We take a look back at some of the best tablets to come out this year, and which ones you should go for. No surprises here, Apple’s iPad makes the cut as one of the years best tablets. After all, it was Apple who pretty much kicked off the popularization of tablets with the original iPad a decade ago. Ten years later, the standard iPad has finally had a size increase, going from 9.7-inches to 10.2, but without increasing the size of the tablet itself, thanks to shrinking the bezels around the display. So, how much more can you expect to pay for this faster, larger iPad? Well, it’s the same price its always been, coming in at $329, representing pretty impressive value for one of the best tablets on the market. Sure you can go cheaper, but for the money, nothing will match Apple’s iconic slab.
Compatible with Smart Keyboard10.2-inch screen
Underpowered for demanding users
Cheapest Fire tabletSmall and lightExpandable storage
Cons
Will struggle with complex tasksLow resolution screen
Special ‘kid-proof’ case2 year guaranteeBetter screen quality than Fire 7
Cons
Not a huge spec boost over Fire 7Screen is HD, not Full HD
Apple might hog the limelight with its iPad series, but props to Samsung, they’ve been consistently producing some excellent tablets for a number of years, including its iPad not-quite-killer the Galaxy Tab S6. It’s a versatile tablet, thanks to the fact that Samsung have included a stylus in the box, something that other manufacturers offer, but at an additional price. Of course, it is also compatible with a dedicated keyboard, turning it into a laptop alternative, which can optionally run Samsung’s DeX UI too, replacing the tablet-based interface with one that is more desktop-like, and adding support for a mouse. In other words, your tablet will genuinely feel like a laptop when you want it to, instead of only pretending to be one. With a capable Snapdragon 855 processor, the Tab S6 is a genuine iPad alternative.
S Pen stylus included in boxDeX feature makes it a laptop competitorDetailed 12.4-inch display
Keyboard costs extra
Microsoft’s Surface range has long tried to occupy the middle ground of both tablet and laptop, and the Surface Pro X feels like the closest to reaching this goal. The Surface Pro X is a premium, powerful device that is equally happy being a large, 13-inch tablet, as well as a fully fledged laptop. It’s essentially Microsoft’s attempt at an iPad Pro, but designed for the Windows experience. For some of you, that’s a horrifying prospect, but for those of you that are still reading, this could be the tablet for you. There’s some bad news to get out of the way, though. The excellent keyboard and stylus are sold separately, meaning you’ll need to pay out around another $300 to get the full experience, and with the Surface Pro X starting at $1000, this thing ain’t cheap. However, if you want a tablet that can truly double as a Windows laptop, it really is the best option, and you’ll feel incredibly smug whenever you pull this thing from your bag.
Powerful SQ1 processor13 hour battery lifeSuper sharp 2880 x 1920 resolution
Cons:
Keyboard and stylus cost extra
