{"id":11279,"date":"2016-09-16T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-16T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/architizer.wpengine.com\/young-architect-guide-the-3-best-tablets-for-architects-and-engineers\/"},"modified":"2022-08-17T15:10:11","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T19:10:11","slug":"young-architect-guide-the-3-best-tablets-for-architects-and-engineers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/practice\/details\/young-architect-guide-the-3-best-tablets-for-architects-and-engineers\/","title":{"rendered":"Young Architect Guide: The Top 3 Tablets for Architects and Engineers"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Peter Eerlings is creator of <a href=\"http:\/\/archisnapper.com\/?aff=architizer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Archisnapper<\/a>, an intelligent site management app that helps architects create field reports with incredible efficiency \u2014 read more <a href=\"http:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/architects-app-of-the-week-archisnapper\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>. He also hosts a series of informative articles about technology and business for architects on the Archisnapper Blog, a selection of which we are glad to present on Architizer.<\/h4>\n<p>When you\u2019re out on the construction site, your mobile phone or a laptop just won\u2019t cut it for doing work. Your mobile screen isn\u2019t big enough for viewing building plans, documenting issues, accessing your BIM data or examining site photos that you\u2019ve snapped. Meanwhile, your laptop is too big and at risk of getting damaged on a construction site. When it comes to fieldwork, you really need a ruggedized tablet to get the job done.<\/p>\n<p>Already have an old tablet lying around? Unlike mobile phones, most people don\u2019t upgrade their tablet until it\u2019s rendered useless. But you should. You want your apps to run lightning quick, you want to be able to take great photos on site and you want be able to do all of your office work while on the go, too.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\n\t<img class=\"lazy\"\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/themes\/architizer\/assets\/images\/blank.png\"\n\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883432708architect_copy.jpg?fit=max&#038;w=1680&#038;q=60&#038;auto=format&#038;auto=compress&#038;cs=strip\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-srcset=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883432708architect_copy.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1680&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1680w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883432708architect_copy.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1080&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1080w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883432708architect_copy.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=760&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 760w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883432708architect_copy.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=625&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 625w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883432708architect_copy.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=368&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 368w\"\n\t\t\tsizes=\"(min-width: 1680px) 1680px,(min-width: 1080px) 1080px,(min-width: 760px) 760px,(min-width: 625px) 625px,368px\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\titemprop=\"contentUrl\"\n\t>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><i>Tablets can be utilized by architects from the first concept sketch to work on the construction site; image via Morpholio Trace.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>Several hundred dollars might seem a lot to spend, but without a great tablet in tow, you\u2019re actually wasting money, not to mention time \u2026<\/p>\n<p>Time spent thumbing your clumsy mobile keypad when trying to document site issues \u2026<\/p>\n<p>Time spent squinting at your small phone screen trying to figure out the tiny plans laid out \u2026<\/p>\n<p>Time spent recharging your old tablet again because it keeps running out of juice \u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2026 A total crash of your tablet, losing everything because it just got too old?! You get the picture.<\/p>\n<p>But how do you go about choosing a tablet? When there\u2019s so much choice out there, it can be difficult to figure out just which one is right for you.<\/p>\n<p><b>Luckily, we\u2019ve done the hard work for you!<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Today\u2019s guide is focused specifically on which tablets are best for AEC professionals.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>So where to start?!<\/p>\n<h2>Price<\/h2>\n<p>An important guiding factor for which tablet to purchase is always going to be price. Work out your budget and then make sure that you get the best value for your money. Remember that you will probably keep your tablet for around two or three years, so work out how much you can afford to spend across these years.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that if your tablet is used for work purposes, you can claim it on tax! Yea!