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

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,980
20,169
UK
I had an iPad Pro 10.5 64gb which I loved. It had the dreaded white spot plus I wanted to go back to a Samsung tablet as I missed the OLED screen.

I now have a Tab S4 which I think for movie watching and youtube is fantastic, BUT everything else I am finding not as good as the Pro.

When it comes to on screen typing I find I really struggle with the keyboard. I use MS Office for when I'm not not on my work computer and I find that Tab S4 not as good as the iPad.

I'm seriously thinking of going back to Apple and getting the Pro 11 but I really think I will miss the screen when I'm watching movies. I am so torn what to do as the Tab S4 is not a bad tablet but it just can't match the iPad when it comes to work.
Try SwiftKey

Great to use
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
Try SwiftKey

Great to use
I don’t find typing on any larger tablets to be that comfortable, even iPads. The mini is about the limit for me. Anything bigger I find cumbersome. However swiftkey is great and really helps. It’s the best keyboard on android imo.
 

djas

macrumors member
Aug 14, 2018
62
50
Graffiti for Android for me. Use it with all my S Pen-abled Notes & Tabs. For Excel, I use Keyboard for Excel available from the Play Store.

In addition, the Ink to Text recognition on the native Samsung keyboard is excellent I find.

Mr
 
  • Like
Reactions: sracer

Oohara

macrumors 68040
Jun 28, 2012
3,050
2,423
Graffiti for Android for me. Use it with all my S Pen-abled Notes & Tabs. For Excel, I use Keyboard for Excel available from the Play Store.

In addition, the Ink to Text recognition on the native Samsung keyboard is excellent I find.

Mr
Off topic but can you do text recognition on lock screen notes on the Note without going into the notes app and lassoing text etc?
 

djas

macrumors member
Aug 14, 2018
62
50
Off topic but can you do text recognition on lock screen notes on the Note without going into the notes app and lassoing text etc?
Screenshot_20190405-000107.png
 

AnonMac50

macrumors 68000
Mar 24, 2010
1,580
324
In general, Android tablets seem to act like oversized phones. Most apps treat them as such, and so you often get a stretched out version of a phone app instead of what you get on an iOS on many apps. Also, some apps on iOS know that they are on a tablet and let you use them as a companion for the iPhone, on Android, most apps do not (even if the iPad version would).
 
  • Like
Reactions: eltoslightfoot

pika2000

Suspended
Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,903
I think only Samsung has tablets that could be called good, but still not as good as many of the iPads. Did other companies just decide not to bother with tablets anymore?
Blame it on Google. OEMs can only do the hardware. It’s up to Google to do the OS and entice developers to do tablet apps.

Reality is, google didn’t care. They were hoping Chrome OS to be their real tablet OS so they neglected Android on the tablet side. Of course, to make things worse, there’s Amazon with their below cost tablets, ruining the price points for Android tablets. OEMs are simply not interested anymore in entering a market where demand is far less than smartphones with negative margins.
 

Ffosse

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 5, 2012
1,827
652
I dislike Amazon even though I use one of their spot devices as a bedside clock and radio (it does that very well). They just seem to be constantly trying to get you to use their services and content. All providers do this but I think Google and Apple are a bit more restrained in their approach.

I couldn't get on with their Amazon tablets, cheap nasty and advert driven for the most part. No wonder they are so cheap.
 

sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,405
13,290
where hip is spoken
I dislike Amazon even though I use one of their spot devices as a bedside clock and radio (it does that very well). They just seem to be constantly trying to get you to use their services and content. All providers do this but I think Google and Apple are a bit more restrained in their approach.

I couldn't get on with their Amazon tablets, cheap nasty and advert driven for the most part. No wonder they are so cheap.
What is "nasty" about Amazon's Fire tablets? Ads are limited to the lockscreen and the "offers" tab in the Fire OS UI. The lockscreen ads can be disabled for $15 or via using a developer flag. Once the lockscreen ads are removed, you never have to see an ad again.
 

Vivian125

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2017
392
94
So is my iPad just a bigger XS Max? It looks like it with the same grid of icons.
annnnnnnnnnnnnnd iPad Nowadays is POWERFUL ENOUGH 2 charge an iPhone. i bet, other big phones out there cannot even charge a small phone like nokia 3210 via lightning cable.
 

torana355

macrumors 68040
Dec 8, 2009
3,633
2,734
Sydney, Australia
I have a feeling they never sold well so manufacturers lost interest in keeping them up to date with the latest processors etc.

I find tablets are redundant personally due to large formfactor phones and ultraportable laptops. A tablet is bad at doing laptop tasks and not as portable as the premium phones that are available.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hemon

1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Dec 20, 2009
3,285
3,446
Bc Canada
I have a feeling they never sold well so manufacturers lost interest in keeping them up to date with the latest processors etc.

