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- Best Tablet - July 25, 2024
- Best Chromebook - July 25, 2024
- Best Sundress - July 25, 2024
Ever since Bill Gates and Steve Jobs started raving about the tablet computer, they have become a mainstream staple in our culture. Bigger than your phone, but more portable than a laptop, they are a great device for reading books, or answering e-mails.
We even use ours on planes, to watch movies. But there are also (unfortunately) many bad knockoff products out there.
So we did the research, aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews, and tested the top models. As a result, here are our picks, for the best tablet computers on the market today.
Our Top Pick
Apple iPad Pro
Our favorite tablet, the iPad Pro – is like driving a Ferrari. If you have the budget, this is the tablet to get. With over 500 stellar online reviews, tons of under the hood horsepower, and a great display – it doesn’t get better than this. Highly recommended.
Other Great Picks
Microsoft Surface Pro 5
The Surface Pro from Microsoft is a more affordable option than the best iPad, and it’s also a great machine. If you are looking to save money – or you love Windows – this is the tablet for you. Highly recommended.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1
This highly affordable tablet from Samsung is another top performer. It also has a gorgeous display. With over 150 great reviews, it also is very popular. If you don’t care about a brand name like Apple or Microsoft, this is a great choice for a top of the line tablet. Recommended.
Lenovo Tab 4
This budget tablet from Lenovo has over 1,600 glowing reviews, and for the price, it’s unbeatable. Reviewers have noted some small issues, and it is definitely worth spending a little more money, if you are looking for higher performance. That being said – it doesn’t get much better than this, for a budget pick. Highly recommended.
Fire HD 8 Tablet
This ultra-budget pick from Amazon has a whopping 16,000+ stellar reviews. While it can’t do everything an iPad can do – it’s an amazing product, for such little money. Definitely recommended.
Apple iPad
The tablet that started it all, this amazing machine has a whopping 4,000+ stellar reviews, and has become as essential to American society, as coffee. Highly recommended.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A SM-T580NZKAXAR
With over 3,000 great online reviews, this tablet from Samsung is another stellar pick. It offers great graphics, portability, and a low price. Definitely recommended.
RCA Voyager Pro
This ultra-budget pick from RCA has over 700 great reviews, and has one of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen, for a quality tablet. While it can’t do everything, it is absolutely great for the price. Perfect for your vacation, or a portable device that you wouldn’t be heartbroken over breaking, or losing. Definitely recommended.
Hoozo Android Tablet
While we weren’t that familiar with Hoozo before testing this table, we were pleasantly surprised. With over 60 great reviews, it offers a good tablet experience, for very little money.
Vankyo MatrixPad Z1
This incredibly priced tablet has over 300 great online reviews, and offers a stellar experience – especially for such little money. Definitely recommended.
What Is A Tablet?
So after all of our recommendations for the best tablets, let’s get into the tech-y nitty gritty of tablets. What exactly is a tablet, anyway?
A tablet — also known as a tablet PC — is a portable computer that uses a touchscreen as its main input device. Simply put, a tablet is a computer without a keyboard. Similar to a smartphone, the screen of a tablet is one giant touchscreen.
You can use either your fingers or a stylus to use a tablet. Some tablets have detachable keyboards, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
Tablets are rectangular in shape, and they look like large smartphones. They all have rechargeable batteries, and they are flat, sleek, and easy to carry. Tablets are incredibly portable — even more portable than laptop computers!
If you’re the kind of person who likes having a computer on the go, but hates lugging around a laptop (who needs a keyboard and all of those cords and adapters, anyway?), then a tablet might be the perfect device for you.
What Is The Difference Between A Laptop And A Tablet?
This is another important question when defining tablets. Typically, laptops rely on a keyboard and mousepad for the input of information. Some laptops have touchscreens as well, but laptops ALWAYS consist of two folding halves: one display screen and one keypad.
The difference in design between tablets and laptops is due to a difference in intended function. Tablets are mainly seen as entertainment devices, while laptops are viewed as work devices.
You see, tablets are primarily made for browsing the Internet, streaming videos, reading ebooks, and playing games. Meanwhile, laptops are designed for productivity — like writing, and performing tasks that use powerful software. I mean, have you ever noticed how much easier it to type on a keyboard vs. typing on a touchscreen? This is why autocorrect fails are a cultural touchstone.
The differences go even further. Tablets typically have a better battery life than laptops, BUT laptops have more storage and processing capabilities. Tablets are usually lighter than laptops, but laptops are generally more durable.
With all of this being said, most users can rely on either device to perform their day-to-day actives, from work to play. It all comes down to personal preference, and what you’re looking to get our of your device.
Can I Use My Tablet As A Phone?
