Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

All iPads Are you tempted by other tablets?

I like using Android on phones, and don't mind it on tablets. But Apple still invests a lot more in the tablet experience than Google and Android vendors do: more apps, consistent and more meaningful hardware updates, a larger ecosystem. And iPadOS 26 effectively neuters some of the multitasking advantages seen in some Android tablets (like those from OnePlus and Samsung).

I liken it to athletes: it's all about how often you show up. The iPad is the dependable athlete that might not be the absolute best, but attends every practice and takes every game seriously. Android is the rockstar athlete that is used to winning, but can't be trusted as they skip practices and phone it in for 'easy' games. Will Google still be interested in tablets next year? Will Samsung's next Galaxy Tab S be a step forward, or arrive in a timely fashion?

I want to buy a tablet knowing that its manufacturer is as invested as I am, and neither Google nor most of its partners have shown that for a while.
 
  • Like
Reactions: servenvolley
Postal said:
I like using Android on phones, and don't mind it on tablets. But Apple still invests a lot more in the tablet experience than Google and Android vendors do: more apps, consistent and more meaningful hardware updates, a larger ecosystem. And iPadOS 26 effectively neuters some of the multitasking advantages seen in some Android tablets (like those from OnePlus and Samsung).

I liken it to athletes: it's all about how often you show up. The iPad is the dependable athlete that might not be the absolute best, but attends every practice and takes every game seriously. Android is the rockstar athlete that is used to winning, but can't be trusted as they skip practices and phone it in for 'easy' games. Will Google still be interested in tablets next year? Will Samsung's next Galaxy Tab S be a step forward, or arrive in a timely fashion?

I want to buy a tablet knowing that its manufacturer is as invested as I am, and neither Google nor most of its partners have shown that for a while.
Click to expand...
A great post. I do think manufacturers like Samsung and OnePlus have started to pay attention to the tablet form.

Unfortunately, to borrow your athlete analogy, they have great sprinters but the relay team sucks. Great individual devices are let down by the ecosystem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: servenvolley
martint235 said:
A great post. I do think manufacturers like Samsung and OnePlus have started to pay attention to the tablet form.

Unfortunately, to borrow your athlete analogy, they have great sprinters but the relay team sucks. Great individual devices are let down by the ecosystem.
Click to expand...
For me Google itself is the worst offender. Android 16 has some tablet tweaks, but it has bad habits of going years between hardware releases and significant related software updates. The Pixel Tablet was released in 2023 and might not be upgraded this year... that wouldn't give me much confidence as a potential buyer!
 
  • Like
Reactions: martint235
I just got a Galaxy S10 from my work and I absolutely hate it. The length-to-width ratio feels very weird to me, and I cannot stand Android. Its not very intuitive and its lacking the "magic" feel to it. Just my preference, but I dont think Ill ever change from iPad to another tablet.
 
sonicrobby said:
I just got a Galaxy S10 from my work and I absolutely hate it. The length-to-width ratio feels very weird to me, and I cannot stand Android. Its not very intuitive and its lacking the "magic" feel to it. Just my preference, but I dont think Ill ever change from iPad to another tablet.
Click to expand...
I've understood those wider aspect ratios for cheaper tablets (it makes them great streaming video devices), but it hasn't made much sense to me for higher-end models that are used as creative tools and laptop replacements. Even a 16:10 (or rather, 10:16) ratio is awkward when you're holding the device in portrait mode.
 
Postal said:
I've understood those wider aspect ratios for cheaper tablets (it makes them great streaming video devices), but it hasn't made much sense to me for higher-end models that are used as creative tools and laptop replacements. Even a 16:10 (or rather, 10:16) ratio is awkward when you're holding the device in portrait mode.
Click to expand...
I guess it’s just personal preference. Everything different feels weird for a while but I got used to the Tab S10 Ultra pretty quickly and then it was weird coming back to iPad Pro
 
  • Like
Reactions: artifex

Are you tempted by other tablets?​


Nope I’m happy with iPads !! I always used iPads !!
 
Been enjoying the Samsung tab S9 for the last two years. I love how easy it is to sideload and drag/drop files onto the device. I also use its DEX feature to make it desktop-like when on the go.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: martint235
There's a saying about hi-fi that provides a way to identify enthusiasts:

"Some people buy hi-fi equipment to listen to music. Some people buy hi-fi equipment to listen to the hi-fi."

