Tablets are an excellent solution for portability and convenience without compromising on quality. Unfortunately, over the years, we’ve seen them come in various sizes. This can make the choice of upgrading to a new one somewhat difficult. There are several brands to choose from and a myriad of features, such as battery life and weight, that pose significant factors when purchasing. To assist students, creators, photographers, and cinematographers, this article explains all the tablet sizes available on the market and how to choose the right tablet size for your creative work.
Standard Table Size
There’s no such thing as a standard-sized tablet or one-size-fits-all. Instead, as creators, we must think about the tasks we need the tablet for. The most common tablet sizes include 5-inch, 7-inch, 9-inch, 10-inch, and 13-inch.
The tablet’s screen size is one of the main factors determining whether it will suit your work requirements. Knowing how tablet sizes are measured can help you make the right pick. First, you must understand the difference between “tablet size” and “tablet screen size.”
- Tablet size covers tablet dimensions, which tell you about the device’s length, width, and depth.
- Table screen size is measured diagonally across the device.
Let’s run you through the details of the most commonly used tablet sizes…
5-inch and 7-inch Tablets
The 5-inch and 7-inch tablets are well-suited for basic tasks since they are super portable and lightweight. Whether it’s reading eBooks, playing games, or simply browsing the internet, these tablets are the right pick. Since they are compact, carrying them around is a breeze. Your hands won’t tire out from using them for long hours, either. The tablets fit perfectly in purses or bookbags without occupying too much space.
As these tablets are smaller, they feature lesser storage capacity and slower processors compared to their larger counterparts. On the other hand, the battery capacity of the 5-and-7-inch tablets is reasonably good for carrying out basic tasks. Although, if you’re looking for a tablet for high-end gaming, watching HD videos, or running complex software, these might not be the right fit.
Are you unable to decide whether you want to invest in a tablet or a smartphone? Well, you can choose the 5 to 7-inch tablet instead. Top brands such as Samsung and Lenovo have excellent 5-inch tablets. If you’re looking for slightly bigger models (7-inch tablets), you can always check out the ones from Apple, Lenovo, and Samsung.
9-inch and 9.5-inch Tablets
The 9-9.5 inches tablets are the perfect size of an ideal tablet. Not only is it portable and lightweight, but it also features a large, clear display. The screen size is big enough to help you skim through eBooks and other documents without squinting your eyes. In addition, tablets with these dimensions are equipped with batteries that last longer than the 5-inch and 7-inch variants.
They are neither too big nor too small — just the kind of gadget you’d love to carry around everywhere you go. The 9-inch and 9.5-inch tablets can be easily used instead of laptops to carry out various general tasks. So, iif working on the move is your thing, these tablets are just what you need.
Lenovo and Samsung have a variety of 9-inch tablets that come bundled with an excellent set of features. Right from the design to the display, every aspect of these tablets is built with careful consideration for users. In the 9.5-inch tablet range, Sony and Lenovo have great tablets with a great display, excellent speed, and high battery power.
10-inch Tablets
These midsize tablets strike the perfect chord between the small and relatively larger tablets. They offer portability and compactness — as well as larger screens — making it easy to work with them and carry them around. These tablets are built to handle tasks that are a notch higher than the basic ones. Along with the general functions, the 10-inch tablets can also be used for playing high-end activities such as playing games and running apps. As business people on the move, you would no longer have to carry the weight of laptops around. Simply invest in a 10-inch tablet and you’re good to go.
Let’s talk about the drawbacks. Although these tablets are portable, their length is more, so they might not fit in some purses or book bags. As its weight and dimensions are more than the smaller tablets, it would be impossible to use them as an ebook reader. Holding the tablets in your hands for long hours will tire out your hands and wrists quickly.
13-inch Tablets
Tablets in this size range are as good as laptops. They are packed with exceptional features any good laptop would offer. The 13-inch laptops are quick and can handle tasks that require high processing power. Thanks to the large size, they also feature a bigger, more powerful, and long-lasting battery. So, if you’re looking for something that’s a notch above the traditional, standard tablet — yet smaller than a laptop — the 13-inch tablet hits the sweet spot.
