Tablets bridge the gap between laptop computers and smartphones in size and functionality. They’re lighter than laptops, but have screens that’re larger than smartphones.
These devices substitute for many laptop tasks when high-performance isn’t required, you just need to pair a tablet with a wireless keyboard.
That makes them the perfect couch companion if you’re gaming, browsing the web, online shopping, watching movies, looking at photos and more.
There are countless iPads, Windows and Android tablets on the market, but which one is right for you? what are the key factors you need to consider when shopping?
After doing a thorough research and testing the tablets on the market, we have compiled a list that includes the best options for every budget and need. we can make sure that the list will definitely suffice your requirement.
12 Best tablets for 2024
There are some good options in the market that all have good speed and great specification. All depends on your budget, preference and needs.
1. Apple iPad Pro
The iPad Pro 2022 is an all-around great tablet that delivers solid performance, a handy new Apple Pencil Hover feature and excellent video quality.
iPad Pro is available in two screen sizes, 11-inch and 12.9-inch. Its 12.9-inch variant has mini LED backlighting while the 11-inch one has a traditional LED Liquid Retina display.
The 12.9-inch model has a resolution of 2732 x 2048 Pixels with approximately 264 PPI pixel density, offering terrific peak brightness of 1,600 nits, unmatched HDR contrast.
It’s plenty bright and super sharp that makes everything from watching movies on Disney+ to doodling in Procreate an absolute joy. The colours are accurate thanks to DCI-P3 support, everything feels smooth and responsive thanks to the 120Hz ProMotion tech.
It is powered by Apple’s M2 chips – the same that is powering the new MacBook Air, and Macbook Pro. The storage options ranging from 128GB all the way up to a massive 2TB. It can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM depending on storage options selected.
The processing power really is impressive, to the point where you can use this tablet to edit high-quality video footage or work on graphics-intensive tasks like rendering without it slowing down.
On the back of the tablet, there are two “Pro” cameras – one 12MP main and one 12MP ultrawide, as well as a LiDAR scanner for measuring objects and running augmented reality (AR) apps.
It offers a quad-speaker setup for an immersive movie watching and gaming experience. There’s also 5G functionality for those who don’t want to deal with the hassle of tethering.
Along with the laptop-like Magic Keyboard case, the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is still around to please artists – allow you to sketch, write, take notes, paint, and use all kinds of other virtual art tools from your iPad screen.
When it comes to battery life, it really, really depends on how you use the iPad. The massive Li-Po 10758 mAh battery should last a minimum of ten hours if used moderately.
The iPad Pro is suitable for those who want the best screen, the best performance, and the latest hardware and are willing to pay for it.
2. Samsung galaxy tab s8+
Unlike the smaller 11-inch Galaxy Tab S8, this 12.4-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ device has Samsung’s phenomenal Super AMOLED screen technology, but it’s not as awkward as the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. In fact, it’s lighter than Apple’s similarly sized iPad Pro.
The 1752 x 2800 pixels resolution,120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ Super AMOLED display delivers rich and bold colors, images are ultra-sharp, and the 500 nits brightness makes it suitable for using indoors or out.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU inside is excellent, along with 8GB of RAM, It’s capable of handling pretty much any task thrown at it.
The storage is a little low at either 128GB or 256GB, but of course, you can add extra storage with the microSD card slot on Android devices, so you can download as much as you please if you buy a memory card.
The S8+ tablet has a great-looking, with an aluminium frame that’s sturdy enough to withstand light bumps, the bottom edge of the tablet has pogo pins for linking with Samsung’s keyboard case, Once you attach a keyboard to it, you can easily use it on your lap.
You can type with the keyboard and write with the included S pen easily. The stylus latency is now down to 9ms, It is better than ever and perfect for adding notes or doodling.
The tablet boots Android 13 OS based OneUI 5 interface, Basic features like the keyboard and home screen have been tweaked to make better use of space on Samsung’s slate. It can use multi-window fluidly in a performance sense.
Samsung rounds out its great hardware capabilities here with 2 impressive speakers. with clear detail at all volumes, with that top volume getting pretty loud indeed.
The tablet ships with a 10,900mAh battery that Samsung claims will last all day. It can, but it can’t do much more than that. if you’re playing games or multitasking, just be aware that you can drain the Tab S8+’s battery a lot faster than that.