And this can apply to any technology. For example, some people buy digital cameras to take pictures. Others buy digital cameras to see how accurate a camera can be when taking pictures. They zoom in to 200-300% to look at pixels.

And I think this is true of tablets. If you want a tablet to consume content, within the Apple ecosystem, then an iPad of any kind of superb.

But some people want to buy tablets to play with tablet technology. They enjoy OLED, they enjoy high refresh rates, they enjoy super-fast 3D performance, and so forth. In that case, unless you're getting an iPad Pro, any non-Apple tablet is going to be better.

I think this is what any debate about iPads vs other tablets boil down to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FatLouie and WriteNow
i have a tab S10 ultra for my sport. ideal for all football games thanks to android app that allows you to watch every game free
 
woolypants said:
There's a saying about hi-fi that provides a way to identify enthusiasts:

"Some people buy hi-fi equipment to listen to music. Some people buy hi-fi equipment to listen to the hi-fi."

And this can apply to any technology. For example, some people buy digital cameras to take pictures. Others buy digital cameras to see how accurate a camera can be when taking pictures. They zoom in to 200-300% to look at pixels.

And I think this is true of tablets. If you want a tablet to consume content, within the Apple ecosystem, then an iPad of any kind of superb.

But some people want to buy tablets to play with tablet technology. They enjoy OLED, they enjoy high refresh rates, they enjoy super-fast 3D performance, and so forth. In that case, unless you're getting an iPad Pro, any non-Apple tablet is going to be better.

I think this is what any debate about iPads vs other tablets boil down to.
Click to expand...
Like gamers more focused on FPS than on the game... This is generally associated with G.A.S.
 
maflynn said:
Google has yet to really find traction in the OS, apps or a marketing approach that highlights any elements of an android tablet's superior aspects.

I think Apple has not rested on its laurels and continues to improve both the hardware and software of the iPad to the point that the most of the tablet buying consumers don't even consider anything other then Apple.
Click to expand...
Right. iPad is to tablet what Kleenex is to tissues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigMcGuire
snipr125 said:
Yep, to the point that the generic name that most people use when referring to a tablet is “iPad” whether it’s made by Apple or not.
Click to expand...
Microsoft threw fits when the NFL started using Surface tablets on the sidelines in 2014 and the TV announcers kept referring to them as "iPads". 😆
 
  • Haha
Reactions: snipr125
Postal said:
I like using Android on phones, and don't mind it on tablets. But Apple still invests a lot more in the tablet experience than Google and Android vendors do: more apps, consistent and more meaningful hardware updates, a larger ecosystem. And iPadOS 26 effectively neuters some of the multitasking advantages seen in some Android tablets (like those from OnePlus and Samsung).

I liken it to athletes: it's all about how often you show up. The iPad is the dependable athlete that might not be the absolute best, but attends every practice and takes every game seriously. Android is the rockstar athlete that is used to winning, but can't be trusted as they skip practices and phone it in for 'easy' games. Will Google still be interested in tablets next year? Will Samsung's next Galaxy Tab S be a step forward, or arrive in a timely fashion?

I want to buy a tablet knowing that its manufacturer is as invested as I am, and neither Google nor most of its partners have shown that for a while.
Click to expand...
interesting question! Because I am transitioning into a new role where I would be using a tablet for drawing and some cat work I have elected to purchase an iPad Pro, M4 plus I get 60 days to like it because I’m a member of the tech plus or whatever program BB is currently offering. Looking at the interface now the AI is still of course, quite useless and actually a hindrance as getting passwords to load correctly at all has become a nightmare. Now they’ve added training wheels to the dictation system with that box that sits over the top of the browser tabs, which I’m absolutely astounded by the sloppiness of this implementation of tech. Then there’s a severe top heaviness of the magic keyboard, magic now referring to doing backflips I guess!🥴 also the fact that the rubberized spray paint on the magic keyboard itself is easily damaged, mitigating this by trying the new combo keyboard from Logitech connect to directly to the iPad and it’s supposed to be a pretty seamless operation. I’ll know more later today. On that note, we are getting new iPads next month. That’s for sure! At least in my market out of 20 some stores they are almost cleaned out completely of iPad Pro 13’s and I have to settle for a 512 GB after the one terabyte and even 2 TB with the 16 gig ram are sold out completely unless I wanna wait a week to get it shipped to me. In other words they depleted their stock just in time. For the first time ever my timing may be perfect though on Purchasing as there is always the small hope that whatever M5 version comes out next month might have a compelling reason to go that route, but I’m not holding my breath….
 
