What Is The Best Tablet You Can Buy?
Tablets are one of tech's most versatile purchases. You can use them to watch films, send emails, browse the web or even make music. If the size of your phone screen just doesn't cut it and you don't want a laptop, then a tablet is the perfect companion.
There are many great tablets out there - iPads are obvious choices - but there are several we'd recommend for you depending on your budget, needs and taste in design. And of course, there are many terrible tablets out there, but rest assured - none of those feature in the below round up.
1. Apple iPad 10.2in (2019)
- 32GB $329 | 128GB $429
It might not be hugely different from the previous entry-level iPad but Apple has yet again created a tablet that's very hard to complain about. There's no big need to upgrade if you have the older 9.7in model but if you don't then there's a lot to love here.
Apple has made the screen is larger, added a Smart Connector, made improvements to the software with iPadOS and more.
The cheapest iPad in Apple's doesn't have a laminated display and ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate which you'll find on Pro models. However, we can't expect these things without a higher price and blurring the lines to those premium models.
This is a great all-rounder tablet and a particularly good buy if you want to make the most of Apple Arcade.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e
- From $399
If you don't care about Android or iOS, then the iPad (2018) is a slightly better value buy.
Furthermore, it's more affordable and the jump to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage isn't much. The Tab S4 being old does mean it's had a few price drops but it's only worth spending the extra if you really need the extra power of its beefier processor.
The Tab S5e is limited a little by the Snapdragon 670 but it's designed and pitched as an entertainment tablet rather than a laptop replacement -despite the inclusion of DeX - and it does this very well.
Many users will find the lack of a headphone jack disappointing but there's a dongle in the box and you also have the option to use USB-C or wireless headphones.
3. Apple iPad Air (2019)
- 64GB $499 | 256GB $649
The iPad Air is a fast machine with a large and well-specced screen, long battery life and attractive (if old-fashioned) design - the old familiar Home button and particularly the headphone port will be seen as plus points by many. The front-facing camera provides high-quality FaceTime video and selfies, and while the rear camera is less impressive this is a sensible area for a mid-size tablet to cut costs.
Talking of which, £479/$499 (for the perfectly adequate base storage allocation) is good value for all the goodies just mentioned. Those on a tight budget should choose the iPad 9.7in, and a Pro model is probably better for a creative professional, but for most people this is now the best iPad on the market.
4. Apple iPad Pro 11in (2018)
- From $799 | Model reviewed $1,549
But for creatives or those who want to use the iPad Pro as a laptop then this is the best option, it just comes at a high price. It has Face ID, amazing build quality, great battery life and a new Apple Pencil that's better than ever.
5. Microsoft Surface Pro 6
- From US$699
Now in matt black, the Pro 6 is a powerful and versatile Windows tablet that is a great portable option if you want a tablet that is as good as a laptop with full Windows 10. It's a shame there's no USB-C port, as can be found on the Surface Pro 7, but otherwise we can fully recommend it.
6. Huawei MatePad Pro
- From £549 (around $714)
The MatePad Pro is a difficult bit of kit to judge. The hardware is impressive: the 10.8in display is detailed, bright and crisp, there’s enough power under the hood to power even the most demanding apps and games and the M-Pencil/Keyboard Cover combo mean you can get creative with how you use the tablet.
The problem, like all Huawei products at the moment, is the lack of Google Mobile Services.
You’ve got the option of using Huawei's AppGallery and sideloading popular apps, but key pro-level Adobe apps (along with any Google apps) won’t work without access to GMS, regardless of how you install them.
So, while the MatePad is Pro in just about every respect, you might struggle to find Pro-level apps that truly take advantage of the hardware on offer.
7. Apple iPad mini (2019)
- Wi-Fi, 64GB $399, 256GB $549. WiFi + Cellular 64GB $529, 256GB $679
The iPad mini proves that this form factor is still desirable and useful even in an age of larger smartphones. With the A12 processor at an affordable base price, Apple’s smallest tablet is a tiny powerhouse of a computer.
Yes, the design is seven years old but with the addition of Apple Pencil support and with decent battery life, Apple has breathed new life back into the iPad mini. Not everyone wants or needs to spend £1,000 on an iPad Pro.
8. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
- From $649
Although the Tab S4 is the same price as its predecessor, there's not a huge amount that's new here. And it's a shame not to find the latest processor.
A larger 10.5in screen rivals the smaller iPad Pro and Samsung's DeX software is built-in to provide PC-like functionality. Samsung's aim is to replace your laptop but that's only doable if your usage is pretty basic.
This is no doubt one of the best Android tablets around but will be overkill for many, both in price and features. Unless you're completely anti-Apple, the iPad 9.7 for 2018 is a comparative bargain at £319.
9. Amazon Fire HD 8 2018
- From $79.99
And now you can use Alexa hands free, or pair the Fire HD 8 with the clever Show Mode dock to get an affordable smart display for home use. If you want to watch video on Prime and Netflix and not much else then this tablet is a no-brainer.
10. Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4
- To be confirmed
If your budget is more like £300/US$300, it's a struggle to recommend the MediaPad M5 when the 2018 iPad 9.7 has a headphone socket, support for the Apple Pencil and - well - it's an iPad running iOS.
Your Buying Guide To The Best Tablets In 2020
While Apple has something of a hold on the tablet conversation, there are great Android alternatives from Samsung, Huawei and Amazon. And if you need a tablet with full Windows, Microsoft is there for you with Surface.
Should I buy an Android, Windows or iOS tablet?
But if you want the best, you've got four main choices: an iPad, an Android tablet an Amazon Fire tablet or a Windows tablet.
Apple iPads run Apple's own iPadOS operating system which is widely regarded as one of the best out there. It's easy to use and app makers usually make it their first choice, so you're pretty much guaranteed to find what you're after.
If you have an iPhone, then it'll also be very familiar.
This is valuable when you buy accessories that require apps - mainly smart home or fitness gadgets - as you may not be able to control these from a Windows tablet.
In most cases, apps are made available on Android as well as iPads, but not always. Android tablets can be cheaper than iPads, but there are some Samsung models which cost the same or are more expensive.
Windows tablets come in both cheap and expensive guises, but it has the advantage of being able to run the same programs you use on your laptop or PC - not just as many finger-friendly tablet apps as you'll be used to on your phone or on an iPad.
And that's why most Windows tablets come with a keyboard, or offer it as an option: they're really a hybrid of a laptop and tablet. But as you'll find out in most of our Windows tablet reviews, this is rarely a case of getting the best of both worlds. One exception is the Surface Pro from Microsoft.
The fourth option is Amazon's Fire tablets. These are based on Android but are locked into Amazon's system: you won't find any Google services or apps on them so bear this in mind. But they are very affordable.
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