LABS FEATURE
There’s an argument that the tablet is the ultimate personal computer: no other computing device balances mobility, speed and ease of use so effectively. But the word “tablet” is deceptive in its simplicity. Tablets can be cheap and functional, but others deliver a high-spec, premium experience. And they’re also incredibly customisable: add a keyboard or stylus and the same device you used to watch Elf can be transformed into the perfect tool to edit your own 4K video. A tablet is at once a media player, an ebook reader and a handheld games machine – or simply the perfect vehicle for browsing and social media. Perhaps the most confusing thing about tablets is their sheer diversity. While the basic format has changed little since the iPad launched, even Apple’s range scales from compact slates to tablets so powerful and capable they could replace your laptop. Outside the Apple universe, you’re looking at everything from $100 devices aimed at media consumption to $1,800 models with massive screens and every feature you could wish for. Somewhere in that spectrum is the right tablet for you – and we’ve tested 13 of the best to help you find it.
Seven questions to ask before taking a tablet
Our reviews give a fantastic insight into each machine’s merits, but before you make a costly decision make sure you’ve answered all the key questions
It’s easy to take a sledgehammer/walnut approach to tablets and spend more than you need, but just as easy to go too cheap and end up disappointed with your tablet and its limited capabilities. That’s why you should start by considering what you want or need a tablet for and the size you’re going to be comfortable using; then think about your budget.
1 Do you need to go large?
Small-screen 7in to 9in tablets have fallen out of high-end fashion, but if you’re looking for a media consumption device then they still make a lot of sense. They’re lighter and more portable than the bigger-screen tablets, but have more usable screen space than your smartphone, particularly for watching videos, playing games, reading ebooks or browsing the web. The lower weight and smaller size also make a difference if you’re using the device handheld for extended periods, or planning to use it on a plane or train.
Mid-sized tablets with 9in to 11in screens are larger and heavier, but the advantages of a bigger screen might make the shift up worth your while. You’ll have more space for browsing and online shopping, a more immersive streaming experience, and more screen real estate for running demanding image-editing or productivity apps. It’s at this size, too, where add-on keyboards become worthwhile; clip one on and a decent mid-sized tablet can become a mobile workhorse.
Big-screen tablets (11in and up) cross further into laptop territory, with even more space for apps and multitasking. However, the larger you go, the more comfort and portability become an issue, although even a 12.9in tablet is going to be lighter and more practical in some conditions than the equivalent 13in laptop.
2 How much power do you need?
It’s no surprise that budget tablets come with low-cost, low-performance processors and limited quantities of RAM. The specs will still be fine for streaming HD video, reading ebooks and browsing the web, but you’ll find the experience less than snappy – particularly if you’re used to a decent smartphone – and you’ll struggle to run more intensive apps. Older and more basic games might be an option, but demanding titles such as Apex Legends, Genshin Impact and Diablo Immortal won’t be, at least at anything beyond the lowest detail settings.
The more you pay, the more processing power and RAM you’ll have at your disposal. Android tablets will go from mid-range chipsets to the high-end, while the iPad range starts with the speedy A13 Bionic in the ninth generation iPad and goes all the way up to the M1 and M2 – the exact same chips you’ll find in recent MacBooks and macOS PCs. There’s no real point in going too high if you’re not going to use that kind of performance – it’s wasted on a consumption device – but if you’re thinking of using a tablet as your main device or as a secondary computer, then your applications will run more smoothly with more power at their disposal.
3 Can you skimp on the screen?
No. There are some areas where you can make compromises to get a cheaper tablet, but it’s not worth penny-pinching here. For one thing, resolution matters on a device that you’ll use at less than a bent arm’s length away. Some of the 800 x 1,280 screens on smaller tablets can be usable, but at 11in even a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) screen can look fuzzy or pixellated, and a higher-resolution screen will be noticeably sharper.
That said, resolution isn’t the only factor. Brightness and contrast arguably make even more of a difference, especially if you’re streaming TV shows and movies. Some tablet screens even support HDR and HDR standards such as Dolby Vision. Colour reproduction is also crucial, particularly if you use your tablet for creative purposes.
One final gotcha. Be aware that, even if your tablet has a Full HD or higher resolution, it might not be able to stream Full HD video from many streaming services unless it has the Widevine DRM certification to do so. Check the specs carefully, and you’ll see some tablets listed as Widevine L3 certified and others as Widevine L1. Widevine L3, which uses software for DRM management, will see you stuck at SD resolutions in Netflix or Amazon Prime. All the tablets on test support Widevine L1.
4 How about audio?
On a smartphone, the speakers aren’t that important; if you’re planning on watching or playing something, headphones will beat the built-in sound any day. It’s different on a tablet, where decent speakers working in stereo make using them more likely, at least around the home.
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