Tablets

How to choose a tablet

A tablet is either a sofa device for films and the web, a school tool or a laptop replacement — specs and price differ several times over. Six things decide the choice.

• iPadOS or Android. The iPad is the fastest, gets 5–7 years of updates and the best drawing apps. Android (Samsung, Lenovo, Xiaomi, Acer, Blackview) is cheaper and takes a microSD card.
• Screen. 8–9″ fits a bag and suits reading, 11″ is the all-rounder, 12–13″ replaces a laptop screen. Look for at least 2000×1200; an OLED screen is the bonus of the iPad Pro and Acer Iconia X12.
• Storage. 64 GB is enough for web and streaming, 128–256 GB is the sensible minimum for apps and photos, 512 GB–1 TB for video editing. 8 GB of RAM is the comfortable minimum.
• Wi-Fi, LTE or 5G. Wi-Fi is enough at home and school; in the car and at the summer house a SIM model beats tethering (Galaxy Tab A11 LTE, Idea Tab 5G, Redmi Pad 2 4G, iPad Cellular).
• Stylus and keyboard. For notes and drawing check pen support: Apple Pencil for the iPad, the S Pen ships in the box with the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+.
• Toughness and battery. For a child or a building site pick a shock-proof body (Blackview Active, Ulefone Armor Pad, Durabook). A 7000–10 000 mAh battery gives 8–12 hours of video.

Tablets in our range

Apple iPad: iPad mini 8.3″, iPad Air 11″ and 13″ on the M4 chip, iPad Pro 11″ with M5 and an OLED screen, 128 GB to 1 TB. Samsung Galaxy Tab: the affordable Tab A11 8.7″ Wi-Fi and LTE and the big Tab S10 FE+ 13.1″. Lenovo: Idea Tab 11″ 2560×1600 and 5G, IdeaTab Pro Gen 2 12.7″, Yoga Tab and Yoga Tab Plus. Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 11″ and Redmi Pad 2 Pro 12.1″, Acer Iconia V11, V12 and X12 OLED. Budget Android tablets Blackview Tab20, Tab60, Mega2 and Ulefone Tab A12 Pro; rugged tablets Blackview Active 5 and 7, Ulefone Armor Pad 5 Pro and the Durabook R11 on Windows 11 Pro; for kids the Blackview Link 1 Kids 8″.

Brands

Apple iPad is the fastest and longest-supported. Samsung offers the most familiar Android and an S Pen in the box. Lenovo Idea Tab and Yoga Tab are a strong value pick with a 2.5K screen. Xiaomi Redmi Pad is the cheapest 11–12″ tablet with a decent screen. Acer Iconia brings OLED to the affordable class. Blackview and Ulefone are Android tablets for a couple of hundred euros, including rugged and kids' models. Durabook is an industrial-grade Windows tablet.

Which tablet for whom

A pupil is fine with an 11″ Android, 128 GB and a keyboard; a student or designer is best off with an iPad Air and a pencil. For a child pick an 8″ model with a protective case and parental controls (Google Family Link, Apple Screen Time). A tablet is a small parcel: an Omniva, DPD or Venipak locker in 1–2 working days.

Related products

Protect the screen with a tablet case and a screen protector, add a keyboard for writing and a memory card for an Android tablet. To pair up, see smartphones — the full range is in phones and tablets.

Frequently asked questions

iPad or Android tablet? iPad if you want the fastest device, long support and drawing; Android if price, microSD and multiple users matter more.

Can a tablet replace a laptop? For writing, studying and meetings, yes — an iPad Air with a keyboard or a 12–13″ Android. For heavy software a laptop stays more comfortable.

Which tablet for a child? An 8–10″ Android tablet with a protective case, such as the Blackview Link 1 Kids or Tab60 8″, plus a screen-time limit.

Wi-Fi or LTE/5G? If the tablet leaves the house and you have a spare SIM, LTE is more convenient; otherwise Wi-Fi and a phone hotspot are enough.

How much storage do I need? 128 GB suits most people, 256 GB if you download films and games, 512 GB+ for video editing. An Android tablet can add a microSD card.