With its impressive DeX mode, free S Pen stylus, superb performance and the potential for 5G connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is an Android tablet capable of taking on the mighty iPad Pro.
3. Microsoft surface pro 9
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is modern, well made and come in a range of nice colors, with integrated kickstand out the back for propping the tablet up at a wide range of angles.
The good 13-inch display with 443 nits brightness is slightly brighter than surface pro 8 and can dynamically switch between a 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling while balancing battery life.
The touch screen is impressive, has a resolution of 2,880 x 1,920 pixels, and with 267ppi pixel density ensures great detail. The 3:2 aspect ratio display is perfect for working on while in laptop mode.
It has a full 106.1% of sRGB coverage, meaning it accurately displays all the colors used in most web content.
The standard Surface Pro 9 is a modest upgrade from last year’s Surface Pro 8. It jumps from an 11th-gen Intel CPU to a newer 12th-gen one and moves to a slightly faster type of RAM.
SQ3 processor model delivers long battery life and 5G connectivity, But it also brings the usual Arm-based drawbacks: lackluster performance and compatibility (windows software incompatibility).
When paired with a matching Signature Keyboard cover, the 13-inch tablet feels more like a true laptop experience than an iPad or Android device with a similar form factor. And when paired with Microsoft’s Slim Pen 2, it offers a smooth drawing and note-taking experience.
The detachable keyboard (quite sturdy to type on, touchpad is a bit small), along with the Surface Slim Pen 2, is sold separately but is quintessential to achieving the optimal Surface Pro experience.
The Surface Pro 9 has s 1080p front-facing camera and supports Windows Hello face recognition for logging into the tablet or authenticating within apps or for payments. On the back, you’ll find a more powerful 10MP camera that can shoot 4K photos and video.
Both the regular Wi-Fi Surface Pro 9 and the 5G model come with a 47.7 Wh battery under the hood. Battery life remains at about eight hours of constant work, which should last the working day but not much more.
It runs on Windows 11, So this will run video editing and art software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop and illustrator CC, It isn’t the fastest device to do heavy photo editing work on, but at the same time it didn’t struggle too much.
The legitimately cool conferencing features, the uniquely portable form factor, the standout battery life, and the cellular support could make surface pro 9 tablet an excellent travel companion for a working professional.
4. Xiaomi pad 5
The products from Xiaomi are known for their powerful performance. Xiaomi Pad 5 tablet has a sleek and simple design, available in Pearl White and Cosmic Gray. The sturdy aluminum frame and a matte back cover with a silky surface finish, which makes it look and feel high-end.
Thanks to its fast eight-core SoC Snapdragon 860 with integrated graphics chip Adreno 640, 6 GB of DDR4 RAM and its 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage, the Xiaomi Pad 5 can be operated very smoothly, easily sufficient for everyday tasks.
The Xiaomi Pad 5 has a 12.4-inch IPS display with 2560 x 1600 pixels, pixel density – 275 ppi, the resolution is very high so that texts and icons look sharp. It’s well suited for sensitive users due to the lack of PWM flickering.
HDR10 and Dolby Vision are supported, and the display is capable of displaying more than 1 billion colors. The maximum brightness of 500 nit doesn’t sound like much, but it is enough to be able to read the display reasonably outdoors.
The tablet covered 99.2% of the sRGB gamut, 82.5% of the Adobe RGB and 93.6% of the DCI P3 gamuts, which are favoured by creatives and photographers.
The 120Hz refresh rate means that the animations look smooth. In case you want to extend the battery life, you can switch to 60Hz in the settings. plus with the 4 Dolby Atmos speakers, the Xiaomi Pad 5 is a great choice for gaming.
There are three accessories available for this tablet, which are sold separately. the Xiaomi Smart Pen, the simple foldable cover and the Xiaomi Pad Keyboard cover.
The keyboard attaches magnetically to a dock on its bottom long side. Unlike the Samsung S Pen, the Xiaomi Bluetooth pen needs battery to work. The stylus with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity is good for scribbles and sketches and can also take screenshots.
There is only USB-C (USB 2.0) from the physical ports, but unfortunately there is no 3.5 mm mini-jack. It support Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5 connection， But don’t expect NFC, support for cellular networks, or a navigation system.
