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Eight ways the iPhone pwns the iPad

by Erica Sadun May 5th 2010 at 12:00PM

We love our iPads. We wouldn't dream of giving them up. And yet, there are ways and situations where the iPhone simply works better. Without taking potshots at our beloved iPad, here is TUAW's respectful list of mega-win scenarios where the iPhone takes first place in usability.
  1. Making phone calls. Yes, you can use line2 to convert your iPad into a quasi-phone that accepts incoming calls, or fire up the Skype app, but for real-world use, nothing beats a device that you can stick into your pocket and then forget about. It rings, you answer, you talk, you hang up. It's a lot easier to use an iPhone than an iPad to make phone calls.
  2. Grocery lists. I don't know if you've tried hauling around an iPad in your shopping cart at SuperTarget or Publix, but it doesn't work very well. It's the pocket size, again. The iPhone form factor provides a better match to tracking your chores with on-the-go use than the iPad can. Small wins for this one.
Read on for more of our list...


  1. Taking pictures. The iPad's great but the iPhone is the one with the camera. You can shoot stills; you can shoot videos. There's nothing equivalent (yet) on the iPad.
  2. Navigation. When you need to Yelp on the go, the iPhone's pocket-size lends itself to quick reference. Pull out the phone, check the nearby restaurants, stick it back in your pocket. No worries either about adding a data plan, either; your iPhone probably already has one.
  3. Tracking. There is simply no way that I'm going to stick an iPad on my bicycle. If I'm on a ride or a long walk and I want to TrailGuru or RunKeeper my progress, it's the iPhone all the way. You want to mention the iPad's better battery life? Not going to win out over the small form factor in this case. I'll stick on an external battery pack if I need to but my tracker has to be small and I can't let myself be super-worried when my backpack hits the ground, the way I would with an iPad.
  4. Instant Messaging/Tweeting. Yes, there are some really sweet applications for both on the iPad -- and there's even that hack for SMS texting -- but if you see something and want to show it real quick, there's no beating the iPhone for that. You can grab a quick photo and seconds later it's on Twitter. You can't do that on an iPad.
  5. Online banking. Imagine this. You're staring at something, some new toy, say, that you really really really want but you can't be sure if you can afford it. The iPhone travels with you as you go shopping, helps you take comparison pictures of your new baby, and helps you transfer funds when you are in a position to make your purchase.
  6. Music. Okay, I'll admit that the iPod is even better than the iPhone for on-the-go music -- but that having been said, both the iPhone and the iPod are much more realistic music solutions for jogging and walking than the iPad. Gotta have your tunes? The iPhone fits better in your pocket.
Those are just eight reasons that the iPhone isn't leaving our Apple repertoire any time soon. What are your iPhone win scenarios? Let us know in the comments.

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We love our iPads. We wouldn't dream of giving them up. And yet, there are ways and situations where the iPhone simply works better....
 

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Sharado

A tip for Apple - how about a big screen (ala iPad) that can be bluetoothed to the iPhone - hey presto! - you now have the best of both. The screen is just a screen so doesn't have to be very expensive - all the clever stuff is in the iPhone.

September 03 2010 at 9:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
joeshanley

I agree, why would you want to take your ipad shopping with you?
The iPad isn't supposed to be instead of an iPhone.
The Phone calls point has baffled me - (why would you use it as your mobile phone)

The thing is, you are comparing the IPad and iPhone by taking into account features of a mobile phone. The iPad isn't a phone, so of course it's not as portable...

Stupid article...

August 14 2010 at 3:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
burn2666

While the iPad has a great interface to listen to music, there is nothing like the iPhone + Pandora or Groove. You probably already know Pandora, but if you don't know Groove, check this video now to see one of the best music app to create great playlists!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQekkH95uYU

August 05 2010 at 8:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ngrosso

8 reasons why Publix pwns any other grocery store....

June 01 2010 at 4:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
andy

Both maybe similar but it's somewhat orange vs. apple.
{offtopic ringtone link removed}

May 27 2010 at 12:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BZ

Eight ways the brain pwns the iPhone

1. Potable - it goes with you everywhere
2. Water proof so you can take it swimming
3. Built in protective hard case
4. Better speech recognition
5. Runs much longer between charges
6. Higher resolution, stereoscopic camera
7. Less chance of leaving it in a bar when drunk.
8. Doesn't come up with stupid list posts. No, wait...

May 16 2010 at 11:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Marvinm

Stupid article.... Why are you comparing two product
With different purposes? Editorial staff, check on this one.... What is this?!

May 14 2010 at 9:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Romesh

This article is like saying that a laptop is better than a desktop because you can move it around

May 07 2010 at 10:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JCat

Really, what a stupid article this is. Slow day huh? ? Try doing a real comparison. Or, how about: While iphone does 8 things better, we'll now show you 16 reasons why the ipad pwns the iphone. Or how about 50 reasons why an iphone is better then a soda can?

May 07 2010 at 4:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
vandil

The iPhone is designed to go everywhere. The iPad is designed to be a media consumption device in the home, coffee shop, or classroom.

8 Things the iPad can do "better":

1. Larger screen so tweeting, Facebooking, web browsing, video watching, podcast watching, Netflix viewing, gaming, etc. are all done much visibly.

2. iPad apps (and some universal apps) take advantage of the iPad, allowing for "HD" UIs with more information and richer experiences not possible on the iPhone.

3. iWork and document sharing with a desktop computer (for better or for worse)

4. eReader. Larger screen = better reader. Even with iPhone OS 4, iBooks (and other eReader apps) will always be a better experience on the iPad.

5. Photo viewing and manipulation. The iPhone is limited to the picture it can take and the photos you've docked to the unit. The iPad can not only do that, but also have photos uploaded directly to it from a USB camera or SD card. Use an App Store app to make edits and crops with a large screen to work with.

6. With the USB camera connection kit, you can connect a USB keyboard, headset, and other fun things to an iPad to expand its functionality.

7. Digital Picture Frame. The lock screen and photo app allow you make your iPad a passive digital picture frame. The iPhone lacks this mode and the screen is too small to be useful in this fashion.

8. The iPad resembles the Star Trek TNG "P.A.D.D." devices much moreso than the iPhone. A true nerd knows this reason alone beats any iPhone vs iPad argument. You know you have considered (or have already used) LCARS wallpaper on your iPad.

May 06 2010 at 11:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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