Should I go iPad or Android?

Updated Nov 21, 2024 by Jason Stone (Logos)

I am planning to purchase a tablet and want guidance on which would be best? Logos/Vyrso is my main reason, though I'll also do email, web, etc. I'm interested in your overall impressions as well as Logos-specific input. My questions for y'all:

Why did you choose your particular tablet?
What do you like best?
What do you wish was different?
Most important factor(s) I should weigh in my decision.

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JT (alabama24)

I have no experience with android (nor any desire to), so you can take my comments with a grain of salt. Here are some thoughts:

Since your main purpose is Logos, you should know that the iOS app is further along in development.
The iPad has over 70% of the market. The next two competitors (Samsung & Kindle Fire) have under 8% of the market each.
If money isn't an issue, I would NOT get anything smaller than an iPad's form factor.
You say that the device will primarily be for Logos, but you very well may be surprised with the other things you do with it. With this in mind, the iOS APP Store is the largest mobile store with the most apps.
iOS is designed for security. It isn't fool proof, but it is more secure than Andriod.

I love my iPad and use it daily. You should be aware that the mobile app is NOT "Logos 4." You should not expect do do all of the same things on it. There are many features that require a internet connection. It is great for reading (including reading plans) and highlighting, which is what I use it for.

macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

Kevin A. Purcell

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I own my third iPad (get new one each year) and a Kindle Fire. I owned an ASUS EeePad Transformer too before selling it. The Logos iPad app is ahead of the Android app. You can't add notes or highlights on Android yet.. There are other things.

If all you do is read books on the tablet, then the Android will work find and I'd go with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" tablet. It's 7" and only $250 compare to 10" and 500 minimum for iPad. Kindle books and Logos for just reading work great on it.

If you think you will do much more than reading - which you wil, trust me - then get an ipad if you can afford it and get as big an iPad as you can afford. I have a 32 GB and it feels cramped.

Dr. Kevin Purcell, Director of Missions
Brushy Mountain Baptist Association

www.kevinpurcell.org

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Thanks, Kevin, for the feedback. Since you've owned several devices (and I don't yet have enough $$ for a new iPad), maybe you can answer a few additional questions:

What would I be missing by buying an iPad2 instead of the new one?
I will usually have internet available. When I don't, what will I be missing out on with the Logos app (for iPad or Android)?
I've heard that there are more free apps for Android, whereas many for iPad cost $$. Has that been what you've found?
I've also heard that there's less flexibility and customizability with an iPad. What's been your experience?

Lionel B Dyck

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Kevin - let me chime in. I would recommend a iPad 2, either new or refurbished (which is less expensive).

What you won't get in comparison with the iPad 3rd Generation is the Retina display which is like going from an old tube TV to HD. You may not notice the difference (many don't until they see a video or high definition picture). I have a wifi only iPad and when there is no wifi around you can't download new pubs or do some searches/word studies.

I can't comment on the Droid vs IOS apps as I haven't looked into the droid market but I can tell you that there are more IOS apps than you'll ever need/want/use. There are many that are free, and there are even apps that tracks free apps as some will start free or be place on sale for free to drive market share (and they hope positive feedback in the app store). Other apps are $0.99 which is fair and there are others that are more expensive but you don't need to get those unless you see the need.

I've been a happy iPad user with Logos since the iPad 2 came out last year. Is Logos the best Bible app? I couldn't say but it does most of what I need when I'm away from a real PC.

For reading plans I gave up on Logos and am using YouVersion which does a FANTASTIC job with reading plans. You pick one and it just works, even syncs to their cloud so you can use YouVersion plans on multiple platforms.

Just my $0.01

GregW

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I am a lifelong Apple-loather, but have an iPad 2, which I use daily, for Logos, light email and Web use, productivity management (although I don't use the supplied Apple Reminders app which is not much use). I was hanging on for an Android device, having given up on Microsoft bringing anything to market in a reasonable timescale, but went for the iPad in the end for the following reasons:

The Logos app for iPad was considerably more mature than that for Android, and is still well ahead of it.
I want something that will be supported into the future, and gave up on Android when Amazon brought out the Kindle fire using a different Android codebase and app store from the rest of the market. It is notable that the Kindle Fire has not yet been launched in this part of the world, which suggests that Amazon is already having second thoughts on this.
The relative insecurity of Android: your point about free apps is moot here. Free apps are a popular way of getting malware onto your machine, so I would be suspicious of any free apps that don't come from a reputable source.
Form factor: this is the size and dimensions of the device: the iPad, in my view, is the ideal size for a tablet, and works really well for me.

