To older generations, tablets were once seen as a futuristic concept – a high-tech world with people walking around with portable electronic devices capable of tasks once reserved for large personal computers. These days, tablets have woven themselves into the fabric of our daily lives and there is a continued push for innovation within the sector. Apple’s 2010 iPad can perhaps be considered the launch of the market we know today, and it has led to a battle for market dominance with Google’s Android-powered devices putting up a good fight, as well as newcomers to the scene.
In 2023, the tablet market is more competitive than ever, with Apple, Google, and plenty of other brands trying to capture the attention of consumers. Whether you’re a student on a budget, a professional requiring a high-end device, or someone in the middle, there’s certainly a tablet out there that will suit your needs. In this post, we’ll look at the best tablets on the market in 2023, so you can find the perfect device that meets both your budget and tech requirements.
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
Whether you use your tablet for business, pleasure, or even searching for bingo bonuses on offer, you won’t have any difficulty doing it with the Apple iPad Pro 12.9. The latest version of this tablet was released in October 2022, and it’s fair to say that it’s on the pricier side, with launch prices for the basic model coming in at around £1,250.
However, you do get a lot of technology for your money here. It features the incredibly powerful Apple M2 chip, which is considered the industry pinnacle, as well as up to 16GM of RAM and 2TB of storage. This is a great option for those who want to complete high-resource tasks.
Apple iPad Air
Another quality tablet to consider from Apple is the iPad Air. The latest edition contains Apple’s M1 chip, 8GB RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. The great thing about this tablet is that it’s thin, which makes it easy to transport. It also has a great 10.9-inch display, so watching videos is a fantastic experience. At launch, the basic model came in at around £470, so it’s much cheaper than the iPad Pro 12.9 if you’re working on a tighter budget.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Turning to Android tablets now, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a serious piece of technology. It has an incredible 14.6-inch OLED display, which helps it to double up as a great laptop replacement if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s lightweight and thin, so carrying it around isn’t an issue. However, it’s also powerful enough to be able to complete tasks with ease, which makes it a good option for the likes of designers or music producers. Of course, this comes at a cost, and you’re looking at paying around £1,200 for this beast.
Google Pixel Tablet
Continuing with Android for a moment, the Google Pixel Tablet is an excellent choice for people on a lower budget but who want a device that can do most things reasonably well. You’ll have to pay around £600 to get your hands on this device and, for that, you’ll receive a tablet that’s powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chip, which is capable of photo editing and speech recognition. Something to consider here that’s a bonus is the fact that it comes with a dock, which makes it easy to view.
Amazon Fire 7
Not everyone needs a massively powerful tablet that’s capable of running intensive software. Indeed, some people just need a simple device that can run standard apps, and that’s what you’ll get with the Amazon Fire 7. The best thing about this device is that you can pick one up for around £60, which is a bargain for a decent tablet. It has great battery life, which is a bonus, but it should be noted that it has a small, low-resolution screen, so this isn’t a movie-watchers dream. Nevertheless, if you just need something simple or a device your children can use, this is a great option.
Xiaomi Pad 5
Back to Android, and this time we’re looking at the Xiaomi Pad 5. One of its best features is the 120HZ, 2.5K display, which looks incredible. It also has good-quality speakers, which isn’t always the case with tablets. In terms of portability, the Xiaomi Pad 5 meets the mark with its slim design. Of course, this table cannot meet the specifications you’ll find with higher-end Apple products. However, you can buy it for around £370, so you’re saving a lot of money. This is a tablet to consider if you’re looking for a decent all-rounder and don’t require a lot of processing power. For the price, it’s great value.
Is Apple Still at the Top?
Apple has dominated the portable device world for a long time now – whether you’re talking about tablets or smartphones. It’s fair to say that it still offers some incredible pieces of technology. The iPad 12.9 Pro, for example, is a behemoth of a tablet and will meet the needs of almost anyone on the planet. However, the issue with these tablets is that they come at a huge cost – often more than most people would spend on decent PCs for their homes.
Therefore, most people will turn to other products on the market. In years gone by, this might have meant buying a subpar product, but that doesn’t have to be the case now. There are lots of tablets from a variety of brands that cater to a huge range of budgets and needs. The key here is to understand what you need your tablet to do before you part with your money. There’s no need to splash out on the top-end tablets if you’re just going to be using everyday apps. However, if you do need the processing power to do things like editing, music production, and so on, you’re probably going to have to spend a bit more to avoid disappointment.