Apple iPad Air vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014: Center of gravity

25 November 2013
With the smartphone market driven towards equilibrium, tablets will be the new battleground. The Apple iPad Air and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 emerge as the archrivals in the 10-inch category...

Sort by:

  • G
  • Greenkhan
  • uLc
  • 05 Sep 2021

Anonymous, 15 Jan 2014There is a difference. One is a very intuitive, functional... moreWow, someone who thinks of Apple like I do. Bang on what I always tell people.

    • t
    • tekno12
    • PSv
    • 17 Nov 2016

    While this is a good review for both units, the reviewer seemed more "excited" and a little biased favoring galaxy note 10. From my observation, the descriptions and technical details is almost always longer for the samsung unit. It's as if the reviewer prefers Note but does not mind having an iPad. Just pointing that out. And I prefer the Samsung Note 10 than iPad Air. Better apps and battery life for Ipad, but S Pen makes the samsung unit so much better for me.

      • S
      • SeanF
      • ruf
      • 16 Oct 2015

      Having access to both older units and watching the iOS vs. Android battle rage on, after owning both a Apple iPad 2 and a Samsung GTab p5100 I can for sure say the iPads outlast the droids by a long way. As the OS evolves often the droids run out of hardware power while iOS remains relatively responsive no matter how old the device. So until I see a Samsung that ages well, my new iDevice is on its way to me. I have had my iPhone 5 & 5S spanning many peoples different Sony's, Samsungs, Blackberry's etc. Simply more durable, better finished and provide higher performance for longer thus saving money.

        • D
        • D.J
        • fCx
        • 05 Jun 2014

        I have bought note 10.1....and I love it....the only problems with ipad is its complications,like itunes,pemissions from apple etc....so for students and artists NOTE 10.1(2014) is the best than ipad.....

          • C
          • Cotso
          • v6n
          • 26 May 2014

          I read several reviews prior to this and this leaves the others behind by a country mile. Thanks I have now made my buying decision based on this in depth analysis.

            • K
            • Kaimu
            • r0p
            • 10 May 2014

            one of the most unbiased reviews I've ever come across. That's why I love you gsmarena. Always presents the case exactly the way it is. Tells us how much time you spend in the labs and anywhere else analysing the gadgets-and your efforts are very much appreciated.
            By the way, you don't have to tell us(just as you didn't) what the best tablet is(as some, if not most, reviewers do). After such a technical review, one surely ought to know who the winner is.

              • O
              • Omega
              • J@H
              • 10 May 2014

              This comparison is the best I had ever seen. However,I find that apps analysis were quite tendentious for Samsung tab. Their advantages are not really functional. In my everyday activities, they wouldn't make a lot of difference. They seem to be just a demonstration, something like "my tablet has 12 functions, and yours has 9"... I don't know any Office Suit that is so beautiful and easy-to-use like iWorks. It's much, much better than any Android office suite ever made.

                • s
                • shivarangan
                • Xuv
                • 21 Apr 2014

                Highly diplomatic review. You guys could not land onto a conclusion yourself. How can you guide readers? You did not even compare both tablets on price point which is a major deciding factor for many users. Apple always gives stuff in there products which is relevant and not good to have. There camera is not "generarion old" but they know that clicking shots from a 10 inch device is insane. Please don't be so diplomatic in your reviews.


                Handwriting recognition by the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, a 4G LTE Tablet.

                  • k
                  • kirland
                  • rMk
                  • 13 Mar 2014

                  Love all the negative comments about tablet usage and productivity - on both sides of the aisle.

                  Just buy a laptop. Fixed.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • N9@
                    • 07 Mar 2014

                    AnonD-241455, 07 Mar 2014The value of each advantage over the other tablet is ranked... moreNice review. very straightforward nd unbiased. If everyone on gsmarena can b truthful, unbiased nd straight forward, gsmarena would be a better place. BT all I see here is nonsense nd wayward biased comments from useless fans that the various companies don't even pay or care about ,be it htc, apple, samsung, LG, Sony..... fans.come on guys, quit hating nd give helpful and truthful comments about different products, so as to enable more customers to make up their mind for their preferred platforms or products. If u like insult samsung or apple products from nw till "thy Kingdom come" , none of dem will pay u a dime for doing so for them.wise up people and be fair to yourself nd others.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-241455
                      • Rr%
                      • 07 Mar 2014

                      The value of each advantage over the other tablet is ranked on a scale of 1-10 where 10 is highest. Also the value of each disadvantage (the annoying things) is ranked from -1 to -10 where -10 is most annoying. I excluded advantages like S-pen and multitasking since I and most others won’t really use those features.

                      Ipad advantages
                      1. Better web browsing experience (4)
                      A. Web pages open a little bit faster (both open fast enough though)
                      B. Ratio size is better and format is better for reading (words are larger)
                      C. Smoother with lesser lag or stutter or skipped framerates when scrolling
                      D. Much better cursor editing
                      2. Longer Battery Life (5)
                      3. Charges faster. I mostly gain battery when I use it while it’s charging (3).
                      4. Better apps, some exclusive apps, and first to get some major apps(4)
                      5. Lighter to hold (1)
                      6. A little more bass in speakers (1)
                      Ipad negatives (annoying things)
                      1. There is a limited speed in which one can flick scroll. (-1)
                      2. Not a good laptop replacement. (-10)
                      A. No ability to use bluetooth mouse, and thus no way to do keyboard-mouse combination.
                      B. No external sd card slot.
                      C. No usb device support (use of otg usb adapters)
                      D. Must use ITUNES software to get music, documents, video, etc. on the device.
                      E. Can’t torrent
                      3. No ability to swype on keyboard or use predictions. (-5)
                      4. No flash on back camera (-1)
                      Total score: 1

