The
beautiful screens, portability and simplicity of tablets mean they’re great to
use and have become incredibly popular. It wasn’t so long ago there was only one tablet you should consider buying, Apple’s iPad. But things have changed a lot in the last couple of years. There's now a multitude of tablets, ranging from £50 to upwards of £1,000, that are well worth considering.
Our plain english guide is here to help you make your choice as simple and pain-free as possible.
In it you'll find out:
1. Which tablet OS is best for you: Apple iOS, Google Android or Windows?
Each system has strengths and weaknesses. Apple iPads may be the most popular brand of tablets, but that doesn't mean they're the best for everyone.
2. What size tablet is best for you: 7-inch or 10-inch?
Size makes a big difference when buying a tablet. We'll run you through the pros and cons of both options.
3. How much you really need to spend and how you can save money
Knowing what you need will help you only spend as much as you need, and we have a few money saving tips for you, too.
iOS vs Android vs Windows: which is best for
you?
There are three main
types of tablet to choose from, all with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Let’s look at them individually.
Apple iOS
iOS Tablet: Apple iPad Air
Key points:
- Has considerably more tablet optimised apps than others
- User interface is easy to use but not very customisable
- Tablets are pricey but very well-made
- iPads available with a 7.8-inch screen or a 9.7-inch one
Apple revolutionised the
tablet with the original iPad, and iOS is the operating system that runs it. iOS
is one of the easiest systems to use, even children get it, and if you’re new
to computing then it’s one of the best to get started on. It’s had a total
redesign recently with iOS 7 and it looks simple and pretty, but more
importantly some useful features have been added such as easier access to
multitasking and settings.
One of the biggest benefits of the iPad and iOS is the App Store. With almost half a million quality apps and digital magazines optimised for the iPad there really is an app for anything, from fitness to cooking and productivity to gaming. Android and Windows are still way behind in this area.
Another benefit of iOS is Apple’s support of it and second-to-none customer service. If you have any issues with your iPad just take it to the experts at any Apple Store, not only will they help you set it up, you can also attend free workshops to get the most out of it.
iOS is not quite as feature-packed as Android, though. It lets you tweak and change settings a lot more than iOS does, but that also makes Android a little more complex and therefore harder to use.
So what’s the catch? Simple it’s the price. The iPad Air and new iPad mini are still some of the most expensive tablets on the market for their size and don’t allow for external memory to be added like some Android and Windows tablets do. If you like travelling with lots of movies and music you’ll need to pay a premium for the extra storage up front.
One of the biggest benefits of the iPad and iOS is the App Store. With almost half a million quality apps and digital magazines optimised for the iPad there really is an app for anything, from fitness to cooking and productivity to gaming. Android and Windows are still way behind in this area.
Another benefit of iOS is Apple’s support of it and second-to-none customer service. If you have any issues with your iPad just take it to the experts at any Apple Store, not only will they help you set it up, you can also attend free workshops to get the most out of it.
iOS is not quite as feature-packed as Android, though. It lets you tweak and change settings a lot more than iOS does, but that also makes Android a little more complex and therefore harder to use.
So what’s the catch? Simple it’s the price. The iPad Air and new iPad mini are still some of the most expensive tablets on the market for their size and don’t allow for external memory to be added like some Android and Windows tablets do. If you like travelling with lots of movies and music you’ll need to pay a premium for the extra storage up front.
Google Android
Android tablet: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
Key points:
- Often cheaper than other tablets – especially 7-inch models
- Apps aren't always optimised for bigger screens
- Very customisable – you can make it look the way you want it to
- User accounts allow for separate settings for each member of the family
Android has come on
leaps and bounds since it first launched in 2008. Because it’s free for makers
to use there is a huge array of Android tablets to choose from, some excellent
and some downright dreadful.
One of the biggest benefits of Android is its customisability. You can tinker with it to your heart’s content and set up your homepages just the way you want them. For example, you can have a widget to check your emails or a Twitter widget to see and respond to the latest tweets on from your home screen. It sometimes means it's harder to learn, but that's not the case with the very best Android tablets.
The Google Play store is much better than it used to be, although most of the apps are designed for phones not tablets, which means they don't always make best use of larger screens. It also means 7-inch Android tablets are better to use than 10-inch ones because the screen size is closer to a mobile phone.