<\/p>\n<h2>Display size<\/h2>\n<p>Tablets usually come in a few different sizes. You might think that you\u2019d like to keep your tablet in your pocket while out of the office or up a ladder, but it\u2019s our advice to go bigger. A 10-inch or similar display is a good size to be able to do more strenuous work on. You can slip it in your satchel or briefcase while on the go.<\/p>\n<h2>Connectivity<\/h2>\n<p>DON\u2019T BUY A WI-FI-ONLY TABLET! If you are out on site, then the likelihood of having an available Wi-Fi connection is next to zero. Although most apps are available in an offline mode, if you need to urgently send updates to a client or partner from your tablet, you will need a working data connection. If you\u2019re storing a lot of documents in the cloud, you\u2019ll need a data connection to access them, too. You\u2019ll need to buy an LTE (4G)\u2013capable device and get a SIM with data on it. Wi-Fi-only tablets are a lot cheaper to purchase, but they are for home and office use only.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\n\t<img class=\"lazy\"\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/themes\/architizer\/assets\/images\/blank.png\"\n\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883944609ArlandCom_Take_5_Tablets.jpg?fit=max&#038;w=1680&#038;q=60&#038;auto=format&#038;auto=compress&#038;cs=strip\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-srcset=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883944609ArlandCom_Take_5_Tablets.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1680&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1680w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883944609ArlandCom_Take_5_Tablets.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1080&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1080w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883944609ArlandCom_Take_5_Tablets.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=760&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 760w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883944609ArlandCom_Take_5_Tablets.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=625&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 625w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473883944609ArlandCom_Take_5_Tablets.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=368&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 368w\"\n\t\t\tsizes=\"(min-width: 1680px) 1680px,(min-width: 1080px) 1080px,(min-width: 760px) 760px,(min-width: 625px) 625px,368px\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\titemprop=\"contentUrl\"\n\t>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><i>There is now a plethora of tablet models to choose from; image via <a href=\"http:\/\/arlandcom.com\/uncategorized\/five-surprising-facts-tablet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arland Communications<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2>Operating System<\/h2>\n<p>This comes down to personal choice. If you\u2019ve already got an iPhone or Mac, then it\u2019s best to pick an iOS (iPad) product as you\u2019ll know exactly how to use it straight away. If you\u2019ve got an Android phone or a Windows computer, you can stay with Android or take the leap to the iOS. There\u2019s a lot of extremely <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.archisnapper.com\/punch-list-app-iPhone-iPad-Android\/8-best-architecture-apps-in-2016\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">useful apps available for AEC professionals on both the iOS and Android platforms<\/a>. There are Windows tablets out there, but the choice of apps is extremely limited.<\/p>\n<h2>Storage<\/h2>\n<p>Deleting files all the time because you run out of space on your device is no fun at all! Remember: Time is money, right?! We recommend storage of <i>at least<\/i> 32GB on your tablet for storing all your plans, photos and documents. If you are intending to store lots of multimedia files on your tablet, you may need even more room. You can expand your memory on most Android tablets by buying an SD card to bump up your memory capabilities. Check the specs for an SD or a microSD slot. IPad memories are not expandable, so watch out!<\/p>\n<p>Note: Most tablets come with free cloud storage, too. As long as you have an active data connection, you can access your cloud-based files.<\/p>\n<h2>Battery<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re spending all day out of the office, then you\u2019ll need a tablet that can stay powered on all day without having to charge it. Look for devices that promise 9 or more hours of battery life to avoid that dreaded empty battery signal.<\/p>\n<p>A handy accessory to own is an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B014TKFNP8\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B014TKFNP8&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=blogeerlingsc-20&amp;linkId=SQIRFSPNBIQSH7XK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in-car charger<\/a> \u2014 which is in fact <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B014TKFNP8\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B014TKFNP8&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=blogeerlingsc-20&amp;linkId=SQIRFSPNBIQSH7XK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">super cheap<\/a> \u2014 or even a powerbank to prevent running out of juice while out and about. If you\u2019re plugged in while driving, then you\u2019re not worried about draining your battery \u2014 and can even listen to some business-building <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.archisnapper.com\/punch-list-app-iPhone-iPad-Android\/top-aec-podcasts-that-will-grow-your-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AEC podcasts<\/a> on your tablet (if you\u2019re not already jamming out to whoever\u2019s playing on the radio, that is!).