iPad or some other tablet?

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My poor deprived DCs (12 & 14yo) don't have any portable gadgets, other than ancient phones (contracts ending in Dec but will likely only be renewed at bottom end of the market).

They have both decided they'd like iPad Minis for Christmas, which I don't disagree with on principle but neither can articulate why they "must" have iPads rather than a cheaper tablet, they are just certain they are "better".

So what are the pros/cons of an ipad v other tablets?

IME (with toys) it's better to get something completely different than a cheaper version of what they really want, but not sure if that applies here. If I'm going to spend £££ then I want it to be on something they'll be happy about but OTOH, there is a massive difference in price.

I have a apple ipad that I swear by and my OH as the Samsung that he swears at because it's slow, I'd go for Apple

Absolutely love my I Pad. It is brilliant and if you have any problems and are anywhere near an Apple shop you get really good service. Apple also do free introductory lessons no matter where you buy it. Lucky children, poor mum!

The iPad Just Works. Other tablets are slow, buggy, get outdated, filled up with junk...etc

iPads are simple, easy to use. iPad minis are portable, but where are they taking them?

And at 12 and 14? If they can't explain why they want/need it make them research and write a proposal to justify the model they want? :D haha, at the least it will give them the practice now before they do it in the workplace

I have a nexus and it is much more robust than the ipads the dc have for school. ( dont get me started on the terrible deals apple have done with schools to grab a huge share of the market by making ipad purchase practically compulsory and the punitive payment schemes which mean that parents are encourage to pay 3x the original price for the luxury of paying in instalments) I can print from it, surf, play games, watch videos all the usual stuff.

I find the ipad incomprehensible- it works very differently to a PC and is not compatible- no usb socket or sd card slot.

I hear nothing but swearing from dh with regard to the apple store and he works in IT.

If something breaks on an ipad they are so expensive to fix, you might as well replace them. Not to mention how much they cost to buy in the first place.

They are just certain they they are "better"? No, they're just certain that they're "cooler"!

TBh yes they prob are a bit better, but not so much that they would notice or need them.

There are entry level minis for about £230 (?) so if you're happy to spend this then go for it, but if not a HUDL2 is a perfectly acceptable alternative (and a great performer) for almost half the price.