Know the differences between a tablet and an iPad

The world of tablets is not as big as that of mobiles. However, there are numerous options for all tastes and types of users, from the most basic to the most demanding. This world is dominated by tablets and iPads.

But… what is a tablet and what is an iPad? And what differences exist between both devices? There are many doubts about it, and then we clarify them.

Tablets and iPad: what are they and differences

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (Android tablet)

A tablet is a device very similar to a mobile, but with much larger dimensions. And it is that, while in the segment of telephones we have models that do not exceed 6,8 or 6,9 inches of screen, in that of tablets we easily find terminals with screen panels with sizes greater than 7 and 8 inches, with specimens that have panels of up to 10 inches and more, being able to reach up to 15 inches, although only in a few cases, since the average is below said diagonal.

Basically, and to summarize what was said, A tablet is a device with a function similar to that of a mobile, but much larger, and with a more square than rectangular display format. Therefore, they have an operating system like Android, although there are also others, such as Amazon's Kindle, which have their own and it is more different from a mobile OS.

In this sense, the fact of what operating system it has and what its purpose is -whether to read books or fulfill the same thing that a mobile fulfills- is more due to the manufacturer than to anything else, since there are tablets that , in fact, they are computers, basically, and as examples we have those that have an operating system like Windows in some of its variants, such as Microsoft's Surface.

Amazon Kindle

iPads, on the other hand, are also tablets, with the difference that they are from Apple and, therefore, have iPadOS, an iOS version of the iPhone adapted for them. These are known as such, and not so much as tablets, due to the weight of the brand, but they are not particularly different from Android tablets, beyond the fact that they have a different OS and have features and specifications that may well stand out in the market in terms of performance and other sections.

Main differences between tablets and iPad

Tablet with keyboard

As we have already highlighted, the most important difference between any tablet and an iPad is that a tablet can be from any manufacturer (Samsung, Microsoft and Huawei, among others), have any operating system and be intended for any specific use. , while an iPad, whatever model it is, is an Apple tablet with iPadOS.

If we compare an Android tablet with an iPad, we find that the most important difference between both devices lies, obviously, in their operating systems. And it is that Android is a more open OS than iPadOS, being more customizable and having more interesting functions, which are driven by the different customization layers of each brand, while iPadOS is a more rigid interface on an aesthetic level, being much less customizable than Android for tablets.

However, iPadOS is a smoother OS overall, something in which Android, as such, does not stand out as much, at least not as much as iPadOS in this section.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Another difference to mention between a tablet and an iPad is that Android tablets have an update support of between 2 and 3 years maximum, according to the average, while iPads are supported for up to 5 years, so, in the long run, it is more profitable to buy an iPad, since they depreciate less over the years and keep up with numerous security and maintenance updates.

On the other hand, making a comparison between a tablet and an iPad is something that will always depend on the specific models that you want to face, since there are many models of Android tablets, as well as other operating systems, and also iPad. , as Apple usually launches several models year after year. However, we can at least say that, between a high-end Android tablet and any iPad, the differences are generally few, as both present the best of the best of their respective manufacturers.

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The price of the device is also going to be a relevant factor when comparing an Android tablet with an iPad, since there are different prices, and there is little logic in comparing a terminal that costs 100 euros with one that costs 400 euros, to put it a simple example. In the same way, below we leave a comparative technical sheet between one of the most advanced Samsung tablets of the moment with one of the best Apple iPads right now.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 vs. iPad mini (2021)

iPad mini 2021

To further exemplify what has been said about tablets and iPads, we have the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, one of the most powerful Android tablets on the market, and the iPad mini (2021), one of the best options in the Apple catalog today .

It is enough to appreciate the following comparative table to know that the differences are found in their technical specifications, which directly affect the performance of each one, the quality of the photos they take, the autonomy and other details, but basically they are the same. devices, being tablets with operating systems similar to Android and iPhone mobiles, respectively.

Technical specifications