Sensamic said:
I've been thinking about buying a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, which supposedly will be announced next month. It could be a sort of replacement for the iPad Pro 13, which I want to buy but is way expensive.

For example, with discounts, I could buy the base 256GB 5G Tab S10 Ultra + official keyboard (comes bundled with the S Pen) + 512GB MicroSD for almost 1.000€ less than the equivalent iPad Pro 1TB 5G + Apple pencil + MK.

The problem is app support, as always, which is not ideal on Android tablets. Anyone tempted by other brands? Maybe because they offer good alternatives for way way less money? The long term support is still better with Apple, but Samsung does offer 7 years of OS updates.
Click to expand...
So I have the iPad Pro 13 inch 256 GB cellular and I use it every day at home and at work but I did end up buying the Google pixel tablet this last December thinking I would use it in the kitchen, but I don’t end up spending enough time there outside of cooking so it has become my outdoor by the pool less expensive tablet so yes, I worry about it by the hot tub in the pool, but I worry about it less than my almost $1500 iPad Pro and I only use it when I’m out there and the speaker dock is underneath my Samsung Odyssey G9 where I may have discord running on it while I’m playing a game so I can monitor the chat and that’s about it. I do have their silicone case with a ring. That is a nice tripod. My Daley driver is the Google pixel 9 Pro XL and my iPad thoughts about getting the pixel XX pro folded but to me it doesn’t make sense being that I will always have the iPad. There’s no necessary reason to have a fold phone watch. I say that now then Apple launches their first iPhone fold in 2026 or 27
 
Yup I was. Bought the Samsung s9 Ultra a year or so ago. With the keyboard. Awesome size, awesome build quality, awesome screen. But kept getting frustrated by Android. Ended up selling it.

I was actually tempted to try it again not long ago with the s10 ultra but after hearing about iPadOS 26 I decided against it.

Wish Apple would release a 14" iPad that has a wider aspect ratio which makes it better for watching video. That was a huge plus of the Samsung. Also the Samsungs are water and dust resistant unlike iPads.
 
I’ll stick with an iPad.
The main reason is the ecosystem, I find it very convenient having data synchronised and uniform across my devices.
I’d probably also get a bit irritated having to use two different UI’s.🤷🏽

I already find it irritating switching between my corporate Windows 11 laptop and my MacBook Pro.
All it ever dos is remind me how much better my Mac is.😂
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zmmyt
CyberDavis said:
I’ll stick with an iPad.
The main reason is the ecosystem, I find it very convenient having data synchronised and uniform across my devices.
I’d probably also get a bit irritated having to use two different UI’s.🤷🏽

I already find it irritating switching between my corporate Windows 11 laptop and my MacBook Pro.
All it ever dos is remind me how much better my Mac is.😂
Click to expand...
Aside from the fact that I detest the Android OS itself, the ecosystem is the biggest factor for me also. My calendars, contacts, emails, messages, etc. are synced across all my devices without me having to do anything, and the UI is consistent. No other tablet offers any advantages over the iPad which would offset those factors for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CyberDavis
azhava said:
Aside from the fact that I detest the Android OS itself, the ecosystem is the biggest factor for me also. My calendars, contacts, emails, messages, etc. are synced across all my devices without me having to do anything, and the UI is consistent. No other tablet offers any advantages over the iPad which would offset those factors for me.
Click to expand...
If you're an Android user and signed into a Google account, much of that info is also going to sync across devices. Now, Apple's approach is particularly elegant and includes things Google won't necessarily do (see: AirPods automatically pairing with all your Apple ID-equipped devices), but it's easier than you suggest.

My issue is more that Google and Android hardware vendors just aren't as committed to tablets as Apple is, and that shows in both the apps and the hardware selection.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back