Because Android is open, makers are free to customise it to create their own experience. This is a good and a bad thing: it means there's lots of choice, but also some aren't as smooth and easy to use as standard 'vanilla' Android. Another potential problem is the lack of quality of control in the app store, which occasionally leads to some malicious apps sneaking through. It's a small problem, however, that a little common sense can avoid it.
One example of a brand that customises Android heavily is Amazon's Kindle tablets. Amazon goes so far as to make its own core apps and run its own app store, which unfortunately isn't as well stocked as the Google Play store supported by most Android tablets. This is offset with excellent access to Amazon's services, but they're no as flexible.
Our favourite feature of Android, something you don't get on iOS, is support for 'user profiles'. User profiles let you give your tablet to your kids, for example, but keep certain apps and settings locked safely away. It’s not fool-proof but it does provide some level of security. Be aware, though, that this feature is only available on Android version 4.3 or later. Most tablets run earlier versions, but should get the upgrade at some point. If you want his feature, check which version of Android the tablet uses – our list will note what version is installed by default.
The other most impressive feature of Android tablets is their price. You can get high-spec 7-inch Android tablets for less than £200 – much cheaper than any iPad.
One of the biggest benefits of Android is its customisability. You can tinker with it to your heart’s content and set up your homepages just the way you want them. For example, you can have a widget to check your emails or a Twitter widget to see and respond to the latest tweets on from your home screen. It sometimes means it's harder to learn, but that's not the case with the very best Android tablets.
The Google Play store is much better than it used to be, although most of the apps are designed for phones not tablets, which means they don't always make best use of larger screens. It also means 7-inch Android tablets are better to use than 10-inch ones because the screen size is closer to a mobile phone.
Because Android is open, makers are free to customise it to create their own experience. This is a good and a bad thing: it means there's lots of choice, but also some aren't as smooth and easy to use as standard 'vanilla' Android. Another potential problem is the lack of quality of control in the app store, which occasionally leads to some malicious apps sneaking through. It's a small problem, however, that a little common sense can avoid it.
One example of a brand that customises Android heavily is Amazon's Kindle tablets. Amazon goes so far as to make its own core apps and run its own app store, which unfortunately isn't as well stocked as the Google Play store supported by most Android tablets. This is offset with excellent access to Amazon's services, but they're no as flexible.
Our favourite feature of Android, something you don't get on iOS, is support for 'user profiles'. User profiles let you give your tablet to your kids, for example, but keep certain apps and settings locked safely away. It’s not fool-proof but it does provide some level of security. Be aware, though, that this feature is only available on Android version 4.3 or later. Most tablets run earlier versions, but should get the upgrade at some point. If you want his feature, check which version of Android the tablet uses – our list will note what version is installed by default.
The other most impressive feature of Android tablets is their price. You can get high-spec 7-inch Android tablets for less than £200 – much cheaper than any iPad.
Microsoft Windows
Windows Tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro 2
Key points:
- Not that much choice compared to Android
- Two versions: Windows RT (tablets apps only) and full Windows 8
- Very limited number of quality tablet apps
- Windows RT tablets come with Microsoft Office for free
Although Windows has
been around for ages it’s only since Windows 8 appeared last year that it makes
sense to use it on tablets. To confuse matters Microsoft has created two
versions of Windows for tablets, Windows 8 and Windows RT. What’s the
difference? Well Windows 8 is your full-fat windows – it’s exactly the same
operating system you get on your home PC or laptop, but optimised for touch use
on tablets. That means all the programs you use on a normal PC will work on a
Windows 8 tablet, too.
Because Windows 8 can do a lot the tablet needs to be very powerful. This means that Windows 8 tablets are more expensive, heavier and have less battery-life than their Android and iOS counterparts. Essentially Windows 8 tablets can replace a laptop and often come with keyboard attachments so they can be used just like one.
Windows RT, on the other hand, is a cut-down version of Windows 8. You can’t use all the apps you would on a Windows 8 tablet, but because it uses less power it’s lighter and the battery lasts longer. Unfortunately there are far fewer apps available for Windows RT than there are for the other operating systems, for example a Facebook app has only just been released. It’s taking a while to take off but Microsoft is supporting it so there’s sure to be more to come.
One of the biggest benefits of Windows RT is that you get Microsoft Office bundled free with it, but other than that it’s difficult to recommend as an operating system because of its lack of maturity and app support.
