iPad คือ มีความหมายเหมือนกันกับแท็บเล็ตด้วยเหตุผลบางประการ: เมื่อคุณซื้อ iPad พื้นฐาน คุณจะได้รับหน้าจอที่ยอดเยี่ยมและเสียงที่ดังกระหึ่ม แต่เมื่อพูดถึงการเลือก iPad ที่ดีที่สุดสำหรับคนส่วนใหญ่ เรามักจะผลักดันผู้คนให้มุ่งสู่ iPad Air ใหม่ในปี 2020 ซึ่งอาจมีราคาแพงกว่าเล็กน้อย แต่ถ้าคุณต้องการใช้ Apple Pencil หรือแป้นพิมพ์แบบต่อพ่วงได้ นี่คือ iPad ที่ดีที่สุด ที่ไม่ต้องใช้แขนและขาเพราะรองรับ Magic Keyboard และ Apple Pencil (รุ่นที่ 2) iPad Pro เป็นแท็บเล็ตที่ดีที่สุดสำหรับผู้ที่ต้องการอุปกรณ์สำหรับทำงานและเล่น iPad Pro 2021 ใหม่มีจำหน่ายทั้งรุ่น 11 นิ้วและ 12.9 นิ้ว โดยให้ประสิทธิภาพที่ยอดเยี่ยมและหน้าจอที่ยอดเยี่ยม โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งหากคุณเลือกรุ่น 12.9 นิ้วด้วยจอแสดงผล LED ขนาดเล็ก
สำหรับผู้ปกครองหรือผู้ที่มีงบ จำกัด กลุ่มผลิตภัณฑ์แท็บเล็ต Amazon Fire มีตัวเลือกที่ยอดเยี่ยม แม้ว่าอินเทอร์เฟซสำหรับเนื้อหาครั้งแรกของ Amazon อาจไม่เหมาะกับผู้ที่ไม่ได้อาศัยอยู่ในโลก Prime แต่ราคาของพวกเขาไม่สามารถเอาชนะได้และ Amazon ค่อย ๆ อัปเดตเป็น USB-C ซึ่งมีอยู่ใน Fire HD 10 และเพิ่ม สู่ Fire HD 8 2020 สำหรับผู้ที่ชอบจดบันทึกทางกายภาพจำนวนมาก แท็บเล็ต reMarkable 2 เป็นกระดานชนวนที่ไม่ซ้ำแบบใครที่ให้ความรู้สึกเหมือนปากกาและกระดาษที่ไม่เหมือนใคร
นอกจากนี้ คุณยังสามารถตรวจสอบ Microsoft Surface Go 2 ใหม่ ซึ่งจะลบหน่วยความจำของต้นฉบับที่ขาดความดแจ่มใสโดยใช้งานได้นานขึ้น ทำให้กรอบบางลง และให้ตัวเลือกโปรเซสเซอร์ที่เร็วขึ้น ทั้งหมดนี้ บวกกับขาตั้งที่แข็งแรงพอๆ กับที่ใช้หนุน Surface Pro รุ่นพี่ใหญ่ และใช้งาน Windows 10 ซึ่งเป็นระบบปฏิบัติการที่มีความสามารถมากที่สุดบนแท็บเล็ตทุกวันนี้
iPad Air ของ Apple (2020) ยืมสิ่งที่เราชอบมากมายจาก iPad Pro ในราคาที่จับต้องได้ และน่าจะเป็น iPad ที่ดีที่สุดของ Apple เลยทีเดียว (แม้ว่าจะยังไม่ขายเท่า iPad ขนาด 10.2 นิ้วก็ตาม) มีกรอบที่บางเฉียบที่คุณจะจำได้จาก iPad Pro รวมถึงการรองรับ Magic Keyboard ซึ่งทำให้เป็นคู่แข่งแล็ปท็อปตัวจริง ยิ่งไปกว่านั้น ชิพ A14 Bionic ที่เร็วสุดแรงของ Apple ยังช่วยให้แท็บเล็ตนี้รองรับอนาคตด้วยความเร็วที่เพียงพอสำหรับแอปที่ต้องการและมัลติทาสก์ โอ้และพวกเขาก็สามารถใส่ Touch ID ลงในปุ่มล็อคได้
ทุกที่อื่นๆ iPad Air 4 นั้นยอดเยี่ยม ถ้าไม่ดีที่สุด อายุการใช้งานแบตเตอรี่ 10.5 ชั่วโมงก็เพียงพอแล้วที่จะทำให้คุณใช้งานได้ตลอดทั้งวัน และหน้าจอก็สว่างและมีสีสันเพียงพอที่จะทำให้การรับชม Netflix ของคุณดูสดใส นอกจากนี้ยังเหมาะอย่างยิ่งสำหรับการทำงานจากที่บ้านด้วยเว็บแคม 7 ล้านพิกเซลซึ่งเอาชนะ Logitech C920 ในการทดสอบแบบตัวต่อตัวสำหรับการตรวจสอบของเรา 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.
