Operating system
The operating system (OS) that the tablet runs on.
The most popular operating systems in modern tablets are such operating systems as
Android of different versions,
iPadOS (modern version of iOS), as well as
Windows 10 and
Windows 11. Here is a more detailed description of the different options:
— Android. Free open source OS from Google. Used by almost all modern manufacturers except Apple. Presented on the market in many versions — in particular,
Android 10 Q,
Android 10 Go Edition,
Android 11 R,
11 Go Edition,
Android 12,
Android 12 Go Edition,
Android 13,
Android 13 Go Edition,
Android 14,
Android 15. It is worth considering that at the time of the release of the device, one version of the OS could be installed, and at the time of sale it could be updated to a more modern one. Functionally, this OS is notable primarily for its full-fledged multitasking and an extensive set of available applications - in both of these points it surpasses both iOS and Windows. On the other hand, in general, the quali
...ty of Android applications is somewhat lower than in iOS, and the system itself is designed mainly for entertainment use (unlike Windows). Initially, Android has tight integration with Google services - the Google Play app and content store, Gmail mail, Google Drive cloud storage, etc.; however, exceptions to this rule are possible. Note that the latest versions of this OS can be found on the market both in its original form and in one of two specific editions:
- Go Edition. Modification of Android, designed for inexpensive gadgets with "weak" hardware. Both the OS itself and standard applications (Assistant, Gmail, etc.) have been redesigned in this edition in such a way as to ensure reliable operation even with low computing power. At the same time, the developers tried to preserve the functionality of full-fledged Android as much as possible — however, some specific functions in the Go Edition were still not available (for example, standard maps do not support turn-by-turn navigation).
- HMS. Edition of Android without Google services, used in devices from Huawei. Due to US sanctions against China, this company cannot fully cooperate with Google — in particular, use Google services (Google Mobile Services — GMS) in its Android gadgets. As a replacement, HMS — Huawei Mobile Services were introduced. These services include Huawei ID, AppGallery, branded equivalents of Google's core services (assistant, browser, cloud storage, music/video, etc.), and app developer tools.
As for individual versions of Android, here are the main features of the options that are relevant nowadays:
- 7.0. Released in August 2016. In this version, for the first time, a multi-window mode appeared — the ability to display two windows with two different applications on the same screen — as well as a virtual reality mode.
- 7.1. Update version 7.0, released at the end of 2016. Introduced a number of minor improvements related to appearance and usability.
- 8.0. A major update that was released at the end of the summer of 2017. Among the most notable innovations are picture-in-picture multitasking when watching videos, compatibility with Bluetooth 5, support for applications for VoIP (Internet telephony) at the system level, the ability to group notifications into “channels”. It is also the first version of Android to feature a Go edition (see above).
- 8.1. An update released at the end of 2017. From the user's point of view, this version is almost the same as the original 8.0, the main innovations are related to minor improvements and bug fixes.
- 9.0. Update introduced in August 2018. One of the most notable changes was the look, with a redesigned design and more customization options. In addition, instead of the three standard buttons in the navigation bar, only one (Home) button is displayed by default, the Back button appears only when it is relevant, and the list of open applications is displayed by moving the Home button to the right. Other important innovations include optimization of background power consumption based on the actual frequency of use of applications, compatibility with additional types of biometric authorization (in addition to a fingerprint), and the ability to simultaneously use several cameras at once with one application.
- 10. Version released in September 2019. This version introduced an expanded set of full-screen gestures (with the possibility of optimization in individual applications — in particular, disabling gestures on certain areas of the screen to avoid conflicts), a "dark" display mode at the system level, a number of important security updates (including a separate encryption standard for weak devices that do not support the AES format at the hardware level), full support for 5G communications and improved capabilities for working with augmented reality. In addition, a number of solutions have been introduced to optimize work on foldable gadgets with a flexible screen.
- 11.The next major Anroid update, released in the fall of 2020. The most noticeable innovations in this version are related to messages and notifications. So, a separate section "Conversations" for messages was created in notifications, it also became possible to display various correspondence in the form of a "bubble" on top of any running application (Bubbles function). The functionality of the Do Not Disturb mode has been expanded — now you can add exceptions for individual correspondence to it. Other important innovations include a system tool for recording video from the screen (including fixing touch points), a single control centre for smart home components, quick switching between playback devices (phone speaker, wireless headphones, Smart TV, etc.) , built-in support for Android Auto, as well as advanced options for managing the access of individual applications to certain data.
— iPadOS. A branch of the iOS operating system that spun off in mid-2019, rebranded to match the large screens of Apple tablets. It is used exclusively on board "apple" devices and has a good degree of optimization for a specific hardware. Of the differences from the mobile version of the iOS operating system : a denser seating of icons on the desktop (6x5 format), improved multitasking, special gestures for working with texts, expanded functionality of the file manager and browser. In particular, Safari opens full versions of websites, not mobile ones.