Microsoft goes one better than Android when it comes to user profiles, though. You can control as much or as little as you want for each profile. So for 5-year-old you might want to set up 'Kid’s Corner' that makes the tablet child friendly and shows only the apps you want, whereas for a teenager you might want to just ensure some internet restrictions are in place.
Windows tablets are a good option if you must have full Office access, but of the three platforms it's the weakest.
Because Windows 8 can do a lot the tablet needs to be very powerful. This means that Windows 8 tablets are more expensive, heavier and have less battery-life than their Android and iOS counterparts. Essentially Windows 8 tablets can replace a laptop and often come with keyboard attachments so they can be used just like one.
Windows RT, on the other hand, is a cut-down version of Windows 8. You can’t use all the apps you would on a Windows 8 tablet, but because it uses less power it’s lighter and the battery lasts longer. Unfortunately there are far fewer apps available for Windows RT than there are for the other operating systems, for example a Facebook app has only just been released. It’s taking a while to take off but Microsoft is supporting it so there’s sure to be more to come.
One of the biggest benefits of Windows RT is that you get Microsoft Office bundled free with it, but other than that it’s difficult to recommend as an operating system because of its lack of maturity and app support.
Microsoft goes one better than Android when it comes to user profiles, though. You can control as much or as little as you want for each profile. So for 5-year-old you might want to set up 'Kid’s Corner' that makes the tablet child friendly and shows only the apps you want, whereas for a teenager you might want to just ensure some internet restrictions are in place.
Windows tablets are a good option if you must have full Office access, but of the three platforms it's the weakest.
Tablet Buyer’s Guide:
what size tablet should I buy?
What size tablet should
I buy?
Tablets are, with one or two excpetions, smaller and ligher
than laptops: that's why they're so popular. They predominantly come in two
screen sizes, around 7-inch or 10-inch. Each has its own strength and
weaknesses and fundamentally changes the way you use your tablet.
To help you choose, think about the following things:
1. How often will the tablet leave the house?
Will you use it mostly at home on the sofa or in bed, or do you plan to take it everywhere and use it when commuting?
2. What's the primary thing you want to do?
Both sizes are good for the basics like web browsing. It's when you think about other tasks, such as reading, videos and playing games, where the differences are more pronounced.
3. How much are you willing to spend?
The bigger the tablet, the more expensive it'll be. If you only have a little to spend you may have to go for a smaller, 7-inch tablet.
The 7-inch Nexus 7 compared on top of the 9.7-inch iPad Air
To help you choose, think about the following things:
1. How often will the tablet leave the house?
Will you use it mostly at home on the sofa or in bed, or do you plan to take it everywhere and use it when commuting?
2. What's the primary thing you want to do?
Both sizes are good for the basics like web browsing. It's when you think about other tasks, such as reading, videos and playing games, where the differences are more pronounced.
3. How much are you willing to spend?
The bigger the tablet, the more expensive it'll be. If you only have a little to spend you may have to go for a smaller, 7-inch tablet.
The 7-inch Nexus 7 compared on top of the 9.7-inch iPad Air
7-inch Tablets: Pros and
Cons
Key points:
- Very portable and comfortable to hold with in one hand
- Cheaper than 10-inch versions, some cost £100 or less
- Best for reading books and commuting
- Small screen makes browsing the internet a bit trickier
- Not the best for digital magazines and newspapers
Most of the 7-inch tablets available are Android and Apple
iPads. They are some smaller Windows tablets but they're relatively new and not
all of them are on sale yet.
The advantages of 7-inch tablets are primarily their portability. They’re much lighter than bigger tablets, but still come with great quality screens, plenty of storage and fast processors. They’re also cheap – you can get a decent 7-inch tablet for around £120, but they do go up to £600 for a fully kitted out iPad mini 2.
7-inch tablets are great for using on the go, whether on a commute or holidaying on a sunny beach. The high quality screens and long battery life mean they can even substitute as eBook readers. Because the screen is smaller you may find it a little difficult to navigate some websites, particularly if your eyesight isn’t 20/20. They’re also not the best for watching movies or TV programs, again because of the screen size but also because the speakers tend to be quite weak and tinny. Headphones solve that issue, though.
Finally you’ll struggle to use a 7-inch tablet well for productivity. While you can get keyboard docks for some of them the screen and keyboard size means that they’re not comfortable for writing for long periods of time.
