Tablets Buying Guide

Screen Size

Dimensions of TV stands based on the screen size

Aspect Ratio:

Aspect Ratio is defined as the width-to-height ratio of the display screen. The most common aspect ratios are 4:3, 16:9, and 16:10.

Tablets that offer a 4:3 aspect ratio are a great choice for reading content in portrait mode. 16:9 and 16:10 are suitable for watching widescreen videos in landscape mode.

Display Resolution

• The resolution is indicative of the display's clarity and sharpness.
• Technically, Display Resolution is the number of pixels across the length multiplied by the number of pixels across the width of a tablet.
• If you consider two tablets with the same screen size, the one with more pixels will offer better clarity and clearer visuals.
• The value of pixel density is written as pixels per inch (PPI).
• Tablet's commonly have displays that are rated between 160 and 360 PPI.

Display Features

• Wide viewing angles allow multiple people to watch the screen with ease and clarity
• Corning’s Gorilla Glass protects the screen from dents, scratches or regular wear and tear
• Anti-glare coating ensures that the screen is visible properly even in direct sunlight

Retina Display

• Density of about 300 PPI
• This pixel density does not allow the human eye to notice individual pixels on a display

Super AMOLED Display

• Darker blacks, higher refresh rates, consumes less energy than TFTs and offers a much higher contrast ratio
• Poses higher risk of 'burn-in' problems as it is made of organic material that degrades over time
• Does not guarantee visibility in direct sunlight , unlike TFT LCD and LCD displays

IPS and IPS LCD Screens

• Two most common and popular technologies found in tablet screens today
• Both the screens offer solutions to the primary issues that affected LCD screens like narrow viewing angles, where the screen becomes dark if you look at it from an angle

RAM

Processors

The processor forms the core of all the tasks performed by a tablet. Applications, different types of media and even the sensors require processing power. The modern-day processors have in-built security features and optimizations for an improved battery life.

CPU Clock Speed

This is the speed at which a CPU performs the tasks or commands prompted by the user. Needless to say, higher the clock speed, better the performance.

Number of Cores

When it comes to multi-core processors, each core operates as an individual processor, empowering the CPU’s multitasking capabilities. A single chip can have two, four, or even eight CPUs in it, known as dual-core, quad-core, and octa-core CPUs respectively.

Cameras

Storage

Most tablets offer both, internal and external storage, using a microSD card.

• Tablets usually have up to 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB internal storage with up to 128 GB of expansion using a MicroSD card.
• Tablets from Apple don’t offer external storage. However, they do offer backup and storage space on iCloud, their cloud storage service.
• A few other options for storing data on cloud services are Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, etc.

How Much Can You Store?

• 16 GB tablet allows up to 11,444 photos, assuming each is about 1.2 MB, or about 5 hours of HD video
• Most tablets usually offer 8 GB of internal storage with an option of expanding storage using a MicroSD card
• This implies that you can store up to 45,776 photos for a 64 GB tablet, or about 20 hours of HD video

These values depict an approximate number. Depending on the OS and the camera settings, the actual storage may vary.

Battery

Li-Po Batteries Are Better Than Li-ion:

• Li-Po batteries are better because they are capable of holding a high amount of charge for a longer duration
• You should opt for a tablet that can offer at least 8 to 10 hours of backup to avoid hunting for a power source constantly
• Some tablets also come with a detachable keyboard and provide an extra battery in the keyboard base

Voice Calls on Tablets

Phablets or Cellular Tablets:

Often referred to as phablets or cellular tablets, many tablets offer the option of making or receiving calls using a SIM card and the in-built mic and speaker - just like a regular Smartphone. You can make calls via networks like 2G, 3G and 4G (VoLTE) as well.