The Battle Of The Tablets

A tablet is the perfect gift, but which should you opt for?
When the iPad first came out in 2010, it wasn’t entirely clear why a person would own a tablet if they already had a computer and a phone. After all, everything a tablet does, a phone or computer can do too: check email, watch shows, stream music and read articles. But as millions of buyers soon learned, you don’t realize you need a tablet until you have one.
Whether it’s using it as a reading device – a lighter option than traveling with a computer – or an all-inclusive mini entertainment console, tablets seem to fill a niche that the device itself created. As they are known to do, Apple has continued to innovate on the trend and bring out a slew of new generations since the original, including the iPad mini and the iPad air. Now, 6 years into the trend, the tablet market is filled with lots of great devices that aren’t made by Apple, from the very low priced to top-of-the-line models. But the question remains: are any of them as good as the original?
Just as with many other consumer electronic device categories, the iPad is still the standard by which all other tablets are judged. This is simply because it came out first and because Apple manages to keep such a dominance on the consumer electronic market, thanks to its unparalleled aesthetic, design, and the all-encompassing tech ecosystem it offers its users. However, just because it’s been around the longest doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the only one worth buying.
With the Christmas gift-buying season in full swing, tablets are a sure bet for people on your list. While many people might say they don’t need a tablet, that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t love to find one under the tree. It may seem like a bit of an extravagance, but ask any owner of a tablet: when you know, you know.
Now that everyone is making their Christmas wish lists, we take a look at the contenders out there on the market and which ones are worth wrapping up and putting under the Christmas tree:
Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2: Though tablets have seen a trend towards getting smaller, the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro doesn’t care. It’s big 12.2 inch display is perfect for designers or people who plan to do productive work on the device. It’s also great for those who simply want to use it to binge on Netflix on a bigger screen. Running on Android, the price is pretty steep, but it’s one of the top contenders on the market in terms of quality.
Apple iPad Pro: This is the crowd favorite on the market, thanks to its signature Apple style and its impressive computing power. A huge screen (12.9 inches) also makes it one of the largest, and the tablet itself verges on being a computer placement due to its sheer size and strength. As expected, this model will cost you, but it’s truly the tablet for those who are only satisfied with the best.
Google Nexus 9: A reasonable competitor to Samsung’s models, the Google Nexus 9 offers an unfiltered version of the Android operating system, which will please Android enthusiasts. It’s 8.9 inch display isn’t the biggest on the market, but its lower price reflects the trade off.
Amazon Fire: If you’re looking for the cheapest and most reasonable model on the market, the Amazon Fire is probably your best bet. Perfect for web browsing, reading and browsing the internet, it’s a good tablet option for kids who can abuse it without fear of ruining an expensive piece of equipment.
Which gadgets are top of your gift list this year? Let us know @VPSNET.