Big range of potential build quality as well. I wouldn’t expect a unknown Chinese brand tablet for $45 from Big Lots to last as long as a Google Pixel. But both are “Android tablets”.
My old HP Touchpad worked for about five years with Android rooted on it. I liked the 10" screen and only used it for light consumption (web, email, web comics, etc) so even when it was creaky, I got by. Was sort of funny when it finally died – it just up and bricked one day – I got a new 10" tablet from Lenovo and it was maybe a quarter of the weight. Never realized just how heavy that Touchpad was.
Just an update: Turns out all my ipad needed to stop being on the fritz was a restart. It hadn’t actually been turned off and then turned back on in ages. I did so and it’s working fine/perfect again now (and has been all day).
Six years and counting! Uh, just as long as I remember to turn it off now and again.
I said 4-5 years - at that point you won’t be able to get updates on your apps because of OS obsolescence. You’ll probably also find that the device’s battery doesn’t last long enough any more, either. I have a 7 year old iPod Touch that cannot be used unless it’s plugged in; none of the apps can be updated any more. I still use it for music and podcasts, and nothing else.