Best iPad Alternatives: Android Tablets

Apple‘s iPad was the forerunner of what we know today as tablets, and how wide a market they cover. There is no doubt that it is the king of tablets, and when they first arrived on March 2, 2011 after an eloquent and surprising exposition of the late legend Steve Jobs , they were unrivaled. However, in the middle of 2022, eleven years later, the market and technologies have completely changed, being able to find rival tablets without having to resort to the Apple operating system.

And it is that one of the main reasons for not getting a tablet is precisely that, the operating system, iOS. Naturally, a certain public is more used to using the Android operating system instead of iOS . If you don’t want to make the move to another operating system, this is one of the main reasons to continue opting for a tablet other than the iPad, but ignorance can lead you to buy something very different, since the Android tablet market is wider.

Best iPad Alternatives: Android Tablets

Another issue that can lead you to look for an alternative to the iPad is its price . And it is that a new generation Apple device does not fall below 600 or 700 euros, depending on the model. Don’t worry, at Topes de Gama we will give you the most affordable equivalents and models to deal with the iPad.

iPad Air vs regular iPad vs iPad mini

Not without first analyzing the competition. Although you are looking for a rival to the iPad, it is convenient to know the types of iPad that exist to know which model we can aspire to replace. In the current Apple catalog we find three well-differentiated models: the Air model, the normal one and the mini. We will put equivalents of each model, but first let’s do a quick review of what each model offers in order to compare.

The iPad Air is the top of the range that we can find, and the difference from the rest lies mainly in size and power. In fact, in terms of construction, it is identical in all, with aluminum, but other dimensions. We are talking about a model that has dimensions of almost 25 cm x 17.85 cm, and a weight of just under 500 grams. In total, its screen is 10.9 inches and it equips the M1 chip processor.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 pantalla

Meanwhile, the regular iPad is perhaps the most competent, measuring 250.6cm x 171.1cm x 7.5mm, with a 10.2-inch screen. It is, without a doubt, the one with the best quality-price ratio of all, although it is not the most powerful model. In this case, this normal iPad equips the Apple A13 Bionic processor.

Finally, the smallest iPad is the mini , as its name suggests. It is a beast of 195 × 4 cm x 134.8 cm x 6.3 mm that is 8.3 inches but has unparalleled power with the Apple A15 Bionic processor, with up to 10 hours of autonomy, just like the rest of the models.

Similar features to consider

Before we go ahead and choose a replacement, let’s consider a number of things you need to consider:

  • Screen . The iPads use a Liquid Retina display that ranges from 10.9 inches on the Air to 8.3 inches on the mini model. We will choose screens that have a resolution of at least FHD, or Full HD, to be similar and have a sharpness and brightness of at least 500 nits to ensure a good user experience.
  • Autonomy . As we mentioned in the previous section, keep in mind that each of the models has up to 10 hours of autonomy playing content. That means that, if we choose an opponent, it does not have a similar battery or autonomy. We will opt for models that have more than 8 hours of continuous autonomy playing content.
  • Processor . While Apple manufactures its own processors or chips, in Android this is a very disparate issue. We can find tablets that have Qualcomm or MediaTek processors, which are the main providers in the Android world. Specifying more would depend on each model, but if we want the same reliability as an iPad, these two brands are the ones we are going to choose.
  • RAM. Speaking of iPads, it is a somewhat obtuse concept, because these types of devices do not make as much use of RAM as we think, but rather take the power and performance of the processor or chip. In the case of Android tablets, the reality is that the more RAM we find, the more power and fluidity we will find, in addition to the processor, of course. iPads have 4GB of RAM, so that’s the minimum we’ll opt for on tablets as well. Ideally, they will have up to 8GB of RAM.
  • Weight . The largest model weighs 487 grams, so in an opponent tablet the difference will be similar, putting a limit of up to 500 grams. If it weighs more than that, it will be uncomfortable in the hand during long sessions, so opt for models with less than that weight.

The iPad Air competition

Taking into account the size and features of the iPad Air, let’s see what we can choose from in its Android version:

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

Samsung‘s top-of-the-range tablet par excellence, the S8, which, in this version, includes a charger. We are facing a model with a 14.6-inch SuperAMOLED LCD screen, somewhat higher than that of the Air, to enjoy the best possible content. This beast has a 120 Hertz refresh rate and a highly recommended and powerful processor: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

We will have autonomy more than guaranteed for several days (in this aspect it exceeds the iPad) with 11,200 mAh that work at a fast charge of up to 45W. It also has four stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, AKG and three microphones . Its price is about 1,200 euros.

