The first Android clone of the iPad Air. Best iPad Pro Alternatives. Selecting ZOOM

iPad mini competitors

Since the release of Apple's tablet, competitors have tried in every possible way to prove their superiority by releasing devices that are thinner, more powerful, and in different sizes. Thanks to this, the tablet market today is so diverse. But the diagonal iPad screen mini at 7.9 inches turned out to be a successful combination size and convenience. Needless to say, competitors immediately began to follow this model. True, some managed to appear on the market even before the “mini-Apple” device.

Why was there a need to look for a replacement for such a convenient and really cool device? The fact is that Apple, with its limitations, simply cannot please all users. Some people are quite satisfied with applications from App Store, while others want to connect flash drives, memory cards, delve into the depths of the system, improving it to suit their taste. So an alternative is in demand - something similar in size, but with different capabilities.

Looking for the worthy iPad competitors mini, we will not take into account the large group of seven-inch tablets. After all, ease of use in this case slightly defined large size screen. And the seven-inch devices themselves have already become very close to representatives of a new class of devices, tablet phones. They have already easily surpassed the six-inch mark. So, what's interesting on the market that can replace the iPad mini? Considering that iOS can only be installed on Apple devices, alternative options Most of them run Android.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 . This amazing device, which has been on the market for more than two years. With him Samsung company, it seems, she betrayed herself by deciding to experiment. There is no abundance of plastic here, which is typical for most tablets from this manufacturer. The metal body makes the design really stylish.

The hardware platform is still relevant today - dual core processor, a gigabyte of RAM and a beautiful screen with a decent resolution of 1280x800. By the way, this is the world's first tablet display made using Super AMOLED Plus. The screen aspect ratio is not the narrow 16:9, but the increasingly traditional 16:10. And you can watch movies without much loss of space, and reading is much more enjoyable. Adding to the charm of the device is its light weight - 335 grams and thin body - 7.9 mm. The battery lasts for 8-9 hours of video viewing. We also note the presence of GPS and 3G.

Yes, this is a potential hit! But Samsung still left the device in the premium segment, even today selling it at high price. 22 thousand rubles for a two-year-old device is a lot. Besides software support has long been abandoned. The device is very, very interesting, taking into account the quality of execution. All that remains is to find it at a good price, which, alas, is possible only on the secondary market.

Total: there is only one drawback - the high cost, everything else can be listed as advantages.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 . This device was truly a worthy answer from Samsung to its enemies from Apple. The case is made of classic plastic for the Galaxy line, but there is a hardware Home button. The eight-inch screen has a resolution of 1280x800 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:10. It was completed according to PLS technology, inferior in color gamut to the company’s other development, Super AMOLED.

The main feature of the device is a pen with support for Wacom technology. Here the tablet has no direct competition, being a worthy representative of the Note family. As a device for reading, surfing and watching videos, it is good, powerful option, but is it worth overpaying for a stylus that not everyone needs? Prices start at 12 thousand rubles, which is almost half the cost of the previous candidate.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and iPad mini

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0. But this device is the latest in the Galaxy Tab line. It can be considered an improved version of Note 8.0. Samsung offered an option with such a popular screen size (a compromise between seven and ten inches), but did a little work over mistakes.

Noteworthy are the reduced frames on the sides of the screen (compared to the iPad mini!). Home button remained the same as touch buttons next to her. Compared to Note 8.0, the width has decreased by 12 mm, and the weight seems to be a record 314 grams for this size. And although the power has decreased compared to the previous competitor (two cores versus four and one and a half gigabytes of RAM versus two), this is quite enough for almost all tasks.

The tablet turned out to be really successful - thin and fits well in the hand. Its only drawback is the same annoying design of the Galaxy line with plastic as the main material. Everything is fine, but the tablet doesn’t look stylish or expensive. But the price is really good. So powerful and modern devices can be found in stores for ten thousand rubles.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and iPad mini

The new iPad/iPad 4/iPad Air. And although the review is focused on devices relatively similar in size to the iPad mini, I would like to mention this option. The fact is that all this variety of Android and Windows tablets lacks something that only Apple products have - a branded store Apps Store. This attracts many, because there are analogues of some useful and truly cool programs for other platforms simply not. And if you choose an iPad, then why not look at its older brothers? Moreover, two latest models have gorgeous display with a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels. The iPad mini is attractive due to its compactness, but it is large and even more high quality screen(compared to the first generation mini) is a significant trump card. Those who are preparing to purchase a tablet from Apple will have to experience the agony of choice - a pleasant one, really.

