Android tablets never killed the iPad, but they found a lane — budget media devices, kid tablets, Samsung Galaxy Tabs for note-taking, and Pixel Tablet as a smart home hub. Foldables like Galaxy Z Fold and Pixel Fold add a phone that unfolds into a small tablet. The common thread is more screen space when you want it.
Google pushes large-screen quality harder than it used to. Play Store highlights tablet-optimized apps. Android 12L and later improved multitasking — split screen, taskbar on some devices, drag-and-drop between apps. An app that looks like a blown-up phone UI feels cheap on a 11-inch display.
Good large-screen apps use the width. Mail shows inbox and message side by side. Notes show pages and tools together. Video apps keep browsing while playback runs. Developers use window size classes and Compose breakpoints instead of assuming one phone width.
Foldables add hinge awkwardness. Content can sit across the fold or reflow when you open the device. Test on emulators at least — ideally on real hardware if you ship to power users. Samsung and Google publish guidance for adaptive layouts; follow it rather than fighting the hinge.
Stylus support on Galaxy Tab and some others turns tablets into sketch pads and PDF annotators. Latency improved; palm rejection is decent. Not everyone needs a pen, but creative and student audiences care.
Buying advice: match the job. Cheap tablet for Netflix and browsing — almost anything works. Work tablet — check keyboard case quality, pen support, and app compatibility. Foldable phone — premium price for convenience; wonderful if you read email and documents daily on the go. Android's strength on big screens is choice; pick hardware first, then apps that respect the space.