Top 5 Tablets to Consider Before Buying the iPad [August, 2014]

Apple’s iPad 4, also known as the iPad with Retina Display, remains on shelves as a viable option for those that want to buy into Apple’s ecosystem without having to pay top dollar. While Apple’s aging 9.7-inch iPad remains an option on the Apple Store, it’s one that we think needs to be considered next to several other tablets.

In the fall of 2012, Apple took the stage after the iPhone 5 release and announced two brand new tablets, a new iPad 4 to replace the iPad 3 and an iPad mini, the company’s first 7.9-inch iPad. The iPad 4’s arrival was a bit of a surprise given that the company had just released the third-generation iPad earlier that year.

Apple’s iPad 4 delivered just a few noticeable changes including an improved front-facing camera, a better processor, Sprint LTE, and the Lightning dock standard that debuted on board the iPhone 5. It wasn’t a huge leap up from the iPad 3 but it was marketed as the company’s brand new 9.7-inch iPad nonetheless.

Last year, Apple’s iPad Air nudged the iPad 4 out of the flagship role. The new compact 9.7-inch tablet also pushed the iPad 4 from its $499 perch down to the $399 slot. The iPad Air is Apple’s best tablet but the iPad 4 is a device that consumers have in mind thanks to that discounted price tag.

We are constantly bombarded with questions about which tablets to buy. In particular, we’re constantly asked about the tablets consumers should weigh against the iPad 4. There are a number of different devices that we could recommend, the smartphone market is full of solid choices, but we want to narrow things down a bit and take a look at what we consider to be the top five.

These tablets represent the devices that we’d recommend to friends and family. And while our list may differ from yours, these are the devices that Gotta Be Mobile editors have selected for recognition this month. We feel like the tablets listed here deliver the best, all-around package for this month and this month alone.

That said, here are the top five smartphones to consider before buying the iPad fourth-generation also known as the iPad 4.

iPad Air

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If you're still thinking about buying the iPad 4, you absolutely must rule out the iPad Air before buying it. For $100 more, you're going to get a much better tablet and arguably the best tablet that Apple has ever made. The $499 iPad Air comes with several bells and whistles that the iPad 4 simply does not have. Maybe the biggest difference is the design. The iPad Air is thinner and more compact than the iPad 4 which makes it easier to take with you on the go. It also comes with a better processor. The $100 difference is significant for a lot of people but the extra cash might just be worth the investment for many of those in the hunt for a new slate. Be sure to rule out the more expensive iPad Air before you plop down $400 on a tablet that's simply not as good as the iPad Air.

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