Mobile OSs Best combination of phone and tablet to get the best of iOS and Android ecosystems?

[Lloydbm41]

I agree 100%. My tablet use is mainly gaming and iOS is far superior in that category.

I always find this statement funny. Let me ask you, do you honestly believe tapping and swiping on a glass surface is far superior to using a wireless remote? If so, then you obviously don't play immersive games. I have games like Infinity Blade III on my iPad mini and other than the graphics, it's a pretty pathetic timed swipe and tap game. Rinse and repeat ad nauseum.

That said, the iPad is finally getting mFi wireless controllers and as soon as developers add in the functionality to games like Asphalt 8, Dead Trigger series, COD games, and even Infinity Blade style games, then and only then will I agree with your statement. Up until now though, Android offers a true gaming experience. IOS has not.

----------

Would you rather have an iPhone and the Galaxy Nexus 7 tablet or an Android phone and an iPad, if you didn't want to be married to one ecosystem and wanted the best of Apple and Google worlds?

As others have pointed out, Android for phone and iOS for tablet (unless you need an iOS phone or Android tablet for specific things.)

I own a Windows phone and numerous Android phones, after using all the iPhone and I have a couple of Nexus tablets and an iPad (and have owned Samsung Note 8 tablets).
At this point in time, the Nexus 5, HTC One and Moto X offer the best experience for phones and the iPad Mini or Air offer the best tablet experience (especially now that ios7 is jail broken and you can customize your iPad.)

----------

For me I've had almost all combinations but I settled on

Android Phone + iPad (Retina Mini)

Great minds think alike.

 

[sentinelsx]

I always find this statement funny. Let me ask you, do you honestly believe tapping and swiping on a glass surface is far superior to using a wireless remote? If so, then you obviously don't play immersive games. I have games like Infinity Blade III on my iPad mini and other than the graphics, it's a pretty pathetic timed swipe and tap game. Rinse and repeat ad nauseum.

That said, the iPad is finally getting mFi wireless controllers and as soon as developers add in the functionality to games like Asphalt 8, Dead Trigger series, COD games, and even Infinity Blade style games, then and only then will I agree with your statement. Up until now though, Android offers a true gaming experience. IOS has not.

I will go one step further and say neither offer true gaming experience for immersive gaming. Mobile games lack the depth of console/PC ones, and an average mobile game retains my attention for may be 15 mins tops before I get bored. Hence the reason I only buy casual indie games on my smart phones for gaming while waiting in line etc. I just bought a ps4 and there is no way I am spending hours on shadowgun when I can spend it on MGS series and have more fun.

For commutes, longer waits, and on the couch usage, I prefer my nexus 7 as it is super portable and fits in my cost pocket, and I can read novels, websites, technical documents, watch my video library which is what I use tablets for.

 

[tbayrgs]

I think the best is iPhone and small highly portable android tablet aka nexus 7.

Reason is the large android phones are a bad compromise between a tablet and a smartphone IMO, as I would rather take a highly ergonomic and easy to handle smartphone for efficient day to day tasks. For quick consumption needs, a nexus 7 is not only highly portable, but also provides more screen area for better experience.

I'll join sentinelsx and be a bit contrarian. I have an iPhone, LG G Pad GPE, and iPad Air. Ideally, I'd have a large Android tablet but right now there's no compelling choices that match the quality of the experience on the iPad Air--had high hopes for the Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) but still too many flaws to make it a viable option, IMO.

I prefer to handle more involved tasks on my tablet vs. my phone so I value the flexibility and more robust capabilities of Android here. But until there's a 10" option with comparable build materials/quality to the iPad and better applications for a full size tablet on Android, couple with a smooth, functional UI (looking at you, Samsung ), I'll stay with the iPad Air.

 

[DeathTheKid]

I Would Choose an iPhone and an Android Tablet

I have an iPad 3 and a Nexus 7, right now. At this point, I have considered getting a Retina iPad Mini, but I am pretty happy with the N7 2013 right now. There are certain things the iPad Mini just wins on hands down (e.g. Games and Music production).

However, what I do on a tablet are: read (news, books, saved webpages), watch (Netflix, Hulu Plus, and some videos that I download from the internet.), obviously social networks, some lite photo editing and I do some light Office and remote access to my home computer on the go.

