Computing & Accessories / Large Tablet PCs

Evolving market.

For a device that only emerged in 2010 with the launch of the Apple iPad, tablet pc growth has been phenomenal. Reports have indicated that over half of all US households own at least one tablet and Ireland is not far behind, with estimates suggesting that tablet penetration here has reached 40%. However, analysts have noted that tablet growth is slowing worldwide. One likely reason for this is the rise of the large smartphone, which may be reducing the appetite for tablets – particularly for smaller tablet devices. In addition, given that the tablet market is less than five years old, there is not enough evidence on what consumer behaviour around this market will be. Whereas phones have an estimated life-cycle of two years – with consumers upgrading regularly to take advantage of faster speeds, greater power and design developments – it may well be that tablets have a longer-than-expected lifespan. They are not carried around as much, so they may physically last longer, but also users may not feel the upgrades are sufficiently compelling to constantly update their devices. Moreover, many may feel that although tablets are “nice-to-have” devices, their smartphone and desktop pc are sufficient for their needs. It remains to be seen how this market will evolve in the future.

Choosing a tablet.

The two first decisions you will need to make when choosing a tablet are the size of display you want and what operating system you would prefer the device to run on. Larger tablets have an advantage over smaller tablets when it comes to watching movies or typing emails thanks to the greater screen size, though inevitably they are a little heavier to hold for long periods and less portable. In our current batch of large tablets, screen sizes measured diagonally range from 8.9 inches to 12.2 inches. In terms of operating systems, the options are essentially Apple, Android or Windows, with Amazon tablets running a version of Android that restricts access to the Google Play Store to tie you to Amazon-based apps and solutions.
Another key factor is the amount of storage you need on your device. Tablets generally do not offer the generous storage capacity you would find on a laptop or desktop pc. If you plan to use the tablet mainly for browsing online or streaming media, a lower level of storage – such as 16GB – might suffice, whereas if you are planning to carry around music, videos and lots of heavyweight apps on your tablet, your storage needs will be much greater. You also may be surprised at how much space the operating system and built-in apps can take up before you add any of your own data. See our model specifications to find how much available storage is left on the tablets tested after the operating system and built-in apps are taken into account. If your tablet has a memory card slot, storage space can be easily expanded, but some devices, including the Apple and Google products, do not offer this option so you may need to buy a greater-capacity – and inevitably pricier – version.
The range of locations where you can access free wi-fi is increasing all the time to include buses, trains, cafes and restaurants but some tablets offer 3G/4G versions for those who want constant access to the internet. Again, these models are more expensive than wi-fi-only devices, and given the ability to create a personal hotspot using your smartphone to enable your tablet to go online, this may be a feature that is not worth paying extra for.

Putting tablets to work.

Tablets are lightweight devices that are up and running in seconds and are perfect for consuming a range of media and for browsing online. However, some look for more from their tablet and want to use it for getting some work done as well as for entertainment purposes. To cater to this market, manufacturers have been trying to create the perfect laptop/tablet hybrid that delivers the productivity and work ethic of a laptop but retains the easy-to-use, ready-to-go, fun elements of a tablet. Such devices need to have a processor and operating system powerful enough to run full-featured software and a keyboard that folds away or detaches altogether so that, once work is at an end, the device becomes touch-friendly and lightweight for a spot of web surfing or social networking on the couch. Although the first of these devices emerged several years ago, this subcategory received a boost in 2012 when Microsoft introduced its Surface tablet computer with detachable keyboard and also launched the Windows 8 operating system, which runs on desktops, laptops and tablets. Microsoft is still the manufacturer that comes closest to resolving the challenges of marrying the virtues of the laptop and tablet, with its latest offering, the Surface Pro 3, scoring very well in our tests and only narrowly missing out on Choice Buy status. Running Windows 8.1 Pro, which provides support for desktop office, video and image-editing programmes, this device delivers fast processing and comes with a decent screen and an improved stylus that acts as a handy selection tool. However, battery life failed to impress, with just six hours of video playback and five hours and 40 minutes of web browsing on wi-fi on a full charge. In addition, the detachable keyboard will need to be bought separately for around €135, adding to the already very hefty purchase price.

Testing change.

Over the last year, our testing process has changed, with a number of new performance criteria introduced – such as ebook reading, watching videos and making videos – to better reflect the many diverse and evolving ways that consumers use their tablets. Consequently, results for products in tests from previous years cannot be directly compared to our current results.