Why I Bought an Android Device for the First Time Ever (Samsung)
Understanding My Wants as a Consumer
I’m not an Apple “fangirl” by definition. My reasoning for having all Apple products isn’t because I inherently believe they are always the superior product in its class nor that every decision they make is right. Yes, I clearly enjoy their products, but there are things I also don’t like about Apple and the decisions they’ve made through the years. I found myself entrenched in Apple’s ecosystem simply because it was the device I was most familiar with and it just so happened to work for my personal needs. Despite my grievances, I’ve generally been satisfied with my purchases. Having my devices work well with each other was (and still is) very important to me. I suppose if I started out with Android devices I might have found myself in a similar situation. One reason for this change is simply, curiosity.
I’ve been curious about Android specifically in Samsung’s ecosystem so I decided that I would try a tablet first. Many of you probably consider that to be a terrible idea. If there is any general consensus I’ve found, it’s that everyone pretty much agrees that the iPad is the best tablet money can buy. I also agree. In fact, up until recently there really was no legitimate competition worth comparing to the iPad spec-for-spec. Why did I choose a tablet as my first Android device? I don’t need the best tablet money can buy. Yes, they’re shiny and futuristic-looking but a tablet is the device I use the least. If I’m going to learn a new OS, I’d feel a lot better about it if I can take my time learning the shortcuts and options at my own pace. In our current COVID-19 world, my phone and computer have become more important now more than ever. I’d rather adjust to the learning curve on my personal time. Why not start with a device that for me will essentially be used for a little productivity with most of its use directed at entertainment and media consumption?
After settling on which device to switch, I went for the Samsung Tab s6 Lite instead of the Tab s5e. I read a lot of reviews and watched enough YouTube to figure out that between the two devices the s5e is the better choice overall for media consumption. The differences aren’t drastic enough that I felt I’d be missing out. It came down to if I wanted an S pen and I really did. I’m still a fan of good ol’ pen and paper for note-taking because it helps me retain information (it’s a thing) but I’d also like to take a stab at saving a few trees in the process. And I must say, the Samsung Tab design looks so sleek! I can’t remember that last time I was genuinely excited about Apple hardware. The most affordable iPad without applecare including the apple pencil would’ve cost me $428 9 (tax excluded). This brings me to my final reason for my decision: the price. I stacked discounts at Samsung and also opted for a bundle deal for the Tab s6 Lite, Galaxy Buds Plus, and 4 months of YouTube Premium for $306.37 (tax excluded). There was no way I was going to pass up the value of that for the price point.
My decision comes with some important drawbacks
My previous tablet was a first generation iPad Mini. It was gifted to me in 2012. One could assume that since I’ve been using an almost 8 year old device that’s now obsolete that I don’t care as much about having the newest or highest performing tablet. And they’d be right. But one of the things that makes Apple work so well is its ecosystem and security updates. I know that I’ve been able to get away with such an old tablet working well for so long because of the software. Apple updates their devices for 5–6 years. Android typically updates for 2–3 years. With my current purchase I essentially chose value over longevity of performance. Within the past few days I’ve noticed how terrible Samsung’s face detection is. It works probably 60% of the time for me. There are other options like pin number and password that can be supplemented but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a bit annoying that face detection doesn’t work so well. A fingerprint option would’ve probably been their best route. Also, their apps are lacking in comparison to the cohesive Apple ecosystem. These are all things I knew beforehand and these are examples of some of the decisions you will have to make for yourself when deciding what is important to you. Although it bugs me (no pun intended) that the support is lacking, I also paid a lot less. I think I can live with that.
As of today, the bundle deals / sales are still active on Samsung’s website. Click here for 5% off to be applied to your order. Or if you want to wait for another time, apply the referral code ref-38k9x6 for the 5% off.
What OS do you prefer for which device? Is it across the board Android / Apple or is it a mix bag?
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