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.Screen to body ratio
This parameter shows how much of the tablet's front panel area is on the display. The higher the display/body ratio, the thinner the frames and the more compact the tablet (with the same diagonal), the more elegant and aesthetically pleasing it looks. This indicator is also important when holding the tablet with both hands at once (for example, in games):
thin frames or even
frameless models allow you to reach further with your fingers without removing your hands from the device.
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.
Graphics card
Model of the graphics card installed in the tablet. The graphics card in such devices is not a separate device, but part of the processor; however, she still has a clear specialization and is responsible for graphics.
Accordingly, the graphics capabilities of the tablet directly depend on the characteristics of the video accelerator. Theoretically, knowing the name, you can find detailed specifications of a graphics card, reviews, test results and other information and evaluate how it suits you. At the same time, in most cases there is no need to delve into such details — all system components, including the graphics card, are usually selected in such a way as to correspond to the general class of the tablet and the capabilities necessary for this class.
AnTuTu Benchmark
The result shown by a device when undergoing a performance test (benchmark) in the AnTuTu Benchmark.
AnTuTu Benchmark is a comprehensive test designed specifically for mobile devices, primarily smartphones and tablets. It evaluates the performance of the processor, memory, graphics, and input/output systems, providing a clear impression of the system's capabilities. The better the performance, the higher the score. According to AnTuTu, top models are those that score more than 500,000 points.
As with any benchmark, this test does not provide absolute precision; for more details on measurement inaccuracies, see the "3DMark Gamer's Benchmark" section.
aGPS
Auxiliary function, the main purpose of which is the acceleration of the so-called "cold start" of the main GPS receiver of the device (see GPS module). A "cold start" is the launch of a GPS receiver from scratch, when no data on the location of satellites and other service information has yet been loaded into it. Obtaining this data in the classical way, directly from satellites, can take a significant amount of time (up to several minutes); the situation is especially complicated in areas with dense buildings, where the signal from satellites is subject to reflections and distortions. Devices equipped with aGPS (Assisted GPS) can receive service information from auxiliary sources such as mobile base stations or even Wi-Fi access points; this simplifies location determination and reduces the cold start time by several times.
Material
The main material used for the body of the tablet.
— Plastic.
Plastic enclosures are inexpensive, light in weight, and provide enough strength for everyday use. It is also worth noting that there are many varieties of this material, and the quality of the plastic used for the body usually directly depends on the price category of the tablet. Of the unequivocal disadvantages of this option, low scratch resistance can be called; in addition, if the plastic is glossy, prints and stains instantly appear on it.
—
Metal. Most often, in tablet cases, metal refers to aluminium alloy. One of the key advantages of this material is durability. In addition, the metal resists scratches very well and gives the device solidity — both in appearance and in the feel in the hands. It weighs a little more than plastic, but often it is this moment that provides the mentioned solidity. The unequivocal disadvantage of metal cases is a rather high cost.
— Glass. Usually, in this case, it means a back panel made of special high-strength glass, complemented by a metal frame at the ends. Such materials look very good and feel good in the hand, but they are not cheap. In addition, glass, even tempered glass, does not withstand impact well and can crack if dropped or otherwise “trouble” (although the impact still needs to be quite strong for this). Therefore, this option is found only in some top-class models.