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Choosing a Tablet Phone in 2022

When dealing with currency conversions, stocks, reviewing your Jackpot Capital no deposit bonus codes winnings vs losings over time, graphs, and other things where you want to track the data over time, you want to use a big screen.  But then, what about phone calls?  There are tablets that do have 4G or 5G capabilities, but they do not have the ability to make phone calls.  They are just able to handle mobile data plans -- no phone calls.  But there are some tablets do that have the ability to handle wifi, mobile data, and mobile phone calls.


  • Samsung S20 Ultra Phone (recommended by phone photography course) - $920
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4" - $297
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4" (2020, WiFi + cellular) - $247
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite 8.7" (2021, WiFi + Cellular) - $175
  • BDF M107 Pro 10" (no name brand)
  • W&O M40 Pro 10" (no name brand)

Why is mobile data different than phone calls?

In older GSM systems you had dedicated channels.  Each channel is used for either voice or data, even though both were digital.  The two were separated, because there are a lot more phone calls than data.  So it was more efficient to separate out the two.  If voice is treated as data, you need extra signaling to indicate that it is voice data.


If the operator using GSM or UMTS , then voice calls will not be using data.  If a phone is using 3G, then this is the setup that the phone tablet is using.


If the operator has LTE/4G and using VoLTE( Voice over LTE), then voice calls will be using data.


Another option is that the phone calls will use a 3G network while the data will use either the 4G or 5G network. Remember, 4G is different than 4GLTE.  4GLTE means that the mobile data is using 4G and the phone calls are using VoLTE.


3G uses a  parallel packet switched system for data and circuit switched system for voice.  Telephone calls that use the 3G network, do not use data bearers and should not result in data usage charges.


What do I want in a tablet?

In one sentence, I want a tablet that is able to handle mobile data and make phone calls.  This majorly reduces the choice of tablets, because very few tablets can handle mobile data and phone calls.  Some articles talk about how a tablet that can handle mobile data cannot handle phone calls, but this was true with the 3G technology when phone calls and data were on two separate systems.  This is not true with the 4G and 5G network, but make sure that the tablet can handle 4GLTE (4G + VoLTE).


Specifications that I like from my existing Samsung Tablet Galaxy Tab E:

  • Samsung brand (never had any issues with Samsung)
  • 10 inch screen
  • Android 7.1
  • 7300 mAh battery
    • Internet use time up to 12 hours
    • music play time up to 198 hours
    • Video play time up to 12 hours
  • Rear camera 5mp
  • Front camera 2mp
  • Optical Zoom 4X digital
  • Video recording HD 1280 x 720 @30 FPS
  • 3.5mm Stereo jack
  • Display resolution 1280 x 800 pixels

I love this tablet, and it meets all of my needs.  But I need mobile data.

Specifications that I like from my existing Xiaomi Redmi 9:

  • GSM, HSPA, LTE (phone calls)
  • Gorilla Glass 3 (no screen scratches)
  • 6.53 inches (large screen for a phone)
  • Resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels
  • Android 10
  • 32GB 3GB RAM
  • Back camera 13 MP wide, 8 MP ultrawide, 5 MP macro, 2MP depth
    • Video 1080 HD @30fps
    • LED Flash, HDR, Panorama
  • Front Camera 8MP
    • HDR
    • 1080 HD @30fps
  • 3.5mm jack
  • NFC (market dependent)
  • 5020 mAh battery and fast charging 18W
    • 131 hours

What features I am looking for (combination of the two lists):

  • 10 inch screen
  • Gorilla Glass
  • Lowest resolution 1280 x 800 pixels
  • Lowest battery 5020 mAh, but a tablet would need a higher one
  • 3.5mm jack for music
  • 4GLTE (mobile data and phone calls)
  • Android 9
  • NFC (would be nice)

I would not purchase the Huawei brand.  So I am trying to decide between Samsung or a generic one.   I am not going to list all of the features for each phone.  I am just going to focus on the features that are important to me.


Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4" - $297

  • Has a stylus  (nice)
  • 1200 x 2000 pixels (nice)
  • Android 10, upgradeable to Android 11 (nice)
  • 64 GB 6GB RAM (nice)
  • Back Camera, Single Camera 8MP wide, HDR, Panorama, 1080p @30fps
  • Front Camera, 5 MP, 1080 @30fps
  • 3.5mm jack (nice)
  • 7040 mAh, 15W fast charge
  • GSM, LTE (cellular data, phone calls)
  • No Flash for camera

The camera does not look as if it will be the best quality, but that might be true with all tablets.


Samsung S20, S20+, S20 Ultra Phone

This is a photographer's phone, not a tablet.  It is definitely out of my price range, but I wanted to see the features for comparison.


  • Screen Size: 6.2", 6.7", 6.9"
  • High Resolution: 64 MP, 64MP, 108MP
  • Space Zoom: 30x, 30x, 100x
  • Battery: 4000 mAh, 4500 mAh, 5000 mAh
  • Selfie: 10MP, 10MP, 32MP
  • Back S20 FE: 12 MP Ultra Wide, 12 MP wide angle, 8 MP telephoto, optical zoom 3x, super resolution 30x
  • Back S20: 12 MP Ultra Wide, 12 MP wide angle, 64 MP telephoto, optical zoom 3x, super resolution 30x
  • Back S20+: 12 MP Ultra Wide, 12 MP wide angle, 64 MP telephoto, optical zoom 3x, super resolution 30x
  • Back S20 Ultra: 12 MP Ultra Wide, 108MP wide angle, 48 MP telephoto, Optical Zoom 10x, Super resolution 100x
  • Has flash for camera

What is a telephoto lens?  A telephoto lens has a long reach, allowing you to photograph a subject that is far away or magnifying the subject in your frame. Generally, a lens is considered “telephoto” if it has a focal length of 60mm or longer.  A telephoto lens can be a zoom lens, but it does not have to be a zoom lens.  A telephoto lens is used to make a subject appear closer to the camera.


Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite - $136

  • GSM, LTE
  • 800 x 1340 pixels
  • 8.7 inches
  • Android 11
  • Main Camera (single camera): 8MP, 1080 @30fps
  • Selfie: 2 MP
  • 3.5mm jack
  • 5100 mAh battery
  • No flash for camera

Does not seem to be much different than my Tab E, except that the battery is less and the screen is less.


Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4" (2020, WiFi + cellular) - $247

  • GSM, LTE
  • 10.4 inches
  • 1200 x 2000 pixels
  • Android 10, upgradeable to Android 11
  • Rear: 8MP, 1080p @30fps
  • Front: 5MP, 1080p @30fps
  • 3.5mm jack
  • 7040 mAh battery, 15 W fast charging

W&O M40 Pro (no name brand) - $145.25

  • Scratch proof screen
  • Android 10
  • 10.1 inches
  • 8GB RAM 256GB ROM
  • Wifi, 4G/5G
  • Front Camera: 13MP
  • Back Camera: 24MP
  • Screen resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels
  • 8800 mAh battery
  • Satellite positioning (tablet used in cars)
  • A-GPS (Internet assisted positioning)

This one seems to be very impressive.


BDF X20 10" (no name brand) - $128

  • 4GB RAM 64 GB ROM
  • Android 8
  • 10 inches
  • 4G Call and Data Network
  • 5000 mAh battery
  • 5MP front camera
  • 13MP rear camera
  • 2560 x 1600 screen resolution

Which one should I buy?

At the current time, I am leaning towards the W&O M40 Pro tablet.  It does not come with different cameras (more than one), and it looks as if I can only record video in 30 fps without other options.


But then, it does not look as if any of the tablets come with those features.  People just don't use tablets for serious picture taking, so those features are not included.


Granted, I am not much of a picture taker.  I am just thinking about cameras, because I am watching a Video Course Series called The Complete Guide To Cell Phone Photography (Wonderium).  Maybe I will actually learn how to use the camera on my cell phone beyond "point and click", but I am digressing.


Realistically, even though my current cell phone has 3 cameras, I do not think that I have taken a picture beyond the functionality of a single lens camera.  It is not what I use my cell phone and/or tablet for.


On the other hand, I do like taking pictures of my kids and when the pictures look like garbage, it really affects my desire to take a picture.

I do use the flash, both for taking pictures and as a flashlight.  But none of the tablets seem to have a flash built into them.  Yep, double checked.  None of the tablets have a flash with the camera.


If taking pictures is your top priority ...

If taking pictures is your top priority, then a tablet, even with LTE support, is not going to the right choice for you.  Although, you can get decent cameras in the 24MP range, you will not get the multiple cameras (ultra wide, wide angle, and telephoto).  You will also not get the flash.


But if you want to use the tablet for video conferencing (or making YouTube videos), you are going to need to make sure that you have extra lighting to make up for the fact that the tablet does not have a flash.  External lights that can easily clip to a tablet, laptop, desktop, or stand on a tripod can be purchased from as a low as $13 to $50 (more, if you really want professional equipment).  But if your goal is randomly taking pictures of the kids at the playground or a day at the beach, the tablet, even with LTE is not going to work.


If watching videos, playing games, or other activities that require a large screen is your top priority ...

If the main thing that you do with your phone is to watch TV, play games, or read PDF documents (or data that you want to see in a wide -- "regular" format), the the tablet is the right choice for you.


Over 75% of the stuff I do on a tablet involves the following activities:

  • Watching TV shows and videos (tablet)
  • Listening to music or Audio files (tablet or phone)
  • Use applications, like Rosetta Stone, that require a large screen (tablet)
  • Read PDF documents where the text does not reflow (tablet)
  • Internet (most websites, tablet or phone)
  • Whatsapp (tablet with LTE or phone)
  • Phone calls (tablet with LTE or phone)
  • Random taking of pictures (tablet or phone)
  • Ability to access Google maps on a large screen (tablet with LTE)
  • Taking artistic photos (phone with flash or tablet with external lighting)

Although it would be fun to actually learn how to use my smartphone or tablet's cameras to their full potential, for me, it would be playing.

Do lenses that physically attach to a phone or tablet work?


If you're a fan of smartphone photography, aftermarket lenses allow you to go beyond what's possible on your stock device. There are even some clip-on lenses you can mount to the front of your device to take super-wide selfies or make fisheye FaceTime calls.


There are amaetur versions of these which are a simple clip on system.  There are also professional versions which require a special case, so the clip on lens stays in place.


And if you really want to get professional, there are systems that are standard mounters where you just mount on professional mirrorless lenses from Canan, Nikon, and Sony.  In other words, the lenses that you use for your professional camera, you can use on your smartphone.  These are good, but they will never be as good (or as convenient) as the built in lens system that comes with a lot of today's smartphones.

But you have to remember that when you change the lens on a modular camera, you're swapping out the only piece of glass in front of the sensor. So, the image quality is as good as this lens allows.


Don't worry, most of the clip on lens systems allow you to clip on to a tablet.  So, although this is probably not an option for professional photographers, for the ameature photographer that wants to go beyond simple click and shoot photos, add on lenses attached to your tablet might be a good option.


Don't forget the case

When I buy a tablet or cell phone, I never purchase one without making sure that the case is bought in the same purchase.  If the smart phone or the tablet does not have a case, then it is not an option.  During the beginning of COVID, I was stupid enough to ignore my own advice, and within a month my smartphone became a useless brick.