Ipad or Android tablet?

Author
Discussion

Chicken Chaser

Original Poster:

7,744 posts

223 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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I'm looking for something which gives me more portability for surfing/app use around the house, for Sonos and also for watching videos/streams when away. I'm not bothered about cellular so just need Wifi only.

I'm looking at Ipad Mini Retina or Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 as both seem to feel good when in the hand.

The Tab S is currently £255 on apple UK, whilst the iPad is still £340 refurbished.

I like the expandibility of the Android tablets, but worry if it'll be slow and clunky in a couple of years (like Android phones seem to be).

I use a Galaxy S3 phone, but use an iMac at home for using the internet. Because of this, its why I'm torn between the two.

Is there anything else I need to consider when choosing between the two?

Timbuk2

1,953 posts

154 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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iPad

Black can man

31,816 posts

167 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
I have an i-pad 3 & the latest google nexus .

i just can't get on with the Android stuff.

I-pad for me .

AJB88

12,263 posts

170 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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Brand new Nexus 7 32gb is only £239 from Google, or Nexus 10 16gb £319

Benefit of the Nexus is that you get the newest version of Android first, where as with Samsung you usually have to wait around 12 months.


Ki3r

7,805 posts

158 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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I had a Samsung tab something, got it cheap with a few discount codes, £30 in the end. Still too expensive. Ended up giving it to my exes mum. Used it for less than two hours in total.

Got an iPad mini (without that display thingy), best thing I ever did.

MacBook is hardly used other than for word. The battery lasts for ages (three days of heavy use for me). It's quick and easy to use.

sgrimshaw

7,311 posts

249 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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If you have a Samsung phone, then you might be best going the Android route as you're already familiar with the OS.

Also you'll have:

Common apps.
Common "app store"
Common "media store"

onlynik

3,978 posts

192 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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We have both an iPad and Nexus in the house, I prefer to surf and use the apps on the Nexus (Sonos seems better, XBMC remote is better) than the iPad.

RustyBison

40 posts

117 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Definitely iPad

ZesPak

24,420 posts

195 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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I can vouch for the android tablets.
Especially in the family they easily trump the iPad just for the user accounts alone.

The Nexus 7 is a brilliant piece of kit for the money as well.

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Had you asked a year ago, I'd have been very pro Nexus 7 (Android). I have an iPad and Nexus 7, both about two years old. The N7 was or at least felt way slicker and faster than iPad at the time. I much prefer Android as an OS, mostly because of decent swype keyboards, but now, the N7 is dog slow. It's been replaced several times for various reasons, but even after a full system reset they're relatively slow and occasionally unresponsive. After a month's use they're frustrating to use.
No such issues with the iPad, but iOS feels really dated and backwards compared to JB 4.4.x.

FWIW, my Nexus 5 still flies!

pherlopolus

2,087 posts

157 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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I'd go with the android one unless you have already sold your soul to iTunes, then i'd get the iThingy.

I have an aging 10" HP touchpad running KitKat and it's starting to get flakey, certainly not even considering an Ipad primarily due the Itunes, and secondly I just can't get on with IOS (daughter has a Ipod touch and I hate having to 'sort it out', the whole being tied to Itunes, and only on 1 Laptop)

Tycho

11,554 posts

272 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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I have the Xperia Z tablet and wouldn't swap it for anything and I think they are reasonably cheap second hand as there is a newer model out.

doolie

212 posts

215 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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We have a Nexus 10 and at first we loved it. User accounts and screen being the big plus points. Plus I'm definitely in the Android camp when it comes to phones, prefer the OS. My wife has an N5, I have a HOX and an iPhone 5s (work).

However in recent months it (the N10) just freezes within the browser. Really getting on my tits, needs a reset each time. A factory reset solves the freezing issue for a while, but annoying due to having to set the damn thing up again.

We've been thinking about getting another tablet for some time. It will be an iPad. Probably the Air

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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So half are saying android > ipad, the other half ipad > android?!

clonmult

10,529 posts

208 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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RustyBison said:
Definitely iPad
Care to say why?

iPads don't browse the web any better than a nexus, don't have higher resolution screens, aren't faster and don't have a better range of useful applications. And they generally cost more.

Personally prefer Android, think devices like the Nexys 7 offer a value for money that Apple won't ever offer.

ZesPak

24,420 posts

195 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Op,

As you can see, it's a bit of a mixed bag. You'll find people who are happy with both and people who are unhappy with them. You can't go wrong with either imho.

Though, as you've got a Samsung phone, I'd be inclined to lean to the Android side. Your bookmarks, pictures, history,... will all sync without any hickup.

If you're used to iOS, Android can take a couple of weeks to get used to. In reverse, if you're used to Android the same thing goes for iOS, and it can feel very frustrating/limited to use.

durbster

10,223 posts

221 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Hoofy said:
So half are saying android > ipad, the other half ipad > android?!
And nobody saw that coming! hehe

There are a lot of excellent tablets out there so you'll just get personal opinions. All you can really do is read a load of reviews, have a poke about with a few in a shop and then pick the one that suits you.

My personal opinion: I chose the LG G Pad over the iPad Mini. It seemed a far better product for the money to me.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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I have a technical consideration for you, OP.

Are you intending to backup nude pictures of your wife in the cloud?

biggrin

TurricanII

1,516 posts

197 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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The thing that infuriated me with Apple i-devices is that you need iTunes to copy stuff to and from them easily, or you need to pay for an app. My Nexus 7 just plugs into USB and I can move photo's, music and videos by dragging and dropping.

I can also watch video streams on the Nexus with VLC. I never had much joy streaming video from devices at home on an iPad.

spats

838 posts

154 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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We have a Ipad2 and a Sony S tablet and although the ipad was more expensive, it runs faster, has better sound, better screen (running 2 identical tv progs from iplayer for exmaple) better battery life, and is less jittery too. I have the same radio streamer on both and run them via bluetooth to a speaker and the ipad also works better here too.

I like the sony as its little party trick is to be a stonking great remote for all my tv gear, plus expandable memory is nice. But if I could do it all again I would buy 2 Ipads and a programmable remote instead!

Oh and I'm no fan boy, never owned of used a mac for more than 5 minutes and coudlnt get on with it.