Why do you need a tablet?
If you want something that bridges the gap between a smartphone and a laptop, a tablet allows you to read your emails, manage your calendar, get directions and watch TV and films.
They’re also great for productivity, as you can use them for writing, reading, drawing, creative apps and more. They work just like your phone, but with the benefit of a bigger screen.
Because a tablet is much lighter and smaller than a laptop (and doesn’t have a physical keyboard), it’s easier to take with you on holiday or on your commute. And, if you did want to add functionality, they can connect to a wireless keyboard or wireless mouse, or will work with optional accessories (such as keyboards or stylus pens).
Before you rush to buy one, think about exactly what you’re going to use it for. Those needing to get lots of work done may be better off looking for a laptop. While you can get apps with office capabilities for editing and writing documents on tablets, laptops are built for this and tend to have more battery life. Tablets can typically last almost all day long, though, and if your main needs are things like video calls, reading, browsing and entertainment on the go, they’re ideal.
If you buy a stylus for your device, you can also use a tablet for sketching and drawing, and they include front and rear cameras that most people tend to use for video calling, like Microsoft Teams or FaceTime. Some are compatible with tablet docking stations too, or tablet cases with a builtin stand.
How much do tablets cost?
Entrylevel devices with basic features cost under £100 while the premium models like Apple’s latest iPad can go up to well over £1,000, but unless you’re doing graphic design or you’ve picked up athome architectural drawing, you don’t need to spend that much to get a great tablet experience.
The sweet spot is around £300£600, as that will give you decent storage for your files, a big, bright, colourful screen, 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 a keyboard, case, or ;a touchsensitive stylus. Remember that more storage can bloat the price significantly too – so factor that into your budget.
What kind of tablet should you buy?
As with smartphones, you’ll want to pick one with the operating system (OS) you prefer.
For tablets, the main ones are Apple’s iOS, Android, and Amazon’s Fire OS, although there are multiple others, including Microsoft Windows.
Each system will be preloaded with apps specific to that brand (Google Play Store and Google Chrome for Android, the App Store and Safari for iOS for example). Our advice? Stick to what you know.
For example, if you’ve got a Samsung phone, you’ll feel more at home with a Samsung tablet, and that will save you the hassle of having to relearn a new system.
Not only that, but your files, accounts and even other gadgets are likely to pair seamlessly if you stick to the same OS. Apple is a great example of this, with its iPhones, MacBooks and AirPods quickly connecting with each other for ease of use.
