plug pulls every day or two. When I'd ask them to turn something on I'd get the 'there are two devices by that name, which one do you want?' when there was only ONE device called 'living room light 1'. I hated it. Amazon is great for buying classic tech but horrible for software/devices.

I really wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt for promoting AOSP and being anti-Google but since the original Kindle Fire (which was great) they have succeeded in ruining any recent offerings.

If anyone loves them, and can live with the jitters and lag, and horrible battery life and inability to keep more than two apps running at the same time, great. That's not something I can accept. Their most recent fail is removing the 'music store' from Amazon Music in a later version (an update that was forced--the app closed out if you ignored it). Now, to buy music you have to use the Amazon website and go through a lot of hoops to 'buy MP3 album' because they apparently prefer the 'you'll own nothing and be happy' mantra like most everyone else these days. I stuck with Amazon for years, loved the Kindle app, and loved Amazon App Store (when it was part of a Samsung device) and loved the MP3 store. I got 1,000s of songs I bought over time from Amazon MP3/earlier versions of Amazon Music. Today, it's impractical to navigate the mess to buy a song/album and with Google Play Music being axed (thanks Google, no wonder I stopped using your apps) there's literally no one else to buy music from except Apple (which at least has an Android app).

Maybe I just got my Fire 8 and Fire 10 few days ago, but i don't find them laggy... LOL... it is prefect acceptable for what it does. I only use single app at a time. Watching YouTube, browsing internet with Edge browser, doing some Office editing (yes, i can get Office 365 working without subscription).

It is definitely not iPad level, but for tablet that costs around 100 CAD for Fire 8 and 199 for Fire 10 (Which i got for free using points), I can't complain.

 

[Oohara]

Google seems to be giving its Android Tablets division some attention

Is the large-screen-focused Android 12L just the start?

www.theverge.com

 

[nickdalzell1]

You don't need an iPad, but using an Amazon Fire tablet is just asking for frustration. Especially if you came FROM an iPad.

 

[twdawson]

In my opinion the iPad is the only choice these days, I have friends who use android phones but swear by the iPad as the best choice out there.
They have tried android tablets but said it wasn’t a good experience.

 

[mi7chy]

You don't need an iPad, but using an Amazon Fire tablet is just asking for frustration. Especially if you came FROM an iPad.

For basic consumption I wouldn't spend more than Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet. And, there are things better on Amazon Fire than iPad like YouTube Vanced, Termux and freedom to run torrent client, emulation, etc. iPad is just too gimped and restrictive while priced excessively as much as a gaming laptop. If Android tablets are dead then iPads are deader.

 

[TechRunner]

In my opinion the iPad is the only choice these days, I have friends who use android phones but swear by the iPad as the best choice out there.
They have tried android tablets but said it wasn’t a good experience.

That's my story, too. I've primarily been an Android phone user but have mostly used iPads for my tablet experience. I think some Android tablets are decent (had a Tab 4 a few years back that I enjoyed), but as of this moment, iPads are still the better choice for me.

 

[LeeW]

It all depends on your needs I guess, I know many that use the Amazon Fire as all they need it for is watching Netflix, works totally fine for that and with deals they are so cheap it is worth it to many.

I agree with most comments though that outside of the iPad, tablets, in general, are pretty poor. Samsungs are ok if you are dead set against Apple.

 

[nickdalzell1]

In my opinion the iPad is the only choice these days, I have friends who use android phones but swear by the iPad as the best choice out there.
They have tried android tablets but said it wasn’t a good experience.

which would be even more compounded by the lousy Amazon Fire experience. Even thet latest ONN Walmart tablets perform better than those pieces of trash.

I haven't bought a Fire tablet since 2017. They might have improved but I'm of the type where if a company angers me enough I stop buying. Heck, my first car was a Subaru XT. It was total junk. I even today avoid Subaru like the plague.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

In my opinion the iPad is the only choice these days, I have friends who use android phones but swear by the iPad as the best choice out there. They have tried android tablets but said it wasn’t a good experience.

There aren’t a whole lot of premium Android choices out there these days. The only company putting out quality Android tablets is Samsung. I recently purchased a Galaxy Tab S7+ and it rivals the iPad Pro. The build, appearance, performance and experience on the Samsung tablet is premium.

Now if you are trying to make the point that bang for the buck you can buy a budget iPad vs buying a cheap Android tablet, then that’s a valid point. I only own budget iPad’s these days because you can’t beat the price vs performance. But switch to a Samsung tablet with 120Hz display and those Android tablets shine. I personally use both and like both.

 

[WriteNow]

which would be even more compounded by the lousy Amazon Fire experience. Even thet latest ONN Walmart tablets perform better than those pieces of trash.

I haven't bought a Fire tablet since 2017. They might have improved but I'm of the type where if a company angers me enough I stop buying.

I'm not sure what the Fire experience is like, but I've heard complaints over the years the Fire speed isn't, er, blazing. More of a slight smolder. LOL Although maybe things are better now.

I even today avoid Subaru like the plague.

From the neutral views I've heard, there are good reasons to avoid these. Head gasket problems at one point. Weak automatic transmissions. And I've heard they can be $$$ to fix. I've always had used cars, and I've never seen a compelling deal on a Subaru in my area. That said, I've known people who were happy--and even knowledgeable detractors have admitted that they are worth considering for certain buyers (people who regularly need to deal with bad roads in winter, for example).

 

[jimimac71]

You don't need an iPad, but using an Amazon Fire tablet is just asking for frustration. Especially if you came FROM an iPad.

