If you're looking for a tablet but don't want to spend too much money, you'll be interested in two main brands: the iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Apple's most basic iPad line, most recently the iPad 9.7 (2018), incorporates Apple's iOS operating system, from iPhones to tablets, and is affordable by Apple standards. There are different models of Samsung Galaxy Tabs, but the cheapest is the Tab A range, and the latest entry in this range was the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (2018). It runs on an Android operating system, so it presents quite a different experience than the iPad 9.7. So which entry-level tablet should you spend your money on? We'll review the major differences between the lists to help guide your decision.
iPad 9.7 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5: price
The first major difference between the iPad 9.7 (2018) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (2018) is the price, although both are meant to be entry-level slates aimed at a more affordable price. , one is a little more expensive than the other.
You can buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 for €329 / £249 (about AU$470) or €419 / €299 (about AU$600) if you want a version that can connect to LTE networks. Whichever model you choose, it only exists in a 32GB size. However, the price of a tablet is relatively low, so it certainly falls into the "affordable" price category. The Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (2018) is not available in Australia. Therefore, if you are based there, you will have a choice of several tablets. The iPad 9.7 (2018) will cost you a bit more, starting at $329/AU$319/AU$469 for a 32GB Wi-Fi model, rising to $559/AU$539/AU$799 for a 128GB with Wi-Fi and LTE. Overall, the price of the Galaxy Tab A 10.5 is rising sharply, especially in the UK. So you can expect a better tablet.
Design and visualization
As for the screens, the iPad 9.7 (2018) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (2018) have the same technology, in the form of IPS LCD touch screens: this means there shouldn't be any big difference between the two in terms of maximum brightness and color quality. As the names indicate, the sizes are different, respectively 9.7 inches and 10.5 inches. So you get a bigger screen on the Galaxy Tab A.
The resolution of the iPad is 1536 x 2048 for a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch, while the Galaxy Tab A is 1200 x 1920 for 216 pixels per inch. Therefore, the latter being larger, the images displayed will not be as sharp. If you're a movie buff or buying a tablet for artwork, this may worry you, but many people may not know the difference. As one tablet is larger than the other in screen size, it also has a larger body. The Galaxy Tab A 10.5 has dimensions of 260 x 161.1 x 8mm compared to the iPad's 240 x 169.5 x 7.5mm, so the old one is larger and longer. Thick, but that the iPad is actually wider. This is partly due to the different aspect ratios: the Galaxy Tab is at 16:10, while the iPad 9.7 is at 4:3. You also get a heavier device in the Galaxy Tab A 10.5 because the Wi model -Fi weighs 529g, or 60g more than the iPad's 469g Wi-Fi. The same goes for the LTE model, with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 weighing 534g, while the iPad 9.7 weighs 478g. Both shelves have glass fronts, but the iPad 9.7 has an aluminum body, while the Galaxy Tab A 10.5 is plastic. This gives the latter a somewhat less valuable aspect. In general, however, both conform to the standard tablet design of a rectangular device with thick edges. Both slates have 3,5mm headphone jacks, which are missing from many high-end tablets. Although the Galaxy Tab A 10.5 has a USB-C port, which allows it to recharge quite quickly and makes it compatible with many devices, the iPad has a Lightning port. port, allowing slower charging.
Another important point to note is the Galaxy Tab A rear camera bulge, which is quite a bit beyond. You can't place the tablet on a table without tilting it, so you'll have to splash around. Compensate for this unless you want to hold your tablet while you're using it.
Battery life and camera.
The battery life between the tablets is unclear, as both consume almost the same amount of power before they fail. In the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (2018), you'll find a 7.300mAh battery and an 8.827mAh power supply in the iPad 9.7 (2018), though that suggests As the iPad will last longer, don't forget it has a larger screen. resolution, so you can find it at the same time. In fact, if anything could last longer Samsung, the company claims its slate could last up to 15 hours of Internet use over Wi-Fi, while Apple cites 10 hours. Charging is a similar story: the Lightning port used on the iPad is quite outdated, compared to the USB-C port on the Galaxy Tab A, so you'll find the latter charging slightly faster than the former.
Camera performance is not necessarily sought after in a tablet. As such, gadgets are rarely equipped with powerful cameras, but slate snappers can be useful for many functions. Both tablets have an 8 MP rear camera and the pictures you take are about the same level of quality. However, while the iPad 9.7 is equipped with a 1.2MP front-facing camera, the Galaxy Tab A's is 5MP, so your video calls and selfies will be of higher quality on Samsung's slate.
Specifications and Features
Inside the iPad 9.7 (2018), you'll find the Apple A10 Fusion chipset, also used in the iPhone 7, which would now rank among modern mid-range processors. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 comes with a few years old Snapdragon 450 chipset, but it was a mid-range chipset rather than a flagship when it came out, which is basically the smallest. two.
The Galaxy Tab A outperforms the iPad in terms of RAM, at 3GB compared to the Apple tablet's 2GB, but in benchmark tests we found the iPad had about 50% more power compared to its Galaxy rival, likely due to to chipset. Using the interface, the iPad is visibly faster and easier to use, and iOS is generally better optimized for tablets than Android, the performance difference between whiteboards becoming more obvious the more you use them, and it quickly becomes clear that the iPad is much easier to use. The iPad also has a fingerprint scanner on its home button, while you'll have to type in your password for the Galaxy Tab A, which allows you to unlock the phone. iPad much faster. Also, the iPad 9.7 (2018) supports the Apple Pencil, making it a better option for digital doodles, even though it costs more.
verdict
< p class="bordeaux-image-check">
When you use the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (2018), it lacks a bit, both in terms of interface speed and software, than ease of use, and Android isn't optimized for tablets yet. However, the Galaxy Tab A is a cheaper device and gives you a bigger screen. If you want your tablet to be a large device for viewing content on the go, it's a safe bet, especially since its battery has better battery life. . But if you want to use your tablet for work or gaming, the iPad 9.7's extra processing power and streamlined operating system should appeal to you.