–Screen is a little dim–Under whelming 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.
+Fantastic screen+Epic battery life+M1 processor is blazing-fast
Reasons to avoid
–12.9-inch iPad Pro’s display is better–iPadOS feels limited with M1 power
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro may have the better screen, but the 11-inch iPad Pro is arguably better for more people. Not only is its battery life fantastic — over 13 hours on the Tom’s Guide Battery Test — but it’s lighter and fits better with last year’s Magic Keyboard. Plus, it’s $300 less expensive. On top of that, you get the astonishing speed of the Apple M1 chip, which is maybe too powerful for most tablet apps, but they call it the iPad Pro for a reason — this is made for the folks using demanding video and image editing apps.
Of course, the 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 still thrives at the little things. Its bright and colorful display is sharp, its four speakers provide much larger sound than you might expect from such a thin device and. And if you’re willing to pony up the cash its amazing (optional) Magic Keyboard offers the simplest and smoothest tablet typing experience there is.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 (Image credit: Henry T. Casey/Tom’s Guide)
7. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
The best high-end Android tablet
Specifications
CPU: Snapdragon Qualcomm 865+
Display: 11-inch 2560 x 1600-pixel TFT panel
Storage: 128GB/256GB
Memory: 6GB/8GB
Ports: USB-C, microSD
Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 0.2 inches
Weight: 1.1 pounds
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
Reasons to buy
+Fantastic battery life+Beautiful 120Hz display+Thin and light design
Reasons to avoid
–Book Cover Keyboard has cramped layout–DeX mode still has room to grow
Samsung’s honing in on what makes a tablet perfect. The Galaxy Tab S7 has the slim-bezel/all-screen look that you should get for a tablet above $500. It’s also got a bright, vibrant display that’s super crisp. Plus, over 13 hours of battery life. And while DeX mode isn’t exactly perfect yet — app developers need to take it into consideration — a windowed Android app interface makes for decent productivity, which I noticed while watching nature videos in Android while I wrote parts of my review in Google Docs.
Samsung needs to refine its Book Cover Keyboard though, if it wants to truly compete with the iPad Pro. The S7’s keyboard has too-small number keys for many, and the two-piece nature of the Book Cover Keyboard (a $199 extra add on) is frustrating. Also, Android app developers need to give some polish to their apps’DeX mode version, and when the performance of the Snapdragon 865+ pales in testing compared to the Core i5 and A12Z chips, the Tab S7 isn’t the iPad Pro killer Samsung may want it to be. While many may go for a cheaper Android tablet, it’s great to see Samsung giving Android users a tablet that can go toe-to-toe with the iPad Pro.
+XDR display gets super bright+M1 processor sets new iPadOS records+Center Stage is pretty cool
Reasons to avoid
–Display needs HDR content to look its best–Expensive with accessories
The best got better this year, as Apple dropped its super-powerful M1 chip inside the already mighty iPad Pro 2021. That chip sets new tablet records in Geekbench and Adobe Premiere Rush — continuing Apple’s tradition of putting tons of brawn in its sleek tablets. And this 12.9-inch model benefits from Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR display, which offers much higher brightness — up to 1588 nits! Also, Apple’s got a new video conferencing trick called Center Stage, where the camera tracks and follows you as you move during calls.
Oh, and the basics are still stellar. Its quad-speaker setup booms, its optional Magic Keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience — and its battery life is better than last year’s (lasting hours longer than the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus). That said, the super-bright XDR display needs HDR content to thrive, and that’s not always available — as the likes of Hulu and HBO Max have yet to adopt it. Also, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021 is more expensive than the MacBook Air (and heavier when docked with its Magic Keyboard). But, still, the iPad Pro 2021 is worth it for creative pros who want the best tablet for their next masterpiece.
–More expensive than an iPad–Just fo r writing and reading, no apps
If you’re a writer, who loves pen and paper, you know that the iPad and its Apple Pencil don’t really feel right. That’s where the reMarkable tablets have jumped into the fray, offering a real-feeling writing experience, with a unique screen technology that uses digital paper and the Marker stylus, which feels more authentic when you press its nib against the screen. The reMarkable 2, however, is a much more seductive device, now measuring a sleek 0.2 inches and ditching its plastic frame for a sleeker metallic chassis.