Lenovo Tab P11

The top of Lenovo is this P11 tablet, with an 11-inch screen and 2K resolution for an experience very similar to that of the iPad, also in performance thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 that high-end phones also mount. With 4GB of RAM it will be plenty for all kinds of tasks and another 64GB of storage.

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro

It will also offer you excellent sound quality with up to four different speakers and quality transmission with the 11-inch IPS TDDI screen . This top of the range is priced at approximately 300 euros.

Similar models to the normal iPad

In balance is virtue with these intermediate models:

Huawei MatePad 10.4

Huawei and its MatePad are the best we can aspire to for a contained price, but with very high performance. This tablet is 10.4 inches and FullHD resolution, with 4GB of RAM and another 64GB of internal storage. The screen, specifically, has a 2K resolution (2000 × 1200 pixels), with TÜV certification to take care of your eyes.

Huawei MatePad T10

The processor is a Kirin 820 with improved graphics and great performance in all aspects, with a sound system from the famous Harman Kardon brand, with 3D stereo. You can get it for about 300 euros approximately.

XiaomiPad 5

Xiaomi was completely right with this tablet that has been improving with the passage of versions. We are talking about a model with an 11-inch screen, 2K resolution and 120 Hertz refresh rate, it is superfluid, very much at the level of any quality iPad.

Xiaomi Pad 5

It also has a high-end audio system with quad speakers that offer surround sound and vertical, powerful and direct impact. All accompanied by the maximum power of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 with 7nm technology and improved performance for movies, games… Everything!

The battery is 8,720 mAh, enough in all respects , to accompany you well beyond the day. The specific version has 128GB of storage and its price is around 400 euros.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Samsung’s S6 Lite is another model to beat for the regular iPad, even the Air. It has a 10.4-inch screen at 2K resolution (2000 × 1200 pixels) Full HD, with 4GB of RAM and another 64GB of internal storage, easily expandable up to 512 with a microSD.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

It stands out for its compact and lightweight design , with a reduced bezel on the edges, which is to be appreciated, and best of all, it has an S-Pen to enjoy the quality of drawing and the great resolution of the screen. Its price is about 300 euros.

Alternatives to the iPad mini

Finally, the smaller but tougher competition, what do we find on the market that is similar to the iPad mini?

Woxter X-200 Pro

A simple, functional model similar in size to the iPad mini , with a 10.1-inch screen. This tablet will serve you to view all kinds of content and even encourage you to play, with an ultralight design to transport wherever you want. It has a powerful enough MediaTek processor to move even the best titles, perfect for squeezing Android at its best.

Woxter X200 Pro

The screen is IPS, with a resolution of 800 × 1280 pixels and G-Sensor , accompanied by 3GB of RAM and another 64GB of storage to store what you need. It comes with the version of Android 11 and is the best we can choose for this price. Its price is around 135 euros.


Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite

There is no doubt about the success of this tablet. Not the slightest. It is the most worthy rival of the Apple iPad mini , with an 8.7-inch screen, which will allow you to take it wherever you want and even study with it. It has a compact design, with reduced frames and the most intuitive interface, ideal for holding with one hand like the mini.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite

It has enough power, equipped with an octa-core MediaTek 8768T and another 3GB of RAM, accompanied by 32GB of internal memory and up to 1TB expandable with microSD. Its panel is TFT, with a resolution of 800 × 1340, and it is one of the most worthy rivals for the 150 euros it costs.


Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab

Finally, this most powerful tablet for its price, with the Google assistant to facilitate all tasks. It stands out for its most powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 eight-core processor, with four different modes to use it lying down, sitting, reclining or standing, with an exclusive multi-modal design.

It features a 10.1-inch FHD IPS display , with innovative Yoga Smart Tab features such as immersive in-cell features and interactivity. It incorporates the home assistant to make your life easier, and very useful if you have more home automation devices at home.

Lenovo Yoga

Its price is around 215 euros.


The recommendation

Now comes the high point of this guide to replace the iPad: which model do we stay with or do we recommend? There is no doubt that virtue is in balance, so our bet is, without a doubt, the Xiaomi Pad 5 . A tablet that very well complements the concept of power at a good price, with an enviable 2K resolution that stands up to the same iPad and iPad Air, but with an intermediate size.