Modern technology allows us to access digital content in our work and creative endeavors in every way imaginable. What better way to access all that content than by using the hybrid capabilities that tablets have to offer.
With a larger screen size of regular computers and the portability of smartphones, tablets are among some of the fastest growing digital gadgets on the market. Since the announcement of the legendary iPad, tablets have come a really long way and now there are several different types. They largely vary in terms of physical size and the set of features that they possess.
Things are becoming even more interesting now since there is a lot more competition on the market and there are numerous manufacturers to choose from. What features should one look for when buying a tablet?
The intended purpose
The best way to determine the kind of features you should be looking for is going to come down to how you intend to use the device. Some people only use a tablet to check their email, read news and casually watch videos. However, if you are looking for something more specific you might want to look at some specific specs.
For instance, if you are looking to use your tablet as part of your working station it is a good idea to get a tablet with plenty of storage. However, if you are into creative work you might want to use a tablet that has a full pen support, as this will allow you to draw, sketch and model on your device. There are other useful features that could be relevant depending on what you need. That is why you should create a list of priorities first and search accordingly.
Storage space
Storage space can usually come at 128GB and go all the way up to 2TB in some cases. The important distinction here to make is that you will hardly ever need more than 128GB if you are simply planning to use the device to stream online videos and read email.
However, if you plan on recording videos in 4K at 60fps you might want to get as much storage space as possible. You also want to consider how you plan to use the tablet in the future, since some tablets will feature flash memory slots to expand storage space. Gaming is also a big consideration, since modern mobile games pack a punch and they have high quality textures which require a lot of storage space.
Choose an OS
The scenarios in which you are going to use your tablet are also going to affect the decision you make in terms of its operating system (OS). There are two prominent systems to choose from; Android and iOS. Android is a far more open-sourced software as it features a ton of third-party apps. This operating system is used by various different tablet manufacturers and it usually comes with the company’s unique UI interface. However, the functionality will still be the same.
Android is known for offering a lot of free apps and it generally gives you more freedom. Android tablets are more popular, however, that doesn’t mean that they are generally of higher quality since not all manufacturers have the same build quality standards. This is because Android is targeted at wider audiences. On the other hand, if you prefer a more stable and unified experience Apple’s iOS is your best choice. iOS is generally a more closed-source system and it features Apple’s original apps. This is really important if you already own other Apple products, as it will be much easier to integrate your tablet into the Apple ecosystem.
Their tablets are known for extremely good build quality with an excellent design in mind, you can see for yourself and buy Apple iPad Pro at digiDirect. The device features amazing additional tools like the Apple pencil which is an excellent choice for creative work and productivity. You can handle software like Adobe Illustrator with much more precision and ease using this tool.
Display
Display is arguably the most important thing from a visual standpoint, as it covers 90% of the device. There are several different display types. Cheaper devices will feature an IPS panel which doesn’t feature the best color contrast; however, it does produce nice colors. AMOLED screens are usually found on more expensive tablets and they are great for reading as it gives you superior viewing angles and deeper contrast.
However, if you are looking for the most accurate color representation in case you are editing images or creating graphic art you might want to consider Apple’s extreme dynamic range (XDR) Retina displays. Tablet displays will also vary in terms of resolution. For optimal experience make sure to aim for a fullHD 1080p panel.
Form factor
Display size is going to affect the overall size of the device. If you want maximum portability, you will be able to find 8-inch models. However, if you intend to use your tablet at home, 10-15 inches is a good range to aim for.
Tablets offer a world of advantages for your productivity and creative work. However, you have to consider all the possible features first: the intended purpose, the type of OS, the amount of storage, display type and overall size.