I’m a long time iPad user thinking of trying an Android tablet.
Reading this thread, I notice a common criticism of Android tablets is a lack of tablet-optimised apps (many apps just scaled up phone apps). Is this largely limited to niche apps, or does it also plague mainstream apps?
Ive listed the apps I mainly use on my iPad (excluding web browser). Most are pretty mainstream apps from major developers. Does anyone spot any in this list that are just scaled up phone apps when running on Android tablets?
Gmail
Google Photos
Dropbox
Outlook
OneDrive
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Microsoft To Do
Adobe Acrobat Reader
1Password
Amazon Kindle
PressReader
Netflix
YouTube
Amazon Prime Video
Spotify
Sonos
Pocket Casts
Amazon
eBay
UK-specific apps
The Times
The Guardian
Now TV
BBC iPlayer
ITV Hub
All 4
My5 (actually, don’t care about this one, but am curious)
BT Sport
As someone who now uses a Galaxy Tab full time as a laptop replacement, I can share a few things on those apps that I use.
GMail: Interface is tablet optimized, with 2 column (inbox on the left, email content on the right). However, it's only skin deep. If I want to compose a new message or reply, the screen will be covered with the compose window, and I cannot just take a peek at my inbox without having to save the new email to draft first and go back to it later. No multiple instances support.
Outlook: Same as GMail, interface is tablet optimized. Replying to email is in-line so you can still see your inbox. But composing new email is like GMail, it takes the whole screen covering up the inbox.
Word/Excel: Functions pretty well. I recommend using a mouse, which is supported in Android tablets. But same problem, no multiple instances. Meaning you cannot have two Microsoft Word open side-by-side. If you need to have a second word document open side-by-side, you need to use a different app.
Google Doc/Sheet: Google productivity suits behaves better than Microsoft's, and can support multiple instances. Eg. I can open two Google Sheet spreadsheets side-by-side.
Youtube: tablet optimized. PiP is supported (I have Youtube premium), but cannot resize the PiP frame (Android 11)
Netflix: tablet optimized. Supports PiP, and the PiP frame can be resized.
Disney+ Hotstar: not tablet optimized. Doesn't even support landscape mode unless you are playing a video full screen. Really annoying.
Brave browser: tablet optimized. Also supports multiple instances side by side.
Whatsapp: not optimized. It's just a stretched phone app. Then again, no whatsapp on iPad.
App's optimization are a mix bag. Google and Microsoft apps are highly likely to be optimized, considering their interest. Others might not. Firefox browser is not even tablet optimized (I have to switch browser from Firefox to Brave). Most utilities probably are not tablet optimized, meaning you just see a stretched out phone app.
Overall, imo once you set your expectation, it's alright. But don't expect major differences in terms of workflow compared to an iPad. Imo both are post PC devices, and you have to adjust your workflow.