Apple launched the iPad in 2010, and while there are plenty of other tablets out there, there's still nothing quite like it. But that doesn't mean there aren't better alternatives for many people.
iPad Buying Guide (2024) – Don't Waste Your Money!
The iPad is a big iPhone, which is both its strength and its weakness. It’s easy to use, it’s nearly impossible to mess anything up on (unlike a Mac or PC), and it has access to millions of iPhone and iPad apps from the App Store. But it’s also limited. While the iPad has become increasingly capable over the years, it’s still hampered by its roots as an oversized phone. But despite this, or maybe because of it, the iPad is still the best tablet available, and if you’re already in the Apple world, it’s the only one worth considering.
"The iPad has met every expectation I could ever have from an Apple device and has helped me complete projects for work or play with ease. Because it's so thin, it's a brilliant tool to have in my camera bag for editing on the go, and it's never let me down. I have no reason to look for or choose another tablet and I can imagine that I will always be 'loyal' to the brand," pro photographer and iPad enthusiast Odi Caspi told Lifewire via email.
The iPad’s biggest competitor is the Android tablet, and that’s because they’re so cheap. Android tablets are something you buy to watch YouTube while you cook dinner or to keep the kids quiet. There are more expensive options, but none are as responsive as the iPad, and none have the depth of software support. Many Android tablet apps are still literally Android phone apps blown up to work on a larger screen.
