When buy a new tablet or your first tablet there are many aspects to consider previously: the operating system, power, screen resolution, connectivity, battery life, etc ... But perhaps from a more basic practical point of view, the size of the tablet it is also very important. We want to help you make that decision by pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of buying one 7-inch tablet vs. 10-inch.
This division comes to mean small size tablets vs large format tablets. We will not consider tablets of intermediate sizes such as 8 or 9 inches here, since the sizes of the reference devices on the market are 7 or 10 inches. This is also what Apple seems to believe that it will probably soon release a 7-inch tablet or iPad Mini. In the 7 inches we have the brand new Nexus 7, Kindle Fire and many low cost Android tablets. This path was opened by the first Samsung Galaxy Tab and has been established with the two aforementioned devices. In the 10 inches we include the iPad, which is actually 9,7 inches, the tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1as well as the next Galaxy Note 10.1 that we will see in september. These would be the reference tablets and now comes the advice to decide which tablet to buy.
There are several aspects in which the size can influence.
Portability
In this sense the difference is clear, the smaller the tablet the easier it will be to carry with us and, therefore, capable of accompanying us to more situations. In fact, our hand size is about 7 inches which would be better suited to small tablets. However, more and more people are using the tablet as a work device and it would seem that a smaller tablet is easier to carry, but will it be more comfortable to interact with it later? This brings us to the next point.
Comfort in handling
To use the touch screen comfortably, the touch screens 10 inches are more comfortable to handle. All gestures will be longer and there will be less margin for error, as long as the sensitivity of the screen accompanies. Steve Jobs indicated at the time that to have a satisfying touch experience the size of the iPad, 9 inches, was ideal. To enjoy smaller screens we would have to have smaller fingers. Without going to that extreme, Jobs was right, especially in the use of the keyboard we will notice it.
Work
Tablets increasingly serve as moving workstation. We see many professionals who have replaced their laptop with a tablet. Obviously the absence of a keyboard limits this somewhat but, in the absence of it, the touch screen keyboard of a larger tablet is in principle more comfortable and we will work better with it. Most tablets intended for professional use are 10 inches. From own iPad to the last Galaxy Note 10.1, which is increased in size to be much more useful for a professional who perhaps felt limited to the initial 5,5 inches.
Taking a step further, the whole line Asus Transformer, which incorporates the option of connecting a keyboard or dock, are 10.1 inches. Other tablets could connect keyboards via USB but the Asus solution and the chosen size are very significant. Microsoft Surface It will also incorporate a keyboard cover and will be 10.6 inches in size.
If what we are going to do with the tablet is to send a few emails and surf the internet, perhaps a 7-inch one will be worth it, but if we have to write documents, edit photos or video and make presentations, the 10 inches seem a better option.
Multimedia: games, videos, music, photos and books
If we decide to use a mobile device, a tablet is, in order to continue enjoying digital content in motion it is logical that we bet on portability and in that size matters. Obviously, video games, videos and photos will look better on a larger screen, but a larger screen does not necessarily mean higher resolution. When it comes to video games, a 7-inch tablet is closer to the size of a portable console than a 10-inch tablet. Again, you have to assess portability.
We must also think that when it comes to recording videos or taking photos it is easier with a smaller tablet. Regarding its function as reading device, all readers are closer to 7 inches than 10. And to play music the size does not matter, so the smaller the better. In fact, the veritable horde of low cost Android tablets that have been released on the market are mostly small in size and are designed to be multimedia centers with internet access only by WiFi. In fact, both Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 are priced at no more than 200 euros.
Battery
In this sense there is no clear rule. You might think that a larger size spends more but it also gives more space for more battery. The efficiency of the processor and the use that the operating system makes of energy is the most important factor. A well-designed tablet is what makes the difference and not the size. You can see a comparison of tablet battery life at this article.
We hope these tips have been helpful in deciding which tablet to buy. In short, the moral seems to be that if you want the tablet to be a multimedia center, a 7-inch tablet is better because it provides portability. If on the contrary, if you need a mobile office and you want a tablet to work, a 10-inch tablet is better.