The Best Tablets to Consider Buying
Which are the Best Tablets?
The iPad is synonymous with tablets for a reason. When you buy the basic iPad, you're guaranteed to get a great screen and strong audio.
But when it comes to picking the best iPad for most people, we tend to push people towards the new iPad Air 2020.
It may be a little pricier, but if you want to use an Apple Pencil or an attachable keyboard. It's the best iPad that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. As it supports the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (2nd Gen).
The iPad Pro is the best tablet for those who want a device for work and play; available in both 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions.
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The new iPad Pro 2021 promises great performance and a great screen. Especially if you splurge for the 12.9-inch version with its new mini-LED display.
HD 8 2020. For those who like to take lots of physical notes, the reMarkable 2 tablet is a one-of-a-kind slate that replicates the feel of pen and paper like no other.
You can also check out the new Microsoft Surface Go 2. Which erases the memory of the lackluster original by lasting longer. Thinning its bezels and providing a faster processor option.
All of that, plus a kickstand that's as strong as the one used to prop up its big brother, the Surface Pro. And it runs Windows 10, arguably the most capable operating system on any tablet today.
The best tablets you can buy today
1. Apple iPad 2020 (10.2 inch) - Best Tablets
The best tablet for most people.
2020 Apple iPad (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 128GB) - Space Gray (8th Generation)
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The new 8th Gen iPad may be a minor update, but it's enough to keep the king on its throne. That's because the A12 Bionic chip provides a welcome speed boost that was once kept to more expensive iPads (which moved up to the A14 chip).
The iPad still boasts a fantastic screen for its price, and Apple's own Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio are just easier to use than any Bluetooth accessory on the market.
That A12 chip comes in handy now, more than ever, as Apple's advances in iPadOS have made for more multitasking.
Also, iPadOS 14, which ships on the iPad 8, gives you Scribble handwriting to text translation. Which makes the Apple Pencil a better buy than before.
We just wish Apple would update the iPad's design (the big bezels are aging) to allow for an easier way to store the Apple Pencil.
Especially if the iPad won't work with the excellent 2nd Gen Apple Pencil, which is limited to the iPad Air and iPad Pro.
2. Amazon Fire 7 - Best Tablets
The best tablet for those on a budget.
Fire 7 tablet (7" display, 16 GB) - Black
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For a lot of customers, price makes the big difference, so Amazon could have coasted when it comes to the $50 Fire 7 tablet.
Fortunately, the most recent iteration of the company's cheapest slate packs a snappy quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, which helps you navigate apps and browse the web faster than you'd expect from a tablet this cheap.
And while previous Fire tablets made you tap to activate Alexa — which made no sense, it's meant to be summoned with your voice — the Fire 7 finally added voice triggers for the digital assistant.
Just don't expect any frills that come with more expensive tablets. The Fire 7 tablet’s sub-HD screen is not sharp enough for anyone used to an iPad. And its lock screen is filled with ads unless you pay extra. Still, it's a great pick for kids looking for a media consumption device.
3. iPad Air (2020)
The best iPad for your dollar.
2020 Apple iPad Air (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Gold (4th Generation)
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Apple's iPad Air (2020) borrows a lot of what we like from the iPad Pro, at a more affordable price, and it's arguably Apple's best iPad ever (though it's still not going to sell as well as the 10.2-inch iPad).
It's got the super-thin bezels you'll recognize from the iPad Pro, as well as support for the Magic Keyboard, which makes it a true laptop competitor.
On top of that, Apple's blazing-fast A14 Bionic chip helps future-proof this tablet with enough speed for demanding apps and multitasking. Oh, and they managed to put Touch ID in the lock button.
Everywhere else, the iPad Air 4 is great, if not the best. Its 10.5 hours of battery life will be enough to keep you going all day long. And its screen is bright and colorful enough to make your next Netflix binge-watch look brilliant.
It's also great for the work from home era, thanks to its 7-megapixel webcam, which beat the Logitech C920 in head-to-head testing done for our review.
We only wish the Magic Keyboard wasn't so expensive: it's hard to feel great buying a keyboard for almost the same price as the entry-level iPad.
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7
The best Android tablet.
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S7+ Keyboard, Black (EF-DT970UBEGUJ) (Includes Keyboard Only)
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Android fans finally have a true iPad competitor, at a much more affordable price. Retailing for $229 (and on sale often for much less) the Galaxy Tab A7 is a great 10.4-inch tablet for consuming content.
Whether you're browsing the web or streaming movies, you get to focus on your content more, thanks to its super-thin bezels that are thinner than what you get with Apple's $329 iPad.
Oh, and it's got endurance to spare, lasting 13 hours and 13 minutes on the Tom's Guide battery test. Oh, and it's also got an iPad Pro feature that Apple makes you pay a lot for: facial recognition to unlock the device.
And just like Apple's pricier tablets, the Galaxy Tab A7 charges over USB-C, so you can continue to cut non-reversible microUSB cables out of your life.
And while it's not as fast as the iPad and its screen isn't as bright, neither is a serious problem at this price.
Especially when Samsung gives you true Android with the Google Play app store, and not the watered-down Amazon Fire tablet experience.
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