Most of that I can do fine on Android tablet, and most of the apps I use (Kindle, Twitter, Pintrest, Flipboard, Currents, Firefox, Netflix, etc) do have tablet apps on Android. In addition to that, I have found some tablet optimized alternatives (like FriendCaster, which is a Facebook client for tablets). I have some games that I like to play time to time, but I am not a huge tablet gamer.

A lot your top apps, do have Android tablet versions. A lot (not all though) of Android phone apps scale up quite nicely on a 7" tablet and look and work great. The only real apps that I have encountered on my Nexus 7 that look bad compared to their phone counterparts are Yelp and Pandora. Then there are some apps that I just don't care how the layout is done (like most utilities where I am constant starting or interacting with the UI).

What I really liked about the Nexus 7 was I needed an Android Device to develop on, I like to tinker with software (I was running Ubuntu off my Nexus a few days ago), and I liked the portability of it. Also, at the time, the retina iPad Mini wasn't available when I got the FHD.

----------

I'll join sentinelsx and be a bit contrarian. I have an iPhone, LG G Pad GPE, and iPad Air. Ideally, I'd have a large Android tablet but right now there's no compelling choices that match the quality of the experience on the iPad Air--had high hopes for the Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) but still too many flaws to make it a viable option, IMO.

I prefer to handle more involved tasks on my tablet vs. my phone so I value the flexibility and more robust capabilities of Android here. But until there's a 10" option with comparable build materials/quality to the iPad and better applications for a full size tablet on Android, couple with a smooth, functional UI (looking at you, Samsung ), I'll stay with the iPad Air.

I agree. If we're talking about a full size tablet then I would go iPad. Phone apps that scale up really well on say a Nexus 7, look like crap on a 10" Android tablet or that is what I've seen in my limited experience with the Nexus 10.

 

[sentinelsx]

I'll join sentinelsx and be a bit contrarian. I have an iPhone, LG G Pad GPE, and iPad Air. Ideally, I'd have a large Android tablet but right now there's no compelling choices that match the quality of the experience on the iPad Air--had high hopes for the Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) but still too many flaws to make it a viable option, IMO.

I prefer to handle more involved tasks on my tablet vs. my phone so I value the flexibility and more robust capabilities of Android here. But until there's a 10" option with comparable build materials/quality to the iPad and better applications for a full size tablet on Android, couple with a smooth, functional UI (looking at you, Samsung ), I'll stay with the iPad Air.

Yeah the only deviation for me once you go bigger than 7-8 inch territory aka not fitting in large pockets, I start favoring windows 8.1 tablets over iPads and android tablets. For example, I don't see why I should buy the Samsung pro android tablets over a similarly priced vivo tab, as all the android functionality is offered by windows and more, not to mention full desktop browsers which highly negate a need of a mobile app for many things for me. On a smaller screen, I prefer an app as it takes out the extra and gives basic functionality on the go much more efficiently, although I use chrome on N7 more than mobile apps.

For me currently android shines on small tablets. Even phone apps on my N7 look good and its just $200 for a portable consumption machine with good performance.

The xperia z1 compact has me interested, but I am not too fond of the skin. Apart from a 4.3-4.5 inch screen increase, I cannot see what an iPhone would be missing that I currently do on my gs4. I just want something that is not stretching my average hands a lot without sacrificing internals.

 

[Dontazemebro]

I have the Android phone + iPhone + Android Tablet combo and I probably would prefer the iPad overall but I'm vastly enjoying the Nexus 7. I don't really use that many apps on it but I uploaded my 5GB eBook library to Google Play Books and it's a godsend.

The portability is also a plus, I wanted the Retina mini at first but it's not really a palm-able device despite what Apple claims unlike the Nexus 7 which is easily a one-hander for me. I spend more time on the Galaxy Note 3 if anything but when I need that extra bit of real estate, the nexus 7 is my go to device. Love the iPhone as well and it's mainly there for some of the better apps & games that aren't available on Android. Just bought Infinity Blade III for $2.99, can't beat that.

 

[sentinelsx]

I have the Android phone + iPhone + Android Tablet combo and I probably would prefer the iPad overall but I'm vastly enjoying the Nexus 7. I don't really use that many apps on it but I uploaded my 5GB eBook library to Google Play Books and it's a godsend.

