10 Inch Tablet Comparison

Do you like lounging around and reading, but fed up of holding a laptop on your lap? Get a tablet PC. It's light and compact enough to slip into a bag, can be started and used quickly in different situations and is the latest "IT" device to have. The 2 main size categories for tablets are 7-8 inch and the very comfortable 10 inch. In this article, we compare 10 inch tablets, some old and some spanking new, to get the lowdown on the 10 inch tablet scene and see which 10 inch tablet is the best for you.

10 Inch Tablet Factors

The following are the key factors and features that should be looked for in a 10 inch tablet:

Weight: A tablet is supposed to be portable and compact and its weight or mass is a point in its portability factor. If the tablet weighs as much as a laptop, then it's not really a tablet, more like a heavy, flat laptop. Bear in mind, that you will be holding the tablet in one hand and using it, so again a heavy tablet can reduce your productivity.

Display: 10 inches is a comfortable, yet small screen size. The resolution and imaging quality should be vibrant and engaging. Plus, it should be clear enough to avoid squinting. Recent tablet models are equipped with high-definition screens, to maximize the tablet experience.

Hardware: With OSs, the 2 major giants are the Apple iOS and Android. Both are streamlined and designed specifically for the tablet PC interface, so let's avoid comparisons, each has its respective pros and cons. Processor speed defines the working and speed of tasks on your tablet. The better the processor, the more your tablet can do and at a faster rate. Whether it's web browsing, media viewing, working on office documents etc., your tablet's brain power should be able to keep up with your activities. And don't forget multi-tasking as well. RAM and memory round up hardware. The average storage size for most tablet PCs is between 16 GB to 32 GB. Look for SD slots, if you feel, you need more hard disk space.

Miscellaneous: Battery life is a major deal-breaker in a tablet's favor or failure. The device is meant to be portable, if it keeps running out of battery life, the whole tablet PC advantage is lost. USB ports are standard. It will be very cumbersome to transfer data to and from your computer to the tablet, without a USB port. HDMI ports are perks, Bluetooth seems to be a standard in most tablets. Connecting to the Internet wirelessly, is through the Ethernet 802.11 standard. All recent tablet models are Wireless N compatible. Advanced networking abilities include 3G and 4G support. Wireless streaming to external devices is a perk to look for.

