iPad Mini vs Android tablets?

[rarenick]

I am looking for opinions to choose between an iPad Mini and an Android-based tablet.


Currently, I have an iPad 2 (my wife is using it) and both of us are using Samsung Galaxy Note and SIII phones respectively.

My new purchase is mainly to be used at home for web-browsing.

Below are the things I like/dislike about iPad Mini and Android tablets.

iPad Mini
Pros
- very light and aesthetically-pleasing
- very long battery life

Cons
- expensive
- no other ports like miniSD slot
- using non-standard data transfer jack
- using iTunes


Android
Pros
- more universal and flexible in terms of ports and jacks used.
- usually cheaper than Apple's equivalent products
- can use as normal usb storage device, ie can easily tranfer my mp3 over (though not critical aspect)

Cons
- Too many products to choose from; afraid will get the wrong choice.
- May not be as pleasing-looking as iPad Mini


Not sure if both types of tablets can easily change the battery?

Which one should I go for?
My budget is $500 at most.

Thanks.

 

[kennyboy]

Both don't allow easy changing of batteries.

If purpose is only for browsing, iOS is still better. Android tablet apps are still pretty weaksauce. That being said, Android is still much more flexible in the way it runs, you should know better since u have both products.

It's less about hardware in this case, more about which OS you prefer. After that is down then it's a simple choice of which specific brand/tablet to choose.

 

[yantao]

Aesthetically-pleasing is pointless once you strap on a casing.

 

[rarenick]

I don't intend to use casing. I noticed the edge is quite narrow for iPad mini

 

[TheDisgruntedCitizen]

if the main point of just web browsing, then any tablet will do fine, even the half-fug china branded android tablets. Since you also mentioned you used it mainly at home, means you are most probably using WiFi, so not required to have a mobile BB on the tablet.

Buying an iPad for such purpose is in fact an overkill... Given your budget, a Chromebook is most probably out of your budget as well...

 

[rarenick]

Which branded tablet will be lighter than iPad mini and have a very good and clear display screen?

 

[jeffheng]

If you willing spent more for iPad Mini, better built, brighter display.

I think ios apps is better controlled and stable than android apps now.

 

[doki81]

if 500 as budget..you can get nexus 7 32gb with 3G.....sgd499

 

[croc1977]

I am looking for opinions to choose between an iPad Mini and an Android-based tablet.


Currently, I have an iPad 2 (my wife is using it) and both of us are using Samsung Galaxy Note and SIII phones respectively.

My new purchase is mainly to be used at home for web-browsing.

Below are the things I like/dislike about iPad Mini and Android tablets.

iPad Mini
Pros
- very light and aesthetically-pleasing
- very long battery life

Cons
- expensive
- no other ports like miniSD slot
- using non-standard data transfer jack
- using iTunes


Android
Pros
- more universal and flexible in terms of ports and jacks used.
- usually cheaper than Apple's equivalent products
- can use as normal usb storage device, ie can easily tranfer my mp3 over (though not critical aspect)

Cons
- Too many products to choose from; afraid will get the wrong choice.
- May not be as pleasing-looking as iPad Mini


Not sure if both types of tablets can easily change the battery?

Which one should I go for?
My budget is $500 at most.

Thanks.

let me tell you my scenario
my first tablet xoom...

too messy, not stable , hang and no software to manage your video files. Jump dump.

sold off the xoom . got i refurbished ipad2 32gb. damm happy cos can jb plus alot of apps supports which android doesn't

then with the hoo ha on note 2. sold my ipad 2
i got it last mth 27 dec ..

speed n processor is better. video playback damm nice.sharp but sound out of sync.
apps still messy.
itunes 3rd party apps also messy
email not all can be shown..
sold off 30 dec.

got a ipad mini weeks later.

never regret

that's my take

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

You find the Xoom and Note 2 messy cos you're not used to managing your own device. The iPad manages it for you so you don't need to think as you don't have a lot of choices for the way the system works.

To the thread starter - $500 is a lot of money to spend on a tablet just to surf net at home... I think using a cheap dual core China tablet running ICS will be more than sufficient, and ICS still supports Flash.

 

[rarenick]

Is iPad mini the lightest tablet for its size?

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

There aren't any branded 7.9 or 8 inch Android tablets to compare with. The closest size is 7 inch. But the glass area makes a lot of difference to the weight as the glass screen is the heaviest component of a tablet. Hence you can't compare a 7 inch weight to that of the iPad mini.

 

[jeffheng]

Is iPad mini the lightest tablet for its size?

What about samsung tab 7.7?
abit outdated but still gd
Samsung P6800 Galaxy Tab 7.7 - Full phone specifications

 

[rarenick]

Bought iPad mini, then got a bit regret

 

[Kahlan]

Bought iPad mini, then got a bit regret

why regret?

 

[kyleongwl]

let me tell you my scenario
my first tablet xoom...

too messy, not stable , hang and no software to manage your video files. Jump dump.

sold off the xoom . got i refurbished ipad2 32gb. damm happy cos can jb plus alot of apps supports which android doesn't

then with the hoo ha on note 2. sold my ipad 2
i got it last mth 27 dec ..

speed n processor is better. video playback damm nice.sharp but sound out of sync.
apps still messy.
itunes 3rd party apps also messy
email not all can be shown..
sold off 30 dec.

got a ipad mini weeks later.

never regret

that's my take

install an ilauncher on note 2 and it will be an XL iphone.
Android requires customisation to suit your taste..
Apple tends to spoon feed..(for mentally handicapped)

 

[rarenick]

why regret?

Didn't buy 3G version.

Cannot transfer mp3 n photos directly.

Must convert video files n load via iTunes before I can watch on iPad mini

 

[lorettatay]

Didn't buy 3G version.

Cannot transfer mp3 n photos directly.

Must convert video files n load via iTunes before I can watch on iPad mini

that's the reason y i dislike apple products to use to watch videos and music. must convert and transfer then can watch.

 

[jaymessofly]

that's the reason y i dislike apple products to use to watch videos and music. must convert and transfer then can watch.

3rd party apps can be downloaded and used to watch your videos with no conversion required. Currently using AVPlayer to watch 1080p mkv files on my iphone without any conversion. Just drag and drop.

 

[lorettatay]

3rd party apps can be downloaded and used to watch your videos with no conversion required. Currently using AVPlayer to watch 1080p mkv files on my iphone without any conversion. Just drag and drop.

need to jb?