Xiaomi Pad 5 has an 8,720mAh battery and supports 22.5W fast charging. The battery lasts up to 8 hours when fully charged.
The Xiaomi Pad 5 is a fantastic all-rounder Android tablet with a good-looking screen, lots of processing power and well-optimized software. In fact, it’s the best rival to the entry-level iPad so far, especially at a similar price.
The Pro model comes with up to 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, offers optional 5G cellular and uses the Snapdragon 870, an even faster SoC. There are also 8 speakers instead of 4, a fingerprint sensor and charging with 67 watts.
5. Lenovo Tab P12 Pro
For a powerful tablet, Lenovo Tab P12 Pro is quite thin. and the screen bezels are tiny. Plus, at only 1.24 pounds, the device isn’t too heavy either, which is ideal for portability.
This 12.6-inch AMOLED panel has a 2560 x 1600 resolution – that’s 2K – as well as a 120Hz refresh rate, support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and a peak brightness of 600 nits. It’s a really good screen with vibrant colors and great contrast.
Inside, the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, coupled with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. There’s a microSD slot for storage expansion of up to 1TB.
The 8-core Snapdragon processor performs well in the P12 Pro, making navigation, streaming and gaming appropriately quick – without causing overheating or laggy performance.
The Dolby Atmos tuned speakers provide loud booming sound. An 8MP lens and a ToF sensor handle selfies, video calls and the likes. support Face unlock function. At the back, we get a 13MP primary sensor and a 5MP wide-angle lens.
Connectivity options on the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. but no support for 4G/5G connectivity. There’s one USB 3.2 Type-C port which is used for data transfer, power delivery, and supports the DisplayPort 1.4 standard for video-out.
Lenovo makes a two-part keyboard case for the P12 Pro. A back cover adds a kick-stand. The actual keyboard part is separate, and clips into the bottom of the screen. Sadly, this isn’t included.
Stylus input is enabled via a Lenovo Precision Pen 3.0, which is included in the retail packaging. It allows you to interact with the touchscreen with greater precision, and is particularly useful for drawing and writing.
The device has a 10,000mAh battery which can be charged using the bundled 30W charger. It has pretty good stamina for light stuff, around 10 hours. Lenovo vaguely calls an ‘all-day battery’.
Overall, the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro is a well-rounded device that offers a colorful and sharp display, quick performance, and decent battery life in normal use. It delivers a good experience that comes close to the best available from Apple and Samsung.
6. Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus is the best Fire tablet Amazon makes, offering stellar battery life, a decent display, and good enough performance to make for a great value.
Two features set the Fire HD 10 Plus apart: more RAM and wireless charging.
Housed in a chunky black plastic casing that can withstand bumps and falls, It sports a soft-touch finish that feels better than the classic Fire tablet’s roughened texture.
The IPS LCD panel measures 10.1-inch and offers 1,920 x 1,200 Full HD+ resolution in a 16:10 aspect ratio. For the size of the tablet, the resolution is high enough to get a nice and sharp picture, and the brightness ramps up to a respectable level too.
The Fire HD 10 Plus has a Mediatek Helio P60T octa-core processor running at 2GHz as the base Fire 10 does, but more memory: 4GB as opposed to 3GB. It’s very snappy during daily use, booting quickly and switching between multiple apps with minimal fuss.
In terms of specs, there’s no trouble with storage – 32GB or 64GB, or more if you add a microSD card, it supports up to 1TB microSD cards.
Camera duties are handled by a 2MP front-facing camera and a 5MP rear-facing camera, and they’re functional but not much more than that.
This Amazon Fire 10 Plus tablet’s biggest strength is the speakers, which create a convincing stereo sound. Dialogue is crisp and clear, even at low volumes, and there’s just enough mid-range so they don’t sound too tinny.
And for those wanting to use their tablet as a laptop, there’s a Productivity Bundle that includes a Bluetooth keyboard and a 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365.
The benefit of a modestly performing processor and a lower-resolution screen is better battery life, and the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus doesn’t disappoint here – you’ll get around 10 hours of video watching between charges, and that’s with the screen brightness ramped right up.
Just don’t come looking for much in the way of apps, as it shares the common Fire tablet weakness of not having easy access to the Google Play Android app store.
