The Beginner’s Guide to Buying a Tablet 2020
So you want to buy a tablet. Maybe for yourself, or maybe for a birthday or Christmas present for someone special. But you haven’t really got a clue what tablet to get. There’s so many on the market, all with their own pros and cons, and all geared towards different types of people. If only there was a really, really down-to-earth guide that explained it all in clear, simple terms.
Well there is, and you found it. In this guide we go through what you should be looking for when buying a tablet, which type of tablet is best for you (or the person you’re buying for) and recommend some of the top tablets about in 2020.
Why a tablet?
First off, why get a tablet? The answer is largely down to portability. Tablets are obviously much smaller than both desktop computers and laptop computers, making them really portable and really convenient. This means they’re great on the go, and they’re really easy to just grab at a moment’s notice when you’re chilling on the sofa.
So they’re small, but not too small. Tablets are typically bigger than most smartphones, meaning they’re big enough not to be too fiddly. This means they generally provide a better and more immersive experience when compared to smartphones when doing things like work, surf the Internet or watch videos and play games. And just like smartphones, you install mobile apps on a tablet, with most tablets offering an almost limitless number of different apps, ranging from games to work apps.
And thanks to modern technology, tablets have become faster and more efficient, meaning you can do more than you ever could before on such a small, mobile device!
Types of tablet
Tablets are most frequently categorised by their operating system. That is the software that runs as soon as you turn the tablet on, and allows you to tell the tablet what to do (i.e. run this game, play this movie or take this photo.)
Most tablets run on the Android operating system. Android is made by Google, and can run on different types of tablets made by different manufacturers. It’s also found on many smartphones too.
But not all tablets are Android tablets. For example, Apple tablets – known by their brand name iPad – run Apple’s own iOS (or iPadOS) operating system. Microsoft Surface tablets run Microsoft’s own Windows operating system and the Amazon Kindle/Fire tablets run the Fire OS operating system.
Below is a brief summary of the advantages of each operating system.
Android – It’s the most popular tablet operating system, so it’s very well supported. Nearly all mobile apps will be supported by Android, meaning you have an almost limitless choice, whether it’s for work or entertainment. It’s versatile too, meaning Android tablets can be used for both work and pleasure. Because Android is compatible with so many different types of tablet, you’re bound to find an Android to suit your needs, from budget to high-end. A good all-rounder.
iOS/iPadOS – These operating systems run on iPad tablets (with the latest iPads running iPadOS.) These operating systems are known to be intuitive, stable and generally offer the best user experience. While iPads tend to be a little more expensive than most other tablets, they’re consistently good performers and also well supported too, again with an almost limitless choice of apps you can download from the Apple store. Another great all-rounder and a brilliant choice if you already have Apple devices in the household.
Windows – Found on the Microsoft Surface tablets, this is great operating system for those that will use their tablet for work. That’s because it’s compatible with many desktop office programs you’re already going to be familiar with, such as Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.) Surface tablets also tend to be good performers too, meaning they can also be used to play games, albeit with a smaller choice available than its competitors.
Fire OS – Fire OS runs on the Amazon Fire range of tablets. These tablets are geared around those who want a tablet for the basics, and the operating system compliments that well. It’s easy to use, intuitive and more lightweight than other operating systems, and also supports playing videos and games as well. If you’re buying a tablet for someone who will use it primarily for online surfing and online reading, a Fire tablet with Fire OS is a great choice.
Other tablet features to look out for
Screen size – tablets usually have a 7 inch to 10 inch screen, but some go up to 12 inch and beyond. Bigger screens tend to be better for things like playing games and videos, but it also means the tablet itself will be physically larger. Note that screen size and screen resolution are not the same thing. Resolution shows how many pixels will fit inside the screen. This means, for example, a 1200×1920 resolution will look sharper when fitted into a 7inch display than a 10inch display, because the pixels themselves will be smaller!
Storage – measured in GB, this simply means how much you can store on the tablet, such as music, photos or work stuff. Remember that installing apps also takes up storage as well. If you’re planning on saving lots of files on the tablet, look for storage 32GB or higher. If you’re only using it to do Internet stuff, 8GB or 16GB should suffice. Also, look to see if the tablet has a SD or MicroSD card slot, meaning a memory card can be slotted into the tablet which can offer more storage.
Processor/RAM – RAM is often mistaken for storage memory (it’s not) because it’s also measured in GB, RAM is a good indicator of how fast a tablet will perform, but the processor is more important. A good processor will determine the speed and responsiveness of a tablet, and the more RAM, the more responsive a tablet as well. These are the most important factors that determine speed, but they can also push the price tag of a tablet up as well.
