One of the modern kid's best friends and a big window into digital adult content, a powerful and reliable tablet.
And so you can buy the best model, we'll show you how to pick a tablet and present a ranking of the 12 best tablets of 2020 for price / quality based on tests from Trusted Reviews, PC Mag, CNet and other specialized sites.
How to choose the right tablet?
The vast majority of modern tablets are running IOS or Android. The top 3 most popular tablet operating systems also include Windows, which is installed on top devices such as the Microsoft Surface Go. There are also tablets with two operating systems - Windows and Android, between which you can switch.
iOS vs Android
In general, iOS is better suited for tablets, as Apple spares no effort to optimize it, and is also very strict about the selection of suitable applications.
Android tablets have more freedom when it comes to installing applications. That being said, they tend to be significantly less expensive than iOS tablets and are great for everyday tasks like web browsing and video streaming.
The main disadvantage of Android tablets is that updates are not always timely. Also, not all Android applications are well optimized, which is why they can slow down and crash with errors.
Feature set
Decide what tasks you need a tablet for. There is no point in overpaying for a top-end device with stylus or magnetic keyboard support if you just want to distract your child on long trips, watch videos in your spare time, or read e-books. The extra investment is really worth making if you are a designer or plan to use a tablet for important work tasks.
Screen diagonal
By screen size, tablets are divided into compact (7-8 inches), mid-size (9-10 inches) and large (11 inches or more). Usually, the larger the display, the more expensive the tablet is.
Resolution and display technology
It is also important to consider the screen resolution and its matrix if you plan to frequently view video content on your tablet. As for the resolution, it is advisable to choose a tablet with 1920 x 1080 (or Full HD), and the best matrices are IPS or OLED. This will give you a bright, legible picture with natural color reproduction.
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 4G
It's good if the tablet supports several wireless technologies at once - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 4G. The second and third options are especially relevant if you plan to connect a wireless mouse or keyboard to your tablet and are going to use the device on trips where Wi-Fi is not always available.
The theoretical part is over, let's move on to choosing the best tablet of 2020.
The best iOS tablets
3. Apple iPad mini (2019)
Characteristics:
- tablet 7.9 ″, 2048 × 1536, TFT IPS
- built-in memory 64 GB, without slot for memory cards
- iOS, 3GB RAM, Apple A12 Bionic processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- dimensions 134.8 × 203.2 × 6.1 mm, weight 300 g
- rear camera 8 megapixels
- front camera 7 Mpix
- accelerometer, gyroscope
Visually, iPad mini 5 (or iPad mini 2019) looks identical to its predecessor. However, its filling is significantly different, and for the better.
Under the hood of this model is the same A12 Bionic chip found in the iPhone XS and iPhone XR. This means the tablet will run fast and handle whatever programs and games you need.
Despite the screen size, this tablet is very lightweight, compact and will not pull off your bag or backpack. The battery lasts for 10 hours of continuous video watching and Internet surfing, and iPad mini (2019) charges very quickly. In general, this is an ideal tablet for those who need a beautiful, easy-to-use and well-made device.
pros: solid metal body, fingerprint reader, bright display with good viewing angles, powerful processor, works with Apple Pencil.
Minuses: thick frames, not very loud and juicy sound.
2. Apple iPad Air (2019)
Characteristics:
- tablet 10.5 ″, 2224 × 1668, TFT IPS
- built-in memory 256 GB, without slot for memory cards
- iOS, Apple A12 Bionic processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- dimensions 174.1 × 250.6 × 6.1 mm, weight 456 g
- rear camera 8 megapixels
- front camera 7 Mpix
- working time 10 h
- accelerometer, gyroscope
If a 9-inch tablet is too small for you and an 11-inch tablet is too large, then the iPad Air offers a reasonable compromise with its 10.5-inch screen. It has a high-quality matrix, excellent resolution and is protected by scratch-resistant glass.
The powerful 6-core A12 Bionic processor, manufactured using 7nm technology, and a large amount of flash memory allow you to install and use the most demanding applications and games. And support for the Apple Pencil makes it the preferred choice for designers, artists, and other people who draw.
pros: metal body, screen with excellent color reproduction, fingerprint scanner, work up to 10 hours on a single battery charge.
Minuses: high price.
1. Apple iPad Pro 11
Characteristics:
- tablet 11 ", 2388 × 1668, TFT IPS
- built-in memory 64 GB, without slot for memory cards
- iOS, Apple A12X Bionic processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- weight 468 g
- rear camera 12 megapixels
- front camera 7 Mpix
- working time 10 h
- accelerometer, gyroscope
This piece of engineering is a symbiosis of traditional iPad design with rounded corners and powerful components. iPad Pro 11 is comfortable and pleasant to hold despite its large size.
