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Tablets have started making their way up the hierarchy, replacing laptops as the main portable computing device in recent years. They’re designed to effortlessly accomplish basic chores like web browsing, eBook reading, playing music and they’re lightweight, easy to use, and very portable. There’s a lot of buzz about the many brands and models on the market, and choosing the best tablet for you can be difficult with so many options. So here’s a list to help you decide.
Contents
Operating Software (OS)
The operating system determines whether you’re a part of Google Play (Android), iTunes (Apple), or Windows (Microsoft) ecosystem. Every platform has its own app store, and while they may all offer some of the same apps, they are not transferable. However, choosing the best OS for you still comes down to your budget. If you don’t feel like breaking the bank for a tablet, an Android powered tablet is the way to go. Android is available on a variety of tablets from various manufacturers, offered at a reasonable price but still gives optimum performance – giving you a large selection of hardware to choose from.
But if you have some extra cash saved up, iPad OS would be the best choice. Apple’s App Store has over a million apps, with around half of those created especially for the iPad. The iPad OS also provides the ultimate tablet experience, including wonderful free apps for you to use like Pages and Keynote.
Alternatively, if you prefer a system similar to your laptop and tend to do a lot of work-related stuff, then there’s none other than Microsoft. Most Microsoft tablets come with the full Windows 10 system that you can continue to utilise your existing Windows programmes.
Screen Size and Resolution
Tablet screens are measured from edge to edge and are commonly represented in inches – just like your normal laptops. They are commonly divided into three categories namely small (5-inch to 8-inch), medium (8-inch to 11-inch), and big (over 11-inch).
For those who are into casual web browsing or who are always on the go, a small and compact tablet is perfect for you. The best compact tablets to get are the Apple iPad Mini 8.3, Lenovo Tab M7 7.0 and Vanquisher 8-Inch Ultra Rugged 8.0. Medium and large tablets have a larger screen surface, which is ideal for those who love watching movies and TV shows, games, and browsing the web. 12-inch tablets like the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 12.4 offer a huge display for your comfortable viewing and these tablets make ultimate laptop-replacers.
The higher the resolution, the sharper the text and images will seem. In general, the tablets’ display resolution which are measured in pixels per inch (ppi) typically ranges from 1024 x 600 pixels to 2560 x 1700 pixels. Higher resolution screens necessitate quicker CPUs to handle all those additional pixels, which consumes more power and reduces the battery life of the device.
Storage
Most tablets in the market range over 16 to 256GB of storage. How much space is right for you depends on how you intend to put the tablet to use. If the tablet is only for general use like browsing the web or sending quick emails or enjoying your TV shows, it does not require such a large amount of data to be saved on the tablet, hence around 16 to 64GB of storage would suffice.
However, if you intend to save a lot of videos and apps on your tablet then opting for more storage would be a wise choice. Unlike the majority of Microsoft and Google tablets, an iPad’s storage cannot be expanded with a microSD card, so planning which would be suitable is crucial. Do keep in mind that the tablet’s operating system and required programmes may eat up a significant portion of that capacity even before you add your own content.
Power and Processing Speed
There’s no need to be concerned of the tablet’s power if you’re only going to use it to browse the web and watch videos. Even the cheapest tablet like the Amazon Fire HD line-up would be good enough to handle such a task. But if you’re a gamer and need a powerful tablet to run your games, it’s best to spend a bit more. The best tablet for gaming should possess a great amount of RAM, like the iPad Pro or Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, to be able to load the game without any glitches.
A tablet’s processing speed, which is measured in gigahertz (GHz), isn’t as significant to be considered as it is in desktop or laptop computers. This is due to the lack of CPU alternatives. The CPU in each iteration of iPads is the same, however due to the varied processors powering Android-based tablets, it’s impossible to compare speeds between all the tablets’ models.
Budget
This is considered one of the most important things when you’re aiming to get a new tablet. Low-cost tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab A may start at roughly $200, while the most expensive iPad costs up to $1100. A lower price device usually translates towards less processing power and storage capacity, but a higher price tablet often promises the best tablet experience you can get in the market. If you need a family tablet to keep the children entertained, you may not need to spend much. However, if you plan for it to be your primary computer, perhaps consider investing a bit more.