The only things I still use my PC for since getting my iPad are:

email - anything requiring more than a simple reply I still use Outlook for.
creating documents - Word/Powerpoint/Excel - although I can do minor edits on these on my iPad, I am far more productive with them on my PC.
Heavy-duty Logos work - syntax/morph searches, using resources that aren't available on mobile devices, and things like sermon preparation or intensive study where I need a number of resources open at the same time.

Things I love about the iPad:

I can read Logos, Kindle, and Google Play books anytime, and carry an entire library around with me. I don't use iBooks as they can only be read on the Apple platform: the others can be read on all sorts of platforms.
I can use it almost instantly, with no boot-up time meaning I no longer carry a pen and notebook (or a laptop computer) around with me.
Cloud syncing means that documents on my PC are also up-to-date (via Dropbox) on my iPad and phone and the calendars, task lists and contacts on all three are always kept in sync (although I don't use iCloud)
Notes made on my laptop, iPad or phone are always synced across all devices using Evernote.
I hardly ever need to print anything out nowadays, as I always have documents I need with me on the iPad.

Running Logos 6 Platinum and Logos Now on Surface Pro 4, 8 GB RAM, 256GB SSD, i5

David Thomas

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I am a lifelong Apple-loather, but have an iPad 2, which I use daily, for Logos, light email and Web use, productivity management (although I don't use the supplied Apple Reminders app which is not much use). I was hanging on for an Android device, having given up on Microsoft bringing anything to market in a reasonable timescale, but went for the iPad in the end for the following reasons:

The Logos app for iPad was considerably more mature than that for Android, and is still well ahead of it.

I want something that will be supported into the future, and gave up on Android when Amazon brought out the Kindle fire using a different Android codebase and app store from the rest of the market. It is notable that the Kindle Fire has not yet been launched in this part of the world, which suggests that Amazon is already having second thoughts on this.

The relative insecurity of Android: your point about free apps is moot here. Free apps are a popular way of getting malware onto your machine, so I would be suspicious of any free apps that don't come from a reputable source.

Form factor: this is the size and dimensions of the device: the iPad, in my view, is the ideal size for a tablet, and works really well for me.

The only things I still use my PC for since getting my iPad are:

email - anything requiring more than a simple reply I still use Outlook for.

creating documents - Word/Powerpoint/Excel - although I can do minor edits on these on my iPad, I am far more productive with them on my PC.

Heavy-duty Logos work - syntax/morph searches, using resources that aren't available on mobile devices, and things like sermon preparation or intensive study where I need a number of resources open at the same time.

Things I love about the iPad:

I can read Logos, Kindle, and Google Play books anytime, and carry an entire library around with me. I don't use iBooks as they can only be read on the Apple platform: the others can be read on all sorts of platforms.

I can use it almost instantly, with no boot-up time meaning I no longer carry a pen and notebook (or a laptop computer) around with me.

Cloud syncing means that documents on my PC are also up-to-date (via Dropbox) on my iPad and phone and the calendars, task lists and contacts on all three are always kept in sync (although I don't use iCloud)

Notes made on my laptop, iPad or phone are always synced across all devices using Evernote.

I hardly ever need to print anything out nowadays, as I always have documents I need with me on the iPad.

As another lifelong apple-loather (and somebody who has been known to scold the apple fanboys for crashing PC forums) I agree with this post. I bought a refurbished iPad2 and have loved it. I use my Android phone to create a mobile hotspot so I can use my iPad in places where wi-fi is not available. My only difference from GregW is that I primarily use gmail (instead of outlook) for more longer email correspondence.

I still have some minor issues with iPad syncing with google servers on some calendar appointments,this is the only Apple product in my Technology toolbox, but I have to give Apple credit for this product.

Making Disciples! Logos Ecosystem = LogosMax on Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (Win11), Android app on tablet, FSB on iPhone & iPad mini, Proclaim (Proclaim Remote on Fire Tablet).

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Thanks for all the great feedback. Very helpful.

You mention Gmail, which is what I use. Are you able to do that fairly well via iPad?

Also, bluetooth (or wired) keyboards. Any feedback on that experience? I still envision myself doing most typing at my PC, but it may be worth investing in one for the tablet at some point.

David Thomas

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You mention Gmail, which is what I use. Are you able to do that fairly well via iPad?

Also, bluetooth (or wired) keyboards. Any feedback on that experience?

Yes, there is a Gmail app that I have installed to my iPad dock (i think that is what it is called) that is on my iPad home screen. it works very well.

