Display size: One of the first factors to consider when shopping for a tablet is a simple one: how big do you need the screen to be? If you are buying a slate for watching hours of video we advise choosing a model with a resolution of at least Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) and a display of around 10 inches, but slightly lower resolutions are fine for ebooks and general internet browsing. Smaller slates (like those around 7 or 8 inches) are ideal for popping into your backpack or jacket pocket while travelling, and are usually more lightweight.

Operating system: Aside from Apple’s iPadOS, slates are likely to run Android or Windows, although Amazon’s tablets run the company’s own software, called FireOS. The look and feel of each one is wildly different. Android is the closest competitor, with most of the same modes and functions as iPadOS (or at least its own version of them) and with apps that are found on the Google Play Store. Windows operates like a mini PC computer and only lets you access apps from the Microsoft Store. FireOS has the least software support out of the three, and the base models have lock screen adverts unless you pay an extra ?10.

Storage: If you don’t use cloud storage, streaming services or apps that rely on the cloud, pay attention to the amount of storage your tablet comes with. This will indicate how many apps, files, photos and videos your device holds. Many slates start with 32GB, but don’t forget the OS steals a few gigabytes before you even begin loading apps, so we advise getting as much as possible or a tablet that lets you expand the amount via a microSD card. The 32GB models are enough for basic use (we checked, Call of Duty: Mobile takes up more than 2GB alone) but for editing and storing photos, get more. Sizes increase like smartphones, with common options being 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.

Battery life: You don’t want your tablet to run out of juice in the middle of your latest episode of The Mandalorian, so always make sure to check how many hours you get from the battery. All of the slates on our list last you a full day of use, but remember that constantly using your gaming apps or streaming platforms will drain the power reserves pretty fast.

Stylus support: The iPad is well-known for its support of the Apple Pencil and you don’t have to sacrifice the stylus by choosing a different type of tablet. Samsung’s Tab S8 series comes with an “S-Pen” that lets you draw and annotate just as well with any Apple device and we love that it’s bundled in the box. Microsoft’s stylus is the Surface Pen, although it costs an additional ?100 RRP. Others, like the Amazon and Nokia models, don’t support a stylus so if you’re buying a slate for artistic projects, check these are supported.