The advantages of 7-inch tablets are primarily their portability. They’re much lighter than bigger tablets, but still come with great quality screens, plenty of storage and fast processors. They’re also cheap – you can get a decent 7-inch tablet for around £120, but they do go up to £600 for a fully kitted out iPad mini 2.
7-inch tablets are great for using on the go, whether on a commute or holidaying on a sunny beach. The high quality screens and long battery life mean they can even substitute as eBook readers. Because the screen is smaller you may find it a little difficult to navigate some websites, particularly if your eyesight isn’t 20/20. They’re also not the best for watching movies or TV programs, again because of the screen size but also because the speakers tend to be quite weak and tinny. Headphones solve that issue, though.
Finally you’ll struggle to use a 7-inch tablet well for productivity. While you can get keyboard docks for some of them the screen and keyboard size means that they’re not comfortable for writing for long periods of time.
10-inch Tablets: Pros
and Cons
Key points:
- Large screen is good for TV, video and visually impaired
- Best for reading newspapers and magazines
- Better for producitivty, especially with a keyboard
- More expensive than 7-inch tablets
- Heavier and therefore less portable
10-inch tablets are a fair bit heavier and more difficult
to handle than 7-inch ones, but are also more versatile in terms of
productivity and enjoying TV, online videos, newspapers and magazines.
The high resolution 10-inch screens are great for watching movies and the extra space means that better speakers can be included. You can happily watch programs with another person on one. Electronic magazines come to life on the bigger screen and you can view high resolution image galleries in all their glory and interact with articles in exciting new ways.
Some 10-inch tablets also come with keyboard docks that makes them a useful writing and productivity tool. Great examples of these are the Android-running Asus Transformer and the Windows Microsoft Surface 2. Apple does not make a keyboard for the iPad, but there are many of other companies that do, which means you can make it work like a laptop, too.
The high resolution 10-inch screens are great for watching movies and the extra space means that better speakers can be included. You can happily watch programs with another person on one. Electronic magazines come to life on the bigger screen and you can view high resolution image galleries in all their glory and interact with articles in exciting new ways.
Some 10-inch tablets also come with keyboard docks that makes them a useful writing and productivity tool. Great examples of these are the Android-running Asus Transformer and the Windows Microsoft Surface 2. Apple does not make a keyboard for the iPad, but there are many of other companies that do, which means you can make it work like a laptop, too.
Other things to consider
What screen resolution is best? Does it matter?
The screen resolution of the tablet makes a big difference to how clear it is and really affects your experience. Any 7-inch tablet with a 'Full HD' screen should be great, but some tablets are brighter and are less reflective than others, which means they’re better suited to using outside on sunny days. It's worth trying this our in the store by tilting the screen towards the overhead lights.
10-inch tablets can have much higher resolution displays. The screens of the Nexus 10 and iPad Air are particularly strong and provide an excellent tablet experience with razor sharp and readable text.
By contrast, similarly priced laptops tend to have much lower resolution displays that can look dull and grainy.
What is 'screen ratio' and difference does it make?
Screen ration simply refers to the 'shape' of the screen. For example, most modern TVs and laptops are 16:9 (aka widescreen), while old CRT TVs are 4:3.
Most Android tablets favour a 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio so they’re quite tall and thin. This means the black bars that appear when watching widescreen movies are minimised. On 7-inch tablets this ratio makes tablets feel more like books when held in portrait, so are more comfortable for reading. On 10-inch tablets, however, this can lead to them feeling too tall and unwieldy, while it's not the ideal shape for web pages, newspapers and magazines
iPads, on the other hand, have a 4:3 aspect ratio. The big black bars you may get when watching movies are offset by the benefit of a squarer screen while browsing the internet and using apps or playing games. It's a shape that works best for newspapers and magazines, too.
Is it worth buying tablet with 3G/4G?
Most tablets come in two versions, a Wi-Fi only and a Wi-Fi and 4G and/or 3G option. Wi-Fi only means that you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection to use the internet, whether at home or in a café.
4G tablets allow you to insert a SIM card so that you can use a mobile network to have internet access wherever you can get a signal.
You’ll need a subscription, though. 4G used to be pricey but you can now get it for £15.00 a month on EE for 2GB of data. That should be enough, unless you often use your tablet to stream TV or movies on the move.
All 4G tablets can also use a 3G connection. 3G is an older technology and therefore slower than 4G. It is cheaper though, around £7.50 for 1GB for 30 days on Three or £10 on O2.