Still, if you’re already enmeshed in the Prime ecosystem, the Fire HD 10 Plus offers quite a bit of device for your dollar.
This slightly more powerful version of the Fire HD 10 will feel right at home with someone who wants to kick back with a book or some streaming video.
7. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
The Galaxy tab A series is Samsung’s range of budget-friendly tablets, A8 is the latest in this series of affordable Android tablets, but it has quality where it counts.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 packs in a 10.5-inch display with a 1920×1200 resolution, but only a 60Hz refresh rate. The large panel is presented in a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is a natural fit for streaming services.
It’s sufficiently sharp for a budget tablet this size, but in going with a TFT LCD panel, it’s not particularly vibrant or colour-accurate.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 runs on a Unisoc Tiger T618 quad-core SoC, together with either 3GB or 4GB RAM. the tablet processor can handle most basic tasks like videos, music and email very well.
The Galaxy Tab A8 provide options with 64 and 128 GB of storage. it can expandable via a microSD slot for up to 1TB of additional space.
The 8 MP main camera and 5 MP selfie camera are good enough for standard usage. if you want to make sure your video chats are clear, It will certainly get the job done.
It has a premium build and good sound output. This device can be used to consume content from OTT services. Also, it works as a light gaming device and works well for online classes too.
Samsung carried the large 7,040mAh battery and the 15W wired charging over from the previous model. Overall battery life is excellent and with moderate use it’ll easily lasts through a full day as long as you aren’t streaming videos for 24 hours straight.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 includes a better processor than the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus, and since it has Google Play access, its app library is far better.
8. iPad Air (5th Gen)
The iPad Air 5 is an excellent choice for anyone in the Apple ecosystem—it’s well-made, reliable, doesn’t cost nearly as much as the iPad Pro, accepts the Apple pencil (2nd generation), and has a laminated screen.
The look of the iPad Air looks like a modern tablet with its thin-bezel design, sporting the same overall design as the iPad mini, iPad Pro, and recent models of iPhone. available in five colors: space gray, starlight, pink, purple, and blue.
The iPad Air is equipped with a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display that is identical to the iPad Pro display but without 120Hz ProMotion technology for a smoother scrolling experience.
It sports a 2360 x 1640 resolution at 264 PPI, meaning everything is very sharp and clear. but without 120Hz ProMotion technology for a smoother scrolling experience.
It has P3 wide color support for rich, true-to-life colors, an anti-reflective coating with 1.8 percent reflectivity, 500 nits maximum brightness, and True Tone support.
The iPad Air (5th Gen) even comes with the newer and cutting edge M1 chip, which had eight CPU cores and eight GPU cores. It’s fast, power consumption is low, and performance is solid enough for anything.
In terms of RAM – the iPad Air 5 gets a huge bump up to 8 GB of RAM. It’s great if you do lots of multitasking. You can increase the storage to 256GB, but that’s where the iPad Air 5 maxes out.
It only comes with 2 stereo speakers that are loud and clear. — The iPad Air has a single 12MP, f/1.8 rear camera with 4K video recording and a wide-angle, 122-degree, f/2.4 12MP front-facing camera. It has the good old touch ID fingerprint reader for security and misses out on Face ID.
It supports connect a keyboard dock to the iPad, this means you’ll be able to pair it with the new Magic Keyboard – providing an impressive, if pricey, laptop-like typing experience.
For creatives, the 2nd generation Apple Pencil is as impressive as ever – with tilt and pressure sensitivity, almost unnoticeable lag and the delightful ability to snap to the edge of the tablet.
With the iPad Air 5, you can expect about 10 hours of watching videos continuously or nine hours of browsing the Web and using random apps, with a bit of messaging thrown in.
If you own a cellular model, this number takes a hit as 5G use seems to drain the battery quite rapidly. The iPad Air 5 is compatible with a 30W fast charger.
iPad Air is a perfect blend between portability and size. It’s light enough to carry around with ease, but the nearly 11-inch display is big enough for work, gaming, watching movies, and more.
9. iPad (9th Generation)
Despite being replaced by iPad (10th Generation) , Apple’s cheapest tablet, the iPad (9th Generation) 2021, is still a great choice for budget tablet shoppers.