The portability is also a plus, I wanted the Retina mini at first but it's not really a palm-able device despite what Apple claims unlike the Nexus 7 which is easily a one-hander for me. I spend more time on the Galaxy Note 3 if anything but when I need that extra bit of real estate, the nexus 7 is my go to device. Love the iPhone as well and it's mainly there for some of the better apps & games that aren't available on Android. Just bought Infinity Blade III for $2.99, can't beat that.

Yup, i can even fit the N7 in my jeans pockets (not baggy at all, mind you, but also not skinny), which has worked wonders in summer when i don't wear a coat/jacket. That is the primary reason i am no longer interested in huge phones, the N7 is cheap, powerful, and does media consumption and reading jobs in an excellent manner.

 

[Lloydbm41]

A lot your top apps, do have Android tablet versions. A lot (not all though) of Android phone apps scale up quite nicely on a 7" tablet and look and work great. The only real apps that I have encountered on my Nexus 7 that look bad compared to their phone counterparts are Yelp and Pandora. Then there are some apps that I just don't care how the layout is done (like most utilities where I am constant starting or interacting with the UI).

I agree. If we're talking about a full size tablet then I would go iPad. Phone apps that scale up really well on say a Nexus 7, look like crap on a 10" Android tablet or that is what I've seen in my limited experience with the Nexus 10.

I have run into this issue on the iPad. I do a lot of running, workouts, hiking, etc and utilize my Nike Fuelband, Nike+ Fuelband app and Nike Running app. Believe it or not, Nike (a huge Apple supporter and has Tim Cook on its board of directors) does not have an iPad app (at all! For anything!) So on my iPad Mini, the app looks pixelated. Hopefully, the 2x Cydia tweak will fix this, but right now I just deal with it.

So, while iOS may have more optimized tablet apps, even big names are still missing on the platform. At least on the Nexus 7, phone apps still scale really well. The iPad Mini, they don't.

 

[tbayrgs]

Yeah the only deviation for me once you go bigger than 7-8 inch territory aka not fitting in large pockets, I start favoring windows 8.1 tablets over iPads and android tablets. For example, I don't see why I should buy the Samsung pro android tablets over a similarly priced vivo tab, as all the android functionality is offered by windows and more, not to mention full desktop browsers which highly negate a need of a mobile app for many things for me. On a smaller screen, I prefer an app as it takes out the extra and gives basic functionality on the go much more efficiently, although I use chrome on N7 more than mobile apps.

For me currently android shines on small tablets. Even phone apps on my N7 look good and its just $200 for a portable consumption machine with good performance.

The xperia z1 compact has me interested, but I am not too fond of the skin. Apart from a 4.3-4.5 inch screen increase, I cannot see what an iPhone would be missing that I currently do on my gs4. I just want something that is not stretching my average hands a lot without sacrificing internals.

I briefly tried a Surface Pro 2 and it just wasn't for me. I'm sure Windows 8 is very capable, just not a fan of Windows in general and it doesn't mesh as well with my personal tech ecosystem.

A 12" tablet doesn't interest me too much but if Apple's rumored iPad Pro by some miracle could run OS X or even better dual boot iOS and OS X, I'd take a long hard look at it.

 

[Brittany246]

I always find this statement funny. Let me ask you, do you honestly believe tapping and swiping on a glass surface is far superior to using a wireless remote? If so, then you obviously don't play immersive games. I have games like Infinity Blade III on my iPad mini and other than the graphics, it's a pretty pathetic timed swipe and tap game. Rinse and repeat ad nauseum.

That said, the iPad is finally getting mFi wireless controllers and as soon as developers add in the functionality to games like Asphalt 8, Dead Trigger series, COD games, and even Infinity Blade style games, then and only then will I agree with your statement. Up until now though, Android offers a true gaming experience. IOS has not.

He thinks iOS is better as far as gaming probably because the game and puzzle selection is better on the App Store compared to Google Play... Not because of the ability to use controllers.

 

[Saturn1217]

Galaxy Nexus + Nexus 7 + iPad Air =

In all seriousness for me personally because I like reading ebooks I have a need for a small light tablet (or ereader) but I strongly prefer the iPad Air for general web browsing when stationary + it has better apps for some productivity tasks. I'm beginning to hate Amazon's ecosystem or I would settle for a kindle.