Other Features to Consider
When investing in a tablet — apart from the size — you also have to consider some other essential factors such as thickness/durability, weight, and overall capabilities. Let’s take a look at each.
Thickness/Durability
The thinner the tablet, the less its weight will be. Super thin tablets may be prone to damage and could break easily during everyday usage. Also, thinner tablets may not sustain long travels as they are prone to material damage.
So, while you’re on the lookout for the most lightweight tablet out there, don’t forget to check out its thickness as well. Thickness plays a vital role in the strength and durability of the tablet. If you’re looking for a tablet that strikes the right chord between weight and thickness, do consider the HP Chromebook x360 Touch Screen Tablet + Laptop. It is neither too bulky nor too thin.
Weight
Tablets are meant to be lightweight and portable. However, they spend long hours in our hands and backpacks, so they need to be of the ideal weight. Look for tablet designs that evenly distribute the tablet’s weight across its body. This will ensure you can comfortably hold the tablet in both landscape and portrait modes.
As most tablets don’t mention the preferred orientation, it is advisable to hold the tablet to understand precisely how it feels when you hold it. Tablets mostly weigh less than 1.75 lbs. If you’re looking for a lightweight tablet that doesn’t compromise on features, our pick is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. It is sleek, compact, and weighs just 1.01 lbs.
Capabilities
Size and weight are the two most important aspects of any tablet. However, other factors also affect the tablet’s overall performance. Depending on your work requirements, you also need to look into these aspects of the tablet:
- Storage space
- Resolution
- Screen type and display
- Processor
- Battery life
- Audio quality
- Operating system
- Network and connectivity.
Best Tablet for Students
School life is all about homework, essays, and assignments. To cruise through those long study hours, you need to pick a tablet that has a long battery life. Most importantly, as you’ll be using the tablet almost all the time, pick one that’s easy on your hands and wrists. A tablet with accessories — such as a keyboard — also makes easier and more comfortable to use.
The Apple iPad Air 11″ with M2 Chip or more heavy-duty Apple iPad Pro 11″ with M4 Chip are excellent choices for students, both with fantastic student-friendly features. Right from their excellent display, seamless connectivity, and long-lasting battery, both tablets are every student’s dream come true. It also comes with accessories such as the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard.
Another popular student pick is the Microsoft Surface Go 3. It has a large display and a Surface touchscreen 2-in-1. You can use it for work, play, browsing, binge-watching, and school. Thanks to its powerful processor, it is super fast irrespective of the task you use it for. With a powerful battery that runs up to 11 hours, you can use this tablet without worrying about it running out. It comes with the Microsoft Signature Keyboard cover too.
Best Tablet for Content Creators
As content creators, you need to pick tablets that match up with the dynamic requirements of your job. You want one that is quick, has a great screen resolution, and offers relevant accessories. For example, if you’re an artist, the best tablet is the one that comes with a smart pen. Likewise, photographers and vloggers might want to opt for one with powerful processing power, which would help edit photos and videos quickly.
Wacom has a wide range of tablets that are crafted considering the requirements of creative content creators. These tablets come with creative smart pens or Bluetooth pens. Bringing your creative ideas into reality is super easy with Wacom tablets. They have unique features such as multi-touch gestures, pen side switches, tilt-response, and much more. Most importantly, these tablets are sleek, compact, and portable. Whether you’re creating art indoors or outdoors, you have no reason to worry.
The Wacom tablets are designed keeping in mind the requirements of beginners as well as professional artists. In addition, these tablets come in different sizes and price ranges so you can comfortably pick one that best fits your needs — both feature and budget-wise. Here are a few of our favorites:
Final Thoughts
We’ve listed out everything you need to know about tablets — from the aspects to consider, to, to some of the popular picks depending on your requirements. A tablet is a wonderful addition to your set of devices. It offers you the flexibility to work on the go. So, if you’ve been considering a tablet, now is the best time. Whether you are a business professional, student, or an artist, there are tablets out there crafted with you in mind.