Senior and Junior iPad

Acer W3. Tablets with full Windows are a curiosity. Only in last couple years, relatively compact (at least in terms of weight) models began to appear. After a series of devices with a diagonal of ten inches or more, I wanted to see slightly more compact ones.

It was not Samsung that decided to experiment, but Acer. Her Acer W3 device has a diagonal of 8.1 inches and a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. The tablet runs a full (not RT!) version of Windows. The hardware inside is, although not high-performance, as by the standards of premium options with Core i5/i7, but decent. Dual-core Atom and two gigabytes of RAM allow the owner to feel more or less comfortable when deciding simple tasks. But if you try to load the system with heavy video or 3D games, the result will be sad. And the quality of the screen, made using TFT technology, leaves much to be desired - color rendition will change greatly when changing the viewing angle.

It's nice to be present physical keyboard as an accessory, allowing you to create a very compact and stylish netbook. And the main advantage of this option is full Windows version, allowing you to solve the usual range of tasks on your tablet. Plus, the manufacturer dropped the price for this model due to the lack of hype.

iPad mini and Acer W3

LG G Pad 8.3. This tablet was presented recently at the IFA-2013 exhibition. The model undoubtedly turned out to be a potential hit. The 8.3-inch screen is made according to IPS technology and has a Full-HD resolution of 1920x1080. Let's also note thin frames On the sides. Quad-core processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 is almost the most powerful on the market, and its weight of 338 grams makes the device is lightweight and convenient. LG has released an excellent competitor for both the iPad mini and Google Nexus already second generations. Just how massive will sales be at the announced price of $400?

iPad mini and LG G Pad 8.3

Archos 80 g9. We already had a review of this device on our website. Today, the model attracts only its price (from 5 thousand rubles), and successful solutions in the form of a leg and a full-fledged USB slot. Cheap plastic case and a screen made of the same material did not allow the model to become a hit. And on their own physical dimensions The model is almost identical to the older version of the iPad. Against this background, even modern Chinese tablets They look nicer and work faster.

The hit iPad mini showed that tablets can and should be not only seven- and ten-inch. Appeared new segment- tablets with a diagonal of eight inches. The intermediate option turned out to be extremely successful and in demand. The market immediately responded - both independent developments of similar sizes appeared, as well as clones on Android, and even representatives Windows family. We can say with confidence that the iPad mini will only have more competitors. And Apple itself released the second generation of its hit tablet. Users received much more powerful processor and quadrupled screen resolution. The race continues!

If you are determined to buy an ultra-thin iPad Air 2, you probably won’t go wrong, but if you want to make an informed decision, weigh the pros and cons, or simply save money, we suggest paying attention to six equally worthy tablets for Android based and Windows.

Although not so famous, many of the devices presented below are almost as good as new Apple product in terms of attractive design, filling and functionality and definitely deserve your attention.

So, the best alternatives iPad tablet Air 2:

1.Sony Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact

The device of the Japanese company rightfully enjoyed the title of the most thin tablet until the release of the iPad Air 2. The 6.4 mm Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, weighing only 270 g, is equipped with an 8-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1200, a quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset and 3 GB random access memory.

In addition, Sony's waterproof Android tablet is equipped with an 8.1-megapixel shooter, the image quality of which is in no way inferior to the iPad Air 2 camera. The device costs from $500.

7.9-inch Chinese tablet Xiaomi company, known for making affordable, high-end smartphones, comes with a 1536 x 2048 pixel resolution screen, an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor, and is priced at just over $300.

The thickness of the Xiaomi MiPad is 8.5 mm and the gadget weighs 360g. The device is made, of course, not of durable aluminum, but of colorful, lightweight plastic, which for many will not seem like a disadvantage. Either way, the MiPad is great budget alternative iPad Air 2.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5

The tablet is the largest device in the Galaxy Tab S series Korean manufacturer. It is equipped with a 10.5-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600, an 8-core Exynos 5 chip, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal expandable memory.

Other hardware specifications of the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 include an 8-megapixel camera and an impressive battery capacity. In addition, the tablet is very thin, 6.6 mm thick. The cost of the device on the market is about $500.

