Tablet Buying Guide: These days, people like to live their lives on the go making any piece of tech that can’t be easily carried around obsolete. So, it shouldn’t really come off as a big surprise that smart devices have become our go-to way for entertainment, communication, and productivity tasks.
That being said, it is very hard to escape the feeling that smartphones that show no room for growing past their now standard 6.7-inch screen size are hardly the best way to do any of the activities we have mentioned above.
So, if you considered the idea of buying an Android or a Windows tablet, or an iPad you are on a good way to making your life a whole lot easier. Let us then take a look at a couple of considerations that should help you find the right match for you.
Your budget
Yeah, all other considerations will boil down to wishful thinking if you don’t have enough money to back them up. On the other hand, the present-day tablet landscape is more than versatile so you will have no problem getting a decent device even if you are operating on a shoestring budget. Since device prices vary from less than $100 (Amazon Fire lineup) to as much as $2,500 (high-end devices like Microsoft Surface Book 3) you will also have plenty of room for compromising as well. So, to make choosing as simple as possible set the budget and then start looking for the features you hold the most important.
Display size and resolution
Screen real estate is one of the best perks you get when buying a tablet or iPad so put this feature at the very top of your priorities. These days, most devices feature either 10 or 11 inches in diagonal (or even 12) so you will effectively mostly make decisions based on pixel density. With that in mind, Full HD (1080p) is now considered a standard for a seamless multimedia experience. Going too far past this point will drastically ramp up the device price while not producing any tangible image quality difference. Also, keep in mind that any increase in resolution consumes more of the battery life and requires stronger processing power.
Device performance
Of course, a large beautiful screen will mean very little if you are constantly impeded by the slow, jerky performance. This consideration can easily take an even higher spot if you are buying a device you will use for some important productivity tasks. In this case, we need to point out that the devices like Apple iPad Pro have a distinct advantage since their native OS (iOS) is designed to run efficiently even on average specs. Android is making big steps to bridge this gap and compensates for the performance gap with stronger but more affordable components, but the overall iOS experience still remains more consistent.
Screen quality
Now, let’s check some things that are not the absolute priority but sure make the time spent with some tablet devices more enjoyable. So, what traits make one screen more enjoyable? Well, for a start we would like to mention durability and scratch resistance that will allow you to use the device in not-that-ideal conditions. Or the good viewing angles that will allow multiple persons to watch the screen. Or sun glare protection without which you can’t even take the tablet outside. If you are an active person that spends a lot of time on the go or in nature, these are some very important things to take into account.
Battery life (Tablet buying guide)
This consideration will mostly be driven by the time you spend outside the home. And keeping in mind that modern tablet batteries can last anywhere from 3 to 10 hours you will have plenty of options to choose from. If you are willing to compromise a decent power bank can make most of these problems go away, but, on the other hand, in this case, you have another device to carry around. If the battery life is your absolute priority good capacity (7000 mAh or more) combined with the lower specs and lower screen resolution (720p) will be able to put on a workhorse performance no matter what you throw at it.
Other considerations
And for the very end, let us quickly cover some of the less important mentions you should take into account only when you make sure the previous considerations meet your personal requirements:
- Size and weight – Most devices these days feature a similar form factor so we are talking about real nuances.
- Rear camera – In this regard, tablets can’t compete with even low-end smartphones so there is no need to pour money into this feature. If you are going to do a lot of video calls, though, a good front-facing camera (at least 8MP) is a must.
- Native OS – Even though Android and iOS feature tons of different features and services most of the apps are available on both platforms so it’s really a matter of personal preference.
In conclusion
So, there you have it – the top six considerations that will make your next tablet purchase much simpler and, who knows, maybe even help you save some money along the way. The most important thing is to finally treat yourself with a new device. As time goes by tables are quickly growing from a novelty to an absolute necessity. Keeping in mind the plethora of choices you have at your disposal we say that the right time to get your unit is now.
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