Guide to buying a new tablet

The iPad is almost the obvious choice as a tablet and in fact it is still the best-selling now. Today, however, the choice has expanded a lot and you can buy, in addition to the iPad, various Android tablets and convertible computers with the Windows 11 operating system.

The usefulness of the tablet is completely subjective: for some, a tablet can too replace your all-purpose computerwhile for others it is only good for entertainment, for playing games and surfing the Internet.

In the following guide, we will introduce you to the things to know before buying a new tabletso you know in advance what to take, what features to observe and how much to spend.

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1) Which tablet to buy

The main deciding factor when buying a new tablet is the operating system.
This choice should not be influenced by the smartphone you own; it is true that devices with the same system talk to each other and integrate more easily but there is not necessarily a need to remain faithful to a particular platform. Each operating system has its advantages and disadvantages.

iPads

The iPad is the most popular and was the first really successful tablet in history; it is therefore the most mature device of all, the one with the most applications in the store optimized for its screen. There are more apps optimized for iPad tablets than those optimized for Android tablets.

The iPad is simple to use, has excellent hardware, works well and retains its value even after a year or two, so as to be resalable. The weak point of the iPad is the cost: compared to Android tablets it costs much more.

iPads are available in three versions: iPad Mini, iPad and iPad Pro. If we focus on an iPad, it is worth buying it used and the previous version compared to the one on sale (there are so few differences). Another point in favor is the higher cost of the apps compared to the Android onesa factor that should not be underestimated if we want to download many apps, considering that even the most useful ones can be paid or have in-app purchases to take advantage of all the functions.

In another article we have listed the best free apps for ipad

Android tablets

Google’s operating system that dominates the smartphone market still has some weaknesses on the tablet front. Since Android is a free operating system that can be used by any manufacturerhere are many Android tablets, of different brands and formats.

There are also tablets with detachable and reattachable keyboards that turn into laptops or those that integrate with your smartphone to become a single device.

The Android operating system is incredibly flexible and if you like the idea of make the tablet look like a portable PCthen it works much better than iPadOS.

Android can be used with a mouse, keyboard, remote desktop applications, etc. Keep in mind though that Android tablets are not all created equal and that there are models that have obsolete hardware and Android versions so old that they are very slow from the first start.

It’s important to read reviews before buying an Android tablet: as mentioned before, though for android there are thousands of apps, those optimized for tablet screens are very few in relation to the size of the store. That’s not to say they won’t work, just that they might perform poorly on large-screen 10-inch tablets.

In another article we have seen together top 20 apps for android tablet.

Windows 11 convertibles

Tablets with Windows 11 are newer than Android tablets and iPads and it’s usually about tablets that convert to laptops with the addition of a keyboard.

With a Windows 11 tablet to which you can connect the keyboard, so you can also use normal desktop PC programs without any problems. A convertible Windows 11 tablet costs significantly more than any other tablet, but can effectively replace any laptop and is perfect for business users who need programs Microsoft Office.

On the app side, the Microsoft store is not as rich as that of Android and iOS, but the presence of support for .exe programs adds to compatibility, so we can install any PC program we know.

The best convertible tablets with Windows 11 are the Surface Proproduced by Microsoft itself which however cost a lot (over €1000), therefore reserved only for those who work with a convertible tablet of this type (which is in any case of great quality).

2) Other features of tablets

Before proceeding with the actual purchase, we advise you to take a look at the following parameters, so as to be able to choose the best tablet for our needs:

• Screen size: regarding the dimensions of the tablet a lot depends on personal tastes; the bulk of the market is that 10 inch tablet, but we can find smaller tablets (8 inches) and larger tablets (13 inches). If you think of the tablet to read books and surf the internet, then even the small ones are fine; for any other purpose it is advisable to always take a tablet of at least 10 inches, especially if we need a tablet to study or work. The best way to find out which format you prefer is to go to a store and try them on.
• Weight: Before buying, we not only check the screen size, but also the weight of the device. The ideal weight is under 600 gramsso that you can hold it in your hand without too much difficulty.
• Connectivity: on the market there are models with Wi-Fi connection and models with integrated LTE or 5G module, so that we can connect to the Internet outside the home using the cellular data network. The choice is important since the final price of the tablet also changes.
• Drums: the battery is always very large on tablets and allows you to get 6-7 hours of constant use in all scenarios. If possible, we only choose tablet models with a minimum battery capacity of 7000 mAh.
• Touch pen: Many users prefer to use a touch pen to work or draw on the tablet. The advice we can give you is to only use styluses certified for use on the chosen tablet, choosing (if possible) models of the same brand as the tablet.

