With the holiday gift giving season upon us I thought I would share my ideas of great gifts in a few of my favorite categories. I will be ranking each item in their respective category from Unicorn (best for what money can buy), Stallion (best for value), and Pony (least inexpensive without giving a POS to a family, friend, or loved one). Obviously there will be some bias as I am only human and what I perceive as value to the average consumer, not the tech nerd/geek. So lets get started!
Large tablets have their pros and cons just like any piece of technology. You get a big screen with lots of viewing space so you don't have to strain to watch videos or read books. It also allows for a bigger on screen keyboard while still allowing a lot of the screen to be viewed. But with a bigger screen comes a bigger tablet and that makes it very hard to be portable for the average person without a backpack, satchel, or large purse. So for many people when recommending a tablet is, are you going to use it around the house and on the couch or are you planning on home use AND taking it with you without having to bring a bag to hold it in? This guide is for those that are using a tablet around the house and on the couch.
Android:
Unicorn - ASUS Transformer Infinity TF701T. Available for $449.99 for 32GB model or less depending on where you shop (optional expandable storage via microSB card).
ASUS is not well known in the US for computer electronics and that is a shame, especially in the larger tablet market as they have been putting out excellent ones for years going back to the ASUS Transformer EE Pad TF101. The TF701 being the newest iteration for 2013 to continue the tradition.
The TF700 sports a 10.1" 2560x1600 IPS display for fantastic colors and great viewing, even in direct light. While the TF701 does come with 32GB of storage, it has the option to expand storage using up to a 64GB microSD card. Another great option of Transformer series are the optional keyboard docks (sold separately . Not only will they turn your tablet into a laptop like device but there is an onboard battery built in to provide an extra 8 hours of battery life (add to the already 8-10 hours with just the tablet alone). In the optional keyboard dock is a SDHC card slot to add even more storage to the tablet Keep in mind though that if you don't have or detach the optional keyboard dock, that SDHC card slot will not be read by the tablet. On the optional keyboard dock is also a touch pad for mouse controls. With this optional keyboard dock you can close the tablet into the dock and carry around the tablet just as you would a laptop.
There are two cameras of course but just like all tablets nothing to write home about. The back facing camera is 5 megapixels (MP) capable of taking 1080p video at 30 frames per second (fps) but there is no LED flash. On the front is a 1.2MP cam capable of 720p video calling at 30fps.
This tablet does come with one of the latest quad core processors (Tegra 4) of 2013 and 2GB of RAM to help with multi-tasking. The internals of this tablet make this a premium tablet with a good 3 to 4 years of use before it may become sluggish from more power apps in the future, especially those in gaming. One thing that has always been great about ASUS and the Android products they make are that ASUS supports them for quite a long time. The original TF101 which came out almost 4 years ago was just recently updated but I can see that definitely being the end of the road for it as far as support is concerned.
Negatives would be that it is heavier (without the keyboard dock) than most at 1.28 pounds, including the new iPad Air at exactly one pound. From the design aspect it is rather average and hasn't changed over the past 2 years. The one design change that ASUS didn't go with the TF701 that others have begun to do, even in smartphones, are the elimination of as much side, top, and bottom bezel as possible to give you as much screen on the front of the device as possible.
Stallion - ASUS Transformer MeMo Pad. Available for $290 for 16GB model or less depending on where you shop (expandable storage available via microSD card).
Another ASUS tablet for you in the form of the MeMo Pad 10.1. This "little brother" of the Transformer series comes with a 1200 x 800 IPS display that does well in direct light. A great built in feature with ASUS tablets is they have a quick settings button on the screen that with one touch will turn outdoor mode on or off in a touch. This button will boast screen brightness all the way up quickly and when off, will turn it back to whatever setting you originally had it set.
This being the "little brother" in the Transformer series it comes with last years dual core processor but the same amount of 2GB of RAM for helping with multi-tasking between apps. This tablet also doesn't come with an option for a keyboard docking station so productivity should be something further down the list if this is an option you are considering. Without the optional keyboard dock you don't get a physical keyboard the extra SDHC card slot (card used by a majority of point and shoot and DSLR cameras), mouse track pad (though not too useful with a touch screen tablet), and 7 to 9 hour battery.
There are two cameras of course but just like all tablets nothing to write home about. The back facing camera is 5 megapixels (MP) capable of taking 1080p video at 30 frames per second (fps) but there is no LED flash. On the front is a 1.2MP cam capable of 720p video calling at 30fps.
