Sure, they have lightweight laptops out there, where you can bring them anywhere. But when it comes to sheer portability, tablets are the better choice. They may lack the user experience found in laptops but they still come in handy, particularly for digital nomads. Tablets are compact and significantly lighter and they can be attached to a magnetic cover keyboard. So, whether you are looking for a budget-friendly or premium-priced device, we have rounded up 8 of the best tablets for work and play.
1) Apple iPad (10th Gen)
The otherwise base model of the iPad 10th generation model boasts a bigger screen at 10.9 inches, complete with a vivid Liquid Retina display. It operates on an A14 Bionic chip and while it’s not as speedy as Apple’s upgraded processors (M1 and M2), the iPad 10th Gen still does its job well. It runs quite smoothly regardless of opening multiple apps or playing popular games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact.
The Apple iPad 10th Gen also boasts a modern look compared to the previous generation. A larger screen aside, it has a slimmer look and feels lighter too. It comes in four different colours from the classic Silver to striking Blue, Pink and Yellow. The Touch ID sensor, which is integrated into the power button on the top (portrait) or left side (landscape) of the tablet, works seamlessly with a single press. Camera-wise, this tablet comes equipped with a decent 12MP rear shooter and it can support up to 4K video.
2) Apple iPad Air (5th Gen)
The Apple iPad Air 5th Gen certainly lives up to its name, given its lighter build at just 461g (WiFi) or 462g (WiFi + Cellular). It runs on a fast M1 chip, which can handle multitasking or play graphics-heavy games, namely Call of Duty: Mobile and League of Legends: Wild Rift. Speaking of multitasking, you can make use of its Split View setting to open two apps or windows side by side. It boasts a large screen estate measuring 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide colour features.
Unlocking the iPad Air is easy with its responsive Touch ID sensor embedded into the power button. The dual stereo speakers sound loud and punchy no matter if you are listening to music, streaming videos or playing games. The 12MP camera supports rear-wide and front-facing ultra-wide shooters and you can record up to 4K video resolution.
3) Apple iPad Pro (6th Gen)
If you have a bigger budget, consider getting an iPad Pro 6th generation model. It boasts a larger screen at 12.9 inches, which gives you more screen estate upon working or playing a mobile game. The speedy M2 chip is powerful enough to run intensive apps like Adobe Photoshop. And not to forget, multitasking with iPad Pro operates seamlessly with no noticeable lag.
When it comes to the display, it features a more immersive Liquid Retina XDR with P3 wide colour while the anti-reflective coating comes in handy upon using the tablet in a brighter condition. The iPad Pro is also equipped with the ProMotion technology, meaning you can enjoy a smoother scrolling and better refresh rate. The tablet includes 12MP wide and 10MP ultra-wide cameras and it supports up to 4K video. The added ProRes codec allows you to perform post-production tasks from editing to colour correcting.
4) Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Prefer an Android tablet instead? You might want to check out the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. It weighs approximately 500g, which is light and comfortable enough to hold even for a long period. The slimmer design helps too, coupled with its large 11-inch display that is both bright and colourful. You can also look forward to smoother scrolling, thanks to its 120 Hz refresh rate.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 runs on a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset that can handle multitasking and mobile games with no performance issues. It comes bundled with an S Pen and a Cover Keyboard for better user experience. The stylus is responsive and doesn’t lag no matter when you are sketching or taking notes on a tablet. The detachable keyboard has a magnetised feature that snaps to the tablet well while the cover itself feels solid.
This tablet doesn’t skimp on the camera feature. Here, we have 13MP/6MP rear cameras and a 12MP selfie shooter and they can support up to 4K video at 60fps.
5) Huawei MatePad Pro
There are a lot of things to love about Huawei MatePad Pro. It features a sleek Golden Black design that looks professional. It’s light enough at just 449g, complete with slimmer bezels all around in a 11-inch display for more screen estate. The latter covers a whopping 92% screen-to-body ratio.
Expect stunning OLED colours at WQXGA 2560 x 1600 resolution with a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate for better scrolling, streaming or game-playing experiences. It even offers a peak brightness at a maximum 600 nits, making this tablet an ideal device to be used in a brighter condition.
For working professionals, the Huawei MatePad Pro makes it easier for them to multitask upon opening different apps using the drag-and-float App Multiplier or the one-tap Multi-Window. As for the camera, you will get a 13MP auto-focus + 8MP wide-angle rear lens, a 16MP selfie shooter and it can support up to 4K video.
6) Huawei MatePad 11.5″
The cheaper option of Huawei MatePad may lack the extra bells and whistles of its premium Pro sibling. But this tablet is no slouch either, beginning with its vibrant 11.5″ FullView Display at 120Hz refresh rate. The optimised 3:2 aspect ratio means it can display more content and requires less scrolling, especially if you are working or reading text-heavy documents.
The Huawei MatePad feels slim, light and comfortable to hold since it only weighs under 500g. It supports Multi-Window for splitting two windows or apps side by side. It runs on a mid-range Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset that can handle moderate multitasking and gaming performance. The tablet’s camera covers both rear and front lenses at 13MP and 8MP respectively and it supports up to 4K video.
7) Realme Pad X
Available in Glowing Grey and Glacier Blue, the Realme Pad X features a large 10.95″ WUXGA+ Full View Display. The display is also TÜV Rheinland-certified, meaning you can enjoy using the tablet for long hours with less eye strain, thanks to its low blue light protection. It feels comfortable to hold since the body is only 7.1mm thick. Not to mention the lightness of the tablet at just 499g.
Other highlights include an energy-efficient Snapdragon 695 octa-core processor that works well for multitasking & light gaming and quad stereo speakers, which support Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos. You can expect robust and crisp sound quality but with a noticeable setback: There’s no 3.5mm audio jack available. The camera quality is decent for a tablet, with a 13MP main and 8MP front-facing shooter. The latter supports a 105° wide-angle camera, which has a Limelight feature to keep the subject(s) in the frame at all times.
8) Xiaomi Pad 6 Max
It’s “max” indeed. Xiaomi Pad 6 Max certainly means business with its larger-than-usual 14-inch display, which is equivalent to a normal laptop size. It offers lifelike colours at 10-bit with a crisp 2880 x 1800 resolution, making this a good tablet for working and gaming experiences. It has a peak brightness of 600 nits, which means you can still see it even under bright sunlight.
The Xiaomi Pad 6 Max runs on a flagship Snapdragon 8+ chipset and you have the option to get the device with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB storage. It can handle multitasking and intensive apps well and so does mobile games. The camera offers a whopping 50MP wide-angle lens and a 20MP selfie shooter while it supports up to 4K video at 60fps.
