In the digital age, choosing a tablet is often an important step when buying a gadget for communication and work. There are many different models and brands on the market, which can cause difficulties for buyers. In this article, let’s look at the main criteria to pay attention to when choosing a tablet, as well as share tips on choosing the best model.

The main characteristics of the tablet and the impact on the choice

First of all, it is worth paying attention to such parameters as: processor, RAM (RAM), the number of processor cores, operating system version, battery capacity and support for additional accessories. All this directly affects the performance of the device, speed and convenience of work.

In what conditions the tablet can be used, and what tasks it can perform:

• Processing photos and videos, graphs and presentations – for such tasks, the device should be with high resolution, diagonal and screen quality, with high power parameters and stylus support.
• Photography and video shooting, video calls – here the emphasis is on cameras: their number, sensor size, aperture, zoom capabilities, stabilization, neural network assistance and output resolution.
• Reading and word processing – here you should look for tablets with high screen frequency, low “PWM” (screen flicker) and keyboard support. Reading books will be safer for your eyes, and working with text will be more enjoyable.
• Watching movies and TV shows – you should pay attention to the amount of memory, screen quality, sound characteristics and battery capacity.

Size and display: what’s important to know before buying a tablet

Before buying a tablet, you need to consider the features of the display. Depending on the purpose of use, you can choose a tablet with a small screen, convenient for reading e-books, or a device with a large screen, designed to work with graphics, video and presentations.

• Screen resolution is the number of dots per inch (ppi) that form the image on the screen. The higher the pixel density, the sharper and more detailed the image. It is recommended to choose a tablet with a screen resolution of at least 1280×800 pixels. The lawful rule: the higher the diagonal of the screen, the higher its resolution should be.
• Screen diagonal is the distance between one corner of the tablet screen and the opposite corner, which is measured in inches. Tablets with a diagonal of 6.95-8.5 inches are compact and convenient for surfing the Internet, diagonal 9.5-10.5 inches is the most popular and universal, and tablets from 10.5 inches and above are more suitable for professional tasks, for example: drawing, photo and video editing.
• Screen technology. There are different display technologies: IPS, PLS, AMOLED, OLED, SUPER AMOLED, TN+Film. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

IPS and PLS displays provide high definition, good color saturation and high viewing angles, but have “backlights” on the edges of the screen from the backlight and not deep enough black color.

AMOLED, OLED and SUPER AMOLED are deep black, bright colors and saturated picture. They have higher energy efficiency (although sometimes the screen is prone to burn-in) and, unlike IPS matrices, can have higher PWM.

TN+Film is considered an aging technology and, due to its high power consumption and low screen performance, is rarely used in tablet manufacturing anymore.

• Viewing angle is a characteristic that determines the convenience of working with the tablet in different screen positions. The larger the viewing angle, the better and without distortion you can see the image on the screen at different angles.
• Protective coating. Some tablet models may have special screens with increased durability or protective coatings in the form of glass that protect the screen from scratches, dust, bumps and dirt.
• Screen refresh rate: indicates how many frames per second the display can show. Most models come with 60 Hz, but it is better to purchase 90 or 120 Hz. The picture will be smoother and your eyes will be less tired.

Performance and operating system: do you need powerful parameters?

Most modern tablets use Android, iOS, Windows and HarmonyOS operating systems. There are also tablets with Russian OS based on Linux, but such tablets are not widespread, and you can’t buy them in chain stores. Each OS has its own advantages and disadvantages:

• Android is the most common OS for tablets from Google. The system is open, so users can customize the interface, install third-party apps, and use various brand services. Among the applications are many free and paid versions, as well as modified and supplemented by third-party users and developers;
• iPadOS/iOS is a system developed by Apple. It has many applications and high support for devices. It is considered by many to be one of the most secure operating systems. The system is convenient for home use and for work, but due to the closed policy it is forbidden to make global changes and use third-party applications bypassing the company store;
• Windows is an OS created by Microsoft Corporation. It has more functionality than Android and iOS and is well suited for office applications and use as a portable computer. Windows allows you to use third-party applications and work with many peripherals;
• HarmonyOS is a proprietary OS from HUAWEI, created in response to Google’s response to its Android. The systems are similar to each other, but HarmonyOS does not support Google services by default, although enthusiasts have long found ways around the restrictions. In general, the system is self-sufficient, with a proprietary app store and support for third-party programs.

The processor determines how fast the tablet can process tasks, run applications and multimedia files. The main manufacturers are several:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon – processors known for their energy efficiency and high performance. Designed for both smartphones and tablets. Snapdragon 600 series are examples of mid-budget processors without demanding tasks, 700 series are pre-flagship line, and 800 series are flagship models with high power. Each line has its own serial number, with the increase of which increases the power of the chip. Read more about Snapdragon in our article.
• MediaTek – processors widely used in devices under the brands Lenovo and Samsung. The advantage of MediaTek is low cost, which makes them popular among budget tablet manufacturers. For a long time MediaTek was scolded for low power efficiency and performance, but the company’s modern solutions are not far behind Snapdragon.
• Intel Atom – designed for Windows tablets, while Exynos chips belong to Samsung, Kirin – Huawei.
• Apple Bionic and Apple M – processors used in Apple devices. They are among the most powerful processors on the market and provide high performance and efficiency.

For image processing is responsible for the graphics gas pedal, which is different for each company:

• Adreno – Snapdragon;
• Mali – MediaTek, Kirin, Exynos, Spreadtrum and Unisoc;
• PowerVR – MediaTek;
• Apple GPUs – Apple Bionic and Apple M.

The most powerful GPUs are Adreno and Apple GPU, but even the older Mali models allow you to comfortably process heavy 3D graphics. GPU power is also determined by the serial number – the higher it is, the more powerful it is.

The number of cores affects the performance of the tablet and its energy efficiency, but there is no direct dependence. Modern chips are equipped with hybrid cores: low-performance cores for not complicated tasks with reduced power consumption and high-performance cores, which are used under high load on the system.

The clock frequency, which indicates the number of instructions (clock cycles) that the processor executes in 1 second, also has a great influence. The higher the frequency (GHz), the faster the processor copes with the tasks at hand.

Technoprocess indicates the size of the transistors and is specified in nanometers (nm). The smaller the process, the more energy-efficient, productive, and less hot the processor is.

RAM (RAM, RAM) is the storage that allows the tablet to process data quickly. RAM holds information about applications that run in the background and may be quickly needed by the user. The higher the RAM, the more applications can be run at the same time. Usually 4-8 GB of RAM is enough for everyday tasks. However, if you’re going to use your tablet for graphics applications, multitasking, or heavy gaming, you may need 6-8GB of RAM or higher.

Also, modern systems have the option to expand RAM at the expense of permanent memory. Usually the control of this feature is in the main settings of the device, and you can expand by 2, 4, 6, and 8 GB RAM.

If it is important to have a navigation system, then it is also worth paying attention to this parameter. Although most tablets are equipped with these systems, there are models on sale with their absence.