Negatives would be future proofing. A tablet released in the latter half of this year with a processor from the end of last year is the same as buying a tablet from last year, particularly with other tablets having above average hardware. While this will still be good for web browsing and social media for a good 3 to 4 more years, gaming through apps and video, picture, and audio editing might suffer sooner. The other negative is the screen display. If you own a android smartphone from this year or an iPhone 4s or above, you will notice that the definition isn't going to be as great, especially while reading. Video playback whether streaming or locally from your tablet will be good though.
Pony - Google/Samsung Nexus 10. Available for $419 for 32GB model or less depending on where you shop (no option available for expandable storage).
While the price tag of this great tablet is near the ASUS TF701, it is only because Google/Samsung are no longer manufacturing this tablet due to the fact it was released in the second half of 2012 but it is available to buy from retailers with stock left over. Out of all the other tablets, this one as by far and away the best display of them at 2560 x 1600 IPS. The screen is definitely for web and video consumption content.
There are two cameras of course but just like all tablets nothing to write home about. The back facing camera is 5 megapixels (MP) capable of taking 1080p video at 30 frames per second (fps) but there is no LED flash. On the front is a 1.9MP cam capable of 720p video calling at 30fps.
The one two punch of strengths of this tablet are the screen and speakers. The screen is awesome and the speakers are front facing dual stereo speakers making this combination perfect for movie/TV watching. This is the only tablet on the market to feature front facing speakers and just like everyone else, I don't understand why. Tablet's this large are definitely used for media consumption and to not have a great screen and front facing speakers is a complete mystery.
Another great positive of this tablet is it is made by Google in partnership with Samsung. So any updates, no matter how small, to the Android operating system, will come to this tablet faster than any other, a promise made by Google. While ASUS is usually not far behind in their update, a Google product gets the updates first.
One negative of this tablet is not being able to add storage with a microSD card. It's one thing Google always does with their phones and tablets. Theories vary why they do this but none the less, no microSD card storage option. It is a shame too considering that with the screen and speakers being so great for video watching, you will want to store as many movies as possible on this to take with you. The other negative is they designed this tablet to be held in landscape at all times. I am the type of person who prefers to hold tablets in portrait mode and the placement of speakers, front facing camera, and back facing camera are designed for permanent landscape mode. Any other position and the speakers are ok, but the front facing and back facing cameras are in offset positions.
Honorable Mentions:
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition. Available for $549.99 in the 16GB storage option (extra storage is available via microSD card). A great tablet hardware wise with great features to allow you to multi-task with two apps at the same time. Boasts a 2560 x 1600 screen just like the Nexus 10 and a quad core processor. Just like the Nexus 10 it is designed for landscape use with no front facing speakers but unlike Google or ASUS products, Samsung as a reputation for being very slow updating to newer versions of the Android operation system. So while the Nexus 10 might get the update almost immediately, Samsung has been known to be six months to a year behind. Even ASUS has a better track record with inside of six months.
ASUS Transformer Infinity TF700. Available for $359.99 for the 32GB storage option (extra storage is available via microSD card). The older (by only 1 year) of the ASUS Transformer Infinity TF700. The only difference is this has last years quad core processor. Still a great screen, optional keyboard dock, cameras, RAM for multi-tasking, etc. A great budget option that will still hold its own with apps and games, but maybe not the higher end graphically intense games that will come out in the next year or two. Still, paired with the optional keyboard dock, this makes a great tablet/productivity for someone on a budget.
Apple:
Unicorn - iPad Air. Available for $499.99 for the 16GB storage option (more if you want 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB) with no extra storage option available via a microSD card.
Publicly speaking, this is the gold standard of all tablets whether they are big or small. Tablets were around long before Apple decided to bring out the original iPad but they did got it right the first time and since then people have decided this is the one they want. The iPad Air is a 9.7 inch display with a "Retina" screen of 2048 x 1536 LED back lit IPS display. Apple's "Retina" is just a marketing word that refers to the average person holding this tablet at an average distance from their eyes will not be able to see individual pixels on the screen, mainly dealing with text from documents or reading. Most tablets actually have higher resolutions at Full HD (1080p) than Apple (Retina is just above 720p) but Apple has yet to change their stance that as long as text doesn't look pixelated to the readers eye, there is no need to go higher.
There are two cameras of course but just like all tablets nothing to write home about. The back facing camera is 5 megapixels (MP) "iSight" capable of taking 1080p video at 30 frames per second (fps) and video stabilization but there is no LED flash. On the front is a 1.2MP cam capable of 720p video calling at 30fps.
