Buying a tablet from an internet provider or a phone service has its limitations. Those devices are locked to the carrier’s network, which means in most cases unless they are unlocked, they can’t be used if you decide to switch companies.
To get around this, and to have a greater number of options to choose from, savvy consumers are turning to unlocked GSM Android tablets. These tablets are not locked to one provider’s systems, hence the term “unlocked” is used.
GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications, which is the standard used by most internet providers around the world. By choosing unlocked GSM Android tablets the owner has the freedom to choose both providers as well as travel with the phone to other countries also using the same US GSM frequencies.
Not all the major carriers in the United States use GSM technology, although AT&T as well as T-Mobile do. The other two major carriers, Sprint and Verizon, use an alternative standard known as the CDMA or Code Division Multiple Access standard.
Features to Consider
While all of the unlocked GSM Android tablets will use the Android operating system, there are differences in the specific models and options offered with different models and brands.
For example, some tablets are designed to offer high resolution camera features, excellent photo enhancement tools or perhaps enhanced graphics for tablet game play and for watching streaming content.
Screen size and responsiveness may also be an issue to consider, with some of the top options in Android tablets offering larger screens with high resolution and increased responsiveness to fingertip controls. In most areas, consumers will want to choose a 4G LTE system for a faster online experience.
RAM and Processors
For quick loading of webpages and for more of a working type of Android tablet look for those with bigger hard drives that can store up to 32G with additional micro-SD slot options.
A quad-core processor is also an important consideration for anyone wanting to watch streaming content, play online games and just enjoying a smooth even visual experience online.
Additionally, and this is critical for most users, check the battery life for the tablet. The more you use the tablet on an ongoing basis the more important a long battery life and fast charging time will be. Typically tablets should have a significant standby time with some offering over 900 hours and almost a full days worth of heavy usage on a single charge.