The answer to this is both yes and no, depending on what you mean. The word “phone” has an ever-changing definition in our culture: for some, a phone is a portal to Instagram, while others still only use phones to make calls.
If you want to use your tablet to connect with friends, use social media, stream music, watch videos, and play games, then YES — you can use a tablet as a phone. The thing is, most tablets don’t allow you to connect to a cellular network. You’ll need to rely on wifi, rather than data, to perform these functions.
That being said, there are many ways for you to get around this barrier. If you have a phone with a hotspot function, you can broadcast your cellular data as a WiFi Network, connect to the network with your tablet, and then use your tablet as a phone. This may seem convoluted, but trust us, it works.
Nearly every app is available for both phones and tablets, so you can download all of your favorite apps from your phone onto your tablet — including messenger apps like Whatsapp, Skype, and Zoom. Sometimes it’s really nice to have a bigger screen for video chats!
Can I Make Calls From My Tablet?
While some tablets allow integrations with your cellular data plan, this isn’t possible with most models. However, there are ways to make calls with your tablet. It’s actually easier than you think!
You can make a call from your tablet by connecting to WiFi, then downloading any one of the many messenger apps available. For instance, you can download Whatsapp, Skype, Zoom, Viber, or Facebook Messenger. Once you download the app, simply create an account, find your friends, and call.
For the most part, these apps require both users to have accounts within the calling app. However, certain apps — such as Skype — also give you the option to call regular phone numbers from your tablet.
With all of the different chat and call apps available, it’s easier now more than ever to connect with your friends and family. And, with a decent internet connection, you don’t even need a phone to make a call!
What Can I Do With A Tablet?
As we’ve kind of uncovered in the previous paragraphs, a tablet is like the perfect love-child of a laptop and a phone. It has more storage and functionality than a phone, but less bulk than a laptop.
You can use a tablet to send emails, take photos, write documents, play games, stream videos, listen to music, browse the internet, and connect with your friends. Tablets mainly rely on apps to perform tasks. So if there is an app for what you want to do, then chances are you can do it with a tablet.
Plus, tablets are amazingly portable. You can slip your tablet in your tote bag and quickly catch up on work while grabbing a coffee, or you can bring your tablet on business trips. Trust us, tablets take up FAR less space in a carry-on bag, compared to laptops.
What Is The Difference Between An iPad And A Tablet?
This question has a tricky answer. You see, all iPads are tablets, but not all iPads are tablets. Some people use the words “iPad” and “tablet” interchangeably, but this is not accurate.
An iPad is a specific kind of tablet, made by Apple. There are many different kinds of iPads (the pro, the mini, the regular), and they are all tablets.
However, to refer to a tablet as an “iPad” is incorrect because not all tablets are made by Apple. There are tons of amazing tablets made by other companies, such as Lenovo, Amazon, Samsung, and RCA. Each of these companies has its own special name for its line of tablets — like the Amazon Fire and the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
How Much Do Tablets Cost?
Tablets come in a wide range of prices, so you’re sure to find something that fits into your budget. For the most part, tablets are less expensive than laptops so this may be a good option if you need a device for work/school, but don’t want to shell out for a full computer.
Tablets are typically priced between $150 and $1200, and these prices can vary even further if you purchase a refurbished product. If you’re interested in purchasing a tablet, then you can definitely find one to suit your specifications and budget.
How Do I Set Up My Tablet For The First Time?
So, you’ve scoured through our list of the best tablets, compared the specs, and finally bought your favorite! Now what? While setting up your tablet may seem intimidating at first, no worries. It’s a much easier process than you think.
First, you’re going to want to charge your new tablet. When you pull your device out of the box, it likely has only 30% battery (if that much!). Find the charging cable that came with your device, and plug it into the wall until the battery reaches 100%.
Next, power on your tablet. If you’re turning it on for the first time, this might take a while. Once the screen lightens up, you’ll likely be prompted to enter some identifying information, such as your name and email address.
Depending on the brand of your tablet, you will probably also be prompted to either create or login to your account with their company. This is so that all of your personal information and data syncs up. Some tablets also back up you device information onto a cloud storage.
After you have personalized your tablet with your name and account information, it’s time to personalize the functionality of your device. What does this mean? It’s time to download apps!
Find the icon on your tablet that allows you to find and install apps, and go there. This is probably either Google Play or the App Store. Once inside, you can browse through thousands of apps and install the ones that you want to use.
From this point, you can use your tablet however you want! If you want to use your app to work, write, and send emails, then find apps for this purpose. If you want to use your tablet to watch tv and play games, the download apps that suit these needs. The possibilities for customizing your tablet are endless.
The Best Tablet
There you have it – our top picks for the best tablet. If you like what you’ve read, then a tablet might be the perfect device for you! There are lots of options out there in the electronics market, so be sure and check out our other tech reviews.