The impressive thing that Apple as brought to the table with the Air is the size and power to weight ratio. This thing is light, really light for a full size tablet at exactly one pound. Most other full size tablets hit around the 1.2 to 1.5 pound mark. While that might not seem like much, if you are holding it for an extensive amount of time, say a two hour movie, that little bit can creep up on you. The battery life is the same as previous generations getting 8.5 to 10 hours of battery life depending on usage which is strange considering they put a slightly bigger battery in the Air (about 10% bigger). So for being only a pound and .25 pounds heavier than the new iPad mini with Retina display, other than the screen size it makes this tablet very portable due to weight. So much that you might not feel the need to have a bag to carry around with you, so long as you have a good case (aluminum tends to scratch and ding very easily).
Then there is the processor. It is the latest 64 bit dual core processor that is actually more powerful than the latest quad core 32 bit processors that are in other tablets and smartphones on the market. So it is easy to say this tablet is future proof for years and years of use as app developers are starting to make their apps 64 bit. But with that power, it will never be fully utilized unfortunately because the Air only comes with 1GB of RAM for multi-tasking and a 64bit processor needs 4GB of RAM to start using its full potential. So while this is great future proofing with the processor, you will never fully use it's potential years and years from now because of the short comings in the RAM.
The only negative is the price point. The iPad Air is priced regularly at $499 for only 16GB of storage which you will actually only get to use about 12.5GB because the operating system and default apps that can't be deleted will take up the other 3.5GB. If you didn't download any more apps than what comes with this, you can fit about six 1080p movies (Blu-ray quality) on this before running out of room. So if you download your favorite apps and games you might be looking at only holding two or three movies, tops.
Stallion - iPad 4th Generation (Retina display and lightning connector). If still available at a retailer near you $450 for the 16GB storage option (no extra storage available via microSD card).
Honestly there is no point to buying this at retail cost where for $50 more you can get the iPad Air. But since technically these options exist, I felt inclined to add them. iPad 4th generation (gen) is a 9.7" display with a "Retina" screen of 2048 x 1536 LED back lit IPS display. Apple's "Retina" is just a marketing word that means that the average person holding this at an average distance from their eyes will not be able to see the individual pixels on the screen, mainly dealing with text from documents or reading. Most tablets actually have high resolutions at Full HD (1080p) that Apple (Retina is just above 720p) but Apple has yet to change their stance that as long as text doesn't look pixelated to the readers eye, there is no need to go higher.
There are two cameras of course but just like all tablets nothing to write home about. The back facing camera is 5 megapixels (MP) "iSight" capable of taking 1080p video at 30 frames per second (fps) and video stabilization but there is no LED flash. On the front is a 1.2MP cam capable of 720p video calling at 30fps.
If you don't want to spend that extra $50 and maybe even try to save yourself an extra $10 or $20, you can always look to eBay, Swappa.com, or Craigslist and try to pick one up used. But the problem is that this tablet is still good and only the really die harder Apple fans will want to get rid of this one for the Air and those fans still know the value of this tablet. So now you might be looking at spending $425 for this used.
Pony - iPad 3rd Generation (Retina display and 30 pin dock connector). If still available at a retailer near you $450 for the 16GB storage option (no extra storage available via microSD card).
Slightly slower processor than the 4th generation iPad, 30 pin connector to sync to iTunes and charge instead of the newer lightning connector, and a few ounces heavier. If you do find it in retail it will probably be between $399.99 and $450.99. Unless you find this on eBay or craigslist at some what new condition for under $325 for the 16GB storage option, then just get the Air.
Honorable Mentions:
None. I say none knowing the iPad 2 is still for sale but at $399.99 retail for technology three years old, you're better off spending $100 more for the iPad Air and have a tablet that is future proof in its hardware for the next 3 to 4 years. With the way apps are getting more and more complex and advanced in their needs for RAM and processing power, the iPad 2 might last another year before being too sluggish to deal with on a daily basis.
Wrap Up:
There are a lot of options out there, even more than I named above, but the thing to keep in mind is who are you buying this for. If you are getting it for yourself, be really really honest if you need or want a tablet. Is it that you don't need a tablet but need a better smaller laptop, then don't let the sparkle and shine of a tablet draw you in. If you are getting it for someone else, then why are you getting it for them. Is their laptop/PC dying and you don't think they need those to get on the web? Are they always hogging the TV with their Netflix movies and you want to get them out of the way? Point being this is a $400-$500 investment for the next 3 to 4 years, make sure you know why a tablet and not something else. No matter what you choose I always tell people this, don't buy a low end tablet from a low end manufacturer name like RCA, Coby, Panasonic, Hipstreet, Vizio, Sanyo, Sylvania, Dynex, or any other OEM (original equipment manufacturer) you don't recognized from this guide, because in the end with new technology, you get what you pay for.
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