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I’ve owned quite a few tablets but never an iPad. I’ve seen the reviews, and I won’t argue that Android tablets are better (though, in some ways, they are). However, I have other reasons for exclusively buying Android tablets. So, let’s take a look.
1Android Tablets Are (Usually) Cheaper
Not all Android tablets are cheap. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, which has a gorgeous 14.6-inch screen, costs over $1,000, and that’s well in the iPad Pro territory. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, you can buy an Android tablet for under $100.
I don’t recommend getting a bottom-of-the-barrel tablet. They’re often slow and janky on day one (and only go downhill from there). But if you extend your budget slightly, you’ll find plenty of tablets for around $200 that are more than adequate.
Consider the Lenovo P11, for example, which has a place on ourlist of the best tablets for note-taking. Your money can snag you an 11-inch screen with solid storage and a stylus. For comparison, the cheapest iPad starts at $349, and an Apple Pencil sets you back another $79.
2I Just Want a Bigger Screen for Watching Videos
When I was in college, I bought a Toshiba Thrive tablet and used it as a laptop replacement. By the time I got my hands on a Nexus 7, I knew I would instead use a tablet primarily for entertainment (even though there arefar more creative ways to use a tablet). Tablets are great for watching YouTube videos while cooking or cuddling up in bed to watch Disney+.
I don’t need a powerful tablet stacked with RAM to watch videos. I don’t need much storage space either, especially if I use streaming services. All I want is a large screen. Would I prefer that display to be high-resolution and super bright? Sure, but that’s not motivation enough to skip the cheaper model.
3Android Tablets Are Better for My Kids
The most recent tablets I purchased weren’t for me but for my kids. Cheap Android tablets are something I can slap a case on and hand to my kids without worrying too much as they bumble throughout the house, leaving the tablet on the floor to be stepped on or hanging off the edge of a table to be knocked over.
Android tablets don’t have the broad range of tablet-specific apps that iPads have, but that isn’t a big deal for my kids. I can install the streaming apps they want and a handful of games, and that’s enough. I can get two new Android tablets, cases for both, and some spare chargers for the price of an iPad.
4I’m Invested in the Android Ecosystem
I have never owned an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook. My last Apple product was the adorable candy-colored iMac G3 from the Mac OS X days. In other words, I am not at all keen on Apple’s ecosystem.
I primarily use an Android phone, but that’s not because it’s cheap. I could’ve purchased an iPhone for the amount of money I dropped on thefoldable phone I now use as my daily driver. I’m familiar with Android the way most people are familiar with Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS. Plus, I heavily rely onSamsung DeX, which lets me use my Android phone as a PC.
As a result, it’s beneficial for me to stick with Android tablets. I know which apps are available. I can manage my kids' screen time from my Google account. My family can share our purchased apps and books. I don’t need to create a new Apple account to buy apps or make in-app purchases for them.
On the flip side, if I were an Apple user, the convenience factor alone would be a reason toregret buying an Android tablet instead of an iPad.
Still, even if I can’t recommend an Android tablet as the best option for everyone, I find them more interesting to follow. New Android tablets come out all the time, with options as wildly different as the E-InkBoox Tab Ultra C Pro we reviewedand the gaming-orientedRazer Edgehandheld. An iPad may be the best option for most people most of the time, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you.
