Optimal diagonal: choose a 10-inch tablet
You can study the technical characteristics of the models from the selection in the comparative table of 10-inch tablets. The following link opens a full catalog of tablets with tools for self-search of the necessary device from the many current options on the market.
The model from the Ukrainian brand Impression is designed to compete with the hordes of low-cost tablets from China. In the segment of inexpensive 10-inch devices, it occupies a leading position.
The tablet operates on the basis of the Intel Atom platform, which includes 4 cores with a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz. In conjunction with 1 GB of RAM, the model provides good performance when watching videos, browsing the web or reading. The tablet is less suitable for games — after all, the chip used is not high-performance and only simple games that do not require a large amount of resources are easily given to it.
As for a gadget with a super-low-cost price tag, the display with a resolution of 1024x600 pixels turned out to be very good. That's just a close look at the screen with the naked eye will clearly see the individual points from which the picture is built. This is due to the low pixel density on the large diagonal of the display (118ppi). The location of the "eye" of the front camera above the wide side of the screen clearly hints that the main orientation of the tablet is the landscape position.
The cameras on board the tablet perform a more aesthetic function — it is not necessary to count on a worthwhile result from a 2-megapixel main and even more so from a 0.3-megapixel front module. But the Impression ImPAD 1006 supports work in Wi-Fi and 3G networks. In addition, the built-in telephone module allows you to make voice calls. When making calls, it is better to use a headset, because it is inconvenient to hold a 10-inch device near your ear with your hands.
The software shell on board the tablet is almost "naked" Android 5.1 with a minimum of add-ons and unnecessary applications. Under normal conditions, the interface responds quickly enough, and lags and slowdowns occur only when launching numerous applications in the background. The device is well suited for the role of a multimedia player that can last 6-7 hours on a single battery charge. In simple words, this time is enough to watch 3 average full-length films.
The junior version of one of the most affordable 10-inch tablets with FullHD screen resolution Lenovo IdeaTab 2 16 GB / LTE looks just as good externally, but it is even cheaper in comparison with the older brother.
The main differences of the younger model are the use of a less performant processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 210) in its design, a reduced amount of RAM (1 GB instead of two) and a display resolution (1280x800 pixels). At the same time, the tablet has a capacious 7000 mAh battery at its disposal, which in tandem with a less "voracious" chip and display provides long—term battery life — on one battery charge, the device is able to fully function for 2-3 days.
Everything indicates that the main orientation of the gadget is landscape. This can be seen by the location of the cameras, the lock button and the volume rocker. At the same time, the tablet fits very well in the hand, which is facilitated by the tenacious and pleasant to the touch soft touch plastic. The entire top of the back of the tablet is covered with holes for sound output from the built-in stereo speakers. By the way, the model supports Dolby Atmos sound enhancement technology. Preset sound modes and equalizer sliders for self-tuning can be found in the corresponding application.
The tablet screen tolerates exposure to direct sunlight well. That's just there is no oleophobic coating on it, which is why the display is prone to collecting fingerprints. The picture on the screen changes quite quickly — excellent optimization of the shell and minimal interference with the Android 5.1 system by developers have an effect. The lack of resources becomes noticeable in games. However , with a result of about 18K . There can be no other "points" in the synthetic AnTuTu test.
The best scenario for using a tablet can be called a bedside home. However, the presence of a SIM card slot on board the gadget and, accordingly, support for working in mobile data networks make Lenovo IdeaTab 2 A10-30 a very good option for watching videos and performing simple tasks on the road, on the street or in a cafe. Unless, of course, you want to carry a half-kilogram device with a screen size of 10.1".
The Galaxy Tab A tablet line from the South Korean brand Samsung includes mid-range devices that have balanced performance and are equipped with a good screen.
Inside the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016), an Exynos 7870 chip of its own production is installed. Paired with 2 GB of RAM, "iron" receives average scores in synthetic tests. For example, the AnTuTu application shows a result of 53K points, which indicates the possibility of unhindered launch of all modern programs or games (albeit not always at the maximum graphics parameters). Playing World of Tanks or Real Racing 3 on a tablet is a pleasure.
The gadget's screen is built on the basis of a PLS matrix with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. Of course, it does not reach the AMOLED solutions installed in the flagship family of Samsung Galaxy Tab S tablets, but there will be no complaints about the display in terms of colour rendering quality and maximum brightness margin. The aspect ratio of the model's screen is 16:10, which makes it convenient for watching movies.