                      Note 10.1 (2014) advantages
                      1. More customizable (1)
                      A. Widgets
                      B. Wall papers (LIVE)
                      C. Lock screens
                      D. Launchers
                      E. Schedulers
                      2. A better desktop/laptop replacement (10)
                      A. Windows like file system for navigation of files with zip support
                      B. Drag and Drop and Bluetooth files, doesn’t need external software to get stuff on it
                      C. Can pair both BT keyboard and BT mouse to work at the same time
                      D. Can play more audio and video files natively.
                      E. Otg cables for usb devices
                      F. SD card slot.
                      G. Can use torrents.
                      3. Better video screen quality (sharper-better colors) and better ratio for movies (bigger video). (3)
                      4. Surround sound speaker effect (speakers are separated) (3)
                      5. Can hook up to hd tv via hdmi with Samsung adapter better and with less hassle (3).
                      6. Can control tv and other devices (1)
                      Note 10.1 (2014) disadvantages (annoying things)
                      1. Stutter at times (can be fixed somewhat by rooting and installing custom roms) (-3)
                      2. Some apps aren’t available or not as good (-2)
                      3. Bad charge slot placement (for many cases). Should be on the short side. (-4)
                      4. Charges far too slow (even uses more battery when using it while charging) (-7)
                      5. Battery life isn’t as good. (-4)
                      Total score: 1

                      Conclusion: If your purpose is not a laptop replacement and you will mostly have access to a computer when having the tablet then the ipad air is best. If your primary purpose is more of a laptop replacement where you won’t have access to a computer mostly then note 10.1 (2014) is best. To be honest, the best thing to do is get a great Android phone (like note 3) with an ipad air. Use the phone for stuff the ipad can’t do.

                      With that said, I’m going to sell the note 10.1 and galaxy s4 and get a note 3 and use it for stuff the ipad air can’t do (like torrents). I’ll keep the ipad air but deal with the annoying things (no predictions on typing or ability to get books and other files on it without use of a computer).

                        • S
                        • Space monkey
                        • tue
                        • 28 Feb 2014

                        Veks, 14 Jan 2014lol, the Apple vs Samsung/Android debate. The better one is... moreThat is so true.i own both of it.each has its own special functionality.

                          • D
                          • AnonD-197878
                          • fkW
                          • 16 Feb 2014

                          can i use the g 10.1 2014 with an overhead projector ?

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • iV}
                            • 11 Feb 2014

                            Anonymous, 20 Dec 2013ipad do not need 3gb ram . it's not needed to use 3gb ram .... moreActually to utilize full 64 bit chip architecture you need 3 -4 gb ram. It helps with multitasking.

                              • D
                              • AnonD-154542
                              • u7Y
                              • 09 Feb 2014

                              Anonymous, 15 Jan 2014There is a difference. One is a very intuitive, functional... moreeverything is copied...even most of your Samsung is copied from others. We also copy which seems better for us. Technology is invented by scientists at laboratories not by apple or samsung. They only buy & use it.

                                • D
                                • AnonD-226750
                                • 4Jj
                                • 23 Jan 2014

                                Your wrong about as pet ratios. 16:10 or 1.6:1 is closer to almost every major book and magazine format from most publishers. And as far as Websites go the note is made to operate in Landscape but is more than adequate for any website in portrait with large text and allows you to see More lines at once because it is longer. A4 is closer to 4:3 but the ipad is to small to edit without Zooming putting it on par with the Note and Legal is much closer to 16:10 Oh and spen for editing documents. And most professional photos are closer to 16:10
                                Maybe I should do your job for you

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 4QS
                                  • 17 Jan 2014

                                  Anonymous, 15 Jan 2014*Cough what a fanboy *CoughYawn...Jealous trolling is your best then?

                                  Did the truth hurt? Better get it checked.
                                  It is the truth. IOS apple and stuff it's restricted and scams. The hardware in the phone does not justify the price. Especially compared to today's flagships.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 7sn
                                    • 15 Jan 2014

                                    Anonymous, 15 Jan 2014There is a difference. One is a very intuitive, functional... more*Cough what a fanboy *Cough

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-224300
                                      • 4Qy
                                      • 15 Jan 2014

                                      I have this tablet too, I also had last years model previously. You can use the writing to text in almost everything. The only thing I Know of that you can't use it for is inputing passwords (which is a given). All you have to do is long-press the mic or settings button on the Keyboard and select the T w/pencil by it. That gives you the writing pad. I do understand what you're talking about with the difference in the writing, I guess you just get used to it like that, but if yours has frozen up and stuff it has to be a defect and I'd go trade it for a new one ASAP. That is NOT normal, it could've been dropped or damaged during delivery to the store you bought it from, (it wouldn't be the first time that's happened) It's happened to me before with my Kindle. This has got to be one of the BEST tablets I've ever used, and I've tried a Lot of them, trust me. So, trade that defect for one that works, because you're not going to find a better tablet.
                                      P-S. if you want to learn more about what it can do, watch some YouTube videos on it. Either that or just fool around on it till you figure it out! That's what I do, experiment! Hope this helps!

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 4QS
                                        • 15 Jan 2014

                                        Veks, 14 Jan 2014lol, the Apple vs Samsung/Android debate. The better one is... moreThere is a difference.
                                        One is a very intuitive, functional, adaptive, mutlti tasking, customizable, computer like system that is very user friendly.
                                        The other is a glorified app launcher the uses system wide restriction to create the failed illusion of perfection. It is limited in way that even old feature/flip phones were not. It runs on over priced devices made from copied, stolen, and bought things. It's a bad scam from a company that even scams millions or billions out of schools.