The $69 apple bluetooth keyboard has greatly increased my ability to input into the iPad quickly. Next week I will be attending a class and the keyboard will allow me to keep up with the professor's lecture as I take notes in a nifty APP called AudioNote. Logitech makes a keyboard/case duo that is pretty attractive but I wanted to keep my iPad THIN when I carry it around and the keyboard is not something that I use most of the time. Just my 2 cents.

Making Disciples! Logos Ecosystem = LogosMax on Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (Win11), Android app on tablet, FSB on iPhone & iPad mini, Proclaim (Proclaim Remote on Fire Tablet).

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Jun 9, 2012

Thanks for the input.

Can you tell me more about AudioNote. Sounds like something I might like.

David Thomas

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Jun 9, 2012

Thanks for the input.

Can you tell me more about AudioNote. Sounds like something I might like.

I don't want to take advantage of Logos forums to discuss a non-logos product. You can search for it in the iTunes store. [:D]

Making Disciples! Logos Ecosystem = LogosMax on Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (Win11), Android app on tablet, FSB on iPhone & iPad mini, Proclaim (Proclaim Remote on Fire Tablet).

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Thanks for the feedback. Two follow-up questions:

You mentioned "iPad's form factor." What is that?
Though I will usually have an internet connection, what functionality will I be missing when I don't?

JT (alabama24)

You mentioned "iPad's form factor." What is that?

Shape & size. The iPad is roughly the size of a "real" hardcover book.

Though I will usually have an internet connection, what functionality will I be missing when I don't?

If you don't have an internet connection, you can't view books you haven't downloaded. You can't do word studies or passage guides. These are all things done on the Logos servers due to hardware limitations.

I've heard that there are more free apps for Android, whereas many for iPad cost $. Has that been what you've found?

You should get an answer from Kevin, but I will take a stab at it. No, there are not "more" free apps on Andriod, but by percentage this may be true.

I've also heard that there's less flexibility and customizability with an iPad. What's been your experience?

Again, it would be good to hear from Kevin, but I will throw in my 2 cents. "Flexibility" and "customization" are not always good things, but yes, Andriod is so. If you were climbing a ladder, would you want the most flexible one, or the most stable? Let me give you an example. Apple was hard nosed about not allowing Adobe Flash on their mobile devices for two reasons: 1) Battery Life and 2) Security. Everyone made a huge deal about this at the time, but Apple won out and Adobe is no longer developing flash mobile. Yes, having flash would offer more "flexibility." Yes, having flash would allow for more customization. But in the long run Apple was concerned about the users experience. If flash became a gateway for a virus, or if it drained the users battery, who would they be upset with? Adobe? Nope. Apple stuck by their guns and it was the right decision.

macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

Andrew T

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Adam,

I don't know if you had heard, but Google is looking to release a tablet that is around $199 very shortly. They are trying to match the price of a Kindle, while providing the functionality of the ipad. It is so far being called the Google Nexus Tablet. I would wait for that before you buy anything.

David Salazar

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I have a Lenovo ThinkPad tablet and love it. Although around 1/2 thicker than the iPad you get a stylus that does practically all the functions as your finger (cept pinching -zoom/unzoom, etc). Plus you can write and it will transcribe (depending if you buy and app) you can write with the pen and it will transcribe in any app that you are using) or just take notes.

One of the nasty things about tablets is finger prints and with the styles you really don't have to worry about that.

Definitely the Logos app is more developed for iOS... i suppose at some point they may get pretty even (I suspect that the iOS will always be a little ahead just because of market share (doubt android will catch up or overtake in # as in the phones for tablets).

If you plan to use Logos extensively on the tablet with bells and whistles (whatever they may be) go for iPad. If you're going to use it for basic passage guide stuff (then consider both OS) In terms of apps yes iOS has many more (especially designed for tablets). But in 90% of cases there is an Android version or comparable.

If you want to have access to SD cards and USB port you definitely should go with certain Android tablets (but don't go for Android 2.xx, try getting with Ice Cream Sandwich (4.xx). iPad I'm sure has some add-ons that you can purchases but why carry around more stuff when you can have it built in. All depends on your style and wants. For me, Apple products just aren't designed to do/function how I want or need it to do.

Francis

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This is a great and very useful discussion. If I may ask a question of my own: how does one check for lexical information when using a Logos app? I was using biblia.com yesterday and so far the only answer I'd have is to open the original language resource (BHS or NA), check what the word is and then manually open a lexical resource to look it up. Is there not something available that compares to the type of info mouse hovering provides in the desktop version of Logos? What about keying to strong's numbers?

Graham Criddle