A breakdown of the year’s best tablet devices
A Tablet is a bit like the new kid in high school, not as well known as the laptops, desktops, and smartphones you’ve known for years, but well known enough that you might invite them to your party.
*End of high school analogy*
Depending on your lifestyle and tech habits, a good tablet could be just the device you need for those “I haven’t got time to put my feet up and watch TV but I’m also not gonna watch this on my phone” type moments (if those moments exist).
How We Graded Our Selections
We have broken our selections down based on operating systems, with a section each for Apple, Android, and Windows. While we definitely have not exhausted all the options, we feel there is a tablet here for all tastes and budgets. To make sure that was the case we looked out for features such as:
- Size
- Cost
- Capability
- Design
Our Selections:
APPLE | ANDROID | WINDOWS |
iPad 10.2 IPad Air iPad Pro | Samsung Galaxy S6 Fire HD 10 Google Pixel Slate Asus Zen Pad | Microsoft Surface Pro Lenovo ThinkPad X1 |
The Apple Tablet Collection
Steve Jobs and Apple didn’t invent the tablet device but they certainly brought it to the mainstream.
By the turn of the Millenium, Bill gates and Microsoft decided to take a crack of the whip, but even at the height of their success, they couldn’t quite pull it off.
In hindsight, the world just wasn’t ready for a tablet. Even Apple themselves had made a failed attempt at the tablet back in 1993 with their Newton Message Pad. However, by the time 2010 rolled around Steve Jobs was basically King Midas, so it came as no surprise when Apple released the iPad to worldwide acclaim.
Continuing in that fine tradition, Apple is still the leading tablet maker in today’s market. We have selected three of the best iPad’s currently available.
iPad 10.2 (2019)
Retail Value $350
The best for all-round value
Power | Features | Size |
Storage: 32/128GB RAM: 3GB CPU: A10 Fusion | OS: iPadOS Rear camera: 8MP Front camera: 1.2MP Battery: Up to 10 hours Resolution: 1620 x 2160 pixels | Dimensions: 251 x 174 x7.5mm Screen size: 10.2-inch Weight: 483g |
If you’re new in the tablet market and looking specifically for an Apple then this is a great option around the $350 mark. On that note, we should say that If money is one of your main criteria, the slightly older 9.7 should be cheaper and almost as good. On the other hand, if you are planning on doing a lot of sketching then you should consider the Apple Air or the Pro 12.9.
iPad Air (2018)
Retail Value $500
The Mid-Range iPad Option
Power | Features | Size |
Storage: 64GB/256GB CPU: A12 Bionic | OS: iPadOS Rear camera: 8MP Front camera: 7MP Resolution: 1668 x 2224 pixels | Dimensions:251×174.1 x6.1 mm Screen size: 10.5-inch Weight: 456g |
An upgrade on the 10.2, the iPad Air is a compromise between the smaller less powerful iPads and the super-powerful big brothers of the family.
iPad Pro 11 (2018)
Retail Value $800
Take Your Seat in First Class
Power | Features | Size |
Storage: 64GB/512GB/1TB CPU: A12X Bionic | OS: iPadOS Rear camera: 12MP Front camera: 7MP Battery: 7,812mAh Resolution: 2388 x 1668 pixels | Dimensions:248 x178.5×5.9 mm Screen size: 11-inch Weight: 468g |
The Pro 11 is Apple’s most powerful tablet and can also be converted into a laptop with the keyboard cover folio. It boasts excellent speakers, Apple Pencil, and superb craftsmanship. Steve would be proud.
The Android Tablet Collection
If there is one tech giant more ubiquitous than Apple it might just be Google, so it makes sense they would make a major play in the burgeoning tablet market.
The Android mobile operating system is Google’s foray into the mobile device development world. A consortium of developers, headed by Google, provides the Android software which can then be plugged into the hardware of companies such as Samsung, Amazon, Huawei, and LG amongst many others.
