There’s a seemingly endless supply of tablets out there, and it can be challenging to find the right one for you. While there are several factors to consider, one of the first things many potential tablet owners notice is the price.
Some popular gadgets can seem shockingly expensive, making budget options a smart alternative, but that isn’t always the case. You can easily find affordable tablets packed with high-end specifications if you know where to look or when to buy. For example, Amazon’s annual Prime Day has amazing discounts on many tablets and other electronics.
This is tricky, as the screen size depends on your preference and what you’ll primarily use the tablet for. A smaller screen might be better if you want to play mobile games or watch content on the go.
On the other hand, a larger display is beneficial for people who want to use it as an extension of their desktop computer or laptop. Especially for creative workers, a larger screen is easier to draw on, type documents or edit content.
A tablet’s price is influenced by the display size with smaller 8- to 10-inch tablets costing less than larger 10.3- or 13.3-inch devices. However, there isn’t a “wrong” or “right” size, as only you know what will work best for you.
Like laptops and computers, tablets rely on several components that determine their capabilities and additional functions. The central processing unit is at the heart of the gadget, ensuring that all the innards work as intended. A fast CPU can issue commands and instructions quickly, contributing to the tablet’s operational speed.
The random access memory is essentially how much information the tablet can handle, and more RAM makes things much smoother. Often, apps take a while to open, or there are some jerky actions because the RAM is insufficient for what you want to do. A tablet with at least 4 gigabytes of RAM will give you the best experience.
Holding everything together is the internal storage. Just like computers, it determines how much information you can store. This includes personal files, photos and videos. Remember that installed apps also take up space and can often be much larger than the installation size. A good-quality tablet should have at least 64GB of free space.
Most tablets use Google’s Android operating system. It’s very similar to the version used for mobile phones with only a few changes here and there. If you already have an Android device, such as a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel, you’ll already know how it works and where to find certain settings.
Apple uses its proprietary operating system for tablets and phones. Like Android, there’s very little difference between iOS and iPadOS, as both are fundamentally the same. The tablet version is incredibly easy to navigate even if you’ve never worked on an iPad, so the operating system shouldn’t be a stumbling block when looking for a great device.
One of the most affordable iPads on the market, this model has a 10.2-inch Retina display with True Tone and 64GB of storage, and it uses Apple’s A13 Bionic chip. On the back is an 8-megapixel camera, and there’s a 12-megapixel front camera. The battery lasts for 10 hours and uses a Lightning connection for charging.
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Amazon’s tablet costs $150-$200 and has a 10.1-inch full HD display with 3GB of RAM. The internal storage space of 64GB is easily expandable to 1TB with a microSD card. It runs on a modified version of Android, and the battery lasts 12 hours.
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This 8.7-inch tablet has 3GB of RAM, 36GB of internal storage (expandable to 1TB) and an 8-megapixel camera on the back. The thin bezel around the display and backing is metal, giving you added protection if you use it without a case.
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This gadget from Dell is a laptop and tablet in one. It runs on Microsoft’s Windows operating system and has a built-in kickstand. The touchscreen is 12.3 inches, with 8GB of RAM and a generous 256GB of internal storage. There are HD cameras on the front and back, and the tablet is compatible with Bluetooth keyboards and mice.
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This 11-inch tablet is made for productivity on the go, as it integrates Samsung Dex and Microsoft 365. For connectivity, it uses the lightning-fast Wi-Fi 6E technology, has 256GB of internal memory and is compatible with Samsung’s variety of S Pens.
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This 10.6-inch Android tablet has a full HD screen with quad speakers that use Dolby Atmos, making it the perfect accessory for watching streaming content. It has an octa-core processor, 64GB of internal memory, an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a battery that lasts 14 hours.
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With its gold backing and clean white bezel, the thinnest iPad has 128GB of storage and a 9.7-inch Retina display with a maximum resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels. It uses Apple’s A8X chip with the M8 Motion Coprocessor, making browsing and app usage smooth. The battery lasts for 10 hours.
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One of the most affordable tablets, the ZB10 has 2GB of RAM, an internal storage capacity of 32GB (expandable to 512GB) and a 10.1-inch display. It has an 8-megapixel camera on the back, and there’s a 2-megapixel camera on the front for online meetings. The battery lasts for 12 hours.
Sold by Amazon
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Charlie Fripp writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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