Android Phone > iPhone is no contest. I need to access many things very quickly on my phone. Without android's flexibility I would be stuck (the quick settings panel for both stock OSes doesn't go far enough but you can change that without rooting on Android). I also for some reason find widgets much more useful on my phone than on a tablet probably due to the need to see information quickly (weather, calendar and my favorite contacts are the big ones).

iPhone probably wins though if you want good photos out of your phone...

 

[0000757]

I'd much rather an Android Phone + an iPad.

Android on tablets, in my opinion, is one of the worst tablet experiences.

 

[sentinelsx]

Galaxy Nexus + Nexus 7 + iPad Air =

In all seriousness for me personally because I like reading ebooks I have a need for a small light tablet (or ereader) but I strongly prefer the iPad Air for general web browsing when stationary + it has better apps for some productivity tasks. I'm beginning to hate Amazon's ecosystem or I would settle for a kindle.

Android Phone > iPhone is no contest. I need to access many things very quickly on my phone. Without android's flexibility I would be stuck (the quick settings panel for both stock OSes doesn't go far enough but you can change that without rooting on Android). I also for some reason find widgets much more useful on my phone than on a tablet probably due to the need to see information quickly (weather, calendar and my favorite contacts are the big ones).

iPhone probably wins though if you want good photos out of your phone...

This is a head scratcher for me. I know this is your preference and will not obviously say anything against it, that would be idiotic of me, but on my gs4 I never access the toggles. Which sort of is a testament to how good android has become, I leave WiFi , GPS and data on the whole day and still get 5 hrs of screen on time in 18 hrs of usage. Even though I have tons more thanks to gravity box, I dont touch any of those.

Same for widgets. I have put everything I could on my home screen but it ends up in information overload. I guess I am more of a need-information-when-i-want type of person. Hence my screenshot in the home screens thread.

Just find it peculiar how photos comes out to be the only advantage.

 

[Oohara]

Android phone + iPad mini retina + Thinkpad Yoga (12,5" Win8 tablet when folded that way) is my dream combo and what I'm going for asap.

I was recently thinking the opposite because I really enjoyed the smoothness and straightforward-ness of my iP4S when I decided to dust it off and try it on for a while. Ultimately though, I came to miss the versatility of Android too much (open file system, Swype, sms on my PC screen, stuff like WiFi File Transfer Pro). (+ the bigger screen)

For a while I figured I could replace all that with a small Android tablet, but finally there were too many situations where I simply needed to have that functionality in my pocket, all the time, at the ready to download files for work to later use offline, etc.

Then the Thinkpad Yoga came out, doing away with my need for a full size iPad. This thing is not to be confused with the less sturdy Yoga models; this thing is a bona fide Thinkpad with those amazing keys for typing + built to survive a war. And it becomes a tablet - of course not as light as an iPad Air by any means, but actually not too heavy either.

In between I'll go for a rMini to access any apps I can't find on Android, in particular stuff for music recording. Also for reading, as I still can't find any reading apps on Android that manage the same level of eye candy-elegance and smoothness.

So, now there's just a bit of cash missing.... But I hope to be there in a few months.

 

[maxwelltech]

Android phone + iPad. Current combo of HTC One and iPad 4 works well for me.

 

[C5Longhorn]

Iphone 5 and Nexus 7 here. I bought the 7 to fill the gap while I wait for the next Air version. So far, for my tablet uses (internet, email, video, ebooks, etc.) it's been great and at the price point (lucked out and got a 32gb version for $180) it can't be beat.

Rick

 

[RickTaylor]

I own an retina iPad mini and a Moto X.

The iPad mini with its 7.9 inch screen and 4:3 aspect ratio has the perfect form factor for me. It's just small enough to fit comfortably in my jacket pocket, yet still wide enough for viewing pdfs comfortably. Also, the software for the iPad is great, particularly for reading and annotating pdfs.

I like the form factor of the Moto X; it's larger than the iPhone, and fits very comfortably in my hand. Availability of software is not as important on my phone (as the only things I used it for are making phone calls and listening to music), plus I think Android is closer to software parity on phones than tablets currently.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I own an retina iPad mini and a Moto X.

The iPad mini with its 7.9 inch screen and 4:3 aspect ratio has the perfect form factor for me. It's just small enough to fit comfortably in my jacket pocket, yet still wide enough for viewing pdfs comfortably. Also, the software for the iPad is great, particularly for reading and annotating pdfs.

