By: iPadfanzz staff on April 7, 2013
“Which tablet should I buy,” is a puzzling question that keeps popping in mind of consumers who are going for a tablet purchase. The sheer number of choices available in market coupled with price points can easily confuse anyone. Tablet PCs are in the market for 3-4 years now and thanks to their extreme portability, easy to use interfaces and the wide range of ways they can be used, they have become quite popular, diverting consumers from the traditional PCs. In many ways, they can make one forget the need of using a laptop, provided they have internet connection of the go. Gartner predicts that due to strong uptake of smartphones and tablet PCs, global sales of devices such as tablets, PC’s and mobile phones, will be a total of 2.4 billion units in 2013, a 9 per cent growth as compared to sales of 2012. The total device shipments will reach more than 2.9 billion units in 2017 and tablets and smartphones will overtake PC shipments by 2017.
The reports also suggest that PC market of notebooks and desk-based units will decline 7.6 percent in 2013, which is a reflection of a long-term change in user behaviour.
"Whereas as once we imagined a world in which individual users would have both a PC and a tablet as personal devices, we increasingly suspect that most individuals will shift consumption activity to a personal tablet, and perform creative and administrative tasks on a shared PC," an analyst has said.
In the tablet world, it is no wonder that the iPad still remains the king, but Android rivals are catching up pretty fast. According to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, Apple shipped a total of 22.9 million iPads worldwide last quarter thanks to demand for the iPad Mini and the availability of the 4th-gen iPad. However, the concern for Apple is that growing flux of low cost tablet which has resulted in a share of 43.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, down from 46.4 percent in the preceding quarter and 51.7 percent a year ago. In second place, Samsung shipped almost 8 million Android and Windows 8 tablets combined, a 263 percent leap from the year-ago quarter. Over the same time, the company's share of the tablet market rose to 15.1 percent from 7.3 percent.
The wisdom of analysts suggest that tablet PC market is growing at a very fast rate and increase competition will mean that companies will offer lots of discounts and freebies to make lifelong customers for their products — like music, apps, e-books, movies, Web search or word-processing software. Let’s do a quick analysis of questions that you should come up with to answer which tablet is best for you.
Budget
It is the first and the most important thing. Today’s tablets fall in the range of $150 to over $800. But also do keep in mind that not all cheap tablets are worthless throwaway devices with screens designed to induce glaucoma. There’s a growing collection of solid-to-excellent 7-inch, $199 tablets from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Google. Apple's 7.9 inch option, the iPad Mini gives you a good piece of technology for $329 for a base model.
As per the current trend, a lot of low-priced tablets feature a 1GHz processor, 7-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, microSD card slot and a USB port. The difference usually comes with the presence a graphics processor, an HDMI port and the amount of RAM and on-board storage. These specs are sufficient to run most apps and give you good storage options in terms of music and videos. In the end it all depends on your Budget, so if you have high-end budget then you can go for iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, but if you still want an Apple product but have lower budget then you can go for the iPad Mini.
Screen size and resolution
Screen real estate and storage capacity are pretty important especially when you want a colourful and enjoyable experience with your tablet. Most of the tablets fall in the range of "10in or 7in tablet," which refers to the size of the screen, measured diagonally, and not the size of the tablet itself.
Apple iPads, Google Nexus tablets, and Barnes & Noble Nook HD tablets are all available in both small and large scale options. Similarly, Samsung too offer options like (10.1in, 8.9in, 7.7in, 7in, and even a phone/tablet hybrid, the Galaxy Note II with a 5.5in display and a stylus).
There are two types of touchscreens-resistive (which responds better to styluses) and capacitive (which works better with fingers). Always go for a capacitive display as these are easier to use and Android works better on them. Also, the iPad Mini comes with a resolution of 1024 x 768.
We recommend: 7-inch capacitive display, 1024 x 600 pixels
Bare minimum: 7-inch capacitive display, 800 x 480 pixels
Weight and design
Since tablet PCs are designed for mobility, a tablet with excess weight will not solve the purpose. It is because you’ll be holding the tablet for long stretches of time, so the first priority for it is to be lightweight. Thickness is also important because you need to grab the tablet in your palms, so choose wisely.
The 7-inch tablets like the Kindle Fire HD 7 and Google Nexus 7 weigh 12 ounces or less. Apple’s new iPad Mini has weight of 10.68 ounces. The Google Nexus 10 sits at 21 ounces and Apple’s powerful iPad Fourth Generation tips the scales at nearly 23 ounces. Microsoft Surface, which is one of the large tablets, weighs 24 ounces.
