If you’re thinking about getting a tablet computer, it’s important to make sure you understand all the differences in the various brands so that you can get the most for your money.

7-8 INCH TABLETS

Here’s a look at the newest generation tablets that are 7 to 8 inches. This is actually a great size for a mobile device.

• IPAD MINI (2ND GEN) – With 2048×1536 resolution, this tablet has the best screen available, although at 0.73 pounds, it’s the heaviest tablet. Also, the front camera is only 0.9MP, which isn’t as good as some other tablets. 
• NEXUS 7 – The new Nexus tablet has 1920×1200 resolution, which compares favorably with the others on our list. It has a 1.2MP camera on the front, one of the best of the bunch. 
• GALAXY TAB 3 8.0 – This tablet has a decent resolution of 1280×800 with a TFT screen. The 1.5 GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos chip and 1.5GB of RAM makes it run quickly – even with apps running in the background all the time. 
• KINDLE FIRE HDX 7 – The 1920×1200 resolution of the Kindle Fire is not as good as the iPad mini, but it comes in a close second. Where this tablet excels is the 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM. This is one of the fastest tablets in this size range. 
• GALAXY NOTE 8.0 – Last but not least, you’re going to want to take a look at this Galaxy tablet. With a TFT screen and 1280×800, it doesn’t compare favorably with the others in this category.

9-11 INCH TABLETS

Next, let’s take a look at the tablets in the 9 to 11 inch range. You’re usually going to be able to get more power out of these, but they’re going to cost you a bit more money.

• IPAD AIR – This is the king of the large tablets. The 9.7 screen size is smaller than others in this category, but the IPS screen with 2048×1536 is top notch and makes for a great picture. 
• GALAXY TAB 3 10.1 – The TFT screen of this Galaxy Tab only does 1280×800 resolution, which makes it the worst of this bunch. At the same time, it only has a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor and 1GB of RAM – less than others we’ve mentioned. 
• SURFACE PRO 2 – The IPS screen of the Surface Pro 2 has a 1920×1080 resolution, which isn’t bad compared to the others on this list. The Intel Core i5 processor with either 4GB or a whopping 8GB make this a powerhouse choice for a tablet.

Using the comparisons above, you should be able to narrow down your selection to a few tablets, which is going to make the job of choosing one a lot easier. If you have any tips for getting a tablet computer, leave a comment to let us know which one you like the best.

Written by: Sarah Heidi Smith likes cheap mattresses because she goes through a lot of them. She’s very particular about where she lays her head at night. She spends a lot of time in bed drawing infographics.