Tablets have come a long way since their inception. Nowadays, these slick slates are more than just for media consumption, mobile gaming, and browsing the Internet. The best of them are more than powerful and capable enough to be excellent laptop replacements for everyday tasks, productivity, and demanding creative work.
Even something as small as the iPad mini can handle music production and something as thin as the iPad Air 5 can tackle content creation. That combination of power, versatility, and portability has helped cement their place in the portables market.
No matter your need, whether you just want a device to entertain you at the end of a busy workday or you require something more robust for video editing on-the-go, there’s a tablet out there for you. To help you find which device that is, we gathered the best tablets on the market for different needs and budgets.
TL;DR – These are the best tablets
- iPad (10th Generation)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
- iPad Pro 12.9
- iPad Air 5
- iPad 10.2
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
- Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2
- iPad Mini
- Kindle Scribe
iPad (10th Generation)
Best Tablet
It’s hard to argue against the tried and true original Apple iPad, and its colorful 10th gen iteration brings a new design with a faster chip to make it as powerful as ever. You finally lose the home button with Apple opting to put Touch ID on the power button, giving you more Liquid Retina—though still not fully laminated—screen space to play around with. And there’s a good deal of oomph behind that display to handle multitasking and some light gaming with ease thanks to the A14 Bionic chip, though we question why Apple decided against using the newer A15 chip.
Now, the 10th gen Apple iPad continues to remain affordable, coming in well under $500, but that does mean it has some tradeoffs. This device only works with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, not the more affordable Smart Keyboard. You also don’t get support for the feature-full 2nd gen Apple Pencil, only the first gen, and you’ll need to grab a $9 adapter just to charge it.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
Best Android Tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is simply the best Samsung’s ever rolled out. Boasting an absolutely stunning AMOLED screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, quad AKG speakers with Dolby Atmos, and snappy performance, it was practically made for the best media consumption, mobile gaming, and lighter creative workflows. Its 14-hour battery life means this premium product will last you an entire day.
Meanwhile, the included S Pen is as responsive as ever and just the accessory you need for your artwork or designs. It isn’t as fast or as well-supported in terms of apps as the iPad Pro 12.9, which isn’t good news especially considering the price. However, If you’re more of an Android fan, this is the tablet to beat.
iPad Pro 12.9
Best Tablet for Creative Work
The 2022 iPad Pro 12.9 may be the priciest iPad out there, but it’s also incontestably the most powerful option. This laptop replacement tablet can handle video editing and 3D design workflows with ease thanks to the M2 chip under the hood, making it a creative pro’s dream tool. Meanwhile, its stunning XDR display—which boasts P3 wide color, True Tone, Pro Motion, and an insanely high peak brightness—ensures your work is color accurate and up to the highest quality.
Apple was sure to include plenty of other handy features, like the duo of pro cameras in the rear that can record in 4K at 30fps along with a powerful camera ISP and highly effective image stabilization—just the ticket for those action sequences. You even get Wi-Fi 6E for the speediest connection and lowest latency possible if you have the tech that supports it. Beyond that, you might want to grab the feature-rich 2nd gen Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard to unlock the iPad Pro's full potential.
iPad Air
Best Thin and Light Tablet
The iPad Air is the one to get if you’re looking for the thinnest and lightest tablet that will see you through your whole day’s work. This Apple tablet is compact enough to be travel-friendly yet it’s got the screen real estate for productivity and certainly a lot of power as well for some creative tasks – including 4K video editing.
However, it’s most ideal for writers, bloggers, and digital nomads who need a reliable laptop alternative that’s so light you probably won’t even notice that it’s there. Especially when you attach it to a Magic Keyboard, which comes with a surprisingly accurate trackpad. As a bonus, it comes in five attractive colors (including pink, blue, purple, starlight, and space gray) so you can get one that matches your aesthetic.
iPad 10.2
Best Budget iPadOS Tablet
The original iPad is back and better than ever, with much snappier performance, an upgraded front-facing camera for all your FaceTime needs, and a display that now touts Apple’s True Tone technology. In the shadow of the M1 and A15 Bionic chips, the A13 Bionic on this 2021 iPad might seem a tad late to the party.
However, it’s plenty powerful for the rest of the tablet users who mostly rely on their devices for casual, everyday tasks like doing video calls with friends and family, streaming shows and movies, gaming, and sending the occasional email. Luckily, it’s also cheaper than the rest of Apple’s tablet offerings, which means it’s the best value for most people.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
Best Budget Android Tablet
Android fans don’t need to spend much in order to get a highly capable tablet, thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE. Samsung is known for its range of Andriod tablets, and this is one of the more affordable options in the lineup. Now, it might not tote as much power as the Galaxy Tab S8, but it’s still packed to the brim with all the features you could wish for in an on-the-go device.
For starters, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE offers up a Qualcomm SM7225 Octa-core processor and solid memory, so it’ll chug along even with multiple apps open. That also powers the device’s big, bright 12.4” LCD screen with a 60Hz refresh rate. This won’t be the best if you’re planning to do a ton of gaming or creative work, but it should suffice for just about everything else. With an included S pen, this tablet is perfect for taking notes and sketching. And, an all-day battery life means you can take it along to work or school without the worry of running out of juice.
Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2
Best Tablet for Media Consumption
If you’re just looking for an affordable and portable option to stream your favorite shows and movies or browse the web, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 is the perfect option for consuming media. It's rocking a vivid and colorful 11.2-inch 2.5K OLED display touting Dolby Vision and HDR10+. That screen even offers a 120Hz refresh rate and full DCI-P3 color gamut, something you don’t usually see in such a budget-friendly tablet.
There’s plenty more good under the hood of the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2, as it’s running on a MediaTek Kompanio 1300T processor and 4GB RAM, so it’ll blaze through everyday tasks, streaming, and even some light gaming. Though thin and compact, the tablet packs in an impressive set of 4-channel JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos for pleasant listening when you’re not in a public space—otherwise, grab a pair of wireless headphones. You also get a decent battery life, making it a perfect on-the-go companion.
iPad mini
Best Tablet for Portability
Great things come in small packages, as the 2021 model of the legendary iPad mini proves. In fact, it might be giving the iPad Air 4 a good run for its money, especially with the newer A15 Bionic chip, which boasts a 21% CPU gain over the A14, and the same amount of RAM. This tiny tablet, therefore, packs a punch, and it’s even capable of handling some of your creative tasks – especially with that updated screen.
The only thing that really holds it back is its small, 8.3-inch display, which isn’t very ideal for productivity. Still, there’s a lot of power packed in its premium package, and it’s just the ticket if you’re looking for something extremely portable that you can count on if you need to tackle the occasional work tasks while traveling.
Kindle Scribe
Best Tablet for Reading
Amazon’s Kindle lineup has been the perfect on-the-go tool for avid readers for the past decade, and the Scribe continues this tradition. With it comes a large noncolor 10.2-inch screen, putting it around the same size as a hardcover book. However, it’s significantly thinner and lighter, at less than a quarter inch thick and weighing under one pound.
The Kindle Scribe’s 300ppi display is crisp with excellent contrast for an enjoyable reading and writing experience, while a 35 LED backlight lets you see the screen in the dark. Our favorite version of this tablet comes with a decent 64GB of storage and a premium pen ideal for annotating books and doodling. And with a battery life of up to 12 weeks, depending on usage, you’ll rarely need to worry about charging.
Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/best-tablet