Oh, and it’s not just a notebook. Your documents sync to the cloud so you can read them on iPhones, iPads, PCs, Macs and Android. The reMarkable 2 also translates your handwriting to editable text, so you can share your notes with your whole team, or turn your draft ideas into a manuscript. And its two weeks of battery life means you can just leave it on your coffee table, for when inspiration strikes, rather than keep it plugged in all the time.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 L ite (Image credit: Future)
10. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
The best mid-range Android tablet
Specifications
CPU: Samsung Exynos 9610
Camera Resolution: 8MP (rear), 5MP (front)
Display: 10.4 inches, 2000 x 1200 pixels
Storage: 64GB
Memory: 4GB
Ports: USB-C, headphone jack
Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
Weight: 1 pound
Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Reasons to buy
+Slimmed down bezels+Lengthy battery life+Bright display
Reasons to avoi d
–Underwhelming performance–Some Android apps still need tablet optimization
Android tablets don’t have the strongest track record, but on hardware, Samsung’s caught up with the iPad with the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. This excellent tablet has a ton of battery life — lasting over 12 hours on a single charge — and offers a sleek design with a bright screen and solid sound. This all ties together for a tablet that’s great for consuming content on. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite’s thin bezels help it stand out from the mid-range tablet crowd even further, making it look more like the iPad Pro than the iPad. Oh, and the S-Pen stylus, which offers low-latency drawing, is included by default, and it snaps to the top of the Tab S6 Lite, so you’re less likely to lose it.
Performance-wise, though, the Tab S6 Lite won’t be blowing people away if they try to multitask. There’s also the matter of Android tablet apps, which still could use more love and care from their developers.
+Fantastic battery life+Bright screen+USB-C port+Good selfie camera+Great for Amazon content
Reasons to avoid
–Still no Google apps–Pay to remove Amazon ads–Slow Silk browser
The Amazon Fire HD 8 is a great tablet for certain needs. Its bright screen and epic 13+ hours of battery life make it great for consuming content, and its reversible USB-C port is a feature we wish was in the cheaper Fire 7 tablet. On top of that, this $90 tablet is good enough at everything else — decent audio, OK performance — for its price that I can’t deny how many will find it a great value. I also found its front camera surprisingly crisp when I snapped some selfies while writing the review, as more expensive laptops have much worse webcams.
That being said, anyone who wants the completeness of the Google Play Android app store or the iPad’s iOS app store might feel a little ticked off at Amazon. The lack of Google’s own apps, which you need to sideload to use, is frustrating to folks who don’t like to use inferior web-based versions of those apps.
+Fantastic battery life+Bright, crisp display+USB-C port
Reasons to avoid
–Lack of Google apps–Bass is weak
If your only experience with Amazon Fire tablets has been the very affordable Fire 7, you might not have expected t he 2019 Fire HD 10. Surprisingly fast with an octa-core processor, the Fire HD 10 sports a bright and colorful Full HD screen that is great for binge watching your favorite Amazon Prime shows. Even better, this tablet lasts for more than 13.5 hours on a single charge.
But, for as much as the Fire HD 10 gets right, its Amazon-first Fire OS operating system still could use a little more from outside the Amazon world. For example, this Android-based tablet still doesn’t allow you to install Google’s own apps, so you’re forced to use web apps for Gmail and YouTube.
Households that make the most of their Prime membership, though, should definitely consider the Fire HD 10. It’s definitely the best tablet from Amazon.
Start by thinking about the operating system you live in, which means opening your pocket and thinking about how much you rely on your smartphone. iPhone owners may jump straight to the 7th Gen iPad or iPad Pro, and they’d be right to do so — iMessage integration and the shared app ecosystems across iOS and iPadOS are an ideal combination. But if the iPad Pro is too expensive and the 7th Gen iPad isn’t powerful enough, the iPad Air’s faster CPU makes it the iPad to definitely consider, though I can’t blame budget-conscious shoppers for going with the regular iPad.
Android folks have a wider set of options, but since Android apps aren’t thriving on tablets as much as anyone would hope, this is a good time to consider all of your options. Yes the Galaxy Tab S6 has a fantastic screen and Android apps, but isn’t Windows 10 a more capable platform? If you’re nodding your head”yes,”then the Surface Go 2 is the best tablet for you. That all being said, if you’ve got a big enough family, and you’re all living in the Amazon Prime ecosystem, go for the Fire 7 if you’re trying to fit to a budget, and the Fire HD 10 if you are tired of devices that don’t have USB-C.
How we test tablets
First, we run as many benchmarks as that tablet will allow, to see how fast they are in ways that can be compared directly against competitors. We say”will allow”as some tablets, like Amazon’s Fire slates, have trouble with side-loaded Android apps. We then use colorimeters and light meters to measure how colorful and bright these tablets’ screens can get. After that, we put them through our in-house battery test, which times how long it takes — while surfing the web with brightness at 150 nits — to drain a tablet of a charge.
After that, we do the same things you do — browse the web, watch YouTube, play games, compose emails — and then a lot more. We try and write some (or all) of our tablet reviews on the tablets we’re testing, if there’s a keyboard for it that is. Nobody wants to write a magnum opus on a glass screen, trust me.
Then, we keep our eyes on the next incoming tablets. Walmart just revealed two Onn Pro tablets, though they’re not iPad Pro competitors (outside of having USB-C). We look forward to testing out the 8-inch Onn and 10.1-inch Onn, and give Walmart points for running Android 10.
They’re like Amazon Fire tablets in that they’re chock full of Walmart buttons and online store navigations, which would appeal to those who do a lot of shopping at Walmart. We look forward to testing them and giving them full reviews.
