On the premium end, tablets like the iPad Pro and the latest models of the Samsung Galaxy Tab come with the latest and greatest processor, bright high-resolution screens, quad-speakers, and in some cases, they support higher refresh rate displays. You also have the option of pairing them with accessories like a keyboard and stylus, allowing you to engage in productivity tasks like working on documents, taking notes, and sketching.
Here, read on to see the best tablets to get.
One hardware improvement in the 2020 iPad Pro is a 10MP ultra-wide rear camera added along with the main 12MP one. Not that we condone people holding up large tablets in public places to take pictures, but the forward-thinking tablet adds other camera-related tricks. It uses Light Detection and Ranging, or LiDAR, technology to rapidly scan the environment and load 3D objects onto it. Our reviewer could see a lot of potential to make augmented reality (AR) experiences faster, smoother, and more immersive.
The iPad Pro becomes even more powerful when paired with its latest accessory, the Magic Keyboard. Your tablet attaches magnetically to it and “floats” over the full-size keyboard. More significantly, trackpad support opens the iPad up to new worlds, working with swipe gestures as well as a smart, context-sensitive cursor that’s precise and intuitive. When combined with the game-changing support for mouse control added in iPadOS (in addition to the Apple Pencil stylus), you have an iPad that comes closer than ever to taking over laptop duties.
Screen Size: 12.9 inches | Resolution: 2732x2048 | Processor: A12Z Bionic | Camera: 12MP/10MP rear and 7MP front | Battery: Li-Ion 9,720mAh
Using the HDR+-capable, AMOLED tech that Samsung is known for, this is without a doubt the best tablet display on the market. While it does offer the same 120Hz refresh rate found on the latest iPad Pro line, it does so with starker black tones and way more vibrant colors. The Snapdragon 865+ processor is also the most powerful chip that Qualcomm has ever released, rivaling Apple’s A14 Bionic chipset in real world performance (even if the numerical benchmarks tilt toward Apple). But, because the Tab S7+ comes with its excellent, sub 9ms latency S-Pen included in the box, it’s notable how much better of a value it is than the iPad Pro.
While Android isn’t exactly the most tablet-friendly OS, because developers haven’t optimized their apps in the same way that iPad developers have, the Tab S7+ does offer something the iPad doesn’t: Samsung Dex. This desktop-like, taskbar-based skin placed over the top of Android makes this tablet feel a lot like a Chromebook or a Windows laptop. You will need to spend an extra $220 to get the official Samsung keyboard cover to take full advantage, but this is a compelling means of being more productive on the device. And because Android offers the Xbox Game Cloud and Stadia apps, unlike the iPad, this is possibly a better gaming platform, too.
The hardware feels great, the cameras aren’t quite smartphone-caliber, but are definitely in keeping with Samsung’s track record. Oh, and did we mention that screen? The Tab S7+ is available with up to 1TB of storage and up to 8GB of RAM, and allows you to expand the storage even further with a microSD card slot.
Screen Size: 12.4 inches | Resolution: 2800x1752 | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ | Camera: 13MP/5MP rear and 8MP front | Battery: Li-Ion 10,090mAh
Positioned as the most affordable iPad, the iPad 10.2-inch is an impressively competent piece of hardware. When paired with a Smart Keyboard, I was able to use it as a laptop replacement in a lot of situations where I either couldn’t or didn’t want to carry around my much larger and heavier laptop. The new iPadOS 14 is a real boon to productivity, and the Apple Pencil is almost a required purchase with the Scribble feature that allows you to handwrite in any text field.
The 8th generation iPad 10.2-inch is still significantly less powerful than either the iPad Air 4 or iPad Air Pro, and those alternatives are worth looking at if you have space in your budget and a greater need to use your tablet like you would a laptop. For the price though, the 2020 iPad is as good as it gets.
Screen Size: 10.2 inches | Resolution: 2160x1620 | Processor: A12 Bionic| Camera: 8MP rear and 1.2MP front | Battery: 10 hours web surfing
The Mini manages to make up for its smaller but more portable size by featuring a gorgeous 7.9-inch retina display, with an anti-reflective 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution. The screen makes your images and videos pop, with High Dynamic Range (HDR) support and two cameras, an eight-megapixel on the back, and a seven-megapixel on the front for FaceTime calls. There isn’t an app this tablet can’t handle, and anything you need to accomplish can be done on the run or while traveling — the Mini is just that versatile and nimble.
Colors come in rose gold, space gray, and classic silver models, and you can choose between 64GB of memory or 256GB.
