Pixel Tablet has multi-user support, smart home controls, and it includes a speaker dock, all obvious wins over Apple’s iPad
If you’re choosing a tablet and you can afford an iPad, I used to say that you should buy one instead of an Android tablet – even the best Android tablet. Now, the Pixel Tablet has me rethinking the answer, and maybe even the question itself. Apple should be worried. With the speaker dock, the home controls, and the great price, along with a secret weapon for families, the Pixel Tablet forces the iPad to justify its higher price tag, and the argument feels stale.
What is the argument for an iPad over an Android tablet? Well, mostly that it just works. The best iPad is a simple, reliable, easy-to-use tablet. It has enough computing power that it never stutters or lags. Even older iPads can handle today’s tasks with aplomb. If you have an iPhone, that’s even better, because the two devices integrate seamlessly, sharing photos, apps, and accounts across platforms.
What about features? Well, the iPad doesn’t really have ‘features.’ It has a camera, sure, but you wouldn’t use it for photography if you have a nice smartphone. iPad photos aren’t as good. You can use an Apple Pencil or a keyboard with an iPad – you can even use a mouse – but those are accessories. The iPad isn’t packed with features, that’s beside the point.
The point is that the iPad gets out of your way and lets you do what you like. It runs every streaming service, and iPad apps usually look and behave better than Android tablet apps. It plays tons of games, and Apple often gets new mobile games before Android, with some exclusive titles made for Apple Arcade.I didn’t expect my tablet to do anything for me
The iPad doesn’t really DO anything, but I still recommend it over an Android tablet. That’s because Android tablets do too much of the wrong things, and not enough of the right. Android tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are bogged down with tons of Samsung One UI interface features that get in the way. Windows that float and split, disappearing tabs and floating buttons; it feels too busy when I’m just trying to work and play.
Sadly, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor in Samsung’s best Android tablet can’t compete with the Apple A14 Bionic in the basic iPad 10.9 (2022), let alone the big Apple M1 chip in the iPad Air.
