If You Wanted a Top Spec Tablet, and You Had a Budget, What Are Your Options?

One of the main things that everyone loves about iPad is the screen. It has a fabulous Retina display, which is specified as 2048 x 1536 pixels, making this an HD experience for reading, playing games and watching films. The other main point is the processing power. Now this is where the iVisture HD actually outperforms the iPad. The iPad runs a Dual Core processor with 1GB of RAM, whereas the iVisture runs a Quad Core processor with 2GB of RAM. Most people will agree that the RAM is key for usability, and having twice as much makes such a difference to the user's experience.

This unit is the closest specification I have seen to the iPad Retina, in many ways better. When you look through the specification, there is nothing I can see that would tempt me into looking at the iPad as an option, but you may not agree. The main draw of the iPad, has been the Retina display, which this unit comes with. A retina display is measured by the pixel size of 2048 x 1536 over the 9.7inch screen, that gives the very impressing 326 Pixels Per Inch (PPI). As a result of this highly compact pixel ratio, the definition when watching a film is truly amazing and provides incredible detail, clarity, contrast and colour. You have to see a screen playing an HD film, to really appreciate the depth and vibrancy. The other key element to a great Tablet is the touch screen, and in this case both screens have a 10 point touch. So in simple terms, you can use both hands to type - should you possess such skills as touch typing (I could probably use a 4 point touch for my typing skills). Regardless of your typing skills, there are some two player games that make use of this feature, but either way it adds to the great touch based experience we have witnessed with both Tablets.

For those that want processing power, the iVisture has a quad core processor over the dual core on the iPad. It also has 2GB of RAM, compared to the 1GB of the iPad. So if you want to run multiple apps or some heavy duty games, the iVisture will provide smooth gaming action or handle jumping between apps exceptionally. I have been using the iVisture for 8 months now, and the processing power is really important to the way I use a Tablet. This unit has performed really well at everything we have tested it with. The other key thing about having a high level processor is the unit will last longer. Let me explain. As technology moves forward and hardware is stretched further by the advancement of software, the processing power has always gone up. If you start with a low specification you will have to upgrade / replace your device.

The iVisture has 16GB of storage, and unlike the iPad you can expand it with a simple slot on the side, to add a further 32GB. As it is a slot, referred to as a micro SD card slot, you could then just swap over multiple cards. This means you could swap over your Micro SD Cards, although I guess most people wouldn't do that. But I have heard many people say "wake up apple, add expansion" Also because the iVisture has a Micro USB, I have used an adaptor to then connect my Samsung portable Hard Disk Drive, which gave me a further 1TB - Yes 1 Terabytes (or 1000 Gigabyte) of storage. I have all my films, pictures, video and all the kids programs loaded on this - Such an easy way to be portable with massive amount of instant storage.

I really like that the iVisture has the capacity to add a further 32GB, giving 48GB in total, by simply inserting a mini SD card into the side. And I love the fact that I can add a portable, external hard drive and the unit is capable of delivering power to that external device - making it portable, powerful and expandable.

Another great feature of the iVisture is the ability to connect it to the big screen of your HD TV. So in my case I move up from the 9.7inch to 42inch screen (great for films, games, pictures and just showing off). With the combination of the external HDD and the HDMI connection, this unit was incredible on our holiday. We had loads of music and kids programmes ready to play on the HD TV in the apartment we rented. And as many of you will know, entertaining two kids under three, is a full time job and if technology can lend a hand - it is very welcome. It meant the adults got a little time to sunbath. Best holiday ever, thank you iVisture.

The build quality of both units is impressive, with their nice metal case and amazing touch screen. They are both less than 10mm thin (iVisture 9.8mm and iPad 9.4mm) and they are not too heavy for a 9.7inch tablet at 0.62kg for the iViture and 0.65kg for the iPad. The iPad has the very well known round home button, where the iVisture has a number of buttons and the well known Home key graphic on the screen (like all Android's do - the outline of a house) - In short they are both a joy to hold and use. The iViture has the advantage of the amazing leather case and the fantastic keyboard that is included. I must point out the weight listed is just for the Tablet and not the keyboard, simply for direct comparison, you understand.

We have completely fallen in love with the iVisture and I have been using it now for over 8 months without any issues. As such I have to highly recommend the reliability of this Tablet.

While testing this Tablet, I have to say straight out of the box it was ready to go. I placed the tablet into its bespoke designed leather case that holds it really well, very snug and in perfect positioning for the buttons and both the front and back cameras. Powered it on and connected it to my WiFi. I then had the fun of adding loads of apps from the Android Play Store, after adding my gmail account settings (If you don't have a gmail account, you can simply create one during this setup process) That was it.

The keyboard feels like a metal style, high quality keyboard. I would say it was a little like an Apple MAC keyboard to use, as it has raised buttons that are square a slightly spaced from each other to avoid fat finger typo's.. I'm using it for this article, just a joy to type on. To connect this keyboard, I switched on the Bluetooth setting on the Tablet and then pressed the connect button on the keyboard. It popped up with a unique 4 digit code, that after entered meant they were paired between the Tablet and the keyboard; so simple, so quick and I only had to do this once.

I have fully charged the keyboard, and approx once a month I recharge the keyboard, but this has just become a habit as I have seen no sign that the battery has run completely down on the keyboard. You can also switch the keyboard off when not in use, which would save the battery even further. When you switch the Tablet back on the keyboard takes a second to connect to the tablet (no new code needed), and you are typing away again. What is also impressive is that when the iVisture notices the keyboard is connected the usual on-screen keyboard no longer appears, so you have the full screen without the graphical keyboard taking up a third of it. I also noticed that the keyboard it held in place by magnets and as such is really quick to remove and even use remotely away from the tablet. The case also doubles as a means of propping the screen up, either with or without the keyboard. You end up with something that looks a lot like a laptop, with touch screen.

In summary, this Tablet is the nicest I have ever used. The Retina display is simply perfect with 2048 x 1536 pixels you can simply see every detail. Zooming into pictures and text means you can just see the clarity so clearly on the screen, and not a square edged fuzz of pixels. The screen is the first thing that you will notice, and it is amazing. The touch screen is really precise and no near misses so far, even in the far corners where most Tablets let themselves down.

We have looked through the tech spec and in almost every way it beats the iPad Retina, and as it comes with the lovely keyboard included for £150 less than the iPad on its own. We see no reason to buy the more expensive fruit based tablet, and then have to also invest in a case and keyboard to replicate the same experience.