Apple has kept the design of the tablet to simple, smooth and sophisticated. The company has got the shape, weight, ports and buttons of the tablet near perfect, which is also quite evident on the net tablets coming in the market. Not having a home button on the Kindle Fire HD (7 and 8.9) is an endless frustration.
OS and upgrades
Most current-generation 7-inch Android tablets come with Android v4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich and feature the stock tablet interface. There are very few manufacturers who offer the Jelly Bean update. If you’re looking at getting a tablet pre-loaded with Jelly Bean, you should wait for some time.
At the moment the top two contenders in the operating systems category include Apple with its iPads and iPad mini, and Android with its many hardware choices from the likes of Acer, Amazon, Asus, Barnes & Noble, Google, Samsung, and others. The recent entrant is Microsoft with its Surface tablet running Windows RT, a slimmed-down version of Windows 8 which runs on mobile devices with ARM processors.
In short, Apple’s iOS is clean and intuitive. In iOS 6 and upgrades, Apple's YouTube app has gone (Google has since released its own on to the App Store) and Maps now runs with Apple power rather than Google juice. In addition, the OS is more social, Siri's been improved, and countless tweaks in the likes of Mail, Safari, Phone and the iOS stores, makes it a very strong option. Although, it's easy to jeer at Apple Maps, but it is a good choice for in-car turn-by-turn. Siri continues to improve and is now heading towards becoming an essential component of iOS. Do Not Disturb, despite its lack of scheduling granularity, is a triumph.
On the other hand, Google's mobile OS, Android, is somewhat complex. The latest version, Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), is the best yet, with maximum configurability, a top notch notification system, fast and smooth web browsing, and seamless integration with Google applications like Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Talk for video chat. Android 4.2 also has an improved version of Google Now, which delivers relevant information specific to your location. You can find Jelly Bean 4.2 on Google's own Nexus tablets.
Apps
If you want high quality third-party apps, then nothing can beat the iPad, as there are 275,000+ programs and games designed specifically for Apple tablets. In January, Apple announced that it had reached 40 billion downloads and 775,000 total apps in the iOS App Store. The App Store has been growing by about 641 apps per day - or 19,230 apps per 30 days. The iOS App Store is likely to hit a million apps mark in the second half of 2013. Besides, the App Store also offers a good selection well-curated and monitored, and includes every popular app that you can imagine.
On the other hand, Android has also shown signs of strong growth. Between September and October 2012, it grew by about 25,000 apps. At the current growth rate, it is likely that it may have already reached the 775,000 apps mark as of now - and accelerating at a faster rate than the App Store. Through all of 2012, Google Play added about 350,000 apps to its Android ecosystem. In comparison, Apple added 225,000 apps to the App Store between Jan. 2012 and Jan. 2013.
In addition, Microsoft is also claiming that there are "thousands" of apps for the freshly launched Windows RT, with more being added all the time, but don't count on finding all of your favourites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Words With Friends, or Spotify.
Connectivity / Networking
A lot of people buy tablet for internet surfing and browsing the Web on the move. In that case, you must choose, a tablet supporting 3G, but having a Wi-Fi only tablet will also work fine if you have such a connection in home. Also do check out which form of Wi-Fi do your tablet supports. Any tablet should support 802.11n. The best option is to support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands. Also try to choose a tablet that has support for USB devices, but it is rate to find in low price segment. Bluetooth connectivity, however, is a must.
We recommend: 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, phone call support
Bare minimum: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Memory and storage
While Android can work well on tablets with 256 MB RAM, but the higher the RAM, the better it is, especially if you want to run Android 2.3. Most budget tablets come with 512 MB storage space, of which usually around 300 MB is available for usage. The storage options for iPad 2 is 16, 32, 64 GB; for iPad 3 it is 16, 32, 64 GB, and for iPad 4 they are 16, 32, 64 GB. Similarly, the iPad Mini is available in storage capacities of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB.
There is also an option of cloud storage for many tablets (iCloud for iPads, Amazon Cloud Storage for Kindle Fires, and SkyDrive).
We recommend: 512 MB RAM, expandable storage
Bare minimum: 256 MB RAM, expandable storage
Media and camera
Since most of us would use the tablet for multimedia consumption, it is important that the tablet should contain all those feature that would make it work at its best. Do check the the audio player’s quality and volume loud which should be enough to be heard clearly even in noisy locations. Most of the latest tablets featuring Android ICS and JB are capable of playing MP4, DivX and even MKV files out-of-the-box. Also, look out for a front-facing camera if you want to chat or make video calls. You’ll appreciate a rear camera if you’re of the type who likes taking a lot of photos.
