Buy a new tablet

Does the old tablet need to be replaced or are you going to buy a tablet for the first time? It is good to first think about what exactly you want.

What is the advantage of a tablet? A computer is for home use, a telephone can easily be taken along. A tablet is somewhere in between. It is a device that is often used at home on the couch, but which is also handy enough to carry in a (hand) bag. Similar to a smartphone, you control a tablet via a touch screen (often referred to as touchscreen). But the screen of a tablet is a lot bigger than that of a smartphone. That is also the biggest advantage of the device. The large screen makes it easy to read texts, but also to operate the device.

A good starting point is to choose the operating system. That determines how the tablet works, just like with a PC. The choice is between:

1. iOS. This is the operating system of Apple devices. Tablets of this brand are called iPads. These devices are popular because of their beautiful design and pleasant control. The downside is that they are quite pricey.
2. android. This operating system is on all kinds of devices, such as Samsung, Lenovo, Huawei and Asus. Android tablets are loved for their accessibility. Because there are all kinds of brands with this operating system, the range is very diverse. In general, Android tablets are cheaper than iPads, although there are also expensive Android models.

There are also a number of tablets with Windows or Linux as operating system. But the number of tablets with these systems is significantly smaller. In addition, these devices are often used as small laptops. They are powerful tablets to which a keyboard can be easily connected.

The choice of operating system depends on taste and need. In general, it is recommended that you use the same operating system that you have on other devices. This is useful for users who want to transfer a lot of files from phone to tablet. For example, do you have an Android phone? A logical choice is then to buy an Android tablet. If you are already familiar with the iPhone, you will quickly get used to the operation of an iPad.

Another consideration is the size of the screen. The smallest tablets are 7 inches (about 18 centimeters, measured diagonally). That’s about the size of a notebook. The largest tablets, measuring 12.9 inches (about 33 centimeters, measured diagonally), are comparable in size to small laptops. A tablet of around 10 inches (about 25 centimeters) is common.

• Small tablets are small and light, and therefore easy to carry. The price is on average lower.
• Due to their size, medium-sized tablets are nice to watch videos or surf the internet for a long time.
• Large tablets are often more powerful and therefore suitable for photo editing and watching videos. However, this has consequences for the price. The bigger and more powerful, the more expensive the device.

Those who mainly want to use the tablet on the road to look up things can work well with a smaller tablet. With a medium-sized tablet you can go in all directions. A medium-sized screen is especially nice for home use. The very largest models are for people who want a little more, such as image editing, or who want to use other heavy software.

Another question is what you want to put on the tablet. Is little storage enough or do you want to put a lot of photos and apps on the tablet? There are several options. The storage often starts at 8GB (gigabyte), but that is very little. Many models have 32 or 64GB. Those who really need a lot of storage can choose a model with 128, 256 or 512 GB, or even 1 terabyte.

The more apps, photos and files you want to put on the tablet, the greater the storage capacity required. Photos can always be transferred to an external hard drive or USB. This does not apply to apps. So it just depends on what you store and how much you always want to have on the tablet.

The next consideration is a bit more technical. It concerns two parts that are not visible, but that are important: the processor and the working memory. Those two parts are inside the tablet. Together they determine how fast a tablet works and how many tasks can be performed simultaneously.

In the case of the processor, clock speed (expressed in GHz) and the amount of cores (expressed in core) are important. The higher the clock speed, the more powerful the processor. A tablet clocked at 2.4GHz will generally outperform a tablet clocked at 1.7GHz. In addition, the number of cores is decisive. A dual core (two cores) can do fewer tasks simultaneously than a quad core (four cores), hexa core (six cores), or octa core (eight cores). That is reflected in the price. More cores often means a more expensive tablet.

The same principle applies to working memory (expressed in GB RAM). A RAM of 1 or 2GB RAM can perform tasks less quickly than a tablet with a RAM of 3, 4 or 6GB RAM. But here too, more working memory often results in a higher price.

The following applies: numbers say a lot, but not everything. It’s about the overall picture of how all parts work with each other and how well they connect to the software.

Just like a smartphone or laptop, the battery determines how long you can use the tablet after charging. Which apps you use, how much data is used and how bright the screen is, are factors that influence this. For example, streaming a video takes a lot more energy than typing an email.

The capacity of the battery is expressed in mAh, which stands for milliampere-hours (the h comes from the English hour). The higher the number of mAh, the longer the tablet will last without power. An average battery life is between 3000 and 5000 mAh. Some models that can go extra long without power have a capacity of around 7000 mAh.

Do you plan to use the tablet a lot outdoors and in places where you don’t have a power outlet to hand? Then it is recommended to buy a tablet with a higher battery capacity. In a lot of home use, battery capacity is a minor factor.

When purchasing a tablet, also take a good look at the resolution of the screen. The amount of pixels in combination with the size of the screen, together determine the pixel density. The greater that density, the sharper the image.

Cheaper tablets sometimes have a lower resolution. That means fewer pixels per square centimeter. The image is therefore less sharp. But even the simplest tablets today have a great image compared to those of a few years ago. Anyone who mainly uses a tablet for e-mailing and surfing the Internet will be more than satisfied with a lower resolution.

Most modern tablets have a high resolution. Thanks to the many pixels, your favorite websites and photos are displayed razor-sharp. Watching videos is certainly extra nice on a screen with a high resolution.

If you want to use the internet on a tablet, you can connect to the Wi-Fi network at home or at another place where there is such a wireless network. With a number of tablets it is possible to use the internet without WiFi. This can be done with a SIM card. The tablet must of course have the option to connect a SIM card.

It works the same as with a smartphone. When you are at home, you can use the WiFi network. When you are on the road, you use the 4G or 5G network. You then have to buy a SIM card with the tablet and take out a data plan.

This option is very suitable for people who want to use the tablet on the road a lot or, for example, on holiday places without WiFi.

Have you found a tablet that suits you? You may also want to buy some accessories with it. One accessory that is definitely recommended is a tablet case. This prevents scratches and damage to the tablet. This also provides some protection if you accidentally drop the tablet. This way the tablet lasts longer.

Other accessories depend more on your need. For example, you can choose:

• A stylus pen. These so-called styluses make it easier to operate a tablet, for example if you often tap the wrong finger on a screen.
• A screen protector. This is a thin, transparent layer that you stick on the screen. It protects the screen from scratches.
• A keyboard. With some tablets it is possible to connect a keyboard. This allows you to use the tablet as a laptop.
• A tablet stand. Place the tablet in this stand to keep it upright. For example useful when watching a video.

It should be clear that there is a lot to consider when buying a tablet. But how do you come to an actual choice? Fortunately, there are handy sites with which you can compare all models. You can compare tablets at The Consumers’ Association and Tweakers.

Enter a number of requirements there (usually on the left of the screen) to arrive at a selection of suitable tablets. For example, start with a maximum price and the amount of storage space you want. The more requirements you fill in, the fewer tablets are left. Are there no results? You will have to adjust the requirements for that. If you are left with a number of tablets that meet your requirements, look for the differences and consider which features you value most. The sites indicate where you can then buy the tablet of your choice.