<\/p>\n<h2>Accessories<\/h2>\n<p>A <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;field-keywords=stylus&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;rh=n%3A2335752011%2Ck%3Astylus&amp;sprefix=stylus%2Caps%2C219&amp;tag=blogeerlingsc-20&amp;url=search-alias%3Dmobile&amp;linkId=P5VCO4X6UWOWC4BY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stylus<\/a> is also handy when you\u2019re marking up diagrams and sketches. Another accessory that you will need is a tough case to protect your tablet while you\u2019re on a work site. What if it\u2019s raining or there\u2019s a ton of dust around for earthworks? Tablet covers like the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;field-keywords=Otterbox%20Defender%20series&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;tag=blogeerlingsc-20&amp;url=search-alias%3Daps&amp;linkId=6KE56QILY4RFIKCE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Otterbox Defender series<\/a> offer rugged protection from drops, scratches and the elements and are a necessity for the job. A <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1JrrBUx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tablet keyboard<\/a> is nice if you\u2019re planning on doing any heavy-duty work for a few hours on site.<\/p>\n<h2>How we tested<\/h2>\n<p>We tested out our <a href=\"http:\/\/archisnapper.com\/?aff=blog_best_tablets_2016\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ArchiSnapper app<\/a> \u2014 opening pictures and (huge) PDFs, taking photos and adding notes, annotating PDFs, syncing data and working offline \u2014 with a range of tablets, and we\u2019ve rounded up the best in breed in 2016 for AEC specialists.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\n\t<img class=\"lazy\"\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/themes\/architizer\/assets\/images\/blank.png\"\n\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874701296maxresdefault_7.jpg?fit=max&#038;w=1680&#038;q=60&#038;auto=format&#038;auto=compress&#038;cs=strip\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-srcset=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874701296maxresdefault_7.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1680&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1680w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874701296maxresdefault_7.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1080&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1080w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874701296maxresdefault_7.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=760&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 760w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874701296maxresdefault_7.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=625&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 625w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874701296maxresdefault_7.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=368&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 368w\"\n\t\t\tsizes=\"(min-width: 1680px) 1680px,(min-width: 1080px) 1080px,(min-width: 760px) 760px,(min-width: 625px) 625px,368px\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\titemprop=\"contentUrl\"\n\t>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><i>The Tab A is available with a screen size of either 8 or 9.7 inches; via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OYjrFt4drFY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DetroitBORG<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2>1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A<\/h2>\n<h3>Best Budget Tablet (from $250)<\/h3>\n<p>The midrange <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1JrsdcW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Samsung Galaxy tablet<\/a> is a manageable size, comes with the S Pen (as an option) and brings you all the peace of mind that going with a well-known brand brings. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A is similar to the Galaxy Note series in that the S Pen can be used for all range of extendable activities on your tablet. The battery life is a big draw, giving you up to 12 hours while on the go and up to 15 hours in the office. If you\u2019re a fan of Android devices, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A is a winner.<\/p>\n<p><b>Operating System<\/b><br \/>\nAndroid<br \/>\n<b>Apps<\/b><br \/>\nAccess to the Google Play store featuring all the Android apps<br \/>\n<b>Connectivity<\/b><br \/>\nMost data connection types supported \u2014 Wi-Fi and LTE (4G) supported via SIM<br \/>\n<b>Speed<\/b><br \/>\nThe tablet boasts a quad-core 1.2 GHz processor.