Tablet computers are like mini-computers that are handy and portable, with a large touch screen. They also support certain software. And they are quite affordable compared to a fully functional laptop. With a performance as good as a basic laptop and portability, sleekness, affordability, and easy-to-use features, tablets are acquiring the user market at a steady pace over the past few years.
iPad is nothing but a tablet computer by the famous Apple brand. But instead of going with a standing naming convention, they went with their own style of naming and named the handheld computers from their brand “iPad”. So, what is so special about the apple iPad tablet computers? Why are they in demand? What makes them preferable over tablets from other brands? Which one to choose? This article has answers to all such questions.
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Apple iPad Vs Tablets
According to Statista, the number of tablet users worldwide in 2021 is around 1.28 billion! That’s a huge number of course. And according to businessquant, the iPad contributes to about 8% of Apple’s total revenue share for the year 2021. We have made a detailed analysis of the difference between an iPad and a Tablet.
Operating System
Unlike most other tablets in the market that run on Android Operating System, iPad runs on iPadOS which is Apple’s version of iOS designed specifically for iPads.
Apps
iPads have many apps and software that are developed and customized specifically for them. Whereas, Android has fewer apps that are optimized for tablets.
Browsers extensions
If you are a designer or a developer or someone who frequently uses browser extensions to make your tasks easier and more efficient. Then iPad is your nightmare. Currently, iPad only supports browser extensions of the safari browser. It doesn’t support chrome or firefox browser extensions.
Better Performance
You can of course feel a significant difference in performance between a 2GB iPad and a 2GB android tablet. iPad for sure is better than Android when it comes to performance. Not a drastic performance difference, but quite a significant one.
Pros and Cons of the Apple iPad
Advantages
. User Interface
Since the applications and software that work on iPad are made specifically made for them, the user experience is of high quality even on different screen sizes. In android tablets, apps that are available on smartphones are also compatible with tablets, hence not all apps have a responsive layout and perfect user interface.
. Interoperability
If you already have an Apple Macbook or other Apple products, then communication between these apple devices is much easier and more efficient. Data transmission between apple products is easy.
. Security
iPads are secure because every app in the apple store undergoes rigorous testing by real people at apple to make sure that they are secure and rid of any malware.
It is not the case with the google play store, that is why now and then we could find many countries banning certain apps and labeling them as malware disguised as apps in the google play store. But this doesn’t happen with iPads or with any Apple products in general.
. Performance
The Performance of an iPad, especially the new releases is for sure better than any entry-level laptops and even high-end tablets.
Disadvantages
. Limited options
Unlike tablets running with android os, the iPad is available with few options, colors, and ranges. Sometimes you might be liking all the specifications but the screen size. You sometimes are forced to make some adjustments, but with tablets supporting Android, there are plenty of options out there from multiple brands.
. Price
Usually, Apple products are always at a higher price point compared to other brands. The minimum price of an iPad is around $300 and with features, the price increases. But at this range, you already can get high-end tablets from some brands. Pricing is a prime factor why most people prefer android tablets though they really love to buy apple products.
. No free accessories
Also, Apple doesn’t offer any extra accessories, for this price. You probably can expect some free accessories like a stylus, charger, keyboard, mouse, or a case in an android tablet at this price point. But if you need any of these additional components for your iPad, you need to pay a minimum of at least $100 for every one of these components.
. Limited Customization Options
In android, there are tons and tons of options for customizing every part of your phone/tablet right from the look, RAM, ROM, widgets, etc.., But these customizations are not possible on your iPad.
. No Expandable Storage
If you ever run out of storage, then there is no other way but to delete/transfer your memorable images and important files. Because the iPad doesn’t support eternal expandable storage or hard drives. This might be a major decision-making factor for many depending on your use case. If storing lots of files, images, codes or videos is your prime use case, then reconsider your decision about the iPad.
Which iPad to buy?
Now that you have an idea of how worth the Apple tablet computers are, let’s find out the answer to the question, which one should you buy? There are multiple models and generations of iPads. Even after hearing various suggestions and recommendations from your friends and tech geeks, it might still be difficult to pick the right one.
Choosing the right iPad depends on various factors like budget, usage, required features, etc.., iPads are mostly used for entertainment, sketching/designing, or reading. After doing extensive research on all the available iPad models, we have made a post on the list of the 5 best ipads for drawing. You can read more there to find the iPad that would suit you the best
Conclusion
Starting again with the question, are Apple iPad tablet computers really worth the buy? The answer is yes. But it is relative based on your usage. If you are in search of a mini-computer for entertainment purposes like watching videos, browsing, and playing games. Or for designing, sketching, or reading ebooks, then iPads of course are your best options.