10 Inch Tablet Comparison

Tablet Name	Weight(lbs)	Operating System	Processor	Resolution (pixel)	Display Tech	Camera	RAM & Disk	Features	Battery	Price
Acer Iconia TAB A500	1.6 lbs	Android 3.0	NVIDIA Tegra 250 Dual-Core 1GHz	1280 x 800	LCD touch screen with backlight	5MP in rear, 2MP in front	1 GB RAM DDR2; 16 GB	2 USB ports Supports 802.11 b/g/n wireless Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS ability Expandable memory with SD card slot up to 32 GB HDMI port	10 hours	$445
Archos 101 G9	1.43 lbs	Android 3.2	1.2 GHz turbo Dual Core ARM A9 CPU	1280 x 800	TFT LCD touch screen	Front camera with 720p video recording	512 MB RAM; 8/16 GB HDD	Choose between flash storage or 250GB hard disk Supports Flash and Bluetooth 2.1 Picsel Smart Office software preinstalled HD video playback of 1080p supported Connects to Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n networks	7 hours	$380
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1	1.25 lbs	Android 3.1	Nvidia Tegra 250 Dual Core	1280 x 800	WXGA-TFT LCD touch screen	Front 2MP, Rear 3MP	1GB RAM; 16 GB	Uses 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) Supports Bluetooth 2.1 and 3G	10 hours	$500
Apple iPad 2	3 lbs	Apple iOS 4	Apple A5 1 GHz Dual-Core	1024 x 768	TFT LED backlight multi-touch	1720p HD Rear, 1 front (VGA)	Unknown; 16/32/64 GB	Uses 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless No USB port, has 30 pin connector Supports 3G connectivity Bluetooth 2.1, Airprint, GPS (3G version) Airplay- play media wirelessly from tablet on TV or speakers Can charge through USB port of computer VoiceOver screen reader HDMI AV output port Does not support Adobe Flash	10 hours	$500/$600/$700
Toshiba Thrive	1.6 lbs	Android 3.1	1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core	1280 x 800	TFT active matrix screen with LED backlight	Front (2.0 MP) and rear camera (5MP)	1GB; 8/16/32 GB HDD	HD video recording of 720p Uses 802.11 b/g/n wireless HDMI port, USB and mini-USB port Bluetooth 3.0 and full sized SD slot Replaceable battery Dual SRS speakers	8 hours	$430/$480/$580
HP Slate 500	1.72 lbs	Windows 7 Professional	Intel Atom Processor Z540 1.86 GHz	1024 x 600	TFT LCD	Front (VGA), Rear (3MP)	2GB DDR2; 64 GB	Uses 802.11 b/g/n wireless Supports Bluetooth 3.0 1 USB port Use Digital Pen to write directly on screen	5 hours	$800
HP TouchPad	1.6 lbs	HP webOS 3.0	Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core CPU APQ8060 1.2 GHz	1024 x 768	LCD backlit	Front 1.3MP	1GB RAM; 16/32 GB	Supports 802.11 b/g/n wireless and 3G 1 USB port, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS Supports A2DP Bluetooth profile HP Synergy syncs data from multiple sources	8 hours	$500/$600
Motorola Xoom	1.61 lbs	Android 3.1	1GHz Dual Core	1280 x 800 pixel	TFT LCD HD 720p	Front 2MP, Rear 5MP	1GB RAM, 32 GB HD	Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n standard Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS 1 micro USB port, 1 HDMI port Adobe Flash 10 supported	10 hours	$600
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime	1.30 lbs	Android 3.2	NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core	1280 x 800	Backlit LED screen with IPS+ and Corning Gorilla Glass	8 MP (rear), 1.2 MP front	1 GB RAM, 32/64 GB HDD	Comes with mobile dock that acts as keyboard, touchpad and charger Very speedy performance with 1080p HD video playback SuperNote app allows quick note making through voice and text Connect wirelessly to tablet from PC using MyDesktop Amazing multimedia access through MyCloud and Amazon Kindle MyNet feature allows wireless connection between tablet and DLNA-certified devices	12 hours	$499/$599
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet	1.65 lbs	Android 3.1	NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual-Core 1GHz processor	1280 x 800	LCD screen with Corning Gorilla Glass	Rear camera 5MP, front 2 MP	NA, 16/32/64 GB	Video playback and capture of 720 p Has mini-HDMI, micro-USB and USB 2.0 ports and SD card slot McAfee Mobile Security app provides encryption and virus protection Can connect to Wi-Fi and 3G networks Bundled with business apps like Cisco AnyConnect™ and Documents to Go®	8 hours	$499/$569/$669
Sony Tablet S	1.31 lbs	Android 3.1	1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual-Core	1280 x 800	LED-lit TruBlack™ screen with anti-reflection	5 MP rear camera, VGA camera in front	1 GB RAM, 16/32 GB HDD	Can be used as universal remote through infrared Connects wirelessly to DLNA-TV, PC or stereo Sync music automatically between phone, tablet and computer with Music Unlimited Certain PS games can be enjoyed on tablet Connects to Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n networks Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR	8 hours	$449/$549

So, ultimately who's the winner in this comparison? The Apple iPad2 is the most experienced (in the tablet arena), upgraded and most stylish out of the lot, but it does not have a built-in USB port and no Flash support, which count as 2 major deductions in its favor. The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is the Android favorite from this lot. It packs impressive features for a reasonable price. The Thrive is Toshiba's first entry in the tablet arena and it is very promising but when compared to its more powerful tablet opponents, falls short. For corporate technology on-the-go, look no further than the smart and sleek Lenovo ThinkPad. In summation, keep your options open, check for budget and upcoming releases and put your needs first, do not be fooled by advertising razzle-dazzle.