Android tablets: are they worth paying for over an iPad?

The tablet market has been dominated for many years by Apple and its iPads . It is the most visible product in this segment, with a price that many users cannot (or do not want) to pay.

In that segment , Android tablets are a good alternative. On the one hand, because they offer products at very affordable prices, a segment that Apple does not serve.

And on the other hand, because in the most expensive lines, Android tablets can offer a lot of processing potential with lower values ​​than iPads. We are going to review some of the alternatives available in Argentina regarding Android tablets, with special focus on the high and medium ranges.

Samsung high-end tablets

In Argentina two brands distribute high-end tablets: Samsung and Lenovo . These are models that usually have at least 8 GB of RAM and 128 to 256 GB of storage space, and in many cases they already include an external keyboard and other additions.

Just to have some references to compare, let’s see the current prices in Argentina for the iPad. The top-of-the-range model is the 12.9-inch iPad Pro . The newest, the fifth generation, is not sold for less than 2 million pesos on e-commerce sites.

And the fourth generation, from 2022, can be obtained around one million pesos. A mid-range model is the iPad Air , with an M1 chip, and which costs between 600 and 700 thousand pesos. This model is highly recommended for those looking for a lot of processing capacity at not so high values.

The cheapest option, which is the iPad itself, can be obtained for around 300 thousand pesos (9th generation, 2022) and 600 thousand pesos (10th generation, this year).

Let’s go back to Android tablets . For a few weeks now, Samsung has been distributing the Galaxy Tab S9 , its high-end model. The most economical in that line is the S9 model (just).

This model comes with 128 GB of storage space, 8 GB of RAM and a case that includes a physical keyboard and stylus (these last two come with all the Tab S9 models mentioned in the note). The price is 819 thousand pesos , and it can be paid in up to three interest-free installments.

The Tab s9 Plus model increases storage space up to 256 GB and costs 999 thousand pesos. And finally the top of the range, the Tab s9 Ultra , which sells from 1,299,000 pesos and comes with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. In the coming weeks Samsung is going to launch the Tab s9 FE, which will be a little cheaper.

High-end tablets from Lenovo and Google

Now let’s move on to Lenovo. Its Tab12 model is another very good option for those looking for a product with good specifications. It has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space, and is sold for 849 thousand pesos, with plans of up to three interest-free installments.

It includes a stylus for drawing on the screen and a cover with a physical keyboard, allowing it to be converted into a notebook. You can still get the Tab11 on the market, which has a similar configuration, although with only 4GB of RAM, and costs around half the price of the Tab12 model.

For those who travel to the United States, there you can buy the Google Pixel , the tablet that Google recently launched, and which is already discounted to $399 – it was $499 a few months ago.

It is a model that comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, a dock with speakers – which also charges the tablet and allows it to be used as a display on a desktop – and includes Chromecast, which makes it possible to send videos and share screen from another Android phone.

Google neither distributes nor ships products such as tablets or its Pixel mobile phones to Argentina, although used models may appear on e-commerce sites from time to time.

Mid-range tablets

Lenovo also has a line of cheaper tablets under models starting with M. For example, the most recent is the M10 HD with 4 GB of RAM, and it sells for around 250 thousand pesos.

In a relatively similar segment are the YT Yoga models , which include a charging dock that allows it to be used as a display on a desktop. They come with 4 GB of RAM and are a little more expensive, around 350 thousand pesos.

Samsung also has its line of mid-range tablets, the A models , which are also used for mobile phone models, as a more affordable alternative to the S.

For example, the Galaxy Tab A8 sells for 200 thousand pesos with 64 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, which makes it a fairly basic model. You can also get the A7 , which has 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of memory, and starts at 119 thousand pesos.

If you check the e-commerce sites you will find Android tablets for values ​​even less than 100 thousand pesos . Despite the very attractive cost, many of these products, from little-known brands, usually have little processing capacity and screens of mediocre quality.

For example, even today you can find models with 2 GB of RAM, which is insufficient for tasks related to work or school . You should aim for 3 to 4 GB of RAM, and if possible 8 GB of RAM, although in this case we are already talking about much more expensive models.

The Android operating system must be as updated as possible – at least version 12 or 13, although if the price is really very convenient you can aim for Android 11.