4. Google Nexus 9

The new Google tablet, manufactured by the Taiwanese company HTC, is equipped with an 8.9-inch screen with a resolution of 1536 x 2048, 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1, 2 GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera and 32 GB of non-expandable flash memory.

The HTC Nexus 9 is slightly thicker and heavier than the iPad Air 2. Its thickness is 6.6 mm and its weight is 467 g. The Google tablet is priced at about $400.

The device runs on both Android and operating Windows systems, which makes Lenovo YOGA Tablet 2 the only worthy Windows alternative to the new Apple tablet. Of course, we're not discounting the Surface Pro 3, but this device is still in a slightly different category.

The $400 Lenovo YOGA Tablet 2 is equipped with a 4-core 64-bit processor Intel Atom, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage memory (expandable), 8 MP camera and 9600 mAh battery. The tablet weighs 619 g and its thickness is 7.2 mm.

6. Amazon Fire HDX 8.9

As the name suggests, the device is equipped with an 8.9-inch screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of non-expandable flash memory, and an 8-megapixel shooter.

Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 weighs 384 g, and its thickness is 7.8 mm. The tablet is priced at about $350 (for the 16GB Wi-Fi version).

And while it may seem like it can't get better for Apple fans, some tablets are quite seriously superior to the iPad in certain aspects. Although on the other hand, it all comes down to personal tastes and preferences, however, we decided to select 5 excellent, in our opinion, alternatives to the Apple device.

More for less money:GoogleNexus 10

The appearance of the Google Nexus 10 tablet can compete with Apple tablet and become a good alternative to the iPad 4 with Retina display. If the diagonals of the tablets are the same 10 inches, the resolution of the Nexus 2560 is 1600 pixels with 300 pixels per inch superior Retina display with a resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels and a density of 264 pixels per inch. Manages Google's work The Nexus 10 has a dual-core processor and a quad-core graphics chipset, which matches the hardware of the iPad. However, the Nexus 10 has 2GB of RAM, while the iPad only has 1GB.

Great stylus:Samsung Galaxy Note

The Samsung Galaxy Note will be a good alternative to the iPad if you want two features for your tablet - expanded memory and a multifunctional stylus. Thanks to the microSD slot, the Note 10 can use up to 64 GB of memory, giving the user enough space to store a variety of files and photos. As we know, the memory in the iPad cannot be expanded. But what really sets Samsung's device apart from other tablets is the S-Pen stylus. It offers pressure-sensitive text input and convenient use thanks to the icons on the device itself. At a price of $500 you can find a high resolution screen or impressive performance characteristics in a tablet, but you won’t find such a convenient stylus anywhere else.

Miniature office: Microsoft Surface Pro

Microsoft Surface Pro can be considered more computer than a tablet, thanks to its processor Intel Core i5, 2 GB RAM and USB port. But him touch screen and great portability makes it a strong competitor in the tablet market. With Surface Pro you can install Microsoft Office and any other programs familiar from working with personal computer. This can be very useful when you need reliable software, not just the functionality typically achieved through apps. But the Microsoft Surface Pro costs $799 for the 64 GB version, which is more than $100 more than iPad version 64 GB, and weighs almost 300 grams more.

Specifications: Asus Transformer Pad Infinity

Thanks to the quad-core Nvidia processor Tegra 3 with clock frequency 1.6 GHz, microSD and Micro HDMI ports, a display with Full HRBHD resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels and reliable Gorilla Glass, it is clear that Asus Transformer Pad Infinity is betting on its specifications. In addition, you can add a keyboard, trackpad, SD card reader and USB port to the tablet and you practically have full-fledged computer in your palm. For $500 you won't find a second tablet with such specifications.

Economy: Kindle Fire HD

Most premium tablets cost $500 or more, but if you don't have many requirements for such a device, then you need to take a closer look at the Kindle Fire HD. This tablet is specified for playing media files, which is helped by a screen with a resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels with a pixel density of 254 ppi. It's also powered by a dual-core processor, so if you want to watch videos and surf the Internet from your tablet, the $269 price tag seems more reasonable than what other high-priced tablets offer.

The Chinese company Onda announced Tablet PC, the design of which completely replicates the look of the iPad Air 2. The manufacturer itself does not find anything in common between the products, apparently not wanting to become a participant in patent proceedings with the Americans. Feature This model, in addition to top-end characteristics, supports two operating systems, Android 4.4 and Windows 8.1.