I find tablets are redundant personally due to large formfactor phones and ultraportable laptops. A tablet is bad at doing laptop tasks and not as portable as the premium phones that are available.
Depends on personal situations, for me, my tablet is a pure media consumption device and gaming. Suits my needs perfectly
 
  • Like
Reactions: macfacts

gkarris

macrumors G3
Dec 31, 2004
8,301
1,061
"No escape from Reality...”
Apple makes the best tablets - it is all software and support. I upgraded in 2017 to the latest basic iPad (had an iPad 2 since it launched) and it still works great.

I had a Samsung Tab E 9 and finally just got rid of it after 2 years.

The last system up date made it very sluggish and non-responsive in some instances.

Android OS tends to run a lot of background processes even though it is only a Tablet, not phone (I tried disabling as much as possible but didn't really work) and got only like 5 hours on a charge.

The worse is that some Apps look Fisher-Price as are only designed for phones, not to mention some will look like they work, until you try using it in landscape and will rotate to portrait while using certain parts of it - obnoxious.

I ran and got a refurb Lenovo Chromebook - turned out being awesome for $90. 8 hrs a charge, slightly larger and about the same weight, but a real keyboard and nice screen. It runs a lot of stuff off-line now (ie Quake ;)) and is so fast since it is a minimal OS.

Not missing that Android Tablet - at all.. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: sracer

Vivian125

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2017
392
94
I notice that Most people dont even call iPad as a Tablet. iPad is Called iPad (maybe except Asia). But calling iPad a tablet sounded so cheap, like a cheap tablet you can find in the bargains and some middle adulthood will easily correct someone if other consider their iPad as an tablet. Like, can i borrow your tablet? Then the respondent will said "Its an iPad not a Tablet!" Even the samsung tab is called samsung tab not just tablet, cuz other android tablets are failure... but why is that? iPad is a tablet after all..
 

sunking101

macrumors 604
Sep 19, 2013
7,423
2,659
I think it's the fact that tablets are more of on an indulgence. A cool little toy. And if you're gonna get a cool toy you don't actually need, might as well buy one that looks nice and feels great. Even if it costs a bit more.
  • I bought the top Huawei tablet a few months ago and I never use it. A complete waste of money. I tried at first but using a top smartphone is just so much better. It's easier to hold and especially type on a phone. I knew that I couldn't justify an iPad Pro when it comes to tablets and I have proved it to myself. The Huawei is powerful, has a decent display and great sound but its flaw is that it's a tablet....and tablets for me at least are superfluous. It's the same with laptops. I just live on my phone because it does everything my other devices do and all in a more egonomic form factor.
 

Tsepz

macrumors 601
Jan 24, 2013
4,888
4,698
Johannesburg, South Africa
  • I bought the top Huawei tablet a few months ago and I never use it. A complete waste of money. I tried at first but using a top smartphone is just so much better. It's easier to hold and especially type on a phone. I knew that I couldn't justify an iPad Pro when it comes to tablets and I have proved it to myself. The Huawei is powerful, has a decent display and great sound but its flaw is that it's a tablet....and tablets for me at least are superfluous. It's the same with laptops. I just live on my phone because it does everything my other devices do and all in a more egonomic form factor.
At this point I don't see any use in investing in a new tablet, my Apple iPad Air 2 is doing fine as my Netflix/streaming machine in bed, I doubt I will replace it with another tablet, but rather wait for the next generation of Foldable smartphones to replace both my Smartphone and Tablet at one go.
 

Klyster

macrumors 68020
Dec 7, 2013
2,231
2,642
I use my Tab S4 for video, primarily.
It's my mini OLED TV.

The oled screen is incredible really, I'd never buy a tablet that isn't suited to watching video, the aspect ratio of an iPad is a deal breaker for me.
Then there's the price and no ability to quickly copy videos across via USB.
That's a constraint of my usage though, the ipad is supposedly better all round tablet, that's cool.

I had to skip the tab S2 and tab S3 due to the video unfriendly aspect ratios.
I was a happy camper when the tab s4 was announced.
If I had waited a bit, I could have made do with the Tab s5e, the screen is pretty much the same, I'm sure comics and browsing wouldn't be much different.
I've never used my pen on the tablet but I use it often on my note 9.

My Tab S 10.5 lasted me 4 years, I can see me using the Tab S4 for years to come.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jetcat3 and sracer

jagolden

macrumors 68000
Feb 11, 2002
1,587
1,501
So is my iPad just a bigger XS Max? It looks like it with the same grid of icons.

Well, if all you use it for is social media and email, I’ll say “yes”.
If you’re using higher level apps it’s clearly a resounding “no”.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.