Android vs iPad 3G

[Colleen27]

I've decided to get with the times and get me a decent mobile techie toy, mostly to use while traveling and while stuck at interminable sports tournaments (love my kids' games, but the hours-long wait in between not so much). What I'm having trouble deciding is which to get...

At first I was leaning toward an Android phone. The up-front cost is much lower ($150) but it will also add $120/year to our cell phone bill, and I'm having second thoughts about whether I'd really use the cell connection often enough to be worth the higher bill. To complicate matters further, we're with MetroPCS so while we have excellent coverage at home and in most major cities, there are places like our vacation property up north and even some of the towns the kids' sports tourneys have been in where we're not likely to have coverage at all.

Then I started thinking maybe the iPad with no-contract 3G is the way to go. The upfront cost is higher ($399 for refurbed 32G) but it only adds to our monthly expenses when it is needed, so I could pay $30 in January for our trip to Disney and our annual winter waterpark weekend, then not have another bill until July/Aug when I activate it to go up north. I'd probably only use 2mo of 3G per year, and AT&T's network is far more extensive than MetroPCS.

But never having had either device I'm not sure if there is something I'm missing in doing the math. WWYD?

 

[timmac]

Generally, I tend to favor Android over iOS, and I think the phone would have a broader range of usability and flexibility.

That said, in your case, I'd almost certainly recommend going for the iPad. Since you mention you're with MetroPCS, that means you're limited to their offerings; and while they do offer a few Androids now, most of them aren't best-in-class by any means (there's a reason they are $150).

I don't think you're making any mistakes in the math.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

[snip]Then I started thinking maybe the iPad with no-contract 3G is the way to go. The upfront cost is higher ($399 for refurbed 32G) but it only adds to our monthly expenses when it is needed, so I could pay $30 in January for our trip to Disney and our annual winter waterpark weekend, then not have another bill until July/Aug when I activate it to go up north. I'd probably only use 2mo of 3G per year, and AT&T's network is far more extensive than MetroPCS.

But never having had either device I'm not sure if there is something I'm missing in doing the math. WWYD?

The only mistake is that the cost of the ATT data plans for the iPad are $15 for 250Mb and $25 for 2GB. So if you only use the 3G 2 months, your cost would be $50. -- Suzanne

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There really is no comparison between an iPad and an Android phone. If you already have a cell phone, go with the iPad. It's a much better option for games, movies, web browsing, etc.

 

[Colleen27]

Generally, I tend to favor Android over iOS, and I think the phone would have a broader range of usability and flexibility.

That said, in your case, I'd almost certainly recommend going for the iPad. Since you mention you're with MetroPCS, that means you're limited to their offerings; and while they do offer a few Androids now, most of them aren't best-in-class by any means (there's a reason they are $150).

I don't think you're making any mistakes in the math.

Thanks. Their selection of Android models has improved vastly in the year or so since we switched over from Sprint but they're still low-end compared to what the bigger providers offer, and the no-contract/low-monthly means paying full price for the phone. But going back to a different company isn't an option; Sprint would cost as much for talk-and-data on one phone as we're currently paying for two.

The only mistake is that the cost of the ATT data plans for the iPad are $15 for 250Mb and $25 for 2GB. So if you only use the 3G 2 months, your cost would be $50. -- Suzanne

So that's better than I thought. At some point, maybe when the iPad was brand new, I thought I read $30 and I hadn't checked since.

There really is no comparison between an iPad and an Android phone. If you already have a cell phone, go with the iPad. It's a much better option for games, movies, web browsing, etc.

I do already have a cell phone with a QWERTY keyboard, so it is more than adequate for talk & text. The web capabilities are very limited; they get the job done for pulling up maps or using Google instead of 411 or checking the Lines app in the parks, but not much more. So that's mainly what I'm interested in expanding - better web and added entertainment options, and it sounds like the iPad wins in that department.