Product Recommendations: Tablets

If you’re making the move to a digital planner and you don’t already have a tablet. Here are my top product recommendations for tablets.

iPad

I’m a big fan of the iPad and I’m on my third. I started small with the mini, skipped the 10 inch, and upgraded to the Pro 12.9 inch. If you already have Apple products, you know how well they work together. It makes it really hard to try another brand. I don’t see myself switching until a far superior option is presented.

My mother started out with Kindle Fires (had to buy a new one every year), moved to Samsung, then asked for an iPad for Christmas last year. She’s happiest with her iPad.

I have the 13 inch model because it’s roughly the same size as a letter-sized planner but the 11 inch would also be plenty big.

ipad models and storage

My current iPad is 5th generation and has 512GB of storage. I currently have 380GB available so I could have easily bought one with 256GB and had plenty of room to spare. I could have probably made a 128GB work if I didn’t sync my photos and videos but I didn’t want to take any chances..

How to save $$ on an ipad

When it comes to iPads, none of mine were brand new. I bought them all either open box or certified refurbished and saved hundreds of dollars on each. I highly recommend going this route unless you have a bunch of extra cash just begging to be spent.

I’ve mostly had good experiences at Best Buy when buying open box or certified refurbished but you have to hold them accountable to the prices they advertise online. I don’t necessarily think they intentionally price bait. I think there issue is more along the lines of incompetence or substandard processes.

If they try to sell you an item at a different price than you found online, verify all the details (model, color, wifi or wifi + cellular, and storage capacity) and show them the advertised price online. I went through this once: I purchased a laptop and read over the receipt as I was leaving the store. Before I even hit the door, I realized they charged me $200 more than the online price. It took me almost an hour of them checking the online price and pulling out every open box laptop to make sure the online price wasn’t for another model. It wasn’t and they eventually refunded my card.

If you’re willing to try a refurbished model, I found this 12.9 inch iPad Air at a great price. If you want to go iPad Pro, here’s another one that’s $200 less than the regular price. This refurbished iPad is the best deal I’ve seen and is a the top of my product recommendations for tablets..

Samsung

If you prefer Android devices, Samsung is usually the top choice. Their tablets are known to be significantly cheaper than iPads. If cost is a concern but you REALLY want to make the switch, you have options.

I just did a little research and I have to tell you… I don’t think Samsungs are that great of a deal after all. You can get one starting at around $200 for the 10.5 inch but it only has 64GB storage capacity (you can add more after purchase but I don’t know what that looks like).

Cheaper tablets, especially those on the Android platform, tend to run a lot slower than more expensive models which can be frustrating. It’s something to keep in mind.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+, which is the closest comparison to my iPad, is currently listed at a Black Friday price of $949.97. If you’re already on the Apple ecosystem, you may as well spend the extra $100ish on the iPad. Or spend $300 less on the refurbished iPad. Well, I gave Samsung a chance.

There are also refurbished models of Android tablets. I haven’t had any personal experiences with them so I can’t provide any insight. I can only say I’ve never had a problem with a refurbished item.

The Bottom Line

Choose the device you like. If you’re switching from one platform to another (Apple to Android or vice versa), make sure you know the return policy on your purchase. Even if you get a great deal on a tablet, you’ll still spend several hundred dollars. You don’t want to get stuck with a device you don’t like.

Additional Items

You will need a few more accessories to use your tablet as a digital planner so if you’re budgeting, keep these items in mind. I outlined prices below, click on each item for a full description and brand recommendations.

Pencil – $10-$150
Screen protector – $9-$48
Cover – $12 – $250+

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