I like the form factor of the Moto X; it's larger than the iPhone, and fits very comfortably in my hand. Availability of software is not as important on my phone (as the only things I used it for are making phone calls and listening to music), plus I think Android is closer to software parity on phones than tablets currently.

Well the survey pretty much confirms this line of thinking. 3 out of 4 agree with you. Will this change with a larger iPhone though?

 

[EdwardC]

Use a Mac Mini for 99% of my day to day computing and enjoy having an iPhone 4S as it plays nice with iMessage and iTunes on the Mac. I use a Nexus 7 as well as a Kindle Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HD 8.9 as my tablets. Very happy with this combo! I do have an iPad 1 and iPad 2 but gave them to my son and daughter.

Best regards......Ed

 

[sixrom]

I have and prefer choices. My "setup" is highly variable depending on what phones & tablets I have at any given time.

Currently my first choice is my combo of Nexus 5 smartphone & Nexus 7 tablet. Both of these fit into my Google _and Apple ecosystems very nicely. Although I also have the latest iPhone 5S, iPad retina mini, and Air, I prefer the Android OS over the somewhat buggy & annoying iOS7. Last year I was enjoying iOS6 a lot. Should have left that one in place, but I didn't expect iOS7 to be so annoying. Nothing is bug free & perfect, but iOS7 is in my experience rather dreadful.

Perhaps in the next year or so Apple will get back on track with iOS. In the meantime I'll have fun with my Mavericks & retina equipped MacBook Pro along with my terrific Nexus Duo. When it comes to Laptops I prefer MBP's by a long shot.

 

[apolloa]

Just so you know, it isn't the Galaxy Nexus tablet as they are two different devices. But anyway IMO the Nexus 7 plus the iPhone is the best way IMO. Others will say differently most likely because they like big screen phones.
In fact I had the combo of my lovely 2012 Nexus 7 for Android and my iPhone 5, but sold the iPhone as I hate iOS7, so now have a Nexus 5. But my phone is the only device I want iOS on as the combo I had worked very well.
Then again my Nexus 7 was a Christmas present and at the time, in my eye's it was great as it was affordable enough to ask as a present, it had a great form factor and had a more powerful CPU and had a better screen than the iPad Mini. I could never have asked for an iPad Mini for Christmas as it cost too much.

I would still choose a Nexus 7 today, but again that's due to it's size and power and screen etc. I can fit a 7" in my pocket, I would struggle with an iPad Mini, I find the 7" tablet form factor great, sure you trade off with battery life but the portability is fantastic. I use it pretty much every day.

I would next like to get the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 to replace my MacBook Pro, but that's because I also want a new Mac Pro. It will take me some time to save the money but that's the setup I would like and I would still keep and use my Nexus 7.

Another thing I have found is I also have a PSVita, but I hardly touch it anymore, I just game on my Nexus 7, I just find it better? I would never have thought that but yeah, I had a PS3 which I retired for my PS4 and I haven't even linked the Vita up to it, don't have any interest to.. If I did have an iPad Mini I can see it being the same with that too, would game on that over my vita.
Plus I have plugged my PS3 controller straight into it with a cheap lil adapter, and I am waiting to receive my bluetooth pocket controller I have bought of Kickstarter for it.
In fact tablet gaming is taking off like never before IMO on both platforms, you can also get some great tablet optimised (HD) games of the Playstore too (despite the myths you can't) and I get TegraZone games too.
I don't think tablets will impact a PC or Home Console really, but IMO they have slaughtered the 3DS and PSVita.

 

[gotluck]

I lean towards android phone + iPad

I require a jailbreak for an iPhone but can live with stock on iPad.

 

[jennyfrendis]

Best combination of phone and tablet to get the best of iOS on Google Nexus-7 read full information and feature about google Nexus-7 at here
http://tabletvs.net/tablet/GOOGLE-Nexus-7-2013-by-ASUS

 

[bembol]

Honestly, I love android but I'm also invested in iTunes/Protected Movies & TV Shows so this is why I need an iOS/iPad.

Currently using 32GB nexus 5 & 64GB iPad Air (both black).

 

[Shanghaichica]

I have an iPad mini and galaxy note 3. It's a nice combination.