Guide to Tablets: iOS vs Android
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Tablet users expect a lot from their devices, as they should! Tablets have quickly evolved into your laptop, phone, and television all rolled into one compact device.
So are you sure you’re getting everything you want from your tablet? Whether you are team Apple iOS or team Android, you want to make sure the tablet you’re getting is perfect for all of your needs. Optimum has the information for you to make your decision.
Fun features for the tablet
When you’re looking for your next tablet you have to make sure the features match your technological intentions. Are you looking for something that will help you be more creative? Or are you interested in using it for streaming only? Is it a tablet for the whole family? The latest tablets will come in handy for a variety of different activities and tasks.
Accessories
For you creative types, Apple’s iPad Pro puts pen to paper (or screen) with the iPad compatible Apple Pencil. Take notes, draw pictures, or tap through your apps a little easier. The iPad is ready for you to show your ultimate level of creativity. Similar to the Apple Pencil, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 has the S Pen. It allows you to draw and take notes, as well as use the button on the side of the Pen to tap through a slide show, take pictures and play videos, all with the touch of a button.
For the future Ava Duvernays and Steven Spielbergs, the iPad Pro has a 12MP wide camera, portrait mode and lighting, and 1080p HD video recording. The Samsung Galaxy has 4K video recording resolution. And the front camera resolution is 8.0 MP and the back camera is 13.0 and 5.0 MP. The Surface Go 2 has 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p Skype HD video and an 8.0MP rear-facing auto-focus camera with 1080p HD video.
Do you have dirty hands from cooking and need to change the song on your tablet? The Amazon Fire HD 10 is Alexa compatible. It’s connected to digital systems, ask Alexa to change a song, check the weather, or access your other smart home devices.
Logging in
Is the whole family using one tablet? With the Android tablet, you and your family members will be able to share one tablet by creating different profiles and logins, similar to a family desktop computer! iPads do not have this same feature, one iPad, one profile. But the iPad offers the ability to log in with Face ID. So when your hands are full you don’t need to type in a passcode, just hold your iPad up to your face and you’re good to go!
Streaming
The streamers reading this article will be happy to know that you can stream your favorite shows and movies from any tablet device. Jump into the newest releases with no issue. Want to make sure your kids are only seeing safe content? The Surface Go 2 tablet has the ability to set parental controls on the tablet to keep your family safe.
With the purchase of a new iPad, Apple is offering a year’s free Apple TV+ subscription. And with the purchase of a Samsung tablet, you receive four months of YouTube Premium, ad-free.
Apps for tablets
Are you playing a game, streaming, or looking for a good dinner recipe? Well, there’s an app for that! Android and iOS tablets offer the ability to download applications to your tablet. Unfortunately, not all apps are created for both companies.
Android allows third-party vendors to create apps and upload them to the Google Play app store. So when searching through the app store, make sure you’re downloading the correct applications for your tablet. iOS does not allow third-party vendors in the Apple app store. The apps and software are tested prior to being accessible to the public.
Staying connected on your tablet
After a long day at work or an exciting day with friends, you’ll want to come home and talk about it with your family. Whether they’re down the hall or across the country, it’s important to stay connected.
Apple’s iPad offers the already installed app, Facetime. Just like on the iPhone, you’ll be about to video chat with your family and friends through the app. It even offers the ability to talk with 32 people at the same time. That makes business meetings and virtual family reunions simpler than ever.
Android tablets do not currently have a built-in video chatting feature. But through the Google Play app store, you can download apps such as Zoom, Google Duo, WhatsApp, and more. These apps and others are also iOS compatible, so if you prefer WhatsApp over Facetime, you can still download WhatsApp to your iPad and use it with no issue.
Technical specifications for your tablet
Now that the fun stuff has been covered, it’s time to get down to the tech talk. Tech specifications for your tablet are just as important as the exciting features. It’s great that your tablet is accessory compatible, but can it hold its battery life long enough to use them?
your tablet. But can your tablet hold all of this memory? The Samsung Galaxy and Surface Go 2 tablets allow you to use external memory. So when the internal memory on your tablet runs out you’ll be able to use MicroSD that holds about 1 terabyte of space to use. In comparison, the iPad does not have external memory capabilities. Once you’ve reached your limit you will have to start deleting documents and images to make space.
When you’re on the go, you want to be able to trust that your tablet won’t die on you. Whether it’s a long flight or you’re away from your charger for a while, you’ll need something with good battery life. The iPad Pro has up to 10 hours of battery life and up to 9 hours if you are working on cellular data. The Samsung Galaxy has up to 15 hours of battery life, with 45W fast charging support.
Latest tablet models
Now that you’ve read about the different features of iOS and Android tablets, you might be ready to try one for yourself! Listed below are some of the latest tablet models for you and your crew to buy.
The latest models of iOS and Android tablets:
- Apple iPad Pro - Starting at $799
- Microsoft Surface Go 2 - Starting at $399.99
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 - Starting at $249
- Amazon Fire HD 10 - Starting at $149.99
Good luck and happy tablet shopping!
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