Can you use your tablet as a phone?

Phones nowadays are getting bigger and bigger. The majority of new smartphones being released are closer to 6 inches in length than they were a few years ago, with the new iPhone being only slightly under 6 inches.

This can be a bit of a burden to carry around with you for the entire day. And for this reason, some people choose not to carry their phone around in their pocket at all. Instead, they either leave it at home all day, or carry it around in a bag with them.

If you’re doing this, then you might as well use a tablet, right? A bigger and better screen makes sense if you’re going to have to put it in your handbag or backpack anyways.

But what functionality does a tablet have, and can they be used as a phone? Most people want to know if you can find a tablet that lets you make calls. That’s what we’re going to take a quick look at today.

The good news is that there are a few tablets out there that give you the ability to use a sim card. This means that you can use your tablet as a phone with your Wi-Fi at home, but also use data when you’re out on the go too.

An example of a great choice if you’re looking for a tablet that lets you make calls is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A. It has an easy to use Micro SIM card slot which you can insert your own card into, and it can essentially be used in the same way as a phone.

The Galaxy Tab A is quite big at a little over 10 inches. But most of the time, you’re going to be connected to your home Wi-Fi, so for using around the house primarily, it’s perfect.

Many people are opting to get rid of their home phones completely, and you can even connect the tablet up to your smart speakers to chat through those too.

But is it fully practical for you to do this, or will it become a hassle further down the line? Let’s consider some more aspects about switching to a tablet full time.

Using your tablet as a phone

So, now we know that there’s a wide range of different options out there to choose from when you’re looking for a new tablet. And, the majority of these options will have the ability for you to insert a sim card into them.

There are various different packages that you can buy to use with a tablet, and the majority of sim card deals out there have an emphasis on a lot of data. This is useful if you want to use your tablet as a phone, as you can use this data when you’re on the go.

And when you’re not on the go, you can simply connect your tablet to the wifi in your home. Then, you can use it very much like a phone and go through all the apps that you need to.

Do iPads have a SIM card slot?

When it comes to tablets, there’s none bigger than the iPad range from Apple. After Samsung and Android, they’re the next most popular form of tablet on the market.

And when it comes to whether they use a SIM card or not, the answer is – it depends. Some iPads will allow you to use a SIM card, whilst others will only be able to access the internet when connected to Wi-Fi.

When you purchase a new iPad, you actually have the option to either go for just Wi-Fi, or a more expensive option of Wi-Fi + Cellular. This cellular function essentially just means with a SIM card that you can use with your chosen network provider.

That means if you’re picking one up secondhand and you need to use a SIM with it, make sure that it mentions it has cellular access. Not all iPads will have this functionality.

Best Tablet Calling Apps

Most people are making video calls nowadays as opposed to just phone calls. And for video calls, it’s difficult to beat a tablet, which gives you a balance of a large screen with a pretty lightweight device.

If you’re going to make the switch over to using a tablet full time, then you’re going to want to ensure that you have the right apps in place to do so. Here are a few of them that are worth considering if you’re going to be making a lot of calls on your tablet.

The main app that you’re going to want to download and use if you’re planning to use your phone as a tablet is definitely going to be Whatsapp. If you’re not already on Whatsapp, then you probably should be – there’s almost 2 billion folks around the globe using it on a daily basis.

And on Whatsapp, you’ll have the ability to do everything you’d want to do on your phone, even if you don’t use your allowance. You can easily make wifi calls through Whatsapp, and you can text to your heart’s desire too.

It’s one of the most responsive apps out there, and it’s a must have if you’re planning to use a tablet as your main point of contact.

Skype

Another one of the most popular apps out there for those trying to make wifi calling their primary method of connecting with others is Skype. It’s typically thought of as a more professional alternative to using Whatsapp, although it has very similar features.

However with Skype, you do actually have the ability to make VOIP calls through the app itself. This can come in handy, as if you’re calling within the Whatsapp app, you’ll only be able to contact others that also have it. With Skype calls, you can call a landline number directly if you need to.

Google Hangouts

And if you’re looking for something even more professional to use, then I’d advise that you become familiar with using Google Hangouts to speak to work friends or clients. It’s very easy to use, and as most of us have a Gmail account, it’s very easy to get in touch with who you need to.

Essentially, you can just use this as a simple messaging service within your email app. You’ll be able to chat to folks as you want, and it’s very convenient for people that spend a lot of time with their emails open anyway. It’s perfect for tablet, too.

Things to Consider

If you’re going to make the switch to being a full time tablet user, then this is probably what you’ll want to take into account beforehand.

Size – The main difference that you’re obviously going to have to get used to is the size. With many of us having larger phones nowadays, using a 7 inch tablet might not be too much of a burden. But, you can’t exactly carry it with you all the time as easily as you can with a phone.

Replacements – Whilst a tablet can definitely replace a phone, it could also be used to replace a laptop as well. If you can get a good portable keyboard to use with your tablet, then you can easily do everything all within one platform, which might allow you to loosen the purse strings a little.

Gaming – If you’re a big gamer, then this might prove to be the catalyst in your switch over to using a tablet instead. It’s much easier to play games on a tablet, and this is actually what a lot of people out there nowadays use them for.

Price – A cheap tablet isn’t going to be able to do the things that an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy tablet can. If you want to use your tablet for everything, then make sure it’s at least decent quality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it definitely is possible for you to give up your phone for good and use a tablet instead. With more and more of us using our tablets when we’re at home anyway, it makes perfect sense that you might want to use a tablet. And nowadays, with many of them it’s completely possible to do so.

You can make both phone calls and video calls with a tablet, so there’s not many reasons why not to make the switch. Make sure that the model you opt for has the ability to insert a SIM card, otherwise you won’t be able to have your own phone number.