Yawn, what time is it... Is it time for Thanksgiving yet? Oh... Wait, what, it's mid-December already?
Sigh, we guess we fall in the "late shoppers" category, and if you're anything like us, you too have postponed checking all the boxes in your shopping lists for the holidays. There is hope, though! It's still not too late to make up your mind, flash out your credit cards, and get your loved ones the perfect gift for the holidays.
There's still time to do your holiday shopping
And what's an excellent gadget that is perfect for personal media consumption at home? Wrong, it's not a PC, that's so... 2000s, tablets are the gadgets you're looking for.
Late shoppers, join us as we embark on a shopping hunt for the very best tablets you can get your loved ones for the upcoming holidays.
Apple
No surprises here - if one of the top entries of your shopping list is a tablet, then you can't go wrong with an iPad. They are excellent build-wise, perform admirably, and Apple supports these way longer than most other manufacturers support their own slates. But which iPad to buy? The easy answer would be the latest iPad Pro ones, but they could be a bit of an overkill for most people. We've got some other suggestions that will fit the bill without breaking the bank.
Announced in 2014, the iPad Air 2 is still a top-of-the-line tablet that will crunch almost anything you throw its way thanks to the once high-end Apple A8X chipset, 2 gigs of RAM, and a capable GPU that easily copes with most intensive 3D games. Couple that with an excellent 9.7-inch display and you have yourself an excellent tablet for media consumption!
Oh, the Air 2 is too big for your needs? An iPad mini 4 fits all the processing power of an iPhone 6/6 Plus in a rather compact body that's lightweight enough to carry whenever you go. Powered by an A8 chipset and boasting a 7.9-inch Retina display with a resolution of 20148 by 1536 pixels, the iPad mini 4 would make a great holiday gift for a loved one of yours.
Yes, it is a bit dated as per nowadays' standards, the iPad mini 2 could be a great gift for a person that doesn't care for the latest advances in the world of mobile and will be perfectly happy with an older Apple tablet. We should also mention that the iPad mini 2 is selling at an ultra-affordable price right now, with $269 getting you the 32GB Wi-Fi-only version. Have this one in mind if you're on the hunt for a new tablet this holiday season.
Samsung
There's nothing wrong with getting your loved one an Android-powered tablet for the holidays. It could be a number of things, but we suppose the different ecosystem could be the greatest tipping point. Among all the tablets out there, Samsung's ones are among the better ones you can get, although the lineup has not been refreshed in a while.
The 8.0-inch Galaxy Tab S2 is the latest and greatest tablet by Samsung. Aside from the overall size that's easy to stomach, the Tab S2 won us over with its excellent Super AMOLED display that is as sharp as an iPad's and comes with an excellent color calibration. It's an excellent slate all around and Samsung has this one listed as being in stock on its US online store.
In case we've got you interested in Sammy's tablet lineup but you're willing to get your loved ones something a bit larger, then you should probably look into the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7-inch. It's basically the same tablet as the Tab S2, but slightly larger. True, this makes it less convenient for lugging around, but arguably better for media consumption and enjoying your favorite Netflix shows.
Asus
Aside from Apple and Samsung, a number of other manufacturers are trying their luck on the tablet market, most of them with questionable success. We feel like one of Asus latest tablets could be a perfect pick for those of you willing to get a
The ZenPad 3S 10 is a phenomenal tablet, and its price of just $299 makes it one of the best values you can currently get if you’re in the market for a 10-inch Android tablet. The software experience may not be the best that’s out there, and the camera package that’s included is better left untouched, but for $299 and everything it’s bringing to the table, you’d be hard-pressed to do much better.
Other recommendations
We know that there's not much time left, but in case you want to explore some other options, check out our additional picks with totally not-too-shabby slates.
Peter, an experienced tech enthusiast at PhoneArena, is captivated by all things mobile. His impartial reviews and proficiency in Android systems offer readers valuable insights. Off-duty, he delves into the latest cryptocurrency trends and enjoys sci-fi and video games.
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