Apple’s iPadOS 15 is a wake-up call for Android tablet makers

It’s no secret that the designers of Google and Android tablets have struggled to compete against the iPad in recent years. While most tablets are still Android-based, IDC estimates that Apple’s Slate gained prominence in early 2021. Even the Android brands that have grown may have done so at Huawei’s expense. The Android tablet market may not be dying, but it is not exactly healthy.

And that’s especially worrying now that Apple introduced iPadOS 15. The new iPad software is catching up not only with the obvious Android tablet functions, but also with the advanced functions that are normally only known from high-end competitors like Samsung. There are even some features beyond what you can find in Android tablets today. Simply put, the new platform should sound the alarm to Google, Samsung, and others in the Android ecosystem – they risk losing their benefits if they don’t take tablets more seriously.

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It’s all in the details

In a way, this new version is about getting rid of some of the common ailments that could lead you to buy an Android tablet instead of looking at the iPad range. Real home screen widgets and an app drawer? You are here. An integrated web browser with extensions? Done. Apple has also redesigned its malicious notification system so that you don’t miss Android so much when reviewing your missed alerts. They are welcome updates, but nothing earth-shattering.

See also: The best Android tablets

However, iPadOS 15 also packs in some of the esoteric features you’d expect from a premium Android tablet like the Galaxy Tab, not an iPad. Apple seems to have largely fixed multitasking, with a user interface that is often as good (and possibly better) than what you’d find in Samsung’s One UI. There’s even a Samsung-style Quick Note feature that lets you quickly jot down a memo no matter what is on the screen. You don’t even have to move your mouse pointer or click a button.

Yes, the more advanced features have had rough equivalents in the Android tablet world for years, but they also show how far the iPad has come. Apple has caught up so far that it is now looking into some of the tools Android tablets love the most. If you’ve mostly stuck to Android tablets for the widgets and multitasking, what do you have left?

A couple of (potentially) fatal blows

However, some new iPad features could represent a real crisis for the Android tablet space as they don’t have any really competitive equivalents.

The textbook example is Universal Control. If you have both an iPad and a Mac, not only can you control that iPad from your computer, but you can also drag content between the two devices as if they were two displays for one computer. And did we mention that there is no setup? There’s no equivalent to this on an Android tablet – you can of course sync data with a Windows PC, but Apple’s approach on the iPad is much more seamless and faster. This is certainly a more convincing case if you want to move media between devices.

There is more. The iPad will soon have an official programming tool on the device thanks to Swift Playgrounds. Where is the equivalent of google? Focus helps you avoid distractions while you work or relax, and it’s a lot more than just toggling do not disturb. While you probably won’t be buying a tablet with coding or Zen focus as a requirement, the lack of direct Android equivalents, if even vaguely considered, could support the case for buying an iPad.

Google and friends need to act quickly

There’s still a list of things an Android tablet can do better than any iPad, despite this new software. There is no evidence that the (often cumbersome) filesystem is more sophisticated. Apple’s App Store policies will continue to restrict apps. And as much as efforts like FaceTime on the web will help expand cross-platform support, there is no doubt that Apple prefers its services to the detriment of competitors. An iPad is just not for you if you prefer complete control over the app’s default settings.

Even so, iPadOS 15 is a sign that Google, Samsung, and others should act with a sense of urgency. The Android tablet landscape was already suffering from a lack of native apps, slow advances in tablet-specific features, and vendors focusing more on low-cost media players and niche applications than general-purpose computing like the iPad. Apple’s new software only makes the situation worse. If Google and its friends don’t act quickly, they can give up even more ground and have a much harder time facing their main enemy.

And that would be a shame even if you are an iPad fan. Android tablet developers are helping Apple stay honest by pushing it to expand the functionality and performance of the iPad. A joint effort to revive Android tablets could help the entire category by giving you more choices for high performing devices. This is a win for everyone.