The holiday season is approaching and often tablets are a popular gift for folks of all ages. A new tablet can cost anywhere from $150 to $2000. With that wide range of prices, it’s natural to wonder what the differences are among the tablets. If you are considering giving a tablet to a dear one, here are several factors to consider.
1. What will be the main uses for the tablet? If it will be mainly a digital reader, then you might want to consider having a screen that can be easily read in the sun. Or, if your recipient is a gamer, then sharp graphics are a must. Perhaps your recipient is an artist so you’ll want to make sure it can be used for drawing. Features such as the ones mentioned are not universal, so it is important to set your criteria for the device before you tap the buy button.
Fun With an iPad
2. How much digital storage is needed? Music, videos, pictures, podcasts, and multiple apps take up lots of space. Some items can be moved to a cloud storage site and others you can’t. More storage means a higher price. Thus, picking a tablet with the largest amount of storage that fits your budget is often a wise choice.
3. Is it important that the tablet is compatible with other digital devices through a cloud program? I happen to have all Apple products so any pictures I take with my iPhone will automatically appear in my Photos app on both my tablet and computer. I also can access documents, spreadsheets, and other files on any of my devices by using iCloud. If that feature is important, then research which devices will provide the same options.
5. Will your recipient want to take pictures with the tablet? All devices do not have the same camera. Once again, the cost comes into the equation. The better the camera, the more money you will spend.
6. Is a high-resolution display important so that colors are vibrant and images are sharp and crisp? Streaming videos, gaming, and creating art on your tablet require the best display resolution you can afford.
7. Does your recipient have vision or dexterity issues? Many tablets offer accessibility features such as dictation, spoken content, shortcuts to eliminate tapping, audio descriptions, and regulating hearing devices. Taking time to visit a store with tablets on display that you can try out will help you decide whether accessibility features are a priority.
8. What size device do you want? Easily portable? Good size screen for viewing videos? Again, a visit to a store with various tablets on display will help you make this decision.
A companion gift to a new iPad is the BoomerTECH Adventures course, iPad iOS 18–Essentials for iPads. Check it out! https://www.boomertechadventures.com/downloads/ipad-ios-18-essentials-for-ipads/
Also, BoomerTECH Adventures YouTube channel has multiple free videos related to the iPad. Here’s one!