Guide to Buying a Tablet
iPad or Android, what to look for, the tablets we recommend, and making it easy to use
CHOOSING A TABLET
A tablet is simple to use, switches on instantly and has a large, clear screen, making it ideal for email, video calls, photos, reading, online shopping and catching up on television. If you’re deciding between a tablet and a computer, our Guide to Buying a Computer compares them.
As with phones, it’s usually easiest to choose the same kind as your phone, so that your photos, contacts and apps are shared between them.
APPLE
An iPad
Benefits: The simplest and best supported, typically receiving updates for six years or more. It works seamlessly with an iPhone, and FaceTime makes video calls with family easy.
Drawbacks: It costs more than many Android tablets.
ANDROID
A Samsung Galaxy Tab
Benefits: Good value, with a wide range of sizes and prices, and works well alongside an Android phone and Google’s services. Current models receive security updates for around seven years.
Drawbacks: Less polished than an iPad, and some cheaper models feel slower.
AVOID
Amazon Fire tablets as a main device. They’re very cheap, but lack Google’s Play Store and many familiar apps, and show adverts on the lock screen unless you pay to remove them. They’re fine for reading books or watching Prime Video.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
- Screen size. Around 11 inches suits most people. Smaller tablets are lighter to hold, while larger ones are better for reading and watching, but heavier.
- Storage. 128GB is plenty for most people. Choose more only if you’ll keep a lot of photos and videos on the tablet itself.
- Wi-Fi or mobile data? A Wi-Fi model is cheaper and enough for most people. A tablet with mobile data, sometimes called cellular, costs more to buy and needs its own SIM, but works anywhere.
- Years of updates. As with phones and computers, choose a tablet that will be kept up to date for several years.
TABLETS WE RECOMMEND
| Tablet | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad (11-inch) | £429, often less from retailers | Most people, and anyone with an iPhone |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ | Around £200 | Android phone users wanting good value |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 | Around £140 | A tighter budget, or a second tablet |
Prices correct in October 2026. Apple is expected to release a new entry-level iPad early in 2027, so if you’re not in a hurry, it may be worth waiting. For a recommendation tailored to you and your budget, just get in touch.
ADDING A KEYBOARD
If you’d like to type on proper keys, a keyboard case turns a tablet into something very like a small laptop, and doubles as a cover and stand. Well-regarded makers such as Logitech cost far less than Apple’s own.
MAKING IT EASY TO USE
A few settings, made when the tablet is new, make it much more comfortable to use and keep your photos and information safe.
- Make the text bigger. On an iPad, open Settings, then Display & Brightness, then Text Size. On a Samsung tablet, open Settings and search for Font size.
- Simplify the screen. iPads offer Assistive Access, and Samsung tablets Easy mode, both of which show fewer, larger buttons.
- Switch on backups, to iCloud on an iPad or to your Google account on Android, so that your photos are safe if the tablet is lost or broken. Our Guide to Backing Up explains more.
- Switch on Find My on an iPad, or Find My Device on Android, so that a lost tablet can be located or locked.
- Set a passcode that’s easy for you to remember but hard for anyone else to guess.
Sharing with grandchildren?
Both iPads and Android tablets let you set up limits on what children can see and how long they can use it for, and stop them buying apps or games without your permission.
WE CAN HELP
We can recommend a tablet to suit you, set it up, move your photos and contacts across, and show you how to use it at your own pace.
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