3 Things to Know Before Buying a Tablet

If you’re looking to buy a new tablet, here are a couple of things to consider when looking at all of the available options and picking out the perfect one for you.

1. What Do You Want To Do With the Tablet?

Tablets can perform a number of functions. You can download apps, play games, watch movies, listen to music, run your business, surf the Internet, check and write emails take pictures and video and so much more. When deciding which tablet is best for you, you’re going to want to consider which functions you will use the most and are the most important to you.

Also, take into consideration who will be using the tablet. Will it just be you? Will the tablet be shared with others? Do you have young kids that may use it? These are all important questions to ask yourself while selecting the perfect tablet.

This part of the decision-making process is also a great time to consider all the different brands of tablets. Some brands are more well-known for specific tasks or functions than others and may also be compatible with devices already in your home.

2. How Much Storage Space Will You Need?

While browsing all of the tablet options out there, you’ll find that 8GB of storage space is a pretty common starting point. This amount of space will allow you to store a little bit of everything from music to movies and pictures, but if you want to store a lot of any of those types of files you’ll want to consider more storage space. If your tablet will be mainly used for emails and general web browsing, 8GB may be perfect.

You can also consider tablets with storage add-on options, like Secure Digital (SD) card slots. This feature allows you to load up an SD card with files to take on the go without filling up your internal space. For even more storage space, storing certain files in the Cloud may be a great option for you as well.

3. How Will You Connect to the Internet?

Wi-Fi-based tablets are going to be your most common option. Much like your smartphone or laptop, Wi-Fi enabled tablets will be able to connect to the Internet anywhere there is an available Wi-Fi connection. Coffee shops, hotels, libraries, your home; many of these places will have a network for your tablet to connect to.

If you need access to the Internet on the go where you don’t commonly find Wi-Fi, you will want to look at a Connected tablet. Connected tablets will typically be able to access the Internet anywhere that your cell phone gets a signal. That is because, much like your phone, Connected tablets work with certain carriers and would require a data plan.

For even more information to help you choose the perfect tablet, check out our Tablet Buying Guide.