“Which tablet should I buy,” is a puzzling question that keeps popping in mind of consumers who are going for a tablet purchase. The sheer number of choices available in market coupled with price points can easily confuse anyone. Tablet PCs are in the market for 3-4 years now and thanks to their extreme portability, easy to use interfaces and the wide range of ways they can be used, they have become quite popular, diverting consumers from the traditional PCs. In many ways, they can make one forget the need of using a laptop, provided they have internet connection of the go. Gartner predicts that due to strong uptake of smartphones and tablet PCs, global sales of devices such as tablets, PC’s and mobile phones, will be a total of 2.4 billion units in 2013, a 9 per cent growth as compared to sales of 2012. The total device shipments will reach more than 2.9 billion units in 2017 and tablets and smartphones will overtake PC shipments by 2017.
The reports also suggest that PC market of notebooks and desk-based units will decline 7.6 percent in 2013, which is a reflection of a long-term change in user behaviour.
"Whereas as once we imagined a world in which individual users would have both a PC and a tablet as personal devices, we increasingly suspect that most individuals will shift consumption activity to a personal tablet, and perform creative and administrative tasks on a shared PC," an analyst has said.
In the tablet world, it is no wonder that the iPad still remains the king, but Android rivals are catching up pretty fast. According to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, Apple shipped a total of 22.9 million iPads worldwide last quarter thanks to demand for the iPad Mini and the availability of the 4th-gen iPad. However, the concern for Apple is that growing flux of low cost tablet which has resulted in a share of 43.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, down from 46.4 percent in the preceding quarter and 51.7 percent a year ago. In second place, Samsung shipped almost 8 million Android and Windows 8 tablets combined, a 263 percent leap from the year-ago quarter. Over the same time, the company's share of the tablet market rose to 15.1 percent from 7.3 percent.
The wisdom of analysts suggest that tablet PC market is growing at a very fast rate and increase competition will mean that companies will offer lots of discounts and freebies to make lifelong customers for their products — like music, apps, e-books, movies, Web search or word-processing software. Let’s do a quick analysis of questions that you should come up with to answer which tablet is best for you.
Budget
It is the first and the most important thing. Today’s tablets fall in the range of $150 to over $800. But also do keep in mind that not all cheap tablets are worthless throwaway devices with screens designed to induce glaucoma. There’s a growing collection of solid-to-excellent 7-inch, $199 tablets from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Google. Apple's 7.9 inch option, the iPad Mini gives you a good piece of technology for $329 for a base model.
As per the current trend, a lot of low-priced tablets feature a 1GHz processor, 7-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, microSD card slot and a USB port. The difference usually comes with the presence a graphics processor, an HDMI port and the amount of RAM and on-board storage. These specs are sufficient to run most apps and give you good storage options in terms of music and videos. In the end it all depends on your Budget, so if you have high-end budget then you can go for iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, but if you still want an Apple product but have lower budget then you can go for the iPad Mini.
Screen size and resolution
Screen real estate and storage capacity are pretty important especially when you want a colourful and enjoyable experience with your tablet. Most of the tablets fall in the range of "10in or 7in tablet," which refers to the size of the screen, measured diagonally, and not the size of the tablet itself.
Apple iPads, Google Nexus tablets, and Barnes & Noble Nook HD tablets are all available in both small and large scale options. Similarly, Samsung too offer options like (10.1in, 8.9in, 7.7in, 7in, and even a phone/tablet hybrid, the Galaxy Note II with a 5.5in display and a stylus).
There are two types of touchscreens-resistive (which responds better to styluses) and capacitive (which works better with fingers). Always go for a capacitive display as these are easier to use and Android works better on them. Also, the iPad Mini comes with a resolution of 1024 x 768.
We recommend: 7-inch capacitive display, 1024 x 600 pixels
Bare minimum: 7-inch capacitive display, 800 x 480 pixels
Weight and design
Since tablet PCs are designed for mobility, a tablet with excess weight will not solve the purpose. It is because you’ll be holding the tablet for long stretches of time, so the first priority for it is to be lightweight. Thickness is also important because you need to grab the tablet in your palms, so choose wisely.
The 7-inch tablets like the Kindle Fire HD 7 and Google Nexus 7 weigh 12 ounces or less. Apple’s new iPad Mini has weight of 10.68 ounces. The Google Nexus 10 sits at 21 ounces and Apple’s powerful iPad Fourth Generation tips the scales at nearly 23 ounces. Microsoft Surface, which is one of the large tablets, weighs 24 ounces.