The Onda V919 3G Air model largely copies the flagship full-size iPad: similar design in metal case, Retina display with a diagonal of 9.7 inches and a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. In this case, the device is built on alternative platform– 64-bit Intel processor Atom Z3736F with a clock frequency of 2.16 GHz, RAM capacity is 2 GB. 64 GB is provided for data storage. It is also possible to install memory cards up to 128 GB.

The configuration of the new product includes cameras with a resolution of 5 and 2 megapixels and a battery with a capacity of 6200 mAh. The dimensions of the device are 240 x 170 x 7.85 mm with a weight of 496 g. There is a card slot microSD memory(cards up to 128 GB are supported).

The main feature of the device is Insyde H2O - a BIOS modification that allowed the manufacturer to implement the ability to switch between operating systems in one click.

The cost of a tablet equipped with a 3G modem and allowing you to make calls is only $200.

Onda's assortment also includes another modification of this model. It runs exclusively on Android and is based on the MediaTek MT8392 platform backed by 16GB of flash memory. For this version you will have to pay only $150.

The confrontation between Android and iOS exists not only in the smartphone market, but also in the tablet market. The only representative from Apple is the iPad, and it deals with several at once various models, available on Android. We've found several reasons why buying an Android tablet makes more sense. We hope they will help you decide.

A large assortment

It's no secret that there are simply an unrealistic number of Android tablet manufacturers, which gives users huge selection, while models from Apple can be counted on one hand. When purchasing an Android tablet, there are many more options to choose from, such as case materials, design, various characteristics, a set of pre-installed software, etc. In addition, we have a considerable variation in terms of dimensions. On the market you can find models from 7 to 12 inches.

Thus, a large assortment is one of the reasons why you should take a closer look at an Android tablet, since everyone can find a model to their liking. With an iPad, you won't be able to appreciate the variety of tablets that are certainly available in Google OS products.

Wide price range

As for the cost, there are models on Android for almost any wallet, starting from 2000-3000 rubles. and ending with 30,000 rubles. and higher. Thus, anyone can afford a tablet, which cannot be said about the adherents of the Apple company. Although the prices for the iPad correspond to the quality, not everyone can afford it. Considering that the saving factor is always important, you are guaranteed to be able to find suitable model on Android.

It is also worth noting that when choosing an Android tablet, you only pay for those functions that you will actually use. That is, if you are not going to perform complex tasks that require large resources, or play demanding games, but just use the device to navigate the Internet, then there is no need to overpay for the latest hardware. You can choose a tablet from the average price category, which will fully meet your expectations and meet your requirements. iPad users mandatory they pay for everything at once, even for functionality that they may never use.

Freedom in terms of software

Speaking of the large assortment and price range, one cannot ignore this important aspect operating room Android systems in general, as freedom in terms of software. You can easily expand your usage experience, for example, change appearance desktop using launcher () , add useful widgets, change icons, animations, menus and much more that is not available iOS users. Thus, we are once again faced with restrictions from the Cupertino company.

Among other things, many manufacturing companies create their own software that expands the capabilities of the tablet and brings new features to it. In other words, there are not only some differences in cosmetic terms, but also more significant changes. Typically, many companies add their own energy saving modes, multitasking, for example, or various gestures.

Overall, for users who like to personalize and customize everything, an Android tablet is a great option. Add to this full control over the system as root rights (yes, iOS has a jailbreak, but even that has its limitations) and even access performance-related options. You can increase the processor power in resource-intensive applications or, conversely, limit its operation in case of saving battery power. Undoubtedly, this kind of chips are not available on iPad.

Android is a tablet for everyone

The final argument may be the audience. For example, for the youngest users it will be preferable to purchase some inexpensive tablet on Android. IN Play Store There are specially designed apps for children (coloring books, puzzles, drawing programs, games and much more), which can perform for both educational and entertainment purposes.

In addition, a filter was announced for searching the store depending on the user's age, as well as a special section for children, so that adults do not worry about what content is available to their child and allow him to search and install applications himself.

Conclusion

What can we say in the end? If you are happy with closed operating system, in which you can only do what the company allows; if it's not a problem for you that the majority good apps will be paid; If you don’t see the benefits of freedom of choice between models and prices, then it’s better to stick with the iPad.

If you want a tablet that will not limit you in anything and will give you complete freedom of action; which will match yours financial capabilities; which children can easily use without your concerns about safety, then you should choose the Android option.