A Buyer's Guide to Tablets
Factors To Consider When Buying a Tablet
Operating System and Size
One of the first steps to buy a tablet, and surely the most important choice you should make, is to decide the OS you prefer. Do you want the minimalism of Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android customization possibilities, or a Windows tablet that will use most applications than your home computer? Therefore, always choose a tablet with your preferred operating system.
Android Tablets
Android is the customization paradigm. Google’s flagship brand, Nexus, with its 7 and 9-inch models, offers the most modern software on affordable tablets. The Kindle Fire connects directly with Amazon, which will give you easy and immediate access to endless entertainment: movies, TV shows, music, and e-books.
In addition, the Amazon AppStore offers a paid application for Android for free every day. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 offers great technical features at a price very contained in its 3 available versions: 7 inches, 8 inches, and 10.1 inches.
iPads and iOS
Apple iPads are the most popular tablets on the market. If you already have an iPhone or an iPod touch, you know what to expect. IPads are easy-to-use and simple tablets, although as a result of that simplicity they offer fewer customization options.
Its use is very fluid, and the iOS operating system has the largest number of native applications for tablets. Apple hardware and features are top-notch, but iPads are also expensive. However, with the new iPad Mini, now there are also somewhat cheaper options.
Windows Tablets
One of the main reasons to buy a Windows tablet is that you can use most Windows 8 or 10 PC applications, including Microsoft Office. If you want a tablet for more than entertainment and intend to use it regularly at work, you should probably decide on one of these. Some Windows tablets can even become Ultra book-style laptops.
Size of the Tablet
You will mainly find two types of tablets: small (7 to 8.3 inches) and medium (8.9 to 10.1 inches). The inches are the diagonal length of the screen, so a 10.1-inch tablet will have a 25.6 cm diagonal screen.
It is true that there are some large tablets, more than 10.1 inches, although there are currently very few models. Basically, they are devices with Windows 8 often referred to as “hybrids,” because they are both tablets (touch screens) and laptops compatible with Windows 8 and 10. The Microsoft Surface Pro would be an example of this category. In general, they are quite expensive products.
Resolution and screen size
The screen is one of the most important features in a tablet since it is the element with which you will interact most of the time. The screen size you choose is related above all to the use you want to give it, as you have seen in the previous point.
Do you want a bright and clear screen with good viewing angles? These factors depend on the resolution of the screen and the type of panel. The higher the resolution, the sharper the images appear on the screen. An example of the standard resolution would be 1,200 pixels high by 800 pixels wide.
Storage capacity
The capacity of the tablets usually begins in 8 or 16 Gigabytes. Some tablets include the option to expand storage with micro SD cards at a much lower cost. This is an important point since it is convenient that you keep in mind if you can later expand the capacity of your tablet in case you need more. Also, keep in mind that the tablet’s operating system can occupy about 20 percent of its capacity. Therefore, 8 GB of storage will never really be 8 GB of storage.
Conclusion
So, what's the best tablet for you? It depends on your needs and budget. But, if you're looking for a high-quality device that will last for years, we recommend checking out the iPad Pro. And don't forget to protect your investment with a quality case! Thanks for reading our guide to buying tablets. We hope it was helpful in making your decision.