It’s Apple’s cheapest tablet, and well worth the cost of entry. If you want into the Apple ecosystem, but don’t want to pay Apple prices, this is the one for you though.
The iPad is still a thin, light tablet, but it’s bordered by sizeable bezels that aren’t found on its siblings in the product line-up. It still sports the same machined aluminum chassis, and comes in the same two familiar colors: silver and Space Gray.
When held in the portrait orientation, the Home button is prominently featured in the center of the bottom bezel, with a TouchID sensor built in so you can unlock the device with a fingerprint.
The iPad has a 10.2-inch Retina screen with a resolution of 2160 x 1620. This delivers 264 pixels per inch which works out to a pretty sharp 265 ppi.
The iPad has a maximum brightness of 500 nits, equal to the iPad Air and Mini, it delivers 105.3% of the sRGB color gamut, That’s pretty good.
But this iPad doesn’t have a fully laminated display, which means there’s a gap between the glass and the screen. It doesn’t feel as precise to write with, so if you plan on using an Apple Pencil a lot, you’re probably better off upgrading to another model.
The A13 processor and 3 GB of RAMmakes it fast enough for most needs, It’s fine for multitasking, gaming and video and doesn’t seem to lag.
64GB should be enough for most people, but if you want to load up the iPad with games and save a lot of movies and photos to local storage, spring for the 256GB model.
It’s 12 megapixel 122-degree ultrawide front camera is notably better than 8mp rear camera: crisper for video calls, with a digital-zoom face-following Center Stage mode that works with Zoom, FaceTime and other apps, making it a better family video-chat screen from a distance.
The iPad (9th Generation) still has a Lightning port, a 3.5mm audio jack, but it only support Bluetooth 4.2, not the newest 5.2 version. There are two stereo speakers at the bottom.
It can use the first-generation Pencil, and it can be connected to optional keyboards via the pin connector. You can do a lot of things in it. You can take notes on it, you can create/edit photos in it.
It has a Built‐in 32.4‐watt‐hour rechargeable lithium‑polymer battery, apple promise up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video.
The iPad (9th Generation) is a much better option if you don’t need all the RAM, processor and advanced features that the air and Pro model provides.
10. iPad mini (6th generation)
The iPad Mini 6 2021 is often known as a pocketable powerhouse, or “pocket-size,” It’s easier to carry around due to its small size, and its screen is still larger than any smartphone.
The iPad mini mirrors the design of the iPad Air with an all-screen design, squared-off edges, and a Touch ID fingerprint scanner in the top power button.
The iPad mini features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2,266 by 1,488. You get 326 pixels-per-inch (PPI), which even outclasses the 264 PPI with ipad pro.
The display also integrating Apple’s True Tone technology, covers 73% of the DCI-P3 wide color range, and offers up to 500 nits of brightness.
The 2021 iPad Mini runs on the A15 Bionic processor (same with iphone 13 series) with 4GB of RAM, which means apps and games of all levels of intensity run smoothly and flawlessly.
The base model comes with 64GB of storage, which you can bump up to 256GB for an extra $150. But there is no 128GB version.
It supports the Apple Pencil (2nd gen), which can attach and charge magnetically to the side of the Mini. This makes ipad mini a good note-taking companion. But there is no keyboard case support yet.
USB-C port is great. With a single USB-C cable you can easily connect external drives, microphones, audio interfaces, and more.
The iPad mini 6 has a 5,124mAh battery cell. It supports fast charging via a 20W power adapter. It achieved seven hours of battery life in heavy use and over 10 hours in standard use.
iPad mini 6 is ideal for those looking to watch movies and read books on the go. Its compact form factor makes it ideal for those that don’t want a large tablet.
11. Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (3rd Gen)
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (3rd Gen) is a solid device, with an excellent design and beautiful finish, slim bezels at an 85% screen-to-body ratio. It’s primarily made of metal, but a portion of the back is soft-touch plastic, feels rigid and well-built, adding to the premium feel.
The Tab M10 Plus’ display is the star of the show. It sports a spacious 10.6-inch IPS panel with a high 2000 x 1200 resolution, which results in a pixel density of 220 ppi. this is sufficient.
It offers a brightness of 400 nits, It’s bright enough, color reproduction is good and it’s a fully laminated screen. At this price, The display refresh rate is low – 60 Hz, animations don’t look as smooth as on displays with 90 Hz or more.
