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48 T3 DECEMBER 2021Apps and mobile operating systems have
had their teething problems when it comes
to tablet interfaces, what with all that extra
screen space to manage, but most of those
issues are now long gone: whichever make
and model of tablet you go for, you’ll find
that the software expands to fill the available
space in a very natural and intuitive way.
And just because you’re buying a new
tablet doesn’t mean you have to forget
about your phone – there will be an
affordable slate out there to work whatever
model of smartphone you’ve got and keep
your data in sync. From Netflix to Gmail,
the majority of modern-day apps are built
to work across a variety of devices, so you
shouldn’t have any problems using a
phone and tablet in tandem.
It’s fair to say that in the past, tablets at
the cheaper end of the scale haven’t had the
most capable of components – leading to
slow and buggy performance – but that’s
another issue that’s largely disappeared
now. As mobile chips have become more
powerful and less expensive across the
board, it has meant that your money can go
further. While you’re still able to spend a
substantial amount of cash for the very
latest specs if you want to, perfectly
respectable performance and design is
available for a lot less.
In terms of the differences you’ll see
between an affordable tablet and a premium
tablet, you can expect a lower quality screen- it’s likely to have a lower resolution (so it’s
less sharp), a lower refresh rate, a lower
maximum brightness level and thicker
bezels around the edges. The internal
processor won’t be as fast, so apps will run
slightly slower, and there will typically be
less memory (for dealing with multiple apps
at the same time) and less storage space (for
keeping files stored on the tablet itself).
Other cutbacks might come with the
cameras on the back and front of the device- something to bear in mind if you were
planning to take some pictures with your
tablet, or indeed do a lot of video calling.
What’s more, you might not get the very
latest Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cellular
technologies built into your tablet.
As you read through that list of potential
drawbacks, you should be able to tell
whether or not an affordable tablet is for you:
they might be dealbreakers that convince
you to spend more money on a device, or
they might be trade-offs that you’re
perfectly happy to live with if it means
spending significantly less.
CHOOSING THE BEST
AFFORDABLE TABLET
With all of that in mind, how do you go
about choosing the best tablet for you then?
Firstly it’s important to work out exactly
how much you’re willing to spend within
that ‘affordable’ bracket, because widening
your financial scope even just a little bit can
give you access to features and extras that
wouldn’t otherwise be available to you.
After that, if you possibly can, it’s
important to try and figure out how you’re
going to be using this new tablet for the
majority of the time: is it for your own
personal use, or are the kids going to haveTA B L E T
ACCESSORIES
Add a little something
extra to your affordable
tablet with a well-chosen
accessory – here are some
suggestions for youTHE KEYBOARD ATTACHMENT
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about every tablet out there supports
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option if you need to get through some
serious work on your device.THE CHARGING STAND
Not every tablet will have a charging
stand available but many do – such as the
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makes charge up the tablets and show info
from Alexa as well.THE TABLET CASE
If your tablet of choice isn’t quite stylish
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this by picking out a suitable case for it.
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take on the move.Widening your
financial scope just a
little bit can get you
more features