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MagyarThe Best Tablets
Apple’s first iPad literally jump-started the tablet market from scratch. However, in recent years the choices have become fewer and fewer. On the one side, tablets are getting attacked by ever growing smartphones. On the other side, convertibles have become increasingly popular in the notebook space. What is left are a few established OEMs with various tablets for sale. In addition, numerous Chinese manufacturers are trying to attract potential customers through low prices. In return, you should not expect too much in regard to warranty and potential software updates. Please also consider the following lists before making any decisions:
The Best Tablets
Position | Total Rating | Date | Image | Model | Height | Weight | Size | Refresh Rate | Resolution | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 92.6 % | 06/2021 |  | Apple iPad Pro 11 2021 Apple M1 Apple M1 8-Core GPU 8 GB Memory, 128 GB NVMe | 5.9 mm | 468 g | 11.00" | 120 Hz | 2388x1668 | Apple iPadOS 14 |
| 2 | 91.1 % | 06/2021 |  | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 Apple M1 Apple M1 8-Core GPU 8 GB Memory, 128 GB NVMe | 6.4 mm | 682 g | 12.90" | 120 Hz | 2732x2048 | Apple iPadOS 14 |
| 3 | 90.7 % | 11/2020 |  | Apple iPad Air 2020 Apple A14 Bionic Apple A14 Bionic GPU 4 GB Memory, 256 GB NVMe | 6.1 mm | 458 g | 10.90" | 060 Hz | 2360x1640 | Apple iPadOS 14 |
| 4 | 90.1 % | 10/2020 |  | Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus) Qualcomm Adreno 650 6 GB Memory, 128 GB | 6.3 mm | 500 g | 11.00" | 120 Hz | 2560x1600 | Android 10 |
| 5 | 88.4 % | 09/2021 new! |  | Huawei MatePad 11 2021 Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Qualcomm Adreno 650 6 GB Memory, 128 GB | 7.25 mm | 485 g | 10.95" | 120 Hz | 2560x1600 | Huawei HarmonyOS |
| 6 | 88 % | 10/2020 |  | Apple iPad 10.2 2020 Apple A12 Bionic Apple A12 Bionic GPU 3 GB Memory, 128 GB NVMe | 7.5 mm | 495 g | 10.20" | 060 Hz | 2160x1620 | Apple iPadOS 14 |
| 7 | 87.8 % | 10/2020 |  | Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus) Qualcomm Adreno 650 8 GB Memory, 256 GB | 5.7 mm | 575 g | 12.40" | 120 Hz | 2800x1752 | Android 10 |
| 8 | 86.2 % | 09/2021 new! |  | Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G Qualcomm Adreno 650 8 GB Memory, 128 GB | 6.2 mm | 830 g | 13.00" | 060 Hz | 2160x1350 | Android 11 |
| 9 | 85.8 % | 08/2021 new! |  | Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G Qualcomm Adreno 619 4 GB Memory, 64 GB UFS 2.1 | 6.3 mm | 608 g | 12.40" | 060 Hz | 2560x1600 | Android 11 |
| 10 | 85.9 % | 04/2021 |  | Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G Qualcomm Adreno 618 6 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.0 | 5.8 mm | 485 g | 11.50" | 060 Hz | 2560x1600 | Android 10 |
The table above contains an overview over the best tablets reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: all devices in this class reviewed
Editors' Comments
This quarter, we say hello to three very different new entries: the Huawei MatePad 11, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G.
In return, we had to remove the Huawei MatePad 10.4 due to its age, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 and Lenovo Tab P11 were pushed out the bottom by our other two new entries.
1st – Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)
The Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021) is very similar to its own predecessor and housed in the exact same case and equipped with the exact same camera module featuring an additional ultra-wide angle and a LiDAR sensor as before. Instead of a Bionic SoC the new iPad Pro now features Apple’s M1 SoC resulting in a massive performance boost.
If you are looking for a high-end tablet, there is almost no way around the Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021).
The new iPad does not only run applications incredibly smoothly, it also features a high-end quality display with a high-resolution high-contrast flicker-free panel running at a refresh rate of 120 Hz. At the bottom we find the new USB 4 port with Type-C connector, and as always there are a multitude of storage options with up to 2 TB of internal storage.
In addition to Apple’s own online store the iPad Pro 11 is also available through the usual retail channels such as Amazon with prices starting at $900.
Top 10 Laptops
Multimedia, Budget Multimedia, Gaming, Budget Gaming, Lightweight Gaming, Business, Budget Office, Workstation, Subnotebooks, Ultrabooks, Chromebooks
under 300 USD/Euros, under 500 USD/Euros, 1,000 USD/Euros, for University Students, Best Displays
Top 10 Smartphones
Smartphones, Phablets, ≤6-inch, Camera Smartphones
Pricecompare
2nd – Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)
Apple’s iPad Pro 12.09 (2021) features their own brand-new in-house M1 SoC in its most powerful variant. It performs very well when paired with at least 8 GB of RAM, and its hardware feels almost limited by the admittedly excellent iPad OS. However, considering that a new version of iPad OS is just around the corner, this should no longer be a problem in the near future. It comes with a fast USB 4 USB-C port.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is almost flawless but was incapable of utilizing its full potential at the time of writing.
