Larger than smartphones, more mobile than a PC – tablets are a great addition and can be used in a variety of ways. But there are some differences. We answer all important questions for you.
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Inflated smartphones
Tablets are nothing more than oversized smartphones, right? What technical differences are there?
At their core, smartphones and tablets are similar – they mostly use ARM-based processors for mobile use, charge and exchange data via USB-C ports and are operated via the touchscreen. The larger screen also means more space for a larger and more powerful battery. Unlike smartphones, however, not all tablets have cellular support, and even tablets with a SIM do not always have a 5G-capable modem. Tablets generally do not support telephony; Unless you make calls via Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp or Signal, you will need an additional telephone. There are no replaceable batteries on tablets, but hardly any on smartphones either; the option to expand memory is more the exception than the norm for both.
Android, iOS, and what else?
What choice do I have regarding the operating system?
Many tablets run on the two major operating systems for smartphones: Android and iOS or iPadOS, as Apple calls the version of its software adapted for iPads. The two systems are well suited for use on tablets, as they are designed for touch operation. The selection of apps is large, even if there is no equivalent to some special desktop software. Amazon’s Fire tablets take a different approach. They use their own operating system called Fire OS, which is based on the open source Android, but with its own, less populated app store and heavily customized software that is primarily designed for media consumption and is closely linked to the Amazon ecosystem is interlocked. Huawei’s tablets with the Android derivative HarmonyOS are also not suitable as an Android alternative due to the company’s own app store, which is even less populated. The few tablets with ChromeOS on which you can run most Android apps are more likely.
Windows is another alternative, even if the selection of tablets is smaller. You can find good but also expensive Windows tablets in Microsoft’s Surface Pro series, for example, some with an ARM processor as an alternative to the Intel chip. The HP Elite x2, which is designed similarly to the Surface, is already a bit older; the Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a Windows tablet specifically for gamers. Linux tablets only occupy an extremely small niche. Devices like the Purism Librem 11, Juno Tab 2 or PineTab have so far only been able to gather a very small fan base. Those who like to experiment install Linux instead of Windows or Android on other hardware, but this is anything but trivial.
Compact tablets?
I’m looking for a compact tablet, but I can hardly find any current models. Why is that?
With their ever-larger displays, smartphones are having a huge impact on the existence of small tablets. Many smartphones have a display diagonal of almost 7 inches, but in a different page format than the compact tablets, which once started with the same diagonal. Parallel to the growth of smartphones, tablets have also become larger – only logically. 11 inches are becoming the standard size, XXL models have screens larger than 14 inches. Mini tablets are still available from Amazon with 8 inches; The iPad Mini with an 8.3-inch display is already two years old and will finally get a successor in 2024.
Desktop mode?
Do all tablets have desktop mode?
No, not all tablets support alternative interfaces, and even those that do don’t necessarily have a desktop mode. However, most manufacturers expand the standard Android home screen anyway to make better use of the large space of a tablet, for example with an extended taskbar at the bottom of the screen or the option to start at least two apps in multitasking. The Samsung Galaxy tablets are particularly known for their “real” desktop mode. The manufacturer calls this mode “DeX”. It can either be switched on manually or activated automatically when the tablet is connected to a suitable keyboard, mouse or trackpad. You can work with DeX in a very similar way to working with a PC or Mac: programs open in freely scalable windows or in full-screen mode, there is a start menu and a taskbar as well as a mouse cursor.
Tablet as a second monitor
Can I use a tablet as a second monitor on my computer?
Yes, in many cases this is done officially by the respective manufacturer with some models. Samsung offers this option, ideally in conjunction with a Samsung notebook, via cable and radio and calls it second screen. Apple also connects the iPad and Mac quite elegantly via cable or radio; the function is called Sidecar. Without official manufacturer options, you have to look for alternatives. If you want to use your iPad as a second monitor on a Windows computer, you can use the paid app Duet. For example, the SuperDisplay program connects Android tablets and Windows PCs, both via USB cable and WLAN. It is also possible to use the Android as a drawing tablet. After the free test phase of three days, SuperDisplay costs a one-time fee of 16.99 euros. Duet costs from three euros per month.
Large color space
Which tablets have a wide color gamut screen suitable for image editing?
Manufacturers usually hide the most important detail about this in the technical data sheets of the devices: the DCI-P3 marking, which indicates an extended color space and promises a larger color gamut than the classic sRGB. At Apple, the iPad Pro tablets and the Air models have such a screen, while the cheaper iPads do not. Savings tip: It doesn’t even have to be a very current model, because the iPad Pro has had a DCI-P3 panel since the second generation, and Apple introduced this to the iPad Air with the third generation. With Android, the Galaxy Tab S models from Samsung as well as the Lenovo Tab Extreme or P12 Pro are particularly recommended, which score points with high-quality OLED screens including DCI-P3. However, Android cannot do the color-accurate work with color profiles, which is also important for image editing, as well as iPadOS.
Load and spend
Can every tablet output display signals and be charged in parallel?
No not all. First of all, the tablet must support screen output via the USB port. In addition, the connection must be USB PowerDelivery capable and the correct cable must be used. The problem is that this is rarely visible from the outside; unlike many notebooks, the vast majority of tablets have no symbols next to the ports that indicate the standards offered. The only thing that helps here is to take a look at the data sheet or try it out.
Tablets for writing
I make it a point to take handwritten notes on the tablet. Which ones are particularly suitable for this?
Special e-ink tablets are particularly good for handwritten notes. These have a slightly rough display protection layer, which supports a more natural typing experience than a smooth touchscreen. The best-known representative is the reMarkable, currently available in its second generation and priced at just under 350 euros. You can find alternatives at Amazon, Boox or Huawei. In c’t 19/2023 on page 68 you can read about the strengths and weaknesses of the four e-ink tablets in the comparison test. Pens are also available for many other tablets, and in some cases they are even included in the purchase price. The Apple iPad offers particularly good handwriting recognition, but the Pencil 2 is also quite expensive at just under 150 euros. Samsung equips its Galaxy Tab S models with stylus support; the S Pen is included in the scope of delivery. Samsung also offers a transparent display protector with a matt surface as an accessory for the new S-Class. This not only protects the screen, but also improves the writing experience, but costs a little in terms of brightness and color brilliance. Thanks to the magnetic connection, the cover can be quickly attached and removed. You can find matt foils for sticking on in accessories stores for most tablets.
Expand memory?
Can I expand my tablet’s memory?
It depends. As with smartphones, memory expansion via MicroSD card has fallen out of fashion in tablets in recent years; Apple never had it. When it comes to Android tablets, it’s usually the cheaper models that can accommodate a memory card, while the upper class doesn’t. However, something like replaceable M.2 modules are rare in notebooks and even rarer in Windows tablets. The Surface Pro is one of the few exceptions.
E-Ink tablets like the reMarkable 2 bring handwritten notes into the digital world. They are also available with a color display.
Colored e-ink displays
Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of tablets with color e-ink displays. Do they combine all the advantages of conventional LCDs with those of E-Ink displays?
Unfortunately no. The colored E-Ink screens add a certain color representation to classic, monochrome E-Ink displays, but they do not come close to LCD panels or even OLED screens in terms of brightness and color brilliance. The possible colors appear paler and less saturated. They are not suitable for moving content. However, the advantages of E-Ink displays remain: They are flicker-free, independent of the viewing angle and extremely energy-saving.
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