What are the best tablets of 2021 - are they Apple tablets or tablets powered by Android, Windows or Amazon operating systems? Don't worry, we've included just about everything in the list of the best tablets of 2021 in different price ranges, ensuring that every wallet, be it thin or thick, can afford at least one tablet.
Because smartphones continue to grow – both in size and capabilities – one would think that the need for tablets should have subsided long ago. And while it's true that some prominent electronics manufacturers have left the tablet world in recent years, the tablet market as a whole certainly isn't going away anytime soon. And that's good. While your phone and computer can technically do almost anything a tablet can do, they are best tablets 2021 perfect "in-between" devices, i.e. for all those occasions that require something between a phone and a laptop.
Just think about media use and communication. If you're going to watch a TV series or take part in a video call on the go, a tablet makes the most sense. It's bigger than a phone, giving you a better viewing experience and less eye strain, while being smaller than a computer, making it more portable and less cumbersome to use. Tablets can also be a powerful work tool. For example, they have become ubiquitous in the NFL (National Football League), where coaches, players and even referees use specialized Microsoft Surface tablets to quickly review games and videos. And while the vast majority of us have no connection to the NFL, the versatile size and high processing power of some tablets is what makes a tablet the ideal business partner.
But of all that are available to us today, how do we know which ones are worth our time and money? Check out what to look for in a tablet below, then find out best tablets 2021 for every budget.
What to look for in a tablet?
![](https://e7852c3a.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tablica-770x501.jpg)
Photo: Amazon
When looking for a tablet, the first thing to do is determine what type of tablet you actually want. Not all tablets are the same, and understanding the differences between them can save you time and money. To be in the search best tablets 2021 to keep things as simple as possible, we're going to list some of the key areas to consider when looking for a tablet.
Size
While almost all smartphones sold today fall into the same 1.5-inch window in terms of screen size, the tablet industry is seeing a lot more variety. Newer tablets can be effectively divided into three sizes: small, standard and large. Small tablets, whose screens typically run from 7 to 8 inches diagonally, are most often used for more casual tasks such as watching videos, reading, and/or playing mobile games. Standard-sized tablets are probably what you think of when you hear the word “tablet”. They usually come with screens around 10 inches and are meant to be universal devices. Then there are the big tablets. These "monsters" usually start at 11 inches and can sometimes grow up to 15 inches, although most are found between 12 and 13 inches. These larger tablets are often intended for professional use, acting primarily as a laptop replacement.
Operating system
Most tablets come with one of three operating systems: Apple's iPad OS, Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows. You will most likely want to choose the one you are most familiar with. Are you heavily involved in the Apple ecosystem and consider yourself a loyal iPhone user? Then you'll probably want to have an iPad of some sort, as switching to a different OS can prove too disruptive. The same goes for Android phone users. If you love a Samsung Galaxy phone, you'll probably want to use the Galaxy Tab. And if you're a PC devotee who thinks Windows is the only way to go, then the Microsoft Surface might be the best fit for you.
Capacity
After all, tablets are computers, so you'll use much of the same logic as when looking for a laptop. Therefore, it is important that you know how many GB of storage you will need – how much space you will have to load applications, movies, photos and anything else you want to permanently store on your tablet. The higher the number, the more space you will have available. This "higher is better" logic also applies to tablet memory, RAM. In general, the more RAM available, the faster your tablet will run, especially when running multiple applications. It also affects the speed of the tablet processor or CPU (GHz). The logic of "higher is better" does not always apply here. Other factors such as the number of cores can complicate things. If you really want to do a good job of researching a "watched" tablet, you can always find benchmarks online that compare the speeds of several models you're considering. Also pay attention to screen. A higher resolution—measured in pixels and sometimes in pixels per inch—usually means you have better image quality. Check back at the end device battery life, because there is nothing worse than a tablet that will betray you when you need it most.