Its highlight is the brand-new MiniLED display with a more even and flat illumination and a very high display brightness. Unfortunately, we found the display to flicker slightly, which could cause issues for sensitive users. This issue aside the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is one of the most powerful and best tablets currently available.
In addition to Apple’s own online store the iPad Pro 12.9 is also available through the usual retail channels such as Amazon with prices starting at $1,200.
Pricecompare
3rd – Apple iPad Air 4
Apple's iPad Air (2020) inched just a bit closer to its Pro namesakes and features practically the same design language. Thanks to its brand-new 5 nm SoC supported by 4 GB of RAM its performance is superb. The new iPad Air also features a USB-C instead of a Lightning port at the bottom. Optionally available keyboards include the Smart and Magic Keyboard, and the new Air also supports Apple’s Pencil 2.
In our test we noted its color-accurate IPS display, its good battery life, its great speakers, and its sleek design. The only real downside was its somewhat slow Wi-Fi 6 chip, which could have been faster.
4th – Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 features an 11-inch large LTPS display and is powered by a Snapdragon 865+. Its 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage are not bad per se, but we would have wished for a little bit more to be honest. The fingerprint reader is embedded into the power button, and the included S Pen can be magnetically attached to the tablet’s rear side.
All things considered the S7 is a powerful premium tablet with support for USB 3.2 and Samsung’s integrated DeX UI. A cellular model is also available, although it does not yet support 5G networks.
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5th – Huawei MatePad 11
Huawei’s MatePad 11 is a very good mid-range tablet with connectivity much more akin to other much more expensive devices. In addition to a 120 Hz display, USB 3.2, 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and stylus support it comes with a slightly aged yet still incredibly fast and consistent Snapdragon 865.
The Huawei MatePad 11 is very powerful, and the compromises required by its lack of Google services are minor at best.
The compromises required by its lack of Google services are minor at best. With some knowledge and experience apps that cannot be found in Huawei’s AppGallery can be installed by other means. Overall, the MatePad 11 offers a powerful package, be it as multimedia tablet, for school, or for the office.
Huawei devices are not available in North America.
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6th – Apple iPad 10.2 (2020)
Compared to last year’s model, the Apple iPad 8 remained virtually unchanged. Besides the much faster CPU it also comes with a more powerful charger that no longer features a USB-A but a more modern USB-C port instead. Lightning itself continues to be Apple’s only port of choice for the iPad. Accordingly, already existing accessories remain compatible.
The tablet features a 10.2-inch IPS panel with natural colors. It is powered by a fast Apple A12 SoC with 3 GB of RAM and either 32 or 128 GB of internal storage. Both models are optionally available with LTE cellular support.
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7th – Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ features a 12.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and HDR support. It is powered by a Snapdragon 865+ with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal microSD-expandable storage. The optional cellular model already supports 5G networks. The S Pen is once again included by default with an optionally available keyboard dock.
Samsung offers a very powerful and large package that is only held back by its comparatively poor battery life.
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8th – Lenovo Yoga Tab 13
Lenovo’s Yoga Tab 13 is different. For example, its design includes a cylindrical grip at the bottom that is not only surprisingly comfortable to use but also very practical and even allows you to mount the tablet on a wall.
Lenovo’s Yoga Tab 13 is a flexible and large tablet geared for entertainment and high performance.
It is one of the fastest currently available Android tablets and can even keep up with older versions of Apple’s iPad Pro. At the same time, it is not really meant to be used outdoors as its display is too dim. In return, you get long battery life, good sound, decent gaming performance, modern connectivity, and fast Wi-Fi.
The Yoga Tab 13 can be purchased directly through Lenovo with prices starting at $630.
Pricecompare
9th – Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G
The Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G offers a very large and bright IPS panel as well as good build quality. It comes with an S pen by default and lasted a good 17 hours in our Wi-Fi test.
If you’re looking for a very large tablet the Galaxy Tab S7 FE can be a very interesting alternative to other similarly powerful mid-range contenders.
Samsung’s SoC of choice is more than fast enough for everyday tasks, and most apps will run perfectly fine and smooth despite just 4 GB of RAM. Internal storage can be expanded via microSD card, and wired headphones can be connected via USB-C.
While the 5G SKU is currently not available in the US the Wi-Fi-only model can be purchased among others on Amazon with prices starting at $670.
Pricecompare
10th – Lenovo Tab P11 Pro
The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is a premium tablet housed in a lightweight aluminum case. It may lack an IP-certification but is very robust and capable, nevertheless. Its colorful OLED display and its four speakers are decent, its performance is fast enough for most applications, and its memory (6 GB) and storage capacity (128 GB) are more than adequate.
The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is a good multimedia tablet with a usable desktop mode.
