Vital Criteria Before Buying an Android Tablet

Move over traditional desktops and laptops, the generation of tablets has arrived. With many people moving towards tablets, tech giants like BlackBerry, Dell, Motorola and other big names jumped into the market.

The whole revolution of tablets was started with Apple's highly successfully iPad. For a while, the iPad dominated the market. But then came in Google's Android OS.

Initially, it did not manage to grab the interests of the market. Since the year 2010, the tables turned and many customers started opting the economical yet effective Android OS over Apple's iOS.

With many big as well as small companies rolling out tablets with the Android OS, buyers are spoilt for choice. Today, we bring to you the important points that you should mark off your check list before opting for an Android tablet.

#1: Android Version:

Google constantly upgrades the versions for the Android and so it becomes important to choose the most recent version to use your tablet devices to the fullest potential. In the most basic tablets, users should check for at least a Android 2.3 Gingerbread Version. Most tablets come with the 2.3.3 version which is pretty good to use.

There are still tablets with come with the older Froyo version. Avoid this as much as possible as the OS does not support many applications available in the App market. The Honeycomb 3.2 version, which is specially created for tablets will be the best choice for the moment as it just released a couple of months back.

#2: Upgradeable Hardware:

You may have the most recent software, but in the near future, many more upgrades will arrive on the Android platform. So, before buying a tablet, make sure you check if the hardware of the device is upgrade friendly. If upgrades are not possible, it also highlights the poor configurations the tablet is equipped with. This is an effective way to filter the quality of various Android based tablets.

#3: Data Transfer and Connectivity:

Having a tablet with poor connectivity is like buying a car without an engine. The major advantage of owning a tablet is carrying your data and browsing the Internet while you are on the move. While choosing a tablet, check the hardware for the number of USB ports it supports. Ethernet and HDMI ports are available in expensive devices. But if those are not available, a Wifi and Bluetooth connection are must haves for Android based tablets.

Always check the connections before buying a device. Many tablets offer connectivity like Wifi and Bluetooth but they refrain from working while using some important applications. A thorough use of Internet based applications is the best connection test for a tablet.

#4: Processor and Memory:

Faster processors help your applications to run smoothly. The most basic processors have a configuration of 1.0 Ghz, but this processor will only help you run basic applications. If you are into heavy usage, go for a high end processor. Memory is an important factor when it comes to buying a tablet. A wide range of applications are available for the Android. Apart from this, you can store data like AV files on your tablet. Some devices come with a good in built memory of 16 GB. A minimum 8 GB is a must have. Buying a device with an expandable memory of up to 32 GB will be a good choice.

#5: Display and Camera:

A good display is the most noticeable thing in a tablet. A tablet with a 1024 X 600 pixels is a good buy, anything below that is not. Check for the touch flow options as well. If there is a lag in the response of the touch screen, that means the display is of poor quality. A camera of at least 2 MP is decent enough especially if you use video chat softwares like Skype or Yahoo! Messenger.