Laptops, especially 2-in-1 models, might be more versatile for work, but a lot of business people might prefer the minimalism of work tablets. They can fit easier in a slim bag and their software is also inherently easier to use compared to the more convoluted Windows and the hardware-restricted MacOS.
A lot of tablets thankfully have put businesses and professionals in mind. And while our recommendations aren’t exactly primarily touted as work tablets, you might find these efficient and portable devices more practical for viewing charts, graphs, and workspaces.
So consider the following work tablets we’ll be recommending to make your job smoother.
RELATED: 4 Best Laptops With Stylus Pen Models
Apple iPad (10th Generation)
PROS
- Beautiful Retina display
- Good and handy device ecosystem
- Minimalist and sleek
- Good camera
- Good battery life
- Seamless app integration
- Comes in many colors
- Easy and simple to use
CONS
- Storage could be better for the price
- Meager RAM
Specs:
- Chipset: A14 Bionic chip
- RAM / Memory: 4 GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: 64 GB
- Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display
For sure, you’ll want something that works right out of the box and integrates well with the majority of the most tailored and simplest digital business tools you have. For that matter, not many can beat Apple’s ecosystem in the business world.
While they do have a meager RAM, the 10th-gen Apple iPad ages well compared to the usual Android offering. Moreover, the app optimization ensures that performance is always great and smooth despite some Android tablets theoretically featuring higher-end chipsets. And of course, the camera and the battery life are great.
Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation)
PROS
- Powerful processor
- Beautiful Retina display
- Good battery life
- Good camera
- Lots of storage
- Seamless app integration
- Easy and simple to use
- Good and handy device ecosystem
- Minimalist and sleek
CONS
- Could use more RAM
- Expensive
Specs:
- Chipset: M2 chip
- RAM / Memory: 8 GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: 512 GB
- Display: 12.9-inch Liquid Retina Display
Of course, if you find yourself needing something more robust than the standard iPad, then the iPad Pro would be the stronger choice. It has an M2 chip so you’ll not find the processing and multitasking power lacking here, perfect for those expansive Excel sheets.
Meanwhile, RAM has been doubled though it’s really not that competitive compared to less expensive Android devices. Still, iOS is efficient and somewhat more polished so it’s still a smooth experience.
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8+
PROS
- Beautiful, competitive AMOLED display
- More generous with RAM
- S-Pen is included
- Good battery life
- Android is more versatile as an OS
- Minimalist and sleek
CONS
- Samsung bloatware
- S-Pen holder is a weak magnet
Specs:
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM / Memory: 8 GB
- Storage: 128 GB
- Display: 12.4” Large AMOLED Screen
Samsung is not one to back down from the fight against Apple, so its contender in the tech race would be the Galaxy Tab, now in S8+, so you know there are more than 8. In any case, it has more generous RAM compared to the iPad though the RAM is proportional to the storage size.
256GB can come with 12GB of RAM while 512GB of storage comes with 16GB of RAM. But what makes this one more appealing for potential professionals is the included stylus pen. You can take it out of the box and start drawing with it. Perfect for graphic designers, and it’s also more affordable.
Microsoft Surface Go 3
PROS
- Comes with an included stylus pen
- Has a keyboard with a touchpad as an accessory
- Windows OS, very versatile
- Comes with a kickstand
- Good battery life (compared to actual laptops)
- Solid 2-in-1 performer
CONS
- Default comes with Windows 11
- 8 GB of RAM is not ideal for Windows and its browsers
Specs:
- Chipset: Intel Core i3-10100Y
- RAM / Memory: 8 GB
- Storage: 128 GB
- Display: 10.5” PixelSense Display
We did say that Microsoft Windows can be fiddly and maintenance-intensive but if that’s what you’re more familiar with and something you find more useful than Android or iOS, then the Microsoft Surface Go 3 is the easy pick.
This one’s more of a 2-in-1 tablet/laptop but it’s sold primarily as a tablet. There’s thankfully an included keyboard with a touchpad and a stylus pen, practically making it the most complete tablet/laptop hybrid.
Google Pixel Tablet
PROS
- Tensor G2 with Google AI is promising
- Seamless Google device integration
- Minimal bloatware
CONS
- Small storage options
- No card slot
Specs:
- Chipset: Tensor G2 chip
- RAM / Memory: 8 GB
- Storage: 128 GB
- Display: 11-inch IPS screen
Google also has its own contender in the tablet space and this one is promising. It comes with a Tensor G2 chip which is Google’s own proprietary chipset featuring Google AI, making it more efficient due to AI learning.
The only downside is that it doesn’t arrive until June 20, 2023, so if you’re fine with the wait and the pre-order, then you’ll be one of the first to test out this new lovely tech from Google. And since it’s straight from the Android house, you can expect little to no bloatware.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can you Windows applications on a work tablet?
That depends entirely on the operating system of the work tablet. But generally, there are Android and iOS versions of popular Windows productivity apps. -
Can you play games on a work tablet?
Yes. They usually come with beefy chipsets equivalent to that of flagship smartphones to accommodate the higher resolution.