— Windows. The operating system developed by Microsoft, originally created for PCs and laptops, but nowadays also used in tablets. Such tablets are considered mainly professional and business-class devices, they are well suited, in particular, for study and regular work with documents. The 11th revision of the operating system from Microsoft, which debuted in 2021, is now considered relevant. Of the qualitative improvements in the system, the taskbar has been redesigned, which is now located in the centre of the bottom edge of the desktop, new widget menus have been introduced, window resizing and position changes (Snap), and the operating system has become friends with Android applications. The system remains the prerogative of tablets for work and study with support for office and specialized programs written under Windows.
— HarmonyOS. Huawei's Universal Operating System, also known as Hongmeng. Provides operation of a wide range of devices: appliances from the smart home ecosystem, smartwatches, smartphones and tablets. Specifically, in the tablet league of gadgets, the Harmony OS system is a kind of add-on on top of Android without Google services. The app store for Harmony OS devices is called AppGallery.
In modern tablets, you can find other operating systems, in addition to those described above. However, these are very rare and specific systems that have not received significant distribution.CPU speed
The clock speed of the processor installed in the tablet is actually the maximum number of operations performed by one processor core per second. This indicator is important for the speed of the system, but a high clock frequency in itself does not guarantee speed. The actual speed of the processor also depends on its architecture, the number of cores and many other features, and the overall speed of the device also depends on the amount of “RAM”, the installed OS, etc. Therefore, situations are not uncommon when
powerful advanced tablets have a lower CPU frequency than more modest models.
RAM
The amount of random access memory (RAM) installed in the tablet. This memory is used for direct data processing, and therefore its volume is one of the main indicators of system speed and power. However note that the optimal amount of RAM strongly depends on the OS used — different systems and even different versions of the same "OS" can vary greatly in terms of consumed resources. But models on the same OS can be compared with each other in terms of the amount of RAM.
As for specific values, indicators in
1 GB or less in our time are definitely a sign of a weak tablet.
2 GB and
3 GB can be called the entry level,
4 GB and
6 GB are middle class, and in the most advanced models,
8 GB, or even
16 GB can be installed (or even more) RAM.
Max. memory card storage
The largest amount of memory card with which the tablet is able to work correctly. For more information about the cards themselves, see "Memory Card Slot"; here we note that capacious media often use advanced technologies that are not supported by early models, and sometimes tablets simply do not have enough power to process large amounts of data. Therefore, for the convenience of choosing in our catalog, the maximum supported volume is indicated.
In fact, there are cases when some devices may exceed the claimed characteristics — for example, work with 8 GB of media with the claimed 4 GB of maximum capacity. However, it is worth focus on official data, because. if they are exceeded, normal operation with the card is not guaranteed.
Connections
—
microUSB. A smaller version of the USB connector, widely used in modern tablets as a universal interface. MicroUSB is used primarily to charge the battery and connect the device to a computer, and with USB OTG support, flash drives and other accessories are connected to it (of course, an adapter is required to work with a full-size USB plug). This connector is gradually being replaced by a more convenient and advanced USB-C (see below), but microUSB is still very far away from the complete disappearance.
—
USB-C.It has similar dimensions to microUSB (see above) and replaced it, but differs in the design of the connector – it is symmetrical, which allows you to connect the plug to either side. In terms of application, this interface is also similar to microUSB, with the adjustment that USB-C often supports the advanced USB 3.2 gen2 standard, which provides speeds up to 10 Gbps. In addition, it is easier to implement fast charging through such a connector — some of the charging technologies were originally created for USB-C.
—
USB4. A high-speed revision of the USB interface introduced in 2019. It uses only symmetrical USB-C connectors and does not have its own data format — instead, such a connection is used to transfer information according to several standards at once: USB 3.2 and DisplayPort as mandatory, as well as PCI-E as an option. Another feature
...is that USB4 is based on the Thunderbolt protocol. It is also worth noting that this USB revision allows connecting devices in a daisy chain and by default supports Power Delivery technology, which allows you to optimize the process of charging external gadgets (provided that they also implement this technology).
The maximum data transfer rate for such a connector should be at least 10 Gbps, in fact, options for 20 Gbps and even 40 Gbps are often found (depending on the technologies and standards supported by a particular port). At the same time, the USB4 inputs are quite compatible with the peripherals of the USB-C connector.
— USB 2.0. Full size USB port 2.0 compliant. Such a port allows you to connect ordinary USB peripherals to the tablet — for example, flash drives or keyboards; however, due to its large size, it is rare, mainly in business models and in "hybrids" equipped with docking stations (in such cases, the port can be placed on the docking station). Version 2.0 supports data transfer rates up to 480 Mbps and is still quite popular, although it is gradually being replaced by more advanced standards — primarily USB 3.2 (see below).
— USB 3.2 gen1. USB version, formerly known as USB 3.1 gen1 or USB 3.0. Utilizes a traditional full-size USB port and delivers speeds up to 4.8Gbps — 10 times faster than the previous 2.0 version — as well as more power. At the same time, it is quite possible to connect USB 2.0 peripherals to such connectors.
