Tablets are devices halfway between laptops and smartphones but with the considerable advantage of being super light and comfortable to have the Internet and the main applications always at hand.The iPad is almost the forced choice as a tablet and in fact it is still the best-selling. 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 also replace your all-purpose computerwhile for others it is only good for entertainment, for gaming and surfing the Internet.
In the guide that follows we will introduce you to the things to know before buying a new tabletso you know in advance what to get, what features to look at and how much to spend.
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Which tablet to buy
The main factor of choice when buying a new tablet is the operating system.
This choice must 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 own advantages and disadvantages.
iPad
The iPad is the most popular and was the first truly 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 apps 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 that it can be resold. The iPad’s weak point is the cost: compared to Android tablets it costs a lot more.
The 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 (so the differences are few). Another negative point is the higher cost of apps compared to Android onesa factor not to be underestimated if we want to download many apps, considering that even the most useful ones can be paid or foresee in-app purchases to take advantage of all the functions.
In another article we have listed the best free apps for iPad
Tablet Android
The Google 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 keyboards that detach and reattach that turn into laptops or those that integrate with the smartphone becoming a single device.
The Android OS is incredibly flexible and if you like the idea of making the tablet look like a laptop then it works a lot better than iPadOS.
Android can be used with a mouse, keyboard, remote desktop applications etc. However, keep in mind that Android tablets are not all the same and that there are models that have obsolete hardware and Android versions so old that they are very slow from the first start.
It is important to read the 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 don’t work, just that they might look bad on 10-inch large-screen tablets.
In another article we have seen together the 20 best apps for android tablets.
Windows 11 convertibles
Windows 11 tablets are newer than Android tablets and iPads and it usually comes down to tablets convertible into laptops by adding keyboard.
With a Windows 11 tablet to which you can connect the keyboard, so that you can also use normal desktop PC programs without any problems. A convertible Windows 11 tablet costs a lot more than any other tablet, but it 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 it adds to the compatibility the presence of support for .exe programs, 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 blunder (over 1000 €), therefore reserved only for those who work with a convertible tablet of this type (which is still of great quality).
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: about the size of the tablet a lot depends on personal tastes; the bulk of the market is that tablet gives 10 pollici, but we can find smaller (8-inch) tablets and larger (13-inch) tablets. If you think of the tablet for reading books and surfing the internet, then even small ones are fine; for any other purpose it is always advisable to take a tablet of at least 10 inches, especially if we need a tablet to study or to work. The best way to find out which format you prefer is to go to a store and try them out.
- Weight: Before purchasing we do not only check the screen size, but also the weight of the device. The ideal weight is under 600 gramsso 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.
- Battery: the battery is always very large on tablets and allows you to reach 6-7 hours of constant use in all scenarios. If possible, we choose only tablet models with a battery capacity of at least 7000 mAh.
- Penna touch: Many users prefer to use a touch stylus to work or draw on the tablet. The advice we can give you is to use only certified nibs 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 evaluate on tablets and that should be taken into consideration before purchasing.
Best tablets
In the Android and Windows world, there are some criteria to consider if you want to avoid junk. Read reviews from reputable sites, check which Android version is installed and if it is upgradeable and pay attention to the hardware quality of the parts if you choose a convertible tablet, which I personally do not recommend.
Below we have collected the best tablet models that are worth buying at the moment.
Tablet Android
The best Android tablet we can buy is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (656€).
This tablet features a high-resolution 11-inch screen, octa-core processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB internal memory, 12MP front camera, ultra-low latency Samsung S Pen stylus and Android 11 operating system.
Alternatively we can take a look at the following Android tablets:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 256GB with built-in 5G (999€)
- Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 (799€)
- HUAWEI MatePad 11 (397€)
- Tablet Fire HD 10 (149€)
To learn more we can also read our guide to best android tablets.
Tablet Apple iPad
With iPad you are always on the safe side, but if we want a recent and well-supported iPad model from Apple we will have to buy theApple iPad Pro (1177€).
This iPad boasts a 12.9-inch LiquidRetinaXDR display with ProMotion, TrueTone and wide color gamut, 12MP TrueDepth front camera, LiDAR scanner, Thunderbolt port (USB 4), Wi-Fi 6 module and iPadOS operating system.
If we want to buy other iPad models, just take a look at the following list:
- Apple iPad da 10,2″, Wi-Fi, 64GB (329€)
- Apple iPad mini to 8.3 “, Wi-Fi, 64GB (508€)
- Apple iPad Air da 10,9″, Wi-Fi + 5G, 256GB (939€)
To learn more we can read the guide on how to set up and use a new iPad.
Convertible tablets with Windows 11
Those looking for the power of Windows in the palm of one hand can bet on convertible tablets produced directly by Microsoftsuch as the Microsoft Surface Go 3 (549€).
This tablet has a 10.5-inch touch screen with HD resolution, Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y dual-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal memory, Wi-Fi module, cellular data modules, Bluetooth 5.0, reader MicroSDXC cards, front and rear 1080p HD webcams and two Studio microphones and Windows 11 operating system.
Alternatively we can buy the following convertible tablets with Windows 11:
- THIS IS THE TIME UBook X Pro (559€)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (399€)
- HP – PC ENVY x360 (949€)
- Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (1299€)
Those interested can also read our guide to best Windows tablets convertible to PC.
Conclusions
Due to the rapid updating of mobile devices, there are good times and times that are not worth buying. Every year, new versions and models of tablets are marketed by manufacturers that make the previous one older.
It is therefore worth it, if you chose to take an iPadto inquire when the latest version came out to understand if a new model is around the corner and it is 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 the tablet, which must be as recent as possible. (as of this writing Android 12). Per i tablet Windows 11 we only buy 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 worthy of the name is still required, as we can read in the guide below.
To learn more we can read our guide on because the tablet cannot replace the PC.