Tablet & E-reader Buying Guide

Found exclusively on Apple iPads, iOS is incredibly easy to use. It features slick aesthetics, a simple interface and a massive range of apps, as well as FaceTime, Siri and iCloud.

• The latest iOS 11 comes with Apple’s App Store, which contains thousands of apps and games

• You can access a wealth of music, movies, TV shows and eBooks through the iTunes store

• FaceTime is a video and voice calling app that sends your calls through the internet to other FaceTime users

• Siri is a voice-activated personal assistant. You can ask Siri questions and it’ll search the internet for anything, from the latest football scores to the weather

• iCloud automatically backs up and syncs contacts, music, calendars, photos, apps and more from your device to the cloud with your Apple ID. You’ll be able to store up to 5GB of data for free and can upgrade to up 50GB for a fee

Google’s Android operating system is featured on a huge variety of tablets from different manufacturers, including Samsung, and Lenovo, as well as Google’s own Nexus tablets. Android offers you a more customisable experience than iOS, letting you choose how apps, games and information are displayed on your screen.

• Google’s Play Store is the standard hub for downloading apps, games, movies and eBooks on Android tablets. Just remember that not all apps are compatible with all Android tablets because the range in specifications between devices is so wide

• Major system updates are named alphabetically after desserts, sweets and chocolates (J: Jelly Bean, K: Kit Kat and so on), with each iteration delivering new, more intuitive ways to interact with your system

• Android tablets come with a variety of apps already installed on them, with manufacturers adding their own software too

• Unlike iOS devices, Android tablets store all of your apps and games in an ‘App drawer’ and let you choose which ones are visible on your home screen

• The notification bar on an Android device can be swiped down to give you easy access to your settings and to view any new emails or other updates from apps

• There are some customised variations on Android, from manufacturers including Asus and Samsung

Unlike other operating systems on the market, Windows 10 offers the true power of computing on the go. You can install any Windows software and use these tablets just like a PC. They’re a great option for working.

• Windows 10 is designed to be cross-platform operating system tailored for your device, whether it’s a PC, tablet or smartphone, with apps created to run across all three

• It also includes your own personal assistant Cortana and a number of enhancements, such as the Microsoft Edge web browser

• Windows 10 is compatible with all Windows 8 devices, although some new functions require specific hardware requirements, such as dual microphones for Cortana

Tablets are measured by screen size, diagonally from corner to corner.

Measured in pixels per inch (PPI), resolution helps to determine how sharp photos, videos and games are on your screen. The higher the PPI, the more detail you’ll see.

Tip

If you intend to use your tablet for watching movies or editing photos, you should look for at least 200 pixels per inch

Your tablet’s internal storage holds your photos, documents, videos, music, apps, and other files.

The storage listed on the box is measured before the operating system and preinstalled apps, so the usable space is typically less.

How much space is already used when you first turn it on varies by model.

Tip

See if your tablet has a memory card slot—adding a card can significantly expand your storage (some models support up to 64GB). You can also save space by storing files in the cloud, such as iCloud on an iPad.

The processor is the tablet’s brain, powering everything it does.

• Single-core processors are best for light use like web browsing, email, and basic apps

• Dual-core processors are more common and deliver smoother visuals and quicker performance

• Quad-core processors handle demanding tasks like photo/video editing and 3D gaming

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the tablet’s short-term working memory. More RAM helps apps run smoothly, especially when you have several open at once.

Two-in-one or convertible computers are a form of hybrid laptops.

• These machines come with a keyboard and can function as both a laptop and a tablet

• They're ideal if you want to balance the typing performance that comes from using a physical keyboard with the simplicity of a tablet

Internet access is essential to get the most out of your tablet.

Wi-Fi only devices are great if you’re just accessing the internet at home, or know of a public place where you’ll be able to connect. All tablets generally come with at least built-in Wi-Fi.

Cellular, 3G and 4G connections are essential if you need internet access on the go. These connections will be available wherever your network provider has coverage, making the range much wider. These services require you to put a SIM card into your device and either sign up to a contract or choose a ‘Pay As You Go’ model through a network provider.

Most tablets will also come with Bluetooth, which will enable you to exchange files with other Bluetooth devices as well as stream music and videos from your tablet.

Some may have Near Field Communication, which will allow you to wirelessly connect two NFC devices just by tapping them together.

Tablets have a range of physical connections too. They should all come with a standard 3.5mm headphone port, USB port and HDMI or mini HDMI port.

Most tablets feature a minimum battery life of up to 7 hours, based on continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi with average settings for screen brightness and volume.

If you’re browsing using a cellular connection or watching high definition videos, the battery life can be substantially shorter

If you intend to use your tablet frequently throughout the day, we’d recommend a battery life approaching 9 or 10 hours

Tip

The battery won’t run down so quickly when your tablet has been put to sleep, so get extra usage out of it by hitting the sleep button whenever it’s not in use

All tablets feature a front-facing camera, while many include one on the outside too.

The front-facing camera will primarily be used as a webcam for making video calls through apps like Skype or FaceTime

The rear camera is great for taking snaps and short videos for sharing with friends on social media

Tip

The higher the megapixel count, the more detail you’ll be able to capture in your photos and videos

You can download eBooks to your eReader through a variety of different means.

• Most will come with a USB cable to connect to a computer, so you can download files to your computer and then copy them over to your eReader

• Some have a Wi-Fi connection to shop and download directly to your eReader from its built-in store

• Some eReaders come with 3G or data. Using this connection, you can wirelessly connect to the internet anywhere with 3G signal, making it perfect for users on the go

Some eReaders now come with a light that will illuminate the screen, making night-time reading easy. These lights are focused on the screen and aren’t as disturbing as a backlit screen on a computer or a bedside lamp, so you can read without disturbing others.

Most eReaders will come with enough room to store thousands of eBooks. For those with an extensive eBook library, some will also include a slot to increase this storage by putting in a microSD card.

eReaders are designed to travel and to be ready when you need them. Most will have an average battery life of at least a month, based on half an hour’s reading a day.

A higher resolution with more pixels per inch will help deliver, crisper, cleaner text that looks more like it’s been printed on a page.

Basic eReaders come with a number of buttons to enable you to select books, search for words and turn the page. Touchscreen eReaders will let you access everything through tapping, swiping and pressing the screen, making it a much more intuitive experience.

Some eReaders come with a headphone socket so you can listen to audiobooks or even use a text-to-speech function that will read the book to you.

Although most tablets are made to be tough, they’re still prone to the occasional scratch, bump or scrape, so an added layer of protection is a worthy investment.

Most tablets will work with a Bluetooth keyboard, so some protective cases include a keyboard and stand all in one.

To increase the amount of storage available on your tablet, you can purchase a microSD card for models with a memory card slot.

For models without one, consider a wireless storage drive that can be accessed using Wi-Fi.

A cable or adapter can to connect your tablet to a variety of different devices, including TVs, speakers and even electric instruments.