16/12/2020
The best tablets in 2020
These are the best tablets for work and play — and for every budget — based on our research and testing
Choosing the best tablet is no easy task, and that's why we test them all to find which is right for you. Out there on the shelves (and digital shelves), retailers present a plethora of colorful screens, each boasting its own wide range of apps (though some aren't as complete) and they all claim to offer long-lasting battery life. So, we've done the work to test and review these slates, to see which ones are worth your money.
Some tablets are positioned as content consumption devices, such as the Amazon Fire tablet line and the entry-level iPad (which just got a nice update), while others are designed to replace your laptop, such as the Surface Pro 7 and iPad Pro. Heck, even the new iPad Air might be fast enough to be your next main machine.
Going back to school? We've got the best Chromebooks for kids
Not an Apple fan? We've got the best Android tablets too
iPad Pro vs. iPad: Which tablet is right for you?
To help you decide which tablet is right for you, we test all of the top devices in our lab and in the real world. In general, Amazon tablets are great for kids and anyone on a tight budget. iPads are best for students and creative pros. And those who care most about productivity should check out Microsoft’s Surface line or other Windows-powered tablets.
Keep in mind that if you want a keyboard, this accessory often does not come standard. And the same thing goes for a stylus or pen. So you’ll want to keep these extra costs in mind when shopping. Here are the best tablets right now.
What are the best tablets?
The iPad is synonymous with tablets for a reason. While it's not as cheap as the Amazon Fire 7, Apple continues to update and perfect its entry-level tablet, which now has a bigger screen than ever. 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 away from the entry level iPad to 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), which help it challenge the world of laptops.
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, the iPad Pro offers a vibrant and smooth ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate. On the inside, Apple’s A12Z Bionic processor is faster than many Windows laptops, so you won’t experience any lag as you multitask.
Last but not least, the new iPad Pros offer a new ultra-wide camera (for more versatility when shooting photos) and a LiDAR scanner (for advanced AR performance). Microsoft is making another play to challenge the iPad Pro, with the newly announced Surface Pro X 2020, which it says will improve legacy Windows app support.
For parents or those on a budget, the Amazon Fire tablet line offers some great options.. While their Amazon content-first interface may be off putting to those who don't live in the Prime world, their prices can't be beat and Amazon's slowly updating them to USB-C, which it's got in the Fire HD 10 and added to the Fire 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 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.
1. Apple iPad 2020 review (10.2 inch)
The best tablet for most people
CPU: A12 Bionic | Camera Resolution: 8MP (rear), 1.2MP (front) | Display: 10.2 inches, 2160 x 1620 pixels | Storage: 32GB, 128GB | Ports: Lightning, Headphone | Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with optional LTE
• Faster A12 Bionic processor
• Supports Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard
• Bright and colorful display
• Dated design with big bezels
• Nowhere to store Apple Pencil
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
The best tablet for those on a budget
• Fast for its price
• Hyper affordable
• Finally, hands-free Alexa
• Lots of Amazon ads
• Low-res display
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. Microsoft Surface Go 2
The best tablet for Windows 10
• Lengthy battery life
• Bright, vivid screen
• Great we**am
• Unimpressive performance
• Type Cover requires adjustments
Sometimes, it takes a second try to make a thing go right. The Surface Go 2 takes aim at all the flaws of the predecessor and knocks them all down. First of all, thinner bezels make way for a bigger screen, arguably the most important part of a tablet. The Surface Go 2 has a 10.5-inch display, compared to 10 inches for the previous model.
The biggest upgrade is the Surface Go 2’s 11 hours and 39 minutes of battery life, which is over 5 hours longer than the original Surface Go.. Microsoft also answered my prayers for a laptop with a great we**am. The 5-megapixel 1080p camera in its top bezel is great for the era of online video calls, and its second front camera sensor adds Windows Hello biometric login. Finally, get the Surface Go 2 with the 8th Gen Intel Core m3 upgrade, it's a little pricier at $629, but it's definitely the model for multitaskers.
4. iPad Air (2020)
The best iPad for your dollar
• Elegant thin and light design
• Super-fast A14 Bionic processor
• Excellent we**am
• No Face ID
• RIP headphone jack
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 we**am, 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.
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7
The best Android tablet
• Excellent battery life
• Facial recognition
• USB-C charging
• Screen is a little dim
• Underwhelming performance
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.
By Henry T. Casey
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-tablet