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus is equipped with a MediaTek Helio G80 octa-core processor with 3GB, 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage.
The MediaTek G80 does a great job of keeping up with daily tasks, video playback, and light gaming. Lenovo offers a version with LTE here, but it has a different processor, namely the Qualcomm Snapdragon SDM680.
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus features two cameras: an 8-megapixel front-facing selfie camera and an 8MP rear shooter. The front-facing 8MP camera is acceptable for basic tasks like Zoom calls or joining online classes.
Additionally, the Tab M10 Plus comes with a quad speakers and Dolby Atmos support, making it ideal for streaming music and watching tv shows and movies.
You can write with the Lenovo Precision Pen 2 on the Tab M10 Plus. It’s an active pen that you have to buy separately. It is charged via USB C – so, with the same charging cable as the tablet.
The 7,700 mAh battery is impressive. Thanks to high-efficiency (if slightly underpowered) components, it manages to eek out 10 hours of battery life under the right conditions, which is a lot better than most of the competition.
The Tab M10 Plus (3rd Gen) isn’t perfect, but it delivers a good design, great battery life, and decent screen at an excellent price. It feels like a quality piece of equipment that you’ll be glad you invested in.
12. Xiaomi Redmi Pad
The Xiaomi Redmi Pad is a mid-range tablet that at under 300 Dollars, does a lot right.
Despite being a budget Android tablet, the Redmi Pad does not appear like one. It has an excellent in-hand feel because of its all-metal body, and leaves a premium visual and haptic impression
The flat metal case has a height of 7.05 mm and leaves a premium visual and haptic impression in addition to appearing fairly sturdy.
The 10.6-inch LCD screen has a native resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels with a 15:9 aspect ratio for a pixel density of 220 PPI. It can display very crisp, detailed images that don’t look pixelated.
It also offers a peak brightness of 400 nits, which is good enough to read the content even outdoors in the shade.
The special is that this is a 90Hz screen. Tablets in this price range usually only support 60Hz. The faster refresh rate makes animations look smoother, and some games can take advantage of that as well.
The Redmi Pad is equipped with a 8-core MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, which is supported by 3GB, 4GB or 6GB of RAM. But there may be occasional stuttering with the ≦ 3GB version. You can choose between 64GB and 128GB storage when buying it, but there is no version with 5G or LTE.
Both the front and back cameras on the Redmi Pad have a resolution of 8MP. The Redmi Pad features a four-speaker sound system with two on each side – naturally, they’re symmetrical and produce stereo sound.
The 8,000 mAh battery in the device can easily get through a day of usage, involving lots of surfing, some gaming, word processing, and a lot of video watching. The tablet supports 18W of charging, and you get a 22.5W charger in the box.
Even though it’s very affordable, Thanks to the 90-Hz display and the 8-core MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad feels very responsive and smooth during use.
9 Tips for Buying a New Tablet
Whether you are buying a tablet for watching videos, browsing the web, or for your kids’ online classes, choosing the best tablet can be a confusing affair.
You have to select the right screen size and a fast processor, and the battery should last at least a day on a single charge. Even after taking all these factors into consideration, you can still find it hard to shortlist the best tablets.
Here are 9 things to consider when buying a tablet to help you choose the best device.
Operating System
One of the first things to consider when choosing a tablet is the operating system. There are currently four main operating systems for tablets: iPadOS (iPad), Android, Windows and Fire OS. Each has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to consider which one will be the best fit for your needs.
iOS, the operating system used on iPads, is known for its ease of use and sleek design. It also has a large selection of apps specifically designed for tablets, and offers seamless integration with other Apple products, such as the iPhone and Mac. Additionally, iOS devices have strong security features, making them a popular choice for businesses and professionals.
Android, on the other hand, is known for its flexibility and customization options. It also has a large selection of apps available, although not all of them are specifically designed for tablets.
It’s also often found on a wide range of devices, including budget-friendly options, which means you can find a good android tablet that fits your budget.
Windows tablets are a good option for those who need a more traditional computing experience, as they can run desktop apps in addition to tablet apps.
They also have the ability to be connected to a keyboard and mouse, making them a good option for those who need to do a lot of typing or need a more desktop-like experience.
