Tablets have been given new life in our homes like the coronavirus pandemic has increased the need for a device that can handle entertainment, education and even work. In 2020, Apple updated almost its entire range: The high-end iPad Pro models was refreshed in the spring, while a new 10.2 Inch Baseline iPad and mainly iPad Air refurbished arrived this fall. The Pro and Air models have very powerful processors that enable features that were previously exclusive to computers and laptops, such as photo editing. And while we are not yet retiring our laptops, the new features are more promising for the iPad’s future as a productivity device than anything Apple has added in years.
Elsewhere in tabletland, Microsoft debuted new Surface models in May, including the 15-inch Microsoft Surface Book 3 and the Microsoft Surface Go 2, a refreshment of its smallest tablet. Android tablet options meanwhile remain limited by their phone-centric mobile operating system – but that hasn’t stopped Samsung from taking a chance on Apple’s iPad Pro when it comes to productivity. with the new Tab S7 Plus. And in the value segment, Amazon remains the best option for cheap and kid-friendly and inexpensive tablet models with its Fire tablet. All of these options offer app stores, but you want to make sure you have the necessary apps available on prospective devices before you buy them (do not look at Fortnite on the iPad now, for example).
Here is our selection for the best tablet currently available. We have included budget tablet and premium tablet options, as well as laptop replacement devices at prices in between, including Android tablet and Apple iPad options. We even threw in a tablet as a bonus. All of these products (or previous versions) have been fully reviewed or anecdotally reviewed by CNET editors. We took into account several factors, including pressure sensitivity, screen size, the inclusion of a front camera, internal storage, the option to add a microSD card, and whether the tablet has a headphone jack. This story was published earlier and we will continue to update it as new products become available.
Note: The 2020 iPad Air was released in October. You can read our iPad Air review here.
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Apple recently updated its entry-level iPad in 2020 and added a faster chip – the iPhone XS-era A12 – but kept the base price at $ 329 for the 32GB Wi-Fi version. The most important thing to know is that this 10.2-inch model offers a smooth experience and access to the iPad’s rich library of app options. This powerful tablet holds support for a smart keyboard and a first pencil Apple Pencil, which also makes it a great option for distance learning. Just be on the lookout for price drops: Apple’s iPad model previously this was regularly reduced to $ 250 – this is the price you should ideally wait for. Read our iPad 2020 review.
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The latest version of the Apple iPad Pro, updated in 2020, adds a more popular rear camera array and even a member sensor for continuous AR features. But the biggest of Apple’s Ipad Pro upgrades comes via the software, which now supports trackpads for laptops. To use it, however, you need something like Apple’s Magic Keyboard Case for Apple iPad Pro, an expensive addition.
This amazing tablet finally makes us more enthusiastic about this best Apple iPad, which is otherwise a performance sample, with Face ID, USB Type-C, a great battery life, a killer retina display and the best processor and the best designed in Apple’s line. This Apple tablet can also be counted among the best drawing tablet options, especially if it has been paired with the Apple Pencil since 2018. (If you already have the previous iPad Pro, there’s no big reason to upgrade to this 2020 model.) Note that the iPad Pro is available in 11- and 12.9-inch models.
All that being said, anyone looking at the 11-inch Apple iPad Pro should seriously consider the iPad Air 2020, which has a similar design and newer processor. Read our iPad Pro 2020 review.
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Fire up DeX on the Tab S7, with the keyboard next to it, and you get a remarkable laptop-like experience. Open multiple applications, resize them in different windows, reduce everything down to the taskbar. This Samsung tablet offers a much more familiar feel to laptops than even the latest iPad with keyboard and touchpad support. One new DeX trick is pretty clever – the ability to wirelessly throw your DeX desktop to another screen or even a TV screen. Read our Samsung Tab S7 Plus hands-on.
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Apple refreshed the iPad Mini in the spring of 2019 with Apple Pencil support and an A12 processor. Now that the 10.2-inch model has caught up with it in terms of specifications, it’s hard to ignore the fact that this smaller 7.9-inch model has a higher price – although you should know that it regularly $ 350 for sale. Some people still like this model as a smaller, lighter option for mobile devices that is very good as a luxury e-book reader. Read our iPad Mini review.
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The prices of Amazon on the bottom of the tablet are always shocking, and this year’s Fire 7 is a great choice for a cheap tablet for basic needs for video / games / kids. This cheap tablet has a relatively small screen size, but as always, Amazon Prime can get more out of it in terms of content, although Amazon’s Fire ecosystem is more limited than Android. But if you are buying for a child, definitely invest in the Kids Edition. In addition to parental controls, this child’s tablet version of the device includes a rubber case, a free year of child-friendly content from FreeTime Unlimited – and a two-year replacement warranty for damaged units. Stop living in fear of a broken screen! This Amazon Fire tablet also has an important headphone jack, so you do not have to worry if your wireless earbuds are charged. Read our Amazon Fire 7 (2019) review.
Amazon
The 10-inch Amazon Fire HD tablet is faster and better than the 7- or 8-inch Fire tablet, and it’s still a pretty low $ 150 (or less). For the Amazon Fire HD 10, there are two storage options, 32 GB and 64 GB. The Amazon Fire HD tablet also now charges its battery life via USB Type C. Read our Fire HD 10 first recording.
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For the right price, the Chromebook X2 may be the best tablet of the group in terms of offerings. It is a functional Chromebook laptop screen that is also a detachable tablet, and it can also be used for modest photo editing and playing Android tablet applications. This Chrome OS tablet has 4 GB of RAM. Read our HP Chromebook x2 Review.