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Pixel C vs iPad Air 2

Cakefish

Cakefish

Member
I bought an 128GB iPad Air 2 refurbished from Apple for £479 the other week. However, now I'm wondering whether I should return it in favour of the 64GB Pixel C (whenever it's released in UK - also price TBA by Google). I'm still within the 14 day return window for Air 2, but it'll be expiring soon.

I want to have a tablet as a consumption device, not a productivity package (I have a Windows laptop for that). So the keyboard accessory doesn't interest me in the slightest.

My usage is; web browsing through various articles, video watching (YouTube, films and BBC iPlayer), playing music (local files, not streaming), viewing photos, social media, and the odd non-freemium game here and there.

iOS takes some getting used to as an Android fan (this is my first modern iOS device). The music apps for Android are undoubtedly superior to the iOS Music app (which has choppy animations). I do very much like the multi-touch gestures in iOS though, they feel very natural on a tablet and unfortunately Android lacks them. The split-screen 50-50 multitasking is also really handy and that won't make an appearance in Android until at least 6.1.

In terms of hardware, there are three things that are enticing me to the Pixel C; the stereo speakers, the slightly bigger size/slightly higher PPI of the display and the Tegra X1 SOC. The last one in particular is the real draw for me. I'm a bit of an NVIDIA fan, having bought laptops with their GPUs inside for several years now. But I don't want to be totally blinded by the cool factor of having a desktop GPU architecture in tablet form as for any serious gaming I'd use my laptop anyway. However, I can't find information about the weight of the Pixel C which is annoying. I want to be able to hold it in one hand comfortably.

Software-wise I think the main advantage of Pixel C would be the fact that any purchase I make on the Play Store would carry over between phone and tablet.

Anyway, sorry for rambling, what do you all think?

TLDR; should I return my new refurbished iPad Air 2 128GB to get a Pixel C 64GB instead?
 
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No, the tablet experience is significantly better on iOS.

It's a combination of a better tablet OS, and better tablet apps, better coding, better timely updates, bigger, paying audience.
 
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Yeah, stick with your iPad. I personally won't buy another Android tablet for any reason. iPad does content consumption better and the Surface Pros do, well, everything else better.
 
As I'm getting the hang of navigating around iOS, I'm liking the iPad more and more.

As Google has ported all their apps over to iOS, there's not much that I feel is missing.

I'm not into the custom ROM scene or rooting so that's not a factor in my decision here. Just the pure stock experience with both tablets.
 
FYI, I recently fired up a really old android tablet from 2012...it still uses 4.1, and can't get further updates. Apple still issues updates for the A5 processor, and in fact it runs really well.
 
desura said:
FYI, I recently fired up a really old android tablet from 2012...it still uses 4.1, and can't get further updates. Apple still issues updates for the A5 processor, and in fact it runs really well.
Click to expand...

I put the KatKiss 5.1.1 rom on my TF101. The Tegra 2 junk in it holds up OK. It still sucks though.
 
desura said:
FYI, I recently fired up a really old android tablet from 2012...it still uses 4.1, and can't get further updates. Apple still issues updates for the A5 processor, and in fact it runs really well.
Click to expand...

Yup. iPad 2 was released in 2011 and has the latest iOS 9, even though the device has only 512MB RAM.

The first iPad mini was released late 2012 with identical specs to the iPad 2 (and iPod touch 5th gen with same CPU+RAM), and I guess that kinda forced Apple to support A5 a bit longer than most. Years after the iPad 2 was released, it was still the best selling tablet. Retailers kept buying them for kiosks and point-of-sale systems. Schools kept buying them. A5 has been supported for > 4 years now 🙂

Even now, the current generation Apple TV is A5 (new one hasn't been released to the public yet, AFAIK).
 
If the keyboard accessory will be useless for you, there's really no need for the Pixel C then.

I would keep the Air 2. It's one of the few iOS devices that actually gets the standout feature of iOS 9 (split screen apps). Plus I personally think it's nice to have devices from both camps rather than go all in on one side.
 
So the general consensus seems to be stick with the iPad?

Yeah, again, that keyboard accessory doesn't interest me in the slightest as I already have a laptop.
 
Yah, keep the iPad. It really is a better tablet experience than android. I love android and all, but I don't need the level of customization on my tablet that I like on my phone.
 
Cakefish said:
So the general consensus seems to be stick with the iPad?

Yeah, again, that keyboard accessory doesn't interest me in the slightest as I already have a laptop.
Click to expand...

Pixel C is a complete non starter for me given how abysmal Google's track record is when it comes to supporting their own tablets. Especially not at the $500 price tag.
 
Awesome, so the consensus seems pretty much universal 🙂

How about the 128GB iPad Pro? Worth the price premium over the Air 2 for those stereo speakers and larger display? Keyboard and stylus notwithstanding as I have no interest in those. Or any professional applications for that matter.
 
Get the iPad. Android is great, just not in tablet form.

iPad Pro is just an oversized iPad. Personally I would stick with an iPad Air 2 unless you really need the screen real estate (you mention you don't care for the stylus and keyboard which implies you won't use it for productivity).
 
My rule for the iPad Pro: if you can genuinely benefit from it, you'll know. It's really for two groups: pros who need the extra screen space and pen input, or serious enthusiasts who just have to get the display, faster processor and improved speakers. Otherwise, the iPad Air 2 is just fine.
 
I've been all Android for a few years now, but if you're willing to spend some money on a toy/fun tablet then an iPad is pretty much the best option, mini or full size.

Android is treated more like a second class citizen on tablets. I'm ok with that for under $200, but much beyond that and it's time to seriously consider an iPad.

I think you bought the right device.
 
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