One thing we do keep hearing from tablet owners is that they wish they’d bought one with mobile internet rather than a Wi-Fi only. If you commute you should really consider a 3G or 4G tablet with a connection.
How much storage do I need?
If you like to have a lot of music or movies on your tablet you will need a lot of storage. Storage is measured in gigabytes (GB). 32GB is ample for most users but some tablets come with the option of adding some storage via a microSD card. These are bought separately and are relatively cheap.
Only some Android and Windows tablets come with a microSD slot, you don't get the option on iPads, which means extra storage can be costly. If you get a tablet with only limited storage, say 8GB, check to make sure it accepts microSD cards. If it doesn't, don't buy it.
The screen resolution of the tablet makes a big difference to how clear it is and really affects your experience. Any 7-inch tablet with a 'Full HD' screen should be great, but some tablets are brighter and are less reflective than others, which means they’re better suited to using outside on sunny days. It's worth trying this our in the store by tilting the screen towards the overhead lights.
10-inch tablets can have much higher resolution displays. The screens of the Nexus 10 and iPad Air are particularly strong and provide an excellent tablet experience with razor sharp and readable text.
By contrast, similarly priced laptops tend to have much lower resolution displays that can look dull and grainy.
What is 'screen ratio' and difference does it make?
Screen ration simply refers to the 'shape' of the screen. For example, most modern TVs and laptops are 16:9 (aka widescreen), while old CRT TVs are 4:3.
Most Android tablets favour a 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio so they’re quite tall and thin. This means the black bars that appear when watching widescreen movies are minimised. On 7-inch tablets this ratio makes tablets feel more like books when held in portrait, so are more comfortable for reading. On 10-inch tablets, however, this can lead to them feeling too tall and unwieldy, while it's not the ideal shape for web pages, newspapers and magazines
iPads, on the other hand, have a 4:3 aspect ratio. The big black bars you may get when watching movies are offset by the benefit of a squarer screen while browsing the internet and using apps or playing games. It's a shape that works best for newspapers and magazines, too.
Is it worth buying tablet with 3G/4G?
Most tablets come in two versions, a Wi-Fi only and a Wi-Fi and 4G and/or 3G option. Wi-Fi only means that you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection to use the internet, whether at home or in a café.
4G tablets allow you to insert a SIM card so that you can use a mobile network to have internet access wherever you can get a signal.
You’ll need a subscription, though. 4G used to be pricey but you can now get it for £15.00 a month on EE for 2GB of data. That should be enough, unless you often use your tablet to stream TV or movies on the move.
All 4G tablets can also use a 3G connection. 3G is an older technology and therefore slower than 4G. It is cheaper though, around £7.50 for 1GB for 30 days on Three or £10 on O2.
One thing we do keep hearing from tablet owners is that they wish they’d bought one with mobile internet rather than a Wi-Fi only. If you commute you should really consider a 3G or 4G tablet with a connection.
How much storage do I need?
If you like to have a lot of music or movies on your tablet you will need a lot of storage. Storage is measured in gigabytes (GB). 32GB is ample for most users but some tablets come with the option of adding some storage via a microSD card. These are bought separately and are relatively cheap.
Only some Android and Windows tablets come with a microSD slot, you don't get the option on iPads, which means extra storage can be costly. If you get a tablet with only limited storage, say 8GB, check to make sure it accepts microSD cards. If it doesn't, don't buy it.
How much do I need to
spend and how can I save money?
The 7-inch Tesco Hudl is decent and can cost as little as £60 with vouchers
Finally, one of the biggest things that will define which tablet you should buy is your budget. Generally 7-inch tablets are much cheaper than 10-inch ones and iPads are more expensive than Android tablets.
One thing you should be very wary of is 'bargains'. Beware the 7-inch tablet that sounds good on paper but costs only £80 or the 10-inch one that costs £150. These are almost always poorly made using cheap materials and provide a shockingly bad experience. A classic example of this is the new Argos MyTablet.
One exception, however, is the Tesco Hudl tablet pictured above. It costs £119 as standard, but can be bought for as little as £60 with Tesco Clubcard vouchers. It's a decent little tablet that's well worth considering if you're on a tight budget.
Shoddy tablet makers don’t want their product reviewed so make sure you check TrustedReviews' tablet reviews if you want to know about a tablet we’ve not recommended in our list of best tablets. If we haven’t reviewed it then it is likely not worth owning.
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