Battery Life – Quite self-explanatory, but battery life means how long the tablet will stay on for (without being used intensively) before needing to be charged up. These days, most tablets should survive being used moderately for most of the day without needing to be charged up.
Cameras – Like taking photos? Most tablets have at least one camera, and many have two, one facing each way. Camera quality can differ between cameras, and the megapixels of the camera is one measurement of how good the camera is.
Our Recommended Tablets for 2020
Now we’ve explained what to look out for, lets recommend some actual tablets that are proving popular with the critics this year. We’ll cover all bases, so no matter what type of person you’re buying for, we should have something that suits.
The iPad Pro 11
Apple’s High Performer
Every list of tablets for 2020 has to include the iPad Pro 11, which is essentially Apple’s high performance tablet, which is most definitely reflected in the price tag. If you’re willing to stretch the budget to the maximum and you don’t mind getting an Apple tablet running their latest operating system iPadOS, this is going to the best choice.
The screen is 11 inches, so larger than average, and features a sleek edge-to-edge display, meaning the screen extends right the way to each side of the tablet. It boasts an exceptional resolution of 1668×2388, so expect a crystal sharp display.
The tablet itself is extremely thin, and features both a front facing 12MP camera and a rear facing 7MP camera. Apple tablets are known for their exceptional camera quality, and the iPad Pro 11 is no different. There’s a decent amount of RAM (4GB) but it’s the tablets high speed processor (A12X) that really speeds up performance, so it’s great for gamers and those looking to run performance intensive apps. Basically, it’s a super fast tablet.
The amount of storage depends on the model you get, but ranges from 64GB to a massive 1TB. It’s worth noting there is no card slot, so no way to extend the storage unless you use online based storage (i.e. uploading your files to the Internet.) As is standard with iPads, the tablet features Apple’s facial recognition (FaceID) system for extra security along with a whole host of Apple goodies.
However note that the thin design means the iPad range of tablets no longer feature the standard headphone jack, so you can’t just plug in your standard headphones anymore. Two alternatives are to either buy a $10 adapter (3.5mm to USB-C) or use Bluetooth headphones like Apple’s AirPods. Simple.
In summary, this is the high performance, no expense spared tablet from Apple. The biggest drawback, as you might expect, is going to be the lofty price tag. For those that want to spend even more, it comes with a bigger screen too with the 12.9 version.
Get the iPad Pro 11 on Amazon here. (Or HERE for UK readers.)
The iPad Air (2019)
Apple’s ‘Decent Enough’ Performer
If like most people the iPad Pro 11 above is going to break the bank, yet you still want a good performance tablet and you’re okay with Apple, then the logical alternative is the latest iPad Air, which serves as a mid-range Apple tablet in terms of performance.
The latest version runs the iPadOS operating system, which is getting great reviews, and has all the Apple goodies like FaceID facial recognition. Performance isn’t as exceptional as the iPad Pro but that’s to be expected. However this isn’t a slow tablet. It has a very good A12 processor running with 2GB of RAM.
Apple displays are always going to be very good, and the 10.5 inch screen packs in an impressive 1668×2224 pixels, so a very sharp display. Internal storage ranges from 64GB to 256GB depending on the model you buy, but again there is no memory card slot for extra memory. There are two good cameras, a front facing 7MP camera and a rear facing 8MP camera.
An advantage to the iPad Air here is that because it’s not quite as thin as Apple’s high range models, it still retains the classic 3.5mm headphone jack, meaning you can plug your standard headphones straight in.
Overall, it’s a decent, responsive mid-range tablet. Not as powerful as Apple’s high range, but still great for games, work and more, and it’s significantly cheaper to boot.
Get the iPad Air on Amazon here. (Or HERE for UK readers.)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
The Best Performance Android Tablet
This is Android’s answer to the “money is no object” range of high performance tablets, and its yet another seriously fast yet expensive tablet.
The tablet features a fast processor, called SnapDragon, and a very good 6GB of RAM if you get the 128GB storage model (there is a mode expensive 8GB RAM/256GB storage model available too.) It might not be quite as fast as the top level iPad Pro 11, but it’s not too far away. The display is a 10.5 inch screen with an exceptional resolution of 1600×2560 pixels, so a great choice for games and video. And yes, there’s also a microSD slot for extra storage.
Incredibly this tablet features 3 cameras in total. 2 rear cameras (13MP and 5MP) and a front camera (8MP.) But again, because of the sleek nature of the tablet, this is no 3.5mm headphone socket.
