iPad Air and iPad mini 2019 review: Apple’s tablets strike an ideal balance

These are clearly more appealing to most people than Apple's 2018 iPad or iPad Pro.

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[salamanderjuice]

I don't really understand how these are more appealing than the previous models. They're both expensive and dated designs. Perhaps it's just me, but unless you're replacing a proper laptop with one of these, the prices have ways been excessive. The
USB C is welcome, but as the author points out the use of lightning still is more obnoxious than convenient.

Probably close to nobody is replacing the previous model with these. They're for new sales, and people upgrading from more than one generation ago.

If you're already bought into the Apple ecosystem, a switch to USB-C from Lightning is a major negative, because you already have a zillion Lightning cords and some accessories, and you'd have to re-buy all your charging cables. For most users that's a big additional expense for literally zero additional functionality.

Hmm, I can’t speak for anyone else, but since I got my USB-C iPad Pro, the only additional cord I purchased was a USB-C to USB-A cable to connect to the Mid-2015 15’’ MBP, in order to debug iOS Safari from the Mac (as far as I can tell there’s no wireless option). Excluding that extremely niche use case, I invested a grand total of $0 on cables and accessories (and about $20 if you count that niche use case).

Yeah, but if you already have say, the Lightning Camera Kit, HDMI adapter, and a few spare lightning cables for charging and haven’t yet got a computer with USB C where you might have those things already, swapping can be expensive.

I’m also hoping the 10.5” case design sticks around for a bit longer so when it comes time to update my Pro I don’t need to spend an absurd amount again on a keyboard for a single device.

 

[salamanderjuice]

Whether people "like" Chevrolet or Ferrari is irrelevant, the facts are that Chevies sell more than Ferraris because they do what people need more than a Ferrari and a price they are willing to pay. Now I am not saying an Android tablet is more practical than an iPad, but for what the majority of people want a tablet for, the Android tablet is a cheaper option that with headphone jacks and micro-sd slots has more flexibility than the Ipad

Only the pro option doesn't have headphone jacks. The rest do. And Apple has a tablet for 329USD. Functional android tablets are actually more expensive from a quick search.

This narrative is mentioned all the time. I cannot recommend android tablets because they simply do not work as well as an iPad and the iPad is cheaper in total cost of ownership and upfront costs now.

Simple google search:

Ipad mini 256GB $549
Samsung tab s2 + 400GB $419. Which is only $20 more than the Ipad mini 64GB (you could probably get a good 256GB + the tab s2 for less than the new Ipad mini).

No matter how you cut & dice it, an Android tablet (and the Samsung is one of the more expensive ones) is significantly cheaper than the Ipad in upfront costs. Whether an Android tablet or an Ipad works best for you really depends on what you use it for. If like most people it is media consumption, web browsing, emails, ebooks then the Android is more than adequate.

If you use it for business and your business server only allows access using the Ipad not an Android tablet then the Ipad is the only choice - that was not the market I was suggesting most people who buy tablets are interested in

No pen support. Stylus input changes how you use the device and how you can use the device. It offers far more flexibility than what an SD slot provides. It's a game changer on tablet ownership. To get an Android tablet with pen support costs more than the iPad, plus you still have to deal with worse optimized tablet apps.

I've used Windows tablets, Android tablets, WebOS tablets. iOS still has the best tablet apps and the best pen support for the money. I don't need to carry around 200 hours of HD TV. A digital notebook, sketchbook, PDF markuper, with better eReading apps is well worth the small premium compared to other tablets.