With iPad mini, Apple once again shows the sad state of Android tablets

In Android, if smartphones are the place of impressive innovation, then tablets can only be said to be truly lousy. You’ll probably even have a better experience with DeX mode on the Galaxy Z Fold3 than with even the best Samsung tablets. Apple claims that the iPad (2021) with the two-year-old A13 Bionic chip will be 3 times faster than the “best-selling Chromebook” or 6 times faster than the “best-selling Android tablet.” While that may be true, The new iPad mini (2021) is the focus of the iPad launch event.

Apple has been rumored to be working on a new version of the iPad mini for years, ditching the old design in favor of something modern. After many Apple events with no announcement of the iPad mini, it finally happened.

The design between iPad mini and Galaxy Tab S7 is not completely different. Flat edges, thin bezels, fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, improved speakers, and more. but Apple’s draw is iPadOS, along with the Apple Pencil 2.

Apple’s tablet experience has improved a lot over the years, so it makes sense to have an option that’s smaller than the 10.2-inch iPad. It makes more sense for a new device not to continue using the old design.

Not only has a completely new design, but the iPad mini also uses the same Apple A15 Bionic chip as on the newly announced iPhone 13 series. With the A15 Bionic and its 16-core neural processor, you can use features like Live Text, pull text out of a photo, and then use it for whatever you want, like creating contacts or sharing information with others. Text can even be translated right from the iPad mini and in real time, without needing to trigger another app to do so.

Another cool feature you might not expect in the iPad mini is Center Stage. This feature was introduced earlier this year with the iPad Pro 2021 series thanks to the new 12MP ultra-wide selfie camera. When you video chat, Center Stage will ensure that the camera is always focused on you. And if others are in the frame with you, the camera switches to a wider angle ensuring that everyone is in the frame. And all this is done without having to manipulate any settings or manually zoom in or out.

The next “surprise” is in the price, as the iPad mini starts at just $499. The Galaxy Tab S7 hasn’t been upgraded in about a year, so it’s using an outdated chipset. At retail, the Tab S7 starts at $699.99, $200 more than the iPad mini. And yes, the Tab S7 includes the S Pen in the box, but even the iPad mini plus Apple Pencil 2 still costs less than the Tab S7’s retail price.

If you’re wondering why using the Tab S7 against the iPad mini, it’s because using any other Android tablet would just be an unfair comparison. The Android tablet market is pathetic, and that’s the problem. With this upgrade, Apple has an iPad version for all use cases at almost any price point you can pay for a good tablet. Android tablets also come in a variety of price points, but you won’t get the same experience on all of them.

Perhaps if Samsung, or any other Android tablet maker, tried to truly compete with the iPad, the story would be different. But honestly, Google doesn’t even care much about tablets, which is why Samsung was forced to add DeX mode to the Galaxy Tab line.

For now, just grab an iPad mini, use all the Google apps on it, and enjoy the best tablet on the market.

Reference: Phandroid