Amazon’s Fire Tablets are a lesson in streamlined design. They run a heavily locked down custom version of Android, called Fire OS, that’s great for most everyday uses but doesn’t have access to the Google Play Store.
Fire tablet hardware isn’t anything to write home about, but thanks to the restricted software ecosystem, it actually runs just fine as far as common tasks are concerned.
Anyone already invested in the Amazon ecosystem (for example, frequent Prime Video viewers) will appreciate the straightforward and user-friendly Fire tablet series.
Screen Size
The tablets have screens that range from 8 to 14 inches.
The small size tablets are well-suited for basic tasks since they are super portable and lightweight. Whether it’s reading eBooks, playing games, or simply browsing the internet, these tablets are the right pick.
Since they are compact, carrying them around is a breeze. Your hands won’t tire out from using them for long hours, either. The tablets fit perfectly in purses or bookbags without occupying too much space.
As these tablets are smaller, they feature lesser storage capacity and slower processors compared to their larger counterparts.
Larger displays are better for reading and watching videos, but are heavier and require more space. It also hard to handle such as swiping and scrolling.
Don’t want to go for too small or too large. Then the medium size tablets strike the perfect chord between the small and relatively larger tablets.
They offer portability and compactness — as well as larger screens — making it easy to work with them and carry them around.
These tablets are built to handle tasks that are a notch higher than the basic ones.
Screen Quality
Resolution: Resolution refers to the number of dots (pixels) on the entire screen. Look for screens with higher resolutions as it will produce more clarity details.
Higher resolution screens require faster processors to manipulate all those extra pixels and consume more power, affecting the device’s battery life.
Panel: There are two main competing display technologies in the tablet market today: LCD and OLED.
The mature and dominant technology is the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), while the Organic Light Emitting Diode Display (OLED display) is becoming more and more common.
LCD IPS screens use a backlight to illuminate their pixels, while OLED’s pixels produce their own light.
Thanks to the underlying OLED technology, the panel is able to switch off individual pixels entirely for true blacks and a theoretically infinite contrast. This results in vivid colors and very deep dark areas.
OLED screens provide better picture quality and consume less power but are more expensive.
Color Accuracy: The color gamut represents the range of colors visible to the human eye on an output device. A wider color gamut means that the monitor can display colors more accurately within that color space.
Brightness: The nit is the standard unit of luminance used to describe various sources of light. A higher rating means a brighter display.
Increasing the screen brightness also helps make the images and characters on the screen become more visible even in broad daylight.
Displays for tablets are usually between 200 and 300 nits on average. A rating over 300 nits is solid and a rating above 500 nits is extremely good.
Contrast Ratio: Contrast ratio refers to the difference between the minimum brightness and maximum brightness of a monitor. A higher contrast ratio can produce deeper blacks with increased grayscale detail.
Performance
The performance of a tablet is determined by the processor and the amount of RAM it has.
Your tablet’s processor is like its brain. Working in combination with system memory, the power of the processor determines how smoothly apps will run, how much multitasking your tablet can handle and the graphics capabilities.
Tablet processors typically have between two and eight cores, with more cores capable of handling a heavier workload.
The RAM temporarily saves files on open apps. Every operation that occurs in the tablet including apps required some amount of RAM. More RAM that you have, you get better performance. It’s great if you do lots of multitasking – as more RAM means more apps can stay open in the background, for longer, and not have to refresh when you get back to them.
iOS is more memory-efficient than Android OS, because the different programming languages used by Android (use Java Virtual Machine) and iOS (use native code) require different amounts of RAM.
But both operating systems require at least 1 GB of RAM to function properly. Toss in another gigabyte to be able to run the basic apps such as a word processor and a web browser.
A powerful processor and at least 4 GB of RAM are necessary for smooth and fast performance.
At least 8GB of RAM will ensure that the tablet can handle multitasking and running demanding apps and games.
Storage
You also have to think about how much storage you want. If you plan on storing a lot of music, videos, and photos on your tablet, you’ll need to consider a device with a larger storage capacity.
If you do not have enough storage space on your tablet. You’ll get to a stage where you’ll need to start deleting files and removing apps.
UFS is the preferable storage type for phones and tablets. eMMC memory is to be avoided at all costs.
