Tablet Deals & Offers

Tablet Features and Technical Aspects

• Display Size

  Display screen size can be an important factor when choosing the best tablet to suit your requirements. If you plan to watch TV and movies with your tablet, you're probably advised to opt for at least a 10-inch screen. The major drawback of tablets with large screens is they can cause some wrist pain when held for long periods of time due to their weight and you may find them a little large to take everywhere on a daily basis. 7-inch screen tablets are easier to hold and about the same size as a paperback novel making it much more relevant to someone who is always on the go. Often, tablets between 8 and 9 inches in size often provide a happy medium for many consumers

• Resolution and Aspect Ratio

  Screen resolution should be the highest available at the price you're prepared to pay, the current industry standard is the iPad Pro boasting a PPI (pixels per inch) measurement of 265. Aspect ratio is another important consideration, if you plan to use your tablet for watching movies then you are best advised to opt for a widescreen tablet which will display movies on the full screen when held horizontally. Using your tablet primarily for browsing the web and chatting gives you the ability to choose a product with a squarer screen. Most Androids feature widescreen display at a ratio of 16:9, while iPads have 4:3 screen display.

• Connectivity

  All tablets feature WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, however, cellular connectivity is not a standard option. If you need to access the Internet at all times, signing up for cellular, or 4G coverage is essential. If you plan to use your tablet in areas WiFi is not available you may want to opt for a tablet that has cellular capability. PAYG or contract terms will cost more but it's possible to reduce charges by using the same SIM in a smartphone when choosing 4G connectivity, meaning the tablet can also be used for phone calls. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to swap files with other Bluetooth devices in the vicinity and to stream entertainment direct to your tablet.

• Connection Ports

  Tablets usually feature at least one USB port (except for iPads, they only offer a Lightning port to connect other devices, which means that you'll need an adapter), as well as a 3.5mm port for your headphones. Some devices feature ports that can be connected to HD TVs using HDMI cables and even some memory card slots are also available on certain tablets.

• Storage

  Storage of 16GB is the absolute minimum requirement for any tablet, but in this day and age that small amount of storage will fill up fast. Ideally, you should purchase a tablet with a largest capacity in your price range in addition to any cloud storage deals that may be available so as to avoid any issues with the functionality of your tablet. Some tablets provide options to increase storage by incorporating SD cards, however, this often has a detrimental effect on tablet performance.

• Performance

  Tablet performance is based on processor and memory, and quad-core processors seem to be the most common, although, iPad pro has models that offer up to twelve-core processing. Sourcing a tablet with high levels of RAM also results in better speeds and performance levels. Different types of tablets provide processors from a variety of manufacturers, but Intel processors are the most highly regarded processors currently on the market and are commonly used in all Windows tablets and PCs.

• Camera

  The camera feature on tablets would never be included among the best. Most often, one camera on the front is the norm for video calling considerations, but rear cameras allow video shooting and have better photography features. If having a good camera on tablets is important to you, don't opt for less than an 8MP camera, although most newer cell phones will often produce higher resolution images.

• Battery Life and Other Features

  Battery recharge times can be important factors to consider when checking out different tablets and you should expect a battery life of six hours minimum. Other features to take into account before buying tablets include Bluetooth, NFC, and Infrared transmitters (IR blasters) which can be used to control devices around the home. It's possible to connect Android or iPad tablets to TVs via the HDMI ports or through casting technology like the Google Chromecast or Apple AirPlay. Proprietary charging stations are a common feature of all iPads, meaning all peripherals need to be purchased from Apple. Android and Windows tablets can be used with any USB or USB-C charger.