Overall, this tablet has clearly been geared towards the world of entertainment, and is a great high budget tablet that’s perfect for things like video games. If you’re after a high performer, and the iPad Pro 11 is a tad bit expensive or you don’t want to get Apple, then this is the best choice.
Get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 on Amazon here. (Or 11% OFF HERE for UK readers.)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
A Decent Mid-Performer from Android
The S4 is the predecessor to the above Tab S6, and as such it’s a bit of a downgrade, but still a great choice for anyone who wants a good performance Android tablet that’s good for entertainment.
We’ll quickly go into the specs here – like the S6, it still has 10.5 inch screen with an exceptional 1600×2560 resolution, so great for games and video. It has both a 13MP rear camera and 8MP front camera. A decent SnapDragon processor means this is a responsive tablet, but slightly slower than the S6. And the S4, unlike the S6, has that 3.5mm headphone jack.
The S4 is great for anyone wanting a decent, good performance entertainment-orientated tablet that’s a bit cheaper than the Galaxy Tab S6.
Get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 on Amazon here. (Or HERE for UK readers.)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A
A Budget-Friendly, Popular All-Rounder That’s Been Around A While
If you’re after a tablet that won’t break the bank but also lets you do plenty of great things while on the go, the Galaxy Tab A is a great choice. It’s been around a while, and that’s because it’s one of the most popular and enduring budget tablets on the market.
It’s got a good sized 10.1 inch screen with a good 1200×1920 display. Not crystal sharp, but it’ll more than do for videos and surfing the Internet. Two cameras, a front facing 8MP and rear 5MP camera. A decent enough processor with 2GB RAM if you pick the most popular 32GB storage option will be suitable for most needs, and there is a good battery life with this tablet.
Obviously this isn’t competing with high end performance tablets, and high graphic intensive games will struggle, but it’s perfect for anyone who wants a tablet for things like social media, surfing the Internet, watching videos and playing less intensive games.
Get the Samsung Galaxy Tab A on Amazon here. (Or at Amazon.co.uk – click HERE.)
Amazon Fire HD 10
A Pleasant, Budget-Friendly All-Rounder From Amazon
Amazon have branched away from their Kindle tablets with the Fire series, but these tablets are still great if you love to read and surf online. The Fire tablets, of which the Fire 10 HD is the latest addition, are great all-rounders for those not wanted to spend too much for things they don’t need.
The specifications are modest. 10.1 inch screen with a 1920×1200 resolution, 2Ghz processor, 32GB storage and a 2MP rear and front facing camera means this tablet isn’t going to push the price tag up too high. It’s essentially all the basics you need to do the basics. Surf or read online, do social media, watch movies.
The only note here is that this is neither an Android or Apple tablet, so the range of apps available to download are comparatively more limited, but you shouldn’t have any problems finding the big brands (i.e. Netflix, Facebook Instagram etc.)
Get the Amazon Fire HD 10 on Amazon here. (or HERE for UK readers.)
The Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Another High End Performance Tablet for Work and Education
The Microsoft tablets have a reputation of being the working man’s choice, because of their gravitation to work as opposed to entertainment. But that doesn’t mean these tablets can’t be used for entertainment, of course!
Primarily though, this is for work on the go. A speedy i5 processor means the tablet can tackle even the most intensive programs, including graphic design apps. Of course it runs on Microsoft’s own Windows software, so its compatible with all those desktop/laptop programs you know and love, most notably Microsoft Office programs like Word and Excel.
The Surface Pro 6 has the biggest screen listed here, measuring in at 12.3 inches, meaning it is easier for work. But if you want a smaller size, then there are other Surface alternatives available. That 12.3 screen packs in a whopping 2736×1826 pixels mind, so it’s still a very sharp display. (Gamers, take note.)
The surface also has the most RAM than any of its competitors listed here, between 8GB and 16GB depending on the model you get, and coupled with that i5 processor, you get a very responsive and fast tablet indeed.
Storage amount depends on the model you get, ranging from 128GB to 1TB. Two cameras, 8MP rear facing and 5MP front facing.
The Surface Pro 6 is ultimately another great high performance option, and extremely fast. It’s great for those who work on the go, but an excellent performance and display means it’s great for entertainment too. But like all high end performers, this also comes with a hefty price tag.
If you’re looking for a more budget friendly Surface tablet running on the Windows operating system, you can try the Microsoft Surface Go, which is better for those who like to work but have more modest demands.
Get the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 on Amazon here. (or HERE for UK readers.)
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