If you need more space you can add your own microSD card, and the device also features a 3.5-mm headphone jack and a fingerprint reader. The Tab P11 Pro can also be connected to a monitor or used with the optional keyboard cover as desktop replacement. We liked the user interface. A keyboard cover and stylus are optionally available.
In addition to Lenovo’s own webstore the P11 Pro is also available on Amazon.
Pricecompare
Top 10 Tablets in Comparison
Test Results
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2021 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | Apple iPad Air 2020 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 | Apple iPad 10.2 2020 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus | Lenovo Tab P11 Pro | Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G | Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 | Huawei MatePad 11 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | ||||||||||
| Display P3 Coverage | 68.7 | |||||||||
| sRGB Coverage | 99.9 | |||||||||
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 70.5 | |||||||||
| Response Times | ||||||||||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 58 ? | 40 ? | 46.8 ? | 45.6 ? | 39.2 ? | 3.2 ? | 4.4 ? | 41.6 ? | 50 ? | 30.4 ? |
| Response Time Black / White * | 27.6 ? | 45 ? | 25.6 ? | 20.8 ? | 20 ? | 2.4 ? | 4 ? | 23.2 ? | 28 ? | 15.2 ? |
| PWM Frequency | 19190 ? | 59520 ? | 245.1 ? | 60.24 ? | 63290 ? | |||||
| Screen | ||||||||||
| Brightness middle | 627 | 620 | 509 | 554 | 477 | 441 | 372 | 619 | 404 | 550 |
| Brightness | 598 | 612 | 486 | 535 | 452 | 447 | 375 | 593 | 374 | 515 |
| Brightness Distribution | 88 | 96 | 93 | 91 | 86 | 98 | 95 | 91 | 85 | 90 |
| Black Level * | 0.44 | 0.39 | 0.33 | 0.5 | 0.22 | 0.4 | 0.96 | |||
| Contrast | 1425 | 1305 | 1679 | 954 | 2814 | 1010 | 573 | |||
| Colorchecker DeltaE2000 * | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 2.94 | 3.3 |
| Colorchecker DeltaE2000 max. * | 3.5 | 4.9 | 2.8 | 7.1 | 5 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 6.6 | 8.74 | 7.9 |
| Greyscale DeltaE2000 * | 2.5 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 4 | 4.3 | 4.9 |
| Gamma | 2.25 98% | 2214 0% | 2.21 100% | 2.32 95% | 2.23 99% | 2.01 109% | 2.29 96% | 2.17 101% | 2.14 103% | 2.24 98% |
| CCT | 6969 93% | 6892 94% | 6833 95% | 6623 98% | 7019 93% | 6469 100% | 6718 97% | 6973 93% | 7084 92% | 7288 89% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 99.3 | |||||||||
| Heat | ||||||||||
| Maximum Upper Side * | 34 | 37 | 34.4 | 33.5 | 32.3 | 32.3 | 33.6 | 35.9 | 37.3 | 35.3 |
| Maximum Bottom * | 29.2 | 35 | 30.5 | 29.8 | 30.4 | 28 | 33.4 | 34.7 | 40.8 | 34.7 |
| Idle Upper Side * | 33.4 | 33 | 31.9 | 30.4 | 27.2 | 26.8 | 31.1 | 32.8 | 27 | 32.7 |
| Idle Bottom * | 28.7 | 30 | 30 | 24.6 | 25.8 | 24.4 | 29.7 | 29.9 | 26.2 | 28.6 |
| Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
| Reader / Idle | 2278 | 2039 | 1963 | 2241 | 898 | 1641 | 2485 | 2536 | 1972 | |
| H.264 | 932 | 818 | 671 | 885 | 934 | 620 | 851 | 1249 | 1199 | 864 |
| WiFi v1.3 | 819 | 673 | 702 | 811 | 782 | 425 | 624 | 1020 | 1056 | 835 |
| Load | 286 | 255 | 388 | 221 | 238 | 355 | 348 | 342 | 306 | 236 |
| Power Consumption | ||||||||||
| Idle Minimum * | 1.01 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.16 | 2.12 | 2.41 | 1.55 | 1.06 | 3 | 1.33 |
| Idle Average * | 6.2 | 9.6 | 7.89 | 4.42 | 6.43 | 3.4 | 4.91 | 6.25 | 3.4 | 5.37 |
| Idle Maximum * | 6.23 | 9.8 | 7.91 | 4.43 | 6.69 | 3.43 | 5.02 | 6.3 | 4.1 | 5.41 |
| Load Average * | 8.99 | 12.2 | 9.28 | 8.86 | 8.17 | 6.63 | 4.38 | 8.76 | 9.9 | 6.87 |
| Load Maximum * | 9.89 | 12.6 | 10.78 | 11.6 | 11.84 | 10.29 | 6.81 | 9.54 | 13.8 | 10.08 |
* ... smaller is better
Benchmarks
| PCMark for Android | |
| Work performance score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus | |
| Lenovo Tab P11 Pro | |
| Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus | |
| Lenovo Tab P11 Pro | |
| Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal - offscreen Overall Score (sort by value) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2021 | |
| Apple iPad Air 2020 | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 | |