These are the only features that today’s users value on tablets and should be considered before buying.

3) Buying guide

In the Android and Windows world, there are a few criteria to consider if you want to avoid junk. Read reviews from reputable sites, check which Android version is installed and if it’s updatable, and pay attention to the hardware quality of the pieces if you choose a convertible tablet, which I personally don’t recommend.

Lenovo Tab M10

A good cheap and functional tablet is the Lenovo Tab M10equipped with a 10.1″ Full HD display, Unisoc T610 processor, Wi-Fi connection, 4GB RAM, 64GB memory, 5,000mAh battery, MicroSD Card slot and Android operating system.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

If we are looking for an accessible Samsung tablet we can focus on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8one of the best value for money tablet equipped with 10.5 inch display, Octa-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal memory, rear camera, front camera, face unlock, Wi-Fi connection, sound Dolby Atmos surround, child mode, fast charging and Android operating system.

Xiaomi RedmiPad

In the mid-range of the market we can also find it Xiaomi RedmiPadfeatures 10.61″ bezel-less 90Hz display, MediaTek Helio G99 processor, 6GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support, rear camera, front camera, 8,000mAh battery, fast charging , Wi-Fi connection and Android operating system.

HONOR Pad 8

Among the best Android tablets that we can buy is also theHONOR Pad 8equipped with a 12-inch 2K Full View Screen, Snapdragon 680 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal memory, 8 speakers, 7.250mAh battery, 22.5W fast charge and Android 12 operating system.

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro

At the high end of the market we also find a complete Android tablet like the Lenovo Tab P11 Proequipped with 11.2 “2.5K Display, MediaTek Kompanio 1300T processor, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of internal memory, WiFi + Bluetooth connection, JBL Speaker, rear camera with flash, fast charging and Android operating system.

Apple 2022 iPad 10.9″

The most “accessible” iPad among the available models is theApple 2022 iPad 10.9″boasting a 10.9″ Liquid Retina display with True Tone, A14 Bionic processor with 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU, 12MP rear camera with wide angle, 12MP front camera, Wi-Fi 6 connection, unlock with Touch ID, USB-C connector and iPadOS operating system.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Anyone who wants to try a hybrid tablet must aim with closed eyes at suk Microsoft Surface Pro 9equipped with a 13-inch PixelSense Touchscreen, Intel Evo platform (CPU, GPU and Intel Wi-Fi connection), Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, 256GB of internal memory, Iris Xe integrated graphics, Wi-Fi connection and system Windows 11 operating system.

Apple 2022 iPad Pro 12.9″

Apple’s flagship tablet model is theApple 2022 iPad Pro 12.9″which features a 12.9″ Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion, True Tone and P3 wide color gamut, M2 processor with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 12MP (wide angle) and 10MP (ultra wide angle) rear cameras ), LiDAR scanner for augmented reality, dual Wi-Fi 6E connection and 5G network, unlocking with Face ID, Thunderbolt/USB 4 connector and iPadOS operating system.

Conclusions

Due to the rapid update of mobile devices, there are good times and bad times to buy. Every year new versions and models of tablets are released by the manufacturers which make the previous one older.

So it is worth if you choose to get an iPadto inquire when did the latest version come out to understand if a new model is around the corner and it’s better to wait for it (also because when a new iPad comes out, the previous one drops in price).

For Android tablets it is important to check the OS version installed on your tablet, which must be as recent as possible. (at the time of writing Android 12). For Windows 11 tablets we buy only the models with built-in keyboard so you can use it as if it were an ultralight laptop, but keep in mind that for some PC operations the power of a desktop or laptop PC worthy of the name is still required, as we can read in the guide below.

For more information, you can read our guide on because the tablet cannot replace the PC.