Android-based and iOS-based devices need at least a 8 GB partition to function properly.
Android devices can use SD cards for additional data storage, iOS devices cannot install additional storage, you are stuck with the storage the factory puts in.
If you don’t know get at least 64GB.
Battery Life
In general, the higher the mAh rating of a battery, the longer it will last between charges. For example, a smartphone with a 3,000 mAh battery will typically last longer than a smartphone with a 2,000 mAh battery.
In addition, It’s important to note that the amount of usage you’ll get out of your tablet per charge will depend on your screen brightness level, usage of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and apps. Streaming videos or playing games with the screen brightness set to 100% will drain a tablet’s battery faster than reading a downloaded book.
One of the biggest improvements to tablets over the past few years has been a significant improvement in battery life. Most tablets used to last three or four hours per charge, but newer ones can last up to 14. That’s enough juice to make it through an entire cross continental flight without reaching for a charging cable or battery pack.
Connectivity
Some tablets come with cellular connectivity, allowing you to connect to the internet even when you’re away from Wi-Fi. Consider whether or not you need this feature, as it can add to the cost of the tablet.
Additionally, many tablets come with Bluetooth, allowing you to connect to other devices such as speakers or headphones.
Apple tablets have little in the way of hardware connections, though some devices can be added via adapters to the tablet’s dock port, or wirelessly by purpose-built devices.
Android tablets generally offer more variety in hardware connections, with a USB-C port, HDMI-out or memory card slots for extra storage being common.
If the tablet have a 3.5mm headphone jack, you can enjoy amazing audio quality directly.
But Most modern tablets ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack for the more versatile USB-C port.
Then you need to plug in a USB-C to 3.5mm Adapter to your device, then your wired headphones into the adapter.
Accessories
Tablets are designed to be touched with the finger, although certain devices have their own pressure-sensitive stylus for drawing or note-taking.
In the case of iPads, this is the Apple Pencil for the iPad and first-gen iPad Pro tablets or the second-gen Apple Pencil for the more recent iPad Pro tablets.
But you won’t get a stylus included with your iPad so you do need to factor the cost into the overall price if you plan on using one.
Microsoft Surface devices all support the Surface Pen, which is again sold separately. A number of Samsung’s tablets come with the company’s own S Pen in the box, too.
Included keyboards are even less common, but as a rule of thumb, you can use any Bluetooth keyboard with a tablet. Some, such as Logitech K380, are designed to be used with multiple Bluetooth devices.
A great wireless keyboard can reduce clutter on your desk and help you type faster and more comfortably on your tablet.
An all-around better solution is to buy a cover with a keyboard built-in so it’s there whenever you need it. Apple’s official iPad keyboard case starts at $35.99, while similar options for the Tab S and Microsoft Surface go for broadly the same price.
You can save a few dollars by going for third-party alternatives, which exist for all the most popular tablets.
Price
Entry-level devices with basic features cost under $300 while the premium models like Apple’s latest iPad Pro can be well over $1000, but unless you’re doing graphic design or you’ve picked up at-home architectural drawing, you don’t need to spend that much to get a great tablet experience.
The sweet spot is around $400-$800, as that will give you decent storage for your files, a big, bright, colourful screen for watching the video, and a speedy processor for browsing your apps.
Each brand has varying accessories for each model, so the base price can increase if you want to bundle up your tablet with things like attachable keyboards, a touch-sensitive stylus, or more storage. This can bloat the price by $100 – $400 – so be prepared.
Conclusion
So, these are some of the most common names of the best tablets that you can choose. Hopefully, the names mentioned above will make it easier for you to choose a desirable one.
In general, Amazon tablets are great for kids and anyone on a tight budget. iPads and android tablets are best for students and creative pros, especially with the M2 chip and improved displays in Apple’s iPad Pro 2022.
Tablets are not necessity but makes your life a little easier.
A tablet is used to power up your workflow on the go. So, when you use a tablet computer that isn’t a good fit for your requirements, you’ll have to compromise with the quality or get a new one.
That said when you decide to buy a tablet, list down your needs and look for the tablet accordingly.
A lot of these tablets have multiple uses, so pay attention to the specifications for each, If you’re looking for a specific tablet recommendation, considering making a request in the comment section down below and I will assist you as best as I can.
