Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite vs iPad 10.2: which is the very best cheap tablet computer

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
While Samsung and Apple seem locked in head-to-head combat over the high-end tablet range, with the former's Galaxy Tab S6 and the latter's
iPad Pro 2020 close competitors, Samsung's Galaxy Tab A devices haven't really challenged the base-line iPads much.Likely looking to fix
that, Samsung put out the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, a more affordable version of the non-Lite device with specs, and a low price tag, that make it
a direct competitor to the iPad 10.2 from 2019.The iPad 10.2 is a member of Apple's (relatively) low-end line of tablets below the iPad Air,
Mini or Pro, aimed for people who want a new tablet for general tasks without breaking the bank
That's also what the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is trying to do.So which of these cheap tablets is best for you? We'll run you through the
various specs and features of both so you can make up your mind.Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite vs iPad 10.2 price and availabilitySamsung Galaxy
AU$529 for its 32GB option
Samsung tablet comes with an S Pen stylus for note-taking, doodling and drawing, the iPad 10.2 requires you to buy the Apple Pencil
of all its features, but given high prices are a characteristic trait of Apple devices, it's almost surprising that the cost difference
isn't bigger.Design and displayThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has dimensions of 244.5 x 154.3 x 7mm, whereas the iPad 10.2 is 250.6 x 174.1
x 7.5mm, so they're not hugely different
Similarly, their weights, at 467g and 483g respectively, aren't noticeably different either (not many people would be able to feel a 16g
difference).You won't feel many differences in build material, as both have glass fronts and aluminium sides and back
That doesn't mean the devices necessarily look alike though, as the iPad 10.2 has thicker bezels and a physical home button, unlike the
Galaxy Tab
In addition, the iPad's back feels a little more rounded in the hand.The iPad 10.2 (Image credit: Future)On the back both tablets have their
single rear camera to the top left (if you're holding it portrait), and unlike many smartphones nowadays both tablets have a 3.5mm headphone
jack
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite comes with a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, but the iPad 10.2 uses Apple's proprietary Lighting
cable.In terms of screens, you're getting a 10.2-inch panel in the iPad 10.2 (hence the name) but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a
10.4-inch screen, so it's a touch bigger
The panel of the latter is slightly longer too, with a 5:3 aspect ratio instead of the 4:3 of the iPad.The iPad's screen is a touch more
high-resolution at 1620 x 2160, better than the Samsung tablet's 1200 x 2000
It's rare for Samsung to lose in a screen head-to-head, but this could be a sacrifice that had to be made to keep the price low.Camera and
battery lifeCameras often aren't very impressive in tablets, because you're not going to be using your device for portable photography due
to its size, but there are various uses you might find for a slate snapper.The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and iPad 10.2 both have 8MP rear
cameras, and due to an also-identical micron size we're inclined to say they'll offer a similar experience
We've yet to use Samsung's device, so we can't know that for certain.On the front of the Samsung slate is a 5MP sensor, while there's only a
1.2MP one on the iPad, so videos you shoot of yourself on the Galaxy Tab will be higher resolution.(Image credit: Samsung)In terms of
battery size, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a 7,040mAh power back while the iPad 10.2 has a 8,827mAh equivalent
Due to the latter's smaller screen size and bigger battery capacity we'd expect it lasts a little bit longer before needing a charge.We
don't actually know the iPad 10.2's charging speed; it comes with a 12W charger but found other chargers with higher wattage powered it up
quicker
In comparison the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has 15W fast charging
The Samsung slate will be quicker for most people, but if you've got tech from a recent iPhone you might be able to get better speeds from
the iPad.Features and specsA feature that's important to some people is unlocking, and while the iPad 10.2 has Touch ID letting you use your
fingerprint to unlock the device, you have to rely on password or pin protection for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
That's far less convenient for people who want to quickly access their device.The iPad 10.2 has Apple's A10 Fusion chipset which isn't the
most up-to-date from the company but it's still a powerful processor, comparable to top-end smartphones from a few years ago
That's paired with 3GB RAM.The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite on the other hand comes with the Exynos 9611 processor which, as with Apple's A10,
is a decent processor
We've typically found Apple's chipsets provide quicker processing speeds than Samsung's Exynos ones
However, the 4GB RAM is a touch better than the iPad's.(Image credit: Future)Looking at software, the iPad 10.2 has iPadOS, a fork of iOS 13
with a few tweaks to make it better optimized for tablets
Some of these tweaks, however, seem designed to make the tablet function as a psuedo-laptop, which some users may not find useful.On the
other hand the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has Android 10 with Samsung's One UI laid over the top - Android has yet to prove itself as a
decent operating system for tablets, and One UI can be quite divisive due to its looks, but people who use Samsung phones will be used to
it.Some tech users love Android devices, others iOS and its ecosystem, and this alone might be enough to sway some people who are loyal
fans.TakeawayChoosing between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite or iPad 10.2 may just be as easy as looking at the phone you're using
If it's an iPhone or Android device, you've already probably made up your mind to stick to the same ecosystem
There are probably only a select few people on the fence still.The iPad 10.2 has a more high-res screen and a better processor, so if these
are important factors for you then it's worth looking to the iPad.The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a higher resolution front-facing
camera, a price that's cheaper when you factor in the S Pen, and more RAM.So depending on the reason you're looking for a new cheap tablet,
check out which of the slates fits that function better, as it's likely that's the best device for you
Or, maybe wait until we've fully reviewed the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for our full verdict.Today's best Apple iPad 10.2 (2019) dealsApple 10.2"
iPad (Late 2019,Apple iPad 10.2-Inch Tablet10.2-inch iPad Wi-Fi 32GB -Apple Apple iPad 10.2" Wi-FiTo3Lgu8wCpRFvfdEGt5w5g.jpg?#