Applications
Undoubtedly, one of the most important things to consider when buying a tablet is to find out what types of apps are available for it. After all, almost everything you'll do on your tablet will require an app of some sort. You'll probably want to be able to use all of your favorite apps from your phone, but maybe add some other tablet-specific ones as well. That's why it's important to check app marketplaces to see their libraries before deciding which tablet to buy. Apple's App Store is the most robust app store and you're sure to find most things. You'll probably do pretty well on Android devices that use the Google Play Store, too. But you will certainly encounter some shortcomings in the selection in the Microsoft Store and Amazon Appstore.
Compatibility
It is also necessary to consider how the tablet will get along with other devices. Your operating system plays a role in this. For example, if you have an Apple TV and want to stream content from your tablet to your TV, the iPad will be the right choice. Moving beyond the issues related to the operating system itself, there are even more specifications to explore. Check if the tablet is compatible with the technology Bluetooth for use with wireless headphones or other wireless devices. You'll have to decide if you're OK with having a WiFi-only tablet, or if you need one that will also worked on mobile data. Check what types of ports your tablet has, such as a headphone jack, USB-C port, expandable memory, etc. Finally, take a look at the available accessories, such as keyboards, smart cases and pens.
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Best Tablets 2021 - Apple System
For tablets, any search should start with Apple. Although the electronics giant didn't invent the tablet computer, it undoubtedly created a market for them with the original iPad in 2010. Since then, the word "iPad" has become synonymous with "tablet computer," as Apple continues to dominate the market while constantly evolving its iPad lineup. Today, Apple offers iPads in various sizes and designs, but all of them exhibit the ease of use, quality components and high level of performance that the brand is known for.
Apple iPad
The original and still the best? Despite the fact that the iPad is today a "budget" option in Apple's range, it still has a lot to offer. Apple iPad boasts a chip A12 Bionic, which was first introduced in 2018, is fast enough for most tasks. It now also offers compatibility with Apple smart pens and a smart keyboard the first generation that offers some professional utilities in a relatively affordable package. Its Retina display is high-resolution, and like all iPads, it comes in WiFi-only and WiFi + mobile data and has access to over a million apps in the App Store.
Technical information
Screen size: 10.2″ | Storage space: 32 GB or 128 GB | Battery life: 10 hours
Last Updated 2024-08-07 / Affiliate Links / Photo Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
Apple iPad Mini
For a few euros more than you'd shell out for a basic iPad, you can get a lot more iPad… well, metaphorically speaking. iPad Mini is the most compact and portable iPad in Apple's lineup, so it's great for travel, photography, and reading. In the latter area, the Mini really stands out, as the screen with a higher resolution and with reduced reflectivity and True Tone technology reduces eye fatigue. Despite its small size, the Mini also has more storage than the regular iPad, as well as a much better front-facing camera, while running on the same fast processor.
Technical information
Screen size: 7.9″ | Storage space: 64 GB or 256 GB | Longest battery life: 10 hours
Last Updated 2024-08-04 / Affiliate Links / Photo Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
Apple iPad Air
Ignore the "middle child" of Apple's iPad line at your own risk, because the iPad Air could offer the most bang for your buck. iPad Air with the latest and most advanced chip ever, A14 Bionic, makes it possible to perform some rather demanding tasks, such as 4K video editing, graphic design with the second generation Apple Pencil or playing demanding video games. In addition, the iPad Air s thin frame with no buttons and five available colors, undoubtedly the most beautiful iPad ever.
Technical information
Screen size: 10.9″ | Storage space: 64 GB or 256 GB | Battery life: 10 hours
Last Updated 2024-08-07 / Affiliate Links / Photo Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
Apple iPad Pro
If you're looking for an Apple tablet that can replace your laptop, this is it iPad Pro the closest. Although his chip A12Z slightly older than the chip in the iPad Air, Apple has some magic—for example, with 8-core graphics processor – assured that the iPad Pro is still its most powerful tablet. Not only that, but Apple says it's even faster than most competing laptops, which, combined with the available full-size Magic Keyboard, makes the iPad Pro a legitimate work device for many of us. It is also surprising that it has the best screen, the best camera and the best speakers among all iPads. And since the iPad Pro is technically the best iPad, it's naturally also the most expensive iPad.