And the combination of the fast Apple A12X Bionic chip with a capacious battery that lasts up to 10 hours in a row will allow you to enjoy videos, games and work with the most powerful applications all day.
While tablets are generally not viewed as devices capable of taking high-quality photos, the Apple iPad Pro 11 is an exception to the rule. It is equipped with a rear 12 MP camera with optical stabilization. So you can take a clear and detailed shot when needed.
According to unconfirmed information in 2020, Apple may introduce a new iPad Pro, with a triple rear camera that supports 3D sensing for augmented reality. Until that happens, the iPad Pro 11 remains the best iOS tablet you can get right now for price and quality.
pros: Face ID and Apple Pencil support, durable metal body, vibrant color display.
Minuses: high price, expensive accessories.
The best Android tablets
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 10.5 SM-T865
Characteristics:
- tablet 10.5 ″, 2560 × 1600, Super AMOLED
- built-in memory 128 GB, slot microSDXC, up to 1024 GB
- Android 9.0, 6 GB RAM, 2800 MHz processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G LTE, GPS
- dimensions 159.5 × 244.5 × 5.7 mm, weight 420 g
- rear camera 13 Mpix
- front camera 8 megapixels
- working time (music) 105 h
- working time (video) 15 h
- accelerometer, gyroscope
It is practically the only top-end Android tablet that is the best Android alternative to the iPad Pro.
It has a large Super AMOLED display with a built-in fingerprint reader, it supports 4G LTE networks, and - which compares favorably with Apple tablets - a memory card slot.
Another reason for choosing the Galaxy Tab S6 is the long battery life thanks to the 7040mAh battery. Without recharging, this device can work up to 15 hours in video viewing mode, and up to 105 hours in music listening mode (no, this is not a typo).
You don't have to worry about the speed of the tablet, because it is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, the flagship of 2019, paired with a video accelerator Adreno 640. This means that the most demanding games will fly at high settings.
pros: there is a comfortable stylus, a loud and juicy sound, light, despite the metal body.
Minuses: high price, keyboard cover not included and expensive.
2. Amazon Fire HD 8 (2018)
Characteristics:
- tablet 8 ″, 1280 × 800, TFT IPS
- built-in memory 32 GB, microSDXC slot, up to 400 GB
- Android 7.1, 1.5 GB RAM, MediaTek MT8163 1300 MHz processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- dimensions 128x214x9.7 mm, weight 363 g
- rear camera 2 megapixels
- front camera 2 Mpix
- accelerometer
This is one of the best budget tablets from a well-known brand that you can currently buy. Its screen has good color reproduction, the build quality is excellent, and there is plenty of storage space for photos and videos (plus you can add more storage by installing a memory card).
And although this model with its MediaTek MT8163 processor does not differ in impressive performance, it is quite suitable for the most demanding Android games (albeit at medium graphics settings).
The Fire HD is perfect for those looking for an inexpensive but good tablet designed primarily for surfing the internet and reading e-books.
pros: Affordable price, Alexa support (Amazon's voice assistant), 3.5mm headphone jack.
Minuses: not too fast interface, little RAM (1.5 GB).
1. Xiaomi MiPad 4
Characteristics:
- tablet 8 ″, 1920 × 1200, TFT IPS
- built-in memory 64 GB, slot microSDXC, up to 256 GB
- Android 8.1, 4 GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 2200 MHz processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE, GPS
- dimensions 120.3 × 200.2 × 7.9 mm, weight 342 g
- rear camera 13 Mpix
- front camera 5 megapixels
- accelerometer, gyroscope
The Xiaomi model earned the first place in the list of the best Android tablets of 2020 for the perfect combination of price and performance. It is powered by a Snapdragon 660 processor - not a flagship processor, but good enough to run any modern games and applications with ease.
The MiPad 4 has support for 4G networks, which not all tablets can boast of, even from higher price categories. However, there is an important nuance - this tablet does not support 2G and 3G. Therefore, you can receive and send SMS, as well as connect to the mobile Internet, but you cannot make and receive calls. Unless you can call on WhatsApp.
The rear camera has a good resolution and will allow you to take a high-quality, detailed picture. And the owners of wired headphones will surely be glad to know that this tablet has a 3.5 mm jack.
We also note such useful features as face unlock and the ability to connect to a computer via USB. And the presence of GPS and GLONASS allows you to use Xiaomi MiPad 4 as a navigator.
pros: there is a slot for a memory card, long-term autonomy - up to 10 hours without recharging with the most active use, stereo sound.