My 2017 Amazon Fire 10 is terminally ill.
My 2019 Amazon Fire 10 is right behind.
The iPad is not better than Android for me. In too many ways it loves to irritate me. Predictive Text is a joke. So is cut/paste or I just don’t get the Apple way.
My 2019 Samsung Galaxy Tab A does everything I want/need it to.
Subaru? How did we get into cars from tablets. <grin> (Blind emoji)
Subaru use to be pretty bad, like the Subaru Brat.
Then again Hyundai made some junky products in the past.
I wouldn’t want an Apple car, but I really wouldn’t want a Microsoft car.
One of those Google Maps cars maybe.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Point is that I refuse to buy from anyone who produces junk or has produced enough to anger me enough to no longer support them with my money. Amazon has a great e-commerce site, which enabled me to get some great used tablets from IMO the glory days of Samsung which were unobtainium from eBay (or horribly overpriced) much less locally.

But their Fire OS/tablets/TVs are junk. I tried recently to replace my Apple TV with one of my Fire Sticks and the UI got updated without my consent and was horribly laggy enough to bother me. I prefer smooth animations and no forced updates. I decided to switch to a PlayStation 4 and am happy now.

The tablets were worse than a Fire TV. Horrible lag, tons of ads on the lockscreen, Internet use draining the battery even while idle, and if you're going to use Google Play on top of that bloat I feel sorry for you. I mean Google apps drain performance on Android phones/tablets enough but since Fire tablets are such low spec junk just adding that load on top of the already laggy experience will make you remember the 'dark' times of Android 2.1 Eclair. No Thanks.

One will get a horrible view of Android based on such junk.

Ironically enough the rednecks actually love the Brat pickup (ugly as it is) and folks who adore MPG still cling to the Justy. The XT was a nice looking car, but it broke down every chance it got, parts were impossible to get, and it was so computerized even for a 1988 model that working on it yourself was nigh-impossible, to say nothing of the stupid 'boxer' engine design making even a spark plug replacement an ordeal.

 

[TiggrToo]

If Android tablets are dead then iPads are deader.

Your well known dislike for Apple notwithstanding, your hyperbole has, quite predictably, no basis in fact...

Tablets market share by vendor worldwide 2024 | Statista

Based on global shipments, Apple was the leading media tablet vendor between 2011 and 2024.

www.statista.com

 

[WriteNow]

The XT

I think I remember seeing those in one Subaru ad with the disappointed father saying something along the lines of: I told you to buy a Subaru. Only to have his son say that he did.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I think I remember seeing those in one Subaru ad with the disappointed father saying something along the lines of: I told you to buy a Subaru. Only to have his son say that he did.

There were countless times I brought my XT in to repair and the mechanic said "That's a Honda not a Subaru!" and had to constantly correct them. They honestly thought I slapped a Subaru badge on a Prelude.

Then to explain to them how it was FWD (not AWD as most were) and them looking at the engine mounted longitudinally and getting seriously confused. They were dead-set assuming all front-wheel drive vehicles have them mounted transversely.

 

[jimimac71]

The Subaru dog commercials totally rock.
I also have a very problematic Amazon Fire TV Stick.
My Roku products are fine.
The older units are slower, but still boot and the OS is current.
So my opinion is different now.
Too many issues with Amazon tablets and TV sticks.
I think Samsung is the tablet to get for your so-called iPad experience.
I can’t wait to get rid of my iPad and Apple TV.
No more Amazon branded stuff.
HP has a lot of Chrome products.
I don’t really need a tablet anymore.
I’ve had a poor experience with Lenovo.

 

[mi7chy]

Tablets market share by vendor worldwide 2024 | Statista

Based on global shipments, Apple was the leading media tablet vendor between 2011 and 2024.

www.statista.com

View attachment 1955134

So?

 

[nickdalzell1]

This is gonna go Coke vs. Pepsi before long!

 

[jimimac71]

This is gonna go Coke vs. Pepsi before long!

Great taste … Less filling!

 

[TiggrToo]

So?

Wut?

What does McDonalds have to do with this discussion?

YOU claimed that iPad tablets were even deader sic than Android tablets.

I simply presented numbers that clearly demonstrated that iPad tablets lead the pack.

You however decided to apparently ignore that and post a rather pointless picture for what reason now?

You ever thought of just admitting you were perhaps, gasp, wrong?

 

[TiggrToo]

This is gonna go Coke vs. Pepsi before long!

Personally speaking I think that Android tablets have their place and I wish Google would do more with them.

I used to own a Motorola Xoom back in the day and loved it - even with Honeycomb...

Really wanted Google to make a strong comeback with this form factor because choice and competition are both good.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I really wanted to try Honeycomb but all the tablets were GONE shortly after. Never got to play around with the WebOS tablet either

I think the McDonald's reference was to remark that having top market share isn't always a good thing, as McDonald's has pretty much the #1 spot in fast food, yet also #1 for heart attacks and bad nutrition as well. Being #1 isn't always the best thing.

I think Google assumes sadly much like most other folks out there that a huge phablet-sized smartphone can replace a tablet, and in some moronic and very impractical fashion, even a laptop . They've all but given up on tablets. Or conceded the win to Apple.

I was reminded why I hate huge smartphone screens last week at Kroger. I had my left arm full of groceries (I was only getting enough to carry in a recyclable bag and naturally figured my face unlock and quick swipe to Kroger Pay would work from my right hand) only to find the app had logged me out claiming 'invalid credentials' (forcing me to login again). Having to stretch my thumb while also balancing the heavy 6.5" display S20 FE typing on an on-screen keyboard, and then tapping the back option afterwards reminded me of why I truly miss the 3.5" screen days. There's no one out there even doing it and even low-end phones stop at 5.5".

There's clearly a market out there wanting a 3.5" display but ain't no company caring about consumer demand anymore, only shareholders. Either that or most of the younger generation has some type of genetic anomaly giving them Lebron James-sized hands.