Technical information
Screen size: 11″ or 12.9″| Storage space: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB | Battery life: 10 hours
Last Updated 2024-08-07 / Affiliate Links / Photo Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
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Best Tablets 2021 - Android, Windows and Amazon
For many people, the search for tablets begins and ends with Apple. But maybe Apple isn't for you. Apple tablets aren't cheap, and you might be looking for something a little more affordable. You may also dislike how vast Apple's ecosystem can be, and therefore prefer to stay out of it. Or you simply prefer or are used to products from other manufacturers. If any of these descriptions sound familiar, you may be interested in tablets from manufacturers like Microsoft, Samsung, or Amazon.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus
If you're not looking to buy a tablet for professional use and are simply looking for an inexpensive device for media consumption, then there really isn't much better than Amazon's Fire HD line. The company's latest acquisition is this small tablet that has excellent battery life and offers a lot of entertainment for just over 100 euros. The Fire HD Plus can plays videos in high definition, works like a Kindle for book reading and as a hands-free Amazon Alexa assistant. Amazon's app store is definitely missing some apps, but almost all the major apps like Netflix, Instagram, and Spotify are there. Screen resolution, storage and processing power are on the lower end of the spectrum for the Fire HD 8 Plus, mobile data is also not available, but you really can't ask for much more at this price.
Technical information
Screen size: 8″| Storage space: 32 GB or 64 GB | Battery life: 12 hours
Last Updated 2024-08-07 / Affiliate Links / Photo Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
Microsoft Surface Pro X
Despite Apple's claims about the iPad Pro, this is probably the closest you'll ever get to actually replacing your laptop with a tablet. Unlike other tablets where keyboards may be an "afterthought", it is Surface Pro X built to work just as well with or without a keyboard - even if the keyboard costs extra. The fact that it has a tablet also helps with all of this Windows 10 and offers access to Microsoft Office 365. Processor SQ2 according to Microsoft, it offers best-in-class graphics performance, and the tablet has two USB-C ports, a removable SSD hard drive, and artificial intelligence, which helps you maintain eye contact during video calls. All this indicates that this is a device that is primarily intended for work. But don't worry, Bridgerton can stream too.
Technical information
Screen size: 13″| Storage space: 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB | Battery life: 15 hours
Last Updated 2024-08-07 / Affiliate Links / Photo Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
Simply put, this is the best Android tablet out there right now. Samsung is Apple's biggest rival in the mobile phone market, so it's no surprise that the South Korean electronics giant wants to compete with Apple in the tablet market as well. Galaxy Tab S7+ it is thus a direct competitor to the iPad Pro. His screen Super AMOLED is top-notch, surround sound speakers Dolby Atmos and they also provide entertainment for the ears. Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus it is powerful enough to play XBox games as well as for business tasks. It is also the only option in the list of “neapple” devices that includes a stylus. It is also worth noting that it is enabled in mobile data versions 5G, which happened for the first time on a tablet.
Technical information
Screen size: 12.4″| Storage space: 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB | Battery life: 14 hours
Last Updated 2024-08-07 / Affiliate Links / Photo Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
Microsoft Surface Duo
One of the things you'll notice when shopping for tablets is that over time they all look the same. But not the Surface Duo. Microsoft's latest tablet with two screens offers some rare innovations on the market. Both screens, combined with a 360-degree hinge, offer many unique and new ways to use the tablet. You can view two different apps side-by-side, drag and drop items between screens, or type on one screen while monitoring what you're writing on the other. It is a somewhat pompous tablet, which is certainly not cheap. But if you like to be on the cutting edge of technology and design, then the Surface Duo might be the tablet for you.
Microsoft has announced that the Microsoft Surface Duo will be available on the European market from February 13 onwards.
Technical information
Screen size: dual 5.6″| Storage space: 128 GB or 256 GB | Battery life: 15.5 hours
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