Recent developments in Google’s Android tablet initiative have highlighted a long-standing issue that many have recognized for some time.
As reported by Android Authority, Google plans to introduce a new badge in its Google Play Store, which will distinguish apps specifically designed for the larger displays of tablets and foldable devices.
While this appears to be a positive step, it arguably underscores Google’s significant shortcomings in the tablet market.
Google’s tablet blind spot
One might wonder why it has taken Google so long to emphasize apps optimized for tablets when Android tablets have been around since 2010.
This delay points to a deeper issue: Google’s ongoing struggle to differentiate between apps that are truly optimized for tablets and those that are merely stretched versions of phone apps.
This challenge feels like a relic from an earlier tech era, yet it continues to affect Android tablet users as of mid-2026.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Apple’s tablet dominance
Apple, on the other hand, does not face these issues. Although mobile apps can still take time to arrive on the iPad—WhatsApp, for instance, only recently launched a native iPad app—there is generally a vast selection of apps that are well-suited for the iPad.
Apple’s dominance in the tablet market is evident, holding a 51.5% share of the market as of early 2026, according to StatCounter. Given the fragmented nature of Android tablets, with Samsung in second place at just 25.8%, Apple maintains a strong lead.
This market is clearly Apple’s stronghold, and it could potentially expand its influence even further.
With John Ternus now leading Apple, the company might push even further. Ternus, who spearheaded the MacBook Neo development, could drive Apple toward a complete takeover in the tablet space.
Waiting for a saviour named Neo
While we typically leave Mac discussions to our colleagues at Macworld, we keep a close eye on Apple’s laptops, particularly since many of us use them professionally. The MacBook Neo, in particular, is well known.
Apple’s MacBook Neo represents a breakthrough as the company ventures into the affordable laptop market. This attractive, highly accessible, and capable laptop retails for a mere £600/$600.
Priced for the average student, it targets the same segment as many inexpensive Windows laptops, which it far outshines.
Apple’s next logical move seems to be the introduction of an iPad Neo to dominate the tablet market. Offering a vibrant, full-sized tablet around £200/$200, with Apple’s unmatched synergy of software and hardware and its advanced custom silicon capabilities, could seal its market leadership.
Despite potential concerns about Apple strengthening its dominance, Google and its Android partners are largely responsible for their struggles. Sixteen years have passed without a strong, consistent Android tablet ecosystem, marred by numerous missteps and unfulfilled promises.
As the MacBook Neo disrupts the Windows laptop market, an iPad Neo could be the catalyst needed to invigorate the Android tablet landscape.
