Comparing the most popular tablets
With so many different tablets on the market, choosing the one that’s right for you can seem like something of a challenge. Of course, just keeping pace with all the latest developments in the tablet market can feel like hard work, even for the most dedicated tech geek. Still, the rapid pace of innovation has been really quite exciting – but it’s important to familiarise yourself with what each tablet has to offer before you buy. The big-name tablets on the market – including the Kindle, the iPad and the Nexus – all pack a punch, but which is the most powerful? Let’s take a look under the hood and find out more.
Comparing tablets
Amazon recently sought to take the fight to Apple with the launch of its new and competitively-priced Kindle Fire HD 10, with the HD 10 edition launched at $299 – $100 less than even the cheapest iPad – and coming with 32GB of memory. Those looking for something a bit more powerful could turn their attention to the 64GB Kindle Fire HD 10. What’s more, consumers can pick up a 250MB data plan with their Kindle Fire from Amazon for $250, some $130 less than the iPad equivalent would cost.
Both the iPad Air 3 and the Kindle Fire boast ultra-sharp picture resolution, though. While the former has a 2,048 x 1,536 pixel display, the latter features a 1,920 x 1,200 pixel screen. It goes without saying that it would take a truly eagle-eyed user to be able to spot the difference, so whichever one you choose, you’re sure to be getting plenty of bang for your buck as far as the visuals are concerned. One advantage the iPad has over the Kindle Fire, however, is that it features a five-megapixel rear camera capable of recording 1080p video. The Kindle Fire features no rear camera, although it does have an HD-capable front-facing camera.
Google’s Nexus 7 tablet will set US users back $199 for the 8GB edition and $249 for the 16GB edition, making it competitive with both the Kindle Fire and the iPad in terms of price. It also comes with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, making it more powerful than the Kindle Fire, which features a 1.2GHz duel-core processor. The iPad 3, on the other hand, is equipped with a dual-core custom ARM A5X. Also, while the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire come with Google’s Android operating system, the iPad 3 comes with Apple’s iOS 6 – so if you have experience of using both systems, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about which you prefer.
Getting to grips with the technological wizardry featured in all the top tablets is difficult if you’re a bit of a novice, but it isn’t too hard to get a better idea of which is likely to run more smoothly. Carry out a bit of research online and check a few reviews, and then you’ll be able to work out which purchase is best for you.