— HDMI. A digital interface specially designed for broadcasting HD content: high-definition video and multi-channel audio. It is very popular in video technology, in particular, it is used in almost all modern TVs, it is often found in projectors, media players, etc. So HDMI support will be very useful if you plan to broadcast video from a tablet to an external screen. In portable technology, it is usually not a full-size connector that is used, but a reduced miniHDMI or microHDMI, however, finding a cable for such a port is not a problem.
— Mini-jack (3.5 mm). Standard 3.5mm mini-jack. Such a plug is used by the vast majority of modern wired headphones, headsets and portable speakers, therefore, in most tablets, it is the 3.5 mm port that plays the role of an audio jack. However if there are no problems with headphones and speakers, then compatibility with headsets needs to be specified separately — these devices have their own connection specifics. Also note that there are tablets without a 3.5 mm jack — they are usually designed for specialized accessories connected via a proprietary connector, or for wireless Bluetooth audio equipment.GLONASS
Tablet support for the GLONASS navigation system. This system is a russian alternative to the American GPS, but it is less accurate and less functional. Therefore, GLONASS support is usually provided as an addition to the GPS module; the use of two navigation systems at once improves the accuracy and speed of positioning, and also provides an additional guarantee in case of various failures.
Main
— The number of lenses. The characteristics of the main (rear) camera of the tablet are represented primarily by the number of modules, which in most cases are 1, but there are also
tablets with a dual camera.
— Resolution. The second important factor of the camera is the number of megapixels. Many really believe that the more MP, the better the quality of filming. However, this is not entirely true: only the maximum resolution of the resulting images depends on the resolution of the matrix, and their quality is determined by many other parameters. However a large sensor resolution may be a sign of an advanced camera, but this is not necessary — two "eyes" with the same number of megapixels can radically differ in the quality of shooting.
Rear cameras in tablets may well be used for photo and video shooting; therefore, they have
cameras of 8 MP,
10 MP and even higher (
12 and
13 MP).
— Autofocus. For focus in such cameras, a movable lens system controlled by automation is responsible. It takes some time for the automation to work, and the lenses themselves turn out to be more complicated and more expensive than optics with a fixed focus (fixed lenses that are initially set to a large range of distances). However, the quality of the pictures is disproportionate
...ly higher than that of cameras without autofocus, and the systems themselves are constantly being improved, and their response time is increasingly approaching instantaneous.
— Flash. Flash significantly expands the capabilities of the camera. First of all, it allows you to shoot in low light conditions; in this case, the backlight, usually, can also be used in the constant glow mode — for video shooting. The second situation where a flash can come in handy is backlighting when the subject is in shadow. In addition, in many tablets, the flash LED can also be used as a regular flashlight, without a camera.Camera (front)
Resolution
of the front camera of the tablet.
There is an opinion that more megapixels means better quality of filming. However, this is not entirely true: only the maximum resolution of the resulting images depends on the resolution of the matrix, and their quality is determined by many other parameters. However a large sensor resolution may be a sign of an advanced camera, but this is not necessary — two "eyes" with the same number of megapixels can radically differ in the quality of shooting.
The main purpose of frontcameras in tablets is video communication, and for it high resolution is not critical. Therefore, the number of megapixels in such cameras is noticeably lower than in rear cameras — for example, 2 MP considered an acceptable value, 5 MP is not bad, 7 MP and 8 MP is good, 12MP — excellent.
More features
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FM receiver. A feature that allows you to listen to FM radio on your tablet. It should be borne in mind that for reliable reception, you may need to connect wired headphones (usually via a
3.5 mm mini-Jack connector) - their cable in this case will play the role of an antenna.
-
Fingerprint scanner. Fingerprint sensor. Used to recognize the user in appropriate situations: when unlocking the tablet, when authorizing in different accounts, when confirming payments, etc. It can be located in different places on the tablet - in front, behind, on the side, on the screen. This authentication method is much more convenient and safer than passwords: they can be forgotten or accidentally opened to strangers, while the finger is not lost, and it is very difficult to fake a fingerprint.
-
3D face scanner. A special technology for recognizing the user's face - not just by photographing, but by building a three-dimensional model of the face based on data from a special module on the front panel. This technology is constantly being improved, in our time it is able to take into account the change in hairstyles and facial hair, the presence of glasses, makeup, etc. At the same time, the recognition of twins and children's faces still remains weak points (they have fewer individual features than adults ). The main use of a face scanner is
...authentication when unlocking a tablet, entering applications, making payments, etc. At the same time, other, more original use cases are possible. For example, in some applications, the face scanner reads the user's facial expressions, and then this facial expression is repeated by a smiley on the screen.
- Gyroscope. A device that tracks the rotation of the tablet in space. Modern gyroscopes work on all three axes and are able to determine both the speed and the angle of deviation. This expands the control of the tablet, allowing you to give commands by tilting the device in one direction or another; This feature is especially popular in games.