In the hands of the tablet is held very confidently. Only now, when watching videos in landscape orientation with your hands, there is a chance to accidentally cover the holes of the built-in speakers with your palm or hook the touch control keys, which in addition are completely devoid of illumination. It is better to take photos and videos from a portrait position — both cameras have a typical smartphone location, and the main one also has a flash in its equipment. By the standards of the tablet, the cameras give quite a decent result.
The style of Samsung's branded shell will appeal to everyone who has ever had close contact with the products of the South Korean brand. And the addition of the positive aspects of the model is long—term battery life — the battery charge with a capacity of 7300 mAh is enough for 2-3 operations at medium loads. Therefore, if the priority is to purchase a universal tablet capable of performing a wide variety of functions equally well, there is practically no better option for such a cost.
The diagonal of the tablet screen from the Taiwanese company Asus is only a little short of 10". It stopped at 9.7", which absolutely corresponds to the similar size of the displays at Apple iPad Air 2014 32 GB and Apple iPad Pro 9.7 2016 32 GB .
The model also shares an atypical aspect ratio of 4 with Apple technology:3. On the one hand, such displays are more suitable for reading or surfing the Internet, and on the other hand, they are less convenient when watching movies. Since the picture is not displayed on the entire area of the matrix, black stripes remain on top and bottom of it. As for the quality of colour rendering and the brightness margin of the screen, built on the basis of an IPS matrix with excellent viewing angles on all planes, these parameters deserve high praise.
The symbol M at the end of the model name indicates the type of processor used — in this case, we are talking about a 6-core MediaTek MT8176, in which 2 cores act as high-performance, and 4 more are designed to perform everyday tasks. 4 GB of RAM complement the overall picture. So you won't have to worry about a lack of performance in games or any other applications at least in the next year after the purchase of the tablet.
The multimedia orientation of the Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500M can be traced in the large amount of internal memory — Taiwanese engineers installed a drive with a capacity of as much as 64 GB in their brainchild. The amount of memory can be expanded even more by means of microSD flash drives. But there is nowhere to install a SIM card, so users will have to be content exclusively with Wi-Fi networks.
Among the strengths of the model, it is a sin not to mention the all—metal case with polished side faces, the presence of a fingerprint scanner, high-quality stereo speakers, support for fast charging technology, as well as a flexible and responsive ZenUI shell rolled over Android 6.0 OS. With such serious preparation, the tablet will definitely take its rightful place among all categories of consumers — from ordinary users to demanding gamers.
The tablet with the Pro console from the Cupertino Apple company is designed to compete with traditional computers. And if a 12.9-inch modification (Apple iPad Pro 12.9) is more suitable for serious work with graphics or design, then a more comfortable model with a 9.7" screen size is more suitable for entertainment and home use.
A powerful Apple A9X processor from an older brother with a RAM volume reduced to 2 GB migrated to the case of the reduced version. Despite the decrease in RAM both during synthetic tests and in real operation, the Apple iPad Pro 9.7 produces almost identical performance. To a large extent, the merit of the nimble work lies on the shoulders of a less resource-demanding screen, whose resolution is 2048x1536 pixels.
The tablet's display can automatically adapt the white balance and adjust its brightness level by scanning the surrounding space, which makes it more comfortable to use the gadget for reading and reduces the visual load on the user's eyes. It is possible to enter data both with the fingers and with the Apple Pencil stylus, an indispensable tool for detailed photo retouching and drawing.
The tablet also got something from the Apple smartphone family. So, Apple iPhone 6S 32 GB shared his cameras with the gadget — the main module with a resolution of 12 MP, in addition to high-quality photography, is able to record video in 4K format, and the front 5-megapixel camera gives an excellent picture when taking a selfie.
A 32 GB storage drive is installed inside the basic version of the tablet. It is not possible to expand the memory by installing a USB flash drive traditionally for Apple products. If necessary, you can look at versions with 128 GB of memory on board or 256 GB. All modifications have high quality materials and assembly, high-quality sound from four stereo speakers, the presence of a fingerprint scanner and a good margin of battery life. Well, only its rather high cost can make you think about the need to buy a tablet.
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