<br \/>\n<b>Storage space<\/b><br \/>\nComes in 16GB version only. MicroSD slot provided to allow for an extra 128GB of <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1PdsdK9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">expandable memory<\/a> (purchase separately)<br \/>\n<b>Camera<\/b><br \/>\n5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera<br \/>\n<b>Size<\/b><br \/>\n9.7-inch display<br \/>\n<b>Battery life<\/b><br \/>\nUp to 12 hours with 3G cellular data, up to 15 hours with Wi-Fi<br \/>\n<b>Keyboard<\/b><br \/>\nOptional Logitech purchase<br \/>\n<b>Stylus<\/b><br \/>\nS Pen included in purchase in <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1PdskFs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this model<\/a>, or take the <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1Jrt2SW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">model without pen<\/a>.<br \/>\n<b>Price<\/b><br \/>\nFrom $297 on Amazon for the Wi-Fi + cellular model at the time of writing<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\n\t<img class=\"lazy\"\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/themes\/architizer\/assets\/images\/blank.png\"\n\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874323328Sean_Morpholio_Trace_pro_App_Draw1_Architect_Diller_Scofidio_Renfro.jpg?fit=max&#038;w=1680&#038;q=60&#038;auto=format&#038;auto=compress&#038;cs=strip\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-srcset=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874323328Sean_Morpholio_Trace_pro_App_Draw1_Architect_Diller_Scofidio_Renfro.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1680&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1680w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874323328Sean_Morpholio_Trace_pro_App_Draw1_Architect_Diller_Scofidio_Renfro.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1080&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1080w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874323328Sean_Morpholio_Trace_pro_App_Draw1_Architect_Diller_Scofidio_Renfro.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=760&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 760w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874323328Sean_Morpholio_Trace_pro_App_Draw1_Architect_Diller_Scofidio_Renfro.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=625&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 625w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874323328Sean_Morpholio_Trace_pro_App_Draw1_Architect_Diller_Scofidio_Renfro.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=368&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 368w\"\n\t\t\tsizes=\"(min-width: 1680px) 1680px,(min-width: 1080px) 1080px,(min-width: 760px) 760px,(min-width: 625px) 625px,368px\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\titemprop=\"contentUrl\"\n\t>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><i>Image courtesy of Sean Gallagher, <a href=\"http:\/\/architizer.com\/firms\/diller-scofidio-renfro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Diller Scofidio + Renfro<\/a>; via <a href=\"http:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/architects-app-of-the-week-stencil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Morpholio Trace<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<h2>2. iPad Pro<\/h2>\n<h3>Best Quality Tablet (from $784 for 12.9-inch display)<\/h3>\n<p>Apple\u2019s reputation is built on fast processors along with quality graphic and video manipulation capabilities \u2014 and the <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1JuBd0N\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iPad Pro<\/a> stays true to this. If you already run Apple products in the home or office, the iPad Pro is an obvious choice. It is a lightning-quick tablet that was designed to be just like a MacBook but in tablet form and runs iOS. It\u2019s also the best iOS device yet. The Apple app store usually has a greater range of apps available for AEC professionals than the Android systems, making it more useful than its Android competitors, too.<\/p>\n<p><b>Operating System<\/b><br \/>\nIOS<br \/>\n<b>Apps<\/b><br \/>\nFull access to the Apple app store, featuring the largest range of apps on the market<br \/>\n<b>Connectivity<\/b><br \/>\nMultiple network connection types possible \u2014 Wi-Fi, GSM, CDMA, LTE (4G) \u2014 meaning you can connect wherever, whenever. Includes the Apple SIM card<br \/>\n<b>Speed<\/b><br \/>\nApple\u2019s products all come with proprietary Apple CPU hardware that is well known for outperforming its competitors. The iPad Pro is so fast that it even outperforms current MacBook speeds!<br \/>\n<b>Storage space<\/b><br \/>\nIf you\u2019re choosing the version of the Pro that is cellular capable, there is only one choice of storage space: 128GB.<br \/>\n<b>Camera<\/b><br \/>\n8MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera<br \/>\n<b>Size<\/b><br \/>\nLarge 12.9-inch display<br \/>\n<b>Battery life<\/b><br \/>\nUp to 10 hours of web surfing with Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours with cellular data<br \/>\n<b>Keyboard<\/b><br \/>\nYes \u2014 additional purchase<br \/>\n<b>Stylus<\/b><br \/>\nIf you really have too much money, then purchase the additional <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1JrtyAp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple Pen<\/a> to get more out of your iPad Pro. Otherwise, any stylus will do. The <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1PdsYmC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adonit Jot Pro<\/a> is one of the best on the market, especially if you need to do some drawing and sketching.