Tablet Buyer’s Guide: all you need to know

With their beautiful screens, portability and pure simplicity of use, tablets have become incredibly popular in a short space of time.

Just a few years ago you wouldn't want any other tablet than an Apple iPad, but things have changed a lot since then. There's now hundreds of tablets to choose from, ranging from £50 to upwards of £1000. That's a lot of choice, so we've put together this guide to help you make the right choice.

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 tablets, but that doesn't mean they're the best for everyone.

2. What size tablet is best for you: 7-inch, 8-inch or 10-inch?Size makes a big difference when buying a tablet. We'll run you through the pros and cons of all the 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.
Finally, we'll run you through the common tablet jargon you need to know so you don't get bamboozled in store.

Want to find the top Christmas tablets? Head straight to our best tablets to buy right now. TrustedReviews tests hundreds of tablets every year so you don't have to and if we haven't tested it, it probably isn't worth buying.

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 2} In a nutshell:

• 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 iPads run. iOS is one of the easiest systems to use – even children get it – and if you’re new to computing then it’s the best to get started on. It’s had a total redesign recently and iOS 8 looks simple, pretty and comes with some cool new features which make it easier to multitask.

One of the biggest benefits of the iPad and iOS is the App Store. With 750,000 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 its second-to-none customer service. If you have any issues with your iPad, just take it to the experts at any Apple Store and not only will they help you to set it up, but you can also attend free workshops to get the most out of it.

iOS isn't quite as feature-packed as Android, though. The latter 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? It’s the price. The iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 are still some of the most expensive tablets on the market for their size, and they 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 Tab S 10.5}In a nutshell:

• Often cheaper than other tablets – especially the 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's a huge array of Android tablets to choose from. Some are 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 from your home screen. It sometimes means it's harder to find your way around, 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 rather than 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.

Since Android is open-source, 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 variety, but also that some Android experiences aren't as smooth and easy to use as the standard 'vanilla' Android. Android 5.0 Lollipop, the latest version of Android, has recently been released and it's a great improvement. It looks a lot more contemporary and has some great new features, but also comes with a few niggles that will take some time to sort out.

Another potential problem is the lack of quality of control in the Google Play app store, which occasionally leads to some malicious apps sneaking through. It's a small problem, however, that a little common sense can avoid.

One example of a brand that customises Android heavily is Amazon with its Kindle tablets. Amazon goes so far as to make its own core apps and run its own Amazon Appstore, 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 not as flexible.

Our favourite feature of Android, and 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 this 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 3}In a nutshell:

• Not that much choice compared to Android
• Very limited number of quality tablet apps

Although Windows has been around for ages, it’s only since the touchscreen-optimised Windows 8 appeared last year that it made sense to use it on tablets.
Because Windows 8 has so much functionality, Windows tablets need to be very powerful. This means they tend to be more expensive, heavier and have less battery life than their Android and iOS counterparts, although improvements to their processors mean this is less of an issue now than it was in the past. Essentially Windows 8 tablets can replace a laptop and often come with keyboard attachments so they can be used just like one.

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 a 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 gives the poorest user experience.

Tablet Buyer's Guide: what size tablet should I buy?

What size tablet should I buy?

Tablets are, with one or two exceptions, smaller and lighter than laptops, which is why they're so popular. They predominantly come in three screen sizes: 7-inch, around 8-inch or 10-inch. Each has its own strengths 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?Each size is good for the basics like web browsing. It's when you think about other tasks, such as reading, videos and playing games, that 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.


^{A 7-inch tablet compared to a 10-inch one}

7-inch Tablets: Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:

• Very portable and comfortable to hold 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 run Android. There 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-screened tablets, but still come with great displays, 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 3.

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 – writing lengthy emails, editing spreadsheets and suchlike. While you can get keyboard docks for some of them, the screen and keyboard size means that they’re not comfortable for writing over long periods of time.

8-inch(ish) Tablets: Pros and Cons

These have grown in popularity since the release of the 7.8-inch iPad mini a few years ago. There are now a number of good 8-inch Android tablets on the market, such as the Nvidia Shield Tablet or the 8.9-inch Nexus 9 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (2014).

Some like the iPad mini and Nexus 9 opt for a squarer 4:3 aspect ratio for their screens, just like old CRT tellies used to have. We think this is a better shape for a tablet. It makes browsing the web and playing games a better experience, but you do end up getting bigger black bars at the top and bottom of the screen when you're watching movies when compared to narrower tablets.

8-inch tablets cover a good middle ground. They're better for browsing the web, reading ebooks and watching movies than a 7-inch tablet, yet they manage to retain much of their portability. The downside? They're a fair bit more expensive than some of the best 7-inch Android tablets on the market.

A few words of advice if you're thinking of buying an iPad mini: go for the iPad mini 2 32GB option rather than the iPad mini 3. The tablets are almost identical, but the iPad mini 2 is a lot cheaper.

10-inch Tablets: Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:

• Large screen is good for TV, video and the visually impaired
• Best for reading newspapers and magazines
• Better for productivity, especially when paired with a keyboard
• More expensive than smaller 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 on one with another person. Digital 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 make them a useful writing and productivity tool. Great examples of these are the Windows-running Asus Transformer Book T100 and the Microsoft Surface Pro 3. Apple doesn't make a keyboard for the iPad Air 2, but there are many third-party 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 out 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 9 and iPad Air 2 are particularly strong and provide an excellent tablet experience with razor-sharp text. The Air 2 has a fantastic anti-reflective layer that makes it better than any other tablet to use outdoors on sunny days.

By contrast, similarly priced laptops tend to have much lower-resolution displays that can look dull and grainy.

What is 'screen ratio' and what difference does it make?
Screen ratio simply refers to the 'shape' of the screen. For example, most modern TVs and laptops are 16:9 (aka widescreen), while old CRT TVs were 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 they're 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 (and recently some Android tablets) 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 a tablet with 3G/4G?
Most tablets come in two versions: one with Wi-Fi only and another with Wi-Fi and 4G and/or 3G. 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, just like you do with a mobile phone.

You’ll need a subscription, though, again in the same way as your phone. 4G used to be pricey, but you can now get it for £15 per 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's cheaper, though – around £7.50 for 1GB every 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 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'll 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 extra capacity 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 that option on iPads, so you're stuck with what you chose initially. 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 2 is a great tablet that can cost as little as £65 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 Argos MyTablet. Steer well clear.

One exception, however, is the Tesco Hudl 2 tablet pictured above. It costs £129 as standard, but can be bought for as little as £65 with Tesco Clubcard vouchers, which is frankly ludicrous. It's a good tablet that's well worth considering if you're on a tight budget.

Shoddy tablet makers usually 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, it's likely not worth owning. 

Now it’s time to find out which tablets you should look to buy this Christmas

source: http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/tablet-buyer-s-guide#qcOYbzfJ6Eb6lLFo.99