Apple has kept the design of the tablet to simple, smooth and sophisticated. The company has got the shape, weight, ports and buttons of the tablet near perfect, which is also quite evident on the net tablets coming in the market. Not having a home button on the Kindle Fire HD (7 and 8.9) is an endless frustration.
OS and upgrades
Most current-generation 7-inch Android tablets come with Android v4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich and feature the stock tablet interface. There are very few manufacturers who offer the Jelly Bean update. If you’re looking at getting a tablet pre-loaded with Jelly Bean, you should wait for some time.
At the moment the top two contenders in the operating systems category include Apple with its iPads and iPad mini, and Android with its many hardware choices from the likes of Acer, Amazon, Asus, Barnes & Noble, Google, Samsung, and others. The recent entrant is Microsoft with its Surface tablet running Windows RT, a slimmed-down version of Windows 8 which runs on mobile devices with ARM processors.
In short, Apple’s iOS is clean and intuitive. In iOS 6 and upgrades, Apple's YouTube app has gone (Google has since released its own on to the App Store) and Maps now runs with Apple power rather than Google juice. In addition, the OS is more social, Siri's been improved, and countless tweaks in the likes of Mail, Safari, Phone and the iOS stores, makes it a very strong option. Although, it's easy to jeer at Apple Maps, but it is a good choice for in-car turn-by-turn. Siri continues to improve and is now heading towards becoming an essential component of iOS. Do Not Disturb, despite its lack of scheduling granularity, is a triumph.
On the other hand, Google's mobile OS, Android, is somewhat complex. The latest version, Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), is the best yet, with maximum configurability, a top notch notification system, fast and smooth web browsing, and seamless integration with Google applications like Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Talk for video chat. Android 4.2 also has an improved version of Google Now, which delivers relevant information specific to your location. You can find Jelly Bean 4.2 on Google's own Nexus tablets.
Apps
If you want high quality third-party apps, then nothing can beat the iPad, as there are 275,000+ programs and games designed specifically for Apple tablets. In January, Apple announced that it had reached 40 billion downloads and 775,000 total apps in the iOS App Store. The App Store has been growing by about 641 apps per day - or 19,230 apps per 30 days. The iOS App Store is likely to hit a million apps mark in the second half of 2013. Besides, the App Store also offers a good selection well-curated and monitored, and includes every popular app that you can imagine.
On the other hand, Android has also shown signs of strong growth. Between September and October 2012, it grew by about 25,000 apps. At the current growth rate, it is likely that it may have already reached the 775,000 apps mark as of now - and accelerating at a faster rate than the App Store. Through all of 2012, Google Play added about 350,000 apps to its Android ecosystem. In comparison, Apple added 225,000 apps to the App Store between Jan. 2012 and Jan. 2013.
In addition, Microsoft is also claiming that there are "thousands" of apps for the freshly launched Windows RT, with more being added all the time, but don't count on finding all of your favourites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Words With Friends, or Spotify.
Connectivity / Networking
A lot of people buy tablet for internet surfing and browsing the Web on the move. In that case, you must choose, a tablet supporting 3G, but having a Wi-Fi only tablet will also work fine if you have such a connection in home. Also do check out which form of Wi-Fi do your tablet supports. Any tablet should support 802.11n. The best option is to support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands. Also try to choose a tablet that has support for USB devices, but it is rate to find in low price segment. Bluetooth connectivity, however, is a must.
We recommend: 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, phone call support
Bare minimum: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Memory and storage
While Android can work well on tablets with 256 MB RAM, but the higher the RAM, the better it is, especially if you want to run Android 2.3. Most budget tablets come with 512 MB storage space, of which usually around 300 MB is available for usage. The storage options for iPad 2 is 16, 32, 64 GB; for iPad 3 it is 16, 32, 64 GB, and for iPad 4 they are 16, 32, 64 GB. Similarly, the iPad Mini is available in storage capacities of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB.
There is also an option of cloud storage for many tablets (iCloud for iPads, Amazon Cloud Storage for Kindle Fires, and SkyDrive).
We recommend: 512 MB RAM, expandable storage
Bare minimum: 256 MB RAM, expandable storage
Media and camera
Since most of us would use the tablet for multimedia consumption, it is important that the tablet should contain all those feature that would make it work at its best. Do check the the audio player’s quality and volume loud which should be enough to be heard clearly even in noisy locations. Most of the latest tablets featuring Android ICS and JB are capable of playing MP4, DivX and even MKV files out-of-the-box. Also, look out for a front-facing camera if you want to chat or make video calls. You’ll appreciate a rear camera if you’re of the type who likes taking a lot of photos.