<br \/>\n<b>Price<br \/>\n<\/b>From $784, but a bit more for the <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1Pdti4O\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wi-Fi + cellular model with 128GB of storage<\/a> at the time of writing<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\n\t<img class=\"lazy\"\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/themes\/architizer\/assets\/images\/blank.png\"\n\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874916087maxresdefault_8.jpg?fit=max&#038;w=1680&#038;q=60&#038;auto=format&#038;auto=compress&#038;cs=strip\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-srcset=\"https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874916087maxresdefault_8.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1680&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1680w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874916087maxresdefault_8.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=1080&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 1080w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874916087maxresdefault_8.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=760&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 760w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874916087maxresdefault_8.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=625&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 625w,https:\/\/architizer-prod.imgix.net\/media\/1473874916087maxresdefault_8.jpg?fit=max&amp;w=368&amp;q=60&amp;auto=format&amp;auto=compress&amp;cs=strip 368w\"\n\t\t\tsizes=\"(min-width: 1680px) 1680px,(min-width: 1080px) 1080px,(min-width: 760px) 760px,(min-width: 625px) 625px,368px\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\titemprop=\"contentUrl\"\n\t>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><i>The iPad Mini sports a 7.9-inch display; via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nfzvCx9_1fg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DetroitBORG<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2>3. iPad Mini 4<\/h2>\n<h3>Best Quality Smaller Tablet (from $334)<\/h3>\n<p>When it comes to tablets for designers, Apple can do no wrong! The latest <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1Pdtwc6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iPad Mini 4<\/a> packs all the features you know and love about Apple products into a smaller-sized version of the iPad. If you can\u2019t afford the iPad Pro and want something a little more in your price range, then pick up an iPad Mini 4. The Mini 4 has a fast processor and the option for adding a wireless keyboard if you so wish.<\/p>\n<p><b>Operating System<\/b><br \/>\nIOS<br \/>\n<b>Apps<\/b><br \/>\nThe Apple tablet comes with full access to the Apple store.<br \/>\n<b>Connectivity<\/b><br \/>\nWi-Fi and LTE (4G) capable; also 3G and 2G supported<br \/>\n<b>Speed<\/b><br \/>\nApple A8 with the Dual-Core 1.5 GHz Typhoon CPU<br \/>\n<b>Storage space<\/b><br \/>\n16GB\/64GB\/128GB storage options<br \/>\n<b>Camera<\/b><br \/>\n8MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera<br \/>\n<b>Size<\/b><br \/>\n7.9-inch display<br \/>\n<b>Battery life<\/b><br \/>\nUp to 10 hours of charge<br \/>\n<b>Keyboard<\/b><br \/>\nWireless keyboard available \u2014 purchase separately<br \/>\n<b>Stylus<\/b><br \/>\nAny stylus will do. <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1PdtOzH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adonit Jot Pro<\/a> is known to be a very good brand.<br \/>\n<b>Price<\/b><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1JruGUN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">As from $347<\/a><\/p>\n<p>We hope that we\u2019ve helped guide you a little bit in your tablet decision-making process. There\u2019s nothing worse than jumping straight in and ending up with a below-par device \u2014 you will be stuck with it for a few years, after all! Got any more questions about the tablets we\u2019ve listed or found some better ones? We want to hear it: Let us know in the comments section below or just email me at peter@archisnapper.com.<\/p>\n<p>And for now \u2014 happy tablet hunting, everyone!<\/p>\n<p><i>Top image via Twelve South. These selections are the personal opinion of the author; other tablets are available. This article first appeared on <a href=\"http:\/\/archisnapper.com\/?aff=architizer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ArchiSnapper<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unlike mobile phones, most people don\u2019t upgrade their tablet until it\u2019s rendered useless. But you should.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"architizer_featured_type":"projects","architizer_featured_image":"1758393","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[19,28701],"architizer_project":[],"architizer_brand":[],"architizer_firm":[],"architizer_product":[],"class_list":["post-11279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-details","category-practice","tag-guide","tag-young-architect-guide"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Young Architect Guide: The Top 3 Tablets for Architects and Engineers - Architizer Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/practice\/details\/young-architect-guide-the-3-best-tablets-for-architects-and-engineers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Young Architect Guide: The Top 3 Tablets for Architects and Engineers - Architizer Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Unlike mobile phones, most people don\u2019t upgrade their tablet until it\u2019s rendered useless. 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