Screen Size: 7.9 inches | Resolution: 2048x1536| Processor: A12 Bionic| Camera: 8MPrear and 7MP front | Battery: 5,124mAh
There are multiple configurations available for the Surface Go 2. The more powerful options with the Intel core m3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD storage will cost more than the base model, but it’ll also give you improved performance and multitasking capabilities. Unlike Android and iPadOS slates, the Surface Go 2 can run word processing, Excel, PowerPoint, and other key parts of the Microsoft Office Suite.
The tablet comes with a keyboard and Surface Pen, giving you options for typing, taking notes, handwriting recognition, and drawing. There’s a 5MP front-facing camera that supports Windows Hello login, an 8MP rear camera, dual-band Wi-Fi, and support for LTE with the Snapdragon X16 modem, giving you connectivity no matter where you are.
Screen Size: 10.5 inches | Resolution: 1920x1280 | Processor: Intel Core m3| Camera: 8MP rear and 5Mp front | Battery: 10 hours regular usage
Screen Size: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1920x1280 | Processor: Mediatek MT8183 Helio P60T| Camera: 2MP rear and 2MP front | Battery: 6,300mAh
Aesthetically, the iPad Pro looks a lot like a slightly smaller iPad Pro. They share a lot of design cues, and you can use accessories like the second-generation Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard with the iPad 4 just like you would with the Pro. The iPad Air 4 features a more powerful processor than the iPad Pro (2020) though, and it’s an absolute dynamo in the productivity department.
Multitasking is smooth as silk, the Liquid Retina display is beautiful and incredibly responsive when used with the Apple Pencil, and the tablet really shines when used with the Magic Keyboard. If you’re in the market for a tablet that can do a pretty convincing laptop impression with the right accessories, and the iPad Air 4 is in your budget, then don’t sleep on this one.
Screen Size: 10.9 inches | Resolution: 2360x1640 | Processor: A14 Bionic| Camera: 12MP rear and 7MP front | Battery: 7,606mAh
Though the battery is slightly smaller in the 2020 model (though only barely, at 5,000mAh vs. 5,100mAh), it’s still got the capacity to keep you browsing, reading, and gaming for long stretches without needing to be reupped. It’s also very affordable for an LTE tablet, and is also available as a purely Wi-Fi device for even less, directly through Samsung’s website. It’s a sharp, versatile, powerful modern tablet and a new high water mark for Samsung’s tablet offerings.
Screen Size: 8.0 inches | Resolution: 1280x800| Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 429| Camera: 8MP rear and 2MP front | Battery: 5,100mAh
As has always been the downside with Surface Pros, that keyboard that’s so crucial to the experience doesn’t actually come with the tablet, so you have to pay more to get the most out of a device you’re already splurging on. But you do get impressive hardware for your investment, especially if you spring for the top-tier configuration: a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB in storage. It’s like a business laptop with extra flexibility—and Microsoft has added a handy USB-C port to the Pro 7, too.
As a whole, the product’s 7th generation carries on the tradition of Surface Pro tablets as leading 2-in-1 productivity machines, but it does so without adding too much new. If you’re hankering for something a little more forward-thinking in design and hardware, the always-connected Surface Pro X may be worth a look.
Screen Size: 12.3 inches | Resolution: 2736x1824| Processor: Intel Core i3/i5/i7| Camera: 8MP rear and 5MP front | Battery: 10.5 hours average use
Sandra Stafford is a writer and educator who lends her expertise to a number of reviews on Lifewire, including various iPad models and other gadgets for people and their pets.
Ajay Kumar is a Lifewire Tech Editor who has worked for a decade in tech journalism and digital publishing, covering the industry and reviewing everything from tablets to games and hardware.
Anton Galang has 12+ years of experience in writing and editing, focusing on consumer tech and education. He believes in enjoying tablets for work and play—for kids of all ages.
Jonno Hill is a lifelong tech enthusiast who has written for top tech and culture websites, now testing and reviewing a variety of tablets, laptops, and other electronic essentials.
Erika Rawes has been writing for Lifewire since 2019. She’s previously been published in Digital Trends and US Today. As a tech generalist, she’s tested a wide range of products.
Jason Schneider has been writing for Lifewire since 2019 and has a decades’ worth of experience reviewing consumer technology products.
Jeremy Laukkonen is an experienced reviewer and product tester who’s been writing for Lifewire since 2019. He’s tested a profusion of products, including many tablets, laptops, and smartphones.
What to Look for in a Tablet
Screen size
The average tablet is around 10 inches, measured diagonally, but they can be as small as 8 inches and run up to 13.5. The screen size is really a personal preference, but for productivity purposes, it’s often the bigger the better. If you’re merely streaming a show or reading a book, a smaller screen should suffice.
Budget
Battery life
Compared to smartphones, which barely make it through the day on a single charge, most tablets can last at least a couple days, depending on use, of course. Be sure to buy one with at least 10 hours of rated battery life and you’ll be good to go.
