Tablet Buying Guide for this Summer 2012 [Editor's Pick]

As the days are passing on, tablets are gaining popularity when compared to the other gadgets available in the market. The tablets are becoming a must-have device to both common man and the business users. Dozens of tablets with amazing new features are released every week by the companies like Microsoft, Amazon and Apple. A tablet is a touch-screen device that looks similar to an advanced portable media player, which is mainly designed for entertainment purpose like watching movies, surfing the web, reading ebooks and many more. The tablet shares similar Operating Systems and processors like the Smartphones. Some basic overview of tablets are given below that will help the buyers in deciding which tablet should be availed this summer.

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Apple iPad (2012)

Tablet was first made by Apple. Though Apple’s iPad was not the initial tablet made by the company, it certainly became one of the top most tablets of the year. The new iPad is a bit heavier than the previous version. The latest version has got an amazing display of 2048 x 1536 with an improved A5 chip, numerous apps along with accessory support and quad-core graphics. The camera has got a boost in terms of both photo and video taking. It sports 5 Megapixel camera at the back with 1080p recording quality. The device is powered by A5X dual-core processor with the latest quad-core GPU for delivering outstanding graphics performance and it also offers 4G data from AT&T. The iPad is offered around a price tag of $492.99 – $700. Buyers, who are looking for a cheaper iPad should wait for couple of months.

Nexus 7

Google created a big impression in the tech field with the unveiling of Nexus 7 at its I/O event. The Nexus 7 is one of the best tablets available in the market. It features the latest Jelly Bean version of Android. The 7 inch tablet is fully featured with Bluetooth, MicroUSB and the ability to download the Google Maps. The model features 1.2GHz quad-core Tegra 3 chip along with 1GB of RAM. Android is getting popular day by day; it offers better apps such as Instapaper, Temple Run and Flipboard. Nexus 7 sports 4325 mAh battery. The buyers can prefer either the 8 GB or 16 GB variant, which is offered at a price tag of $199 and $249 respectively. This tablet is one of the cheapest tablets offered with high quality specs.

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700

Asus had previously made an entry with its Transformer Prime and it was the most pre-ordered Android tablet until the Nexus 7 by Asus was released. But this time, it has come with a stronger, smarter and a pixel rich tablet named Transformer Pad Infinity TF700. The TF700 is powered by quad-core Tegra 3 chip at 1.6GHz. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity rivals the new iPad in terms of high-resolution screen display. The tablet is thin and light in weight but its battery life is not up to the mark compared to the Transformer Prime. The device features an amazing GPS and WiFi performance. TF700 is built with aluminum, so there are chances of the device getting scratched. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 is offered at an approximate price tag of $499.99.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Samsung debuted with its 7-inch Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 2 with 7.0 in the past and now it has come up with Galaxy Tab of 7.7-inch Android-based tablet computer. If the buyers want something that is easier to hold, then they must go for the Galaxy Tab 7.7. The AMOLED screen provides amazing bright colors. It is one of the thinnest tablets yet it offers expandable memory, IR sensor that turns the tablet into a smart remote control and impressive games performance. The device is powered by 1.4GHz Exynos. The tablet provides the best connectivity options like HSPA+ 21Mps and Wi-Fi Channel Bonding, which will let the users receive data rates faster. Galaxy Tab 7.7 is offered approximately at a price tag of $499.

Kindle Fire

The Kindle Fire is a mini tablet released by Amazon. The tablet features 7-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600. Kindle Fire is offered at $199, which is the half price of iPad 2. Hence, the buyers who are looking for a budget-friendly tablet can opt for this tablet. The specifications of the tablet is lacking when compared to its rival Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Nexus 7. The device has a dimension of 190 x 120 x 11.4 mm and it weighs 413 g. It has got a powerful Li-Ion 4400 mAh battery, which is powered by dual core processor. The storage capacity of Kindle Fire is up to 8GB storage along with 512 MB RAM. The only negative point of the device is that, it does not offer camera and lacks Global Positioning System (GPS).

Acer Iconia Tab A700

Buyers who are looking for a 10 inch tablet can go for the Acer Iconia Tab A700. The device runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and it has resolution of 1920 x 1200. It is powered by Nvidia’s 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor. Tab A700 sports 2 megapixel front facing camera and 5 megapixel rear camera. The tablet is mainly built for watching movies. It has pair of Dolby speakers, a micro USB out, micro HDMI out and a rubberized back. Though the device has gained in terms of screen quality, it lacks in performance. It is offered at a price of $450, but the Nexus 7 which has got amazing features than Acer, is just offered around $199 and $249.

T-Mobile SpringBoard

T-Mobile SpringBoard, the pocket sized tablet is based on the Huawei MediaPad tablet. The tablet features 7-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. It runs on Android 3.0 Honeycomb and it is powered by 1.2GHz dual-core processor. The device comes with an 8GB built-in storage along with HDMI output, 3G and HSPA+ on T-Mobile. T-Mobile has GPS radios and WiFi along with 1.3 megapixel camera in the front. The tablet has 8GB of internal storage along with a microSD that will support 1080p playback. T-Mobile SpringBoard is a cheap tablet available in the market for an approximate price of $200.

Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)

Samsung is continuing to expand the tab line by producing the latest versions. Galaxy Tab 2 Series is one among them. The tab sports 7.0-inch display screen with a resolution of 600 x 1024 pixels. The first generation 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab is somewhat similar to the second-generation Galaxy Tab 2 in terms of the internal components. The device runs on Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich version. Galaxy Tab 2 is powered by dual-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9 processor. It features a rear camera of 3.15 megapixels having a resolution of 2048×1536 along with a VGA Front facing camera. The device is offered at an approximate price tag of $249, which is less than the first generation Galaxy Tab. This tablet would be great for those, who are looking for a low-cost ICS running tablet.

Acer Iconia Tab A200

After the Iconia Tab A500 and the 7-inch A100, Acer extended the range of Android tablets in 2012. The device sports 10.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Tab A200 is powered by dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 SoC and 1 GB of RAM. The tablet features 2 MP camera with a resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels. It has an internal storage of 8/16 GB along with a microSD, which can be expanded up to 32GB. In addition, the tablet has USB 2.0 Host port, 3.5 mm headphones jack and a micro-USB port. If the buyer is looking for a big screen tablet, then the Acer Iconia Tab A200 will be the right choice. It is offered at an approximate price tag of $349.99.