Why a tablet's storage often cannot be expanded

When you compare tablets, you soon notice that storage comes in fixed tiers. Some models have a memory card slot, but many do not, and then the internal storage cannot be expanded after you buy. That makes choosing the right storage tier one of the decisions that is hardest to correct later, whereas the display and type of connection are easier to work around in everyday use.

Storage space: plan more tightly than it first seems

Photos, videos, apps and content downloaded for offline use fill up a tablet's storage faster than many people expect, especially if photos and videos are taken with the device itself. If you stream most content through cloud services instead of storing it locally, a smaller storage tier will do fine. If, on the other hand, you save films to watch offline on the go or use lots of large apps side by side, you are better off going for the next tier up, even if it costs noticeably more, because adding storage later is often impossible.

Display: look at resolution, size and brightness together

As with other screens, a tablet's resolution only tells you something about sharpness in relation to the actual screen size. For reading, browsing and videos, a medium resolution is usually perfectly adequate. What often matters more in everyday use is brightness, especially if you often use the tablet outdoors or near a bright window, as well as an anti-glare surface that cuts down distracting reflections. If you also want to use the tablet for drawing or handwritten notes, check whether a suitable stylus is even offered for that model and whether it has to be bought separately.

Cellular or Wi-Fi only: a question of how you actually use it

A tablet with cellular connectivity (often labelled LTE, 4G or 5G) can go online over the mobile network independently of your home Wi-Fi or a hotspot, but it usually costs more to buy than the otherwise identical model without it. On top of that, if you want to use the tablet regularly on the go without Wi-Fi, you need its own mobile plan or a share of your data allowance. If, however, you mostly use the tablet at home or in places with Wi-Fi, you can usually save the extra cost of cellular without missing anything day to day.

A worked example

Say a tablet costs 349 euros in the Wi-Fi-only version, and the identical version with cellular costs 429 euros, so 80 euros more. If you already regularly use your smartphone as a mobile hotspot for the tablet at no extra cost, the extra cost for cellular never pays for itself, because you already have the same function for free through your phone. If, on the other hand, you take out a separate data plan for the tablet at, say, 10 euros a month, the cellular version costs you 80 euros extra plus 120 euros for the plan in the first year, so 200 euros more than the Wi-Fi model. Every year after that adds another 120 euros. That is only worth it if you really do regularly work on the go without Wi-Fi and without a hotspot.

Processor and memory for everyday use

For browsing, videos and most apps, a mid-range processor and memory are already enough on a tablet. If you want to keep several demanding apps open at the same time or use the tablet for photo editing and larger documents, you will benefit from more memory, much as with a laptop. Unlike many laptops, though, this component cannot be upgraded later on a tablet either, which makes choosing the right specification when you buy all the more important.

• Estimate how much storage you really need before saving money on the cheapest tier.
• Check the display's resolution and brightness together, not the resolution alone.
• For cellular models, add up the extra purchase cost and any monthly data costs before choosing between Wi-Fi and cellular.
• Before you buy, find out whether a suitable stylus is available, in case you want to use one later.

Accessories: keyboard and case as hidden extra costs

For many buyers, a tablet only becomes a full replacement for a laptop with the right accessories, such as a magnetically attached keyboard or a protective case that doubles as a stand. On most models, these accessories are sold separately and are rarely included in the base price, even though they can noticeably increase the real total cost. Before you buy, it is therefore worth checking whether a suitable keyboard is even offered for that model and how much extra it costs, before you compare the price of the tablet alone with a laptop that already comes with a keyboard.

Before you order

Which criteria play a similar role in a laptop is covered in the article Buying a laptop: the specifications to look for. How a contract, SIM-only and refurbished phones differ when buying a smartphone, a similar principle to cellular tablets, is explained in the article Smartphones: contract, SIM-only or refurbished. What to watch out for with guarantees and bundles when buying electronics is covered in the article Buying electronics online. You can find current deals under categories, and checked codes to go with them under coupons.

Frequently asked questions

Can I expand a tablet's storage later?

Only if the model has a memory card slot. Many tablets do not, and the internal storage cannot be increased. That is why choosing the storage tier when you buy is especially important.

Do I really need a very high resolution for videos?

Only in relation to the screen size. At typical tablet sizes, a medium resolution is usually perfectly adequate for sharp videos and text. What often matters much more in everyday use is enough brightness.

Is cellular worth it if I already have a smartphone with a hotspot?

Often not. If you can easily use your smartphone as a hotspot, going without cellular saves you both the extra purchase cost and any ongoing costs for an additional data plan.

Does having little memory make a big difference on a tablet?

It mainly shows when several demanding apps stay open at the same time or larger files are being edited. For simple browsing, reading and watching videos, you will hardly notice the difference in everyday use.