It is now the best selling OS in the world with 2 billion monthly users. Other than the Google connection, another reason it has achieved such astounding success is that it is completely open-source. Everybody is entitled to download, install, modify, and distribute Android’s source code, all free of charge.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Retail Value $800
Androids Leading Tablet Device
Power | Features | Size |
Storage: 128GB/256GB CPU: Snapdragon 855 | OS: Android 9 Rear camera: 13MP + 5MP Front camera: 8MP Battery: 7,040mAh Resolution: 1600 x 2560 pixels MicroSD slot | Dimensions: 245×159.5x 6mm Screen size: 10.5-inch Weight: 420g |
The newest arrival from Samsung’s Tab S line with an excellent array of additional features. This is a competitor to Apple’s pro range and a little bit cheaper too. With quality performance in both media and productivity, it makes a great option in that range.
Fire HD 10
Retail Value $200
Amazon’s Budget Android Offering
Power | Features | Size |
CPU: Mediatek MT8173 RAM: 2GB Storage: 32/64GB | OS: Android 5.1 Rear camera: 2MP Front camera: VGA Battery: 3830mAh Resolution: 1200 x 1920 | Dimensions: 262 x 159 x 9.8mm Screen size: 10.1 inches Weight: 500g |
Amazon’s entrance into the tablet world has turned up some of the best budget tablets that are currently available. With no access to the Google Play store, popular items such as Gmail and YouTube are off the list – this could be a problem for some users, but these are the best budget options available.
Google Pixel Slate
Retail Value $900
Google Throws Its Hat into the Tablet Mix
Power | Features | Size |
CPU: Intel Celeron, m3, i5 or i7 RAM: 4GB/8GB/16GB Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB | OS: Chrome OS/Android Rear camera: 8MP Front camera: 8MP Resolution: 3000 x 2000 Battery: up to 12 hours | Dimensions: 291 x 202 x 7mm Screen Size: 12.3-inch Weight: 731g |
Ironically, Google has all but stopped pushing out its own Android tablets. As a compromise, it now has tablets running on a combination of Chrome OS and Android. This turns out to be a great combination, the full desktop experience alongside the Android apps.
Asus Zen Pad
Retail Value $400
Best Budget Tablet Device
Power | Features | Size |
CPU: Mediatek MT817 RAM: 4GB Storage: 32GB/64GB | OS: Android 7 Rear camera: 8MP Front camera: 5MP Resolution: 1536 x 2048 | Dimensions:241×163.7×7.2 mm Screen size: 9.7-inch Weight: 430g |
The Asus ZenPad is a much better tablet than its price might have you believe. The clear display is the best you will find on any Android tablet, and it costs a lot less too. A great option for someone aiming to use their tablet primarily to consume media.
The Windows Tablet Collection
Back in the 1990s, the legendary Windows operating system by Microsoft was the be-all and end-all of computing. With Steve Jobs gone, Apple was in a commercial coma it didn’t look like it would ever come out of. Back then, all the signs pointed to never-ending Microsoft monopoly.
As we now know, that wasn’t to be the case. Apple made its comeback, in addition, a little known company by the name of Google strolled out of the Silicon Valley dust like some kind of techno John Wayne.
Today, Bill Gates’ baby is has matured into a well-rounded adult. The monopoly is long over but Microsoft Windows is still a relevant player in the 2020 tech world. This is proven with the company’s fine collection of tablet devices.
Microsoft Surface Pro
Retail Value $400
Big Value in a Small Package
Power | Features | Size |
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y GPU: Intel HD Graphics 615 RAM: 4GB – 8GB Storage: 64GB eMMC | OS: Windows 10 Resolution 1,800 x 1,200 Pixel Rear Camera: 8MP Front Camera 5MP | Dimensions:9.6 x 6.9 x 0.33 inch Screen: 10.5-inch Weight: 522 g |
Another great offering below $500, The Microsoft Surface Go is the best “Surface” device you can buy on a budget. It seems as if Microsoft has tried fitting every cool feature they could in one reasonably priced tablet.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet
Retail Value $750
A versatile 2-in-1 Windows Tablet
Power | Features | Size |
CPU: Intel Core i7-8650U GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 Storage: 1 TB PCIe SSD | OS Windows 10 Resolution 3,000 x 2,000 Rear Camera: 8MP Front Camera: 2MP | Screen: 13-inch Weight: 890g Dimensions: 11.96 x 8.88 x 0.59 inch (with keyboard) |
Lenovo named this tablet as ‘an IT admin’s dream,’ when they first released it in 2018. It is easy to see why – the ThinkPad X1 offers multiple technical features as well as doubling up as a laptop with the added keyboard.
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