Minuses: the screen is dull, heavy (but durable).
The best Windows tablets
3. Prestigio MultiPad PMP880TD
Characteristics:
- tablet 8 ″, 1280 × 800, TFT IPS
- built-in memory 16 GB, slot microSDHC, up to 32 GB
- Windows 8, 1 GB RAM, Intel Atom Z3735F 1830 MHz processor
- Wi-Fi
- dimensions 130.3 × 208.5 × 9.4 mm, weight 370 g
- rear camera 2 megapixels
- front camera 1.3 Mpix
- working time (video) 6 h
- accelerometer
An excellent option for those who want to get acquainted with the capabilities of a tablet with Windows OS, but are not ready to pay tens of thousands of rubles for it.
Due to the small amount of RAM (1 GB) and not too powerful, but energy efficient processor, this model will not handle heavy games. But for surfing the Web and working with office applications it is quite suitable. Conveniently, it comes bundled with Office 365 Personal.
pros: compact, bright screen with good viewing angles, 1080p video goes without lags or brakes.
Minuses: little space for storing user data, even taking into account the installation of a 32 GB card, low sensitivity of the sensor at the corners of the screen.
2. Lenovo IdeaPad D330 N5000
Characteristics:
- tablet with keyboard 10.1 ″, 1920 × 1080
- built-in memory 128 GB, slot microSDXC, up to 128 GB
- Windows 10, 4 GB RAM, Intel Celeron N5000 1100 MHz processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G LTE
- dimensions 186x249x18 mm, weight 1106 g
- rear camera 5 megapixels
- front camera 2 Mpix
- accelerometer
If you're looking for something akin to the Surface Go, then the 10-inch Lenovo IdeaPad D330 is for you. It is slightly less powerful than the leader in the list of the best Windows tablets, but just as easy to use. It comes with a docking keyboard, which is very comfortable to work with.
With an average load (office applications, Internet surfing) and at 25% screen brightness, the battery reserve will last for 10 hours.
pros: very responsive to touch screen without phantom clicks, there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, YouTube videos are played without freezing at 1080p.
Minuses: heats up when several applications are running at the same time, plastic case, a lot of pre-installed software.
1. Microsoft Surface Go
Characteristics:
- tablet 10.1 ″, 1800 × 1200
- built-in memory 128 GB, slot microSDXC
- Windows 10, 8 GB RAM, Intel Pentium 4415Y 1600 MHz processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- dimensions 175x245x8.3 mm, weight 522 g
- rear camera 8 megapixels
- front camera 5 megapixels
- working time 9 h
- accelerometer, gyroscope
If you're not a big fan of Android or iOS, the Surface Go is a solid alternative to tablets with those OSes. It runs Windows 10, which gives you a lot more freedom to download and configure. If you are a student or office worker, you will probably appreciate the ability to run Microsoft Office on this tablet.
The Intel Pentium 4415Y processor and a large amount of RAM (8 GB) and flash memory turn Go into an ultra-versatile machine on which you can play games and TV shows on Netflix, watch and run several programs at once, smoothly switching between us.
pros: you can install a memory card, there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, stylish look, solid body.
Minuses: heavy, discharges slightly faster than Android tablets.
Inexpensive and good tablets in 2020 (up to 5000 rubles)
3. DIGMA CITI Kids
Characteristics:
- tablet for children 7 ″, 1024 × 600, TFT IPS
- built-in memory 32 GB, microSDHC slot, up to 64 GB
- Android 9.0, 2 GB RAM, MediaTek MT8321 1300 MHz processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G
- dimensions 150x220x14 mm, weight 345 g
- rear camera 2 megapixels
- front camera 0.3 Mpix
- accelerometer
If you are looking for the best tablet for kids in 2020, then this is here. A small and at the same time quite bright screen with a good matrix, a large amount of flash memory will allow you to place and comfortably play educational games or run educational programs.
If necessary, the child will be able to connect headphones to the device via a 3.5 mm jack and listen to his favorite music.
pros: sturdy body, comfortable to hold, all connectors are under a special cover, which will keep them from dirt and dust, quickly charges.
Minuses: heavy.
2. Prestigio Grace PMT3758D 3G
Characteristics:
- tablet 8 ″, 1280 × 800, TFT IPS
- built-in memory 16 GB, slot microSDXC, up to 128 GB
- Android 8.1, 1 GB RAM, 1300 MHz processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, GPS
- cell phone operation
- rear camera 2 megapixels
- front camera 0.3 Mpix
- accelerometer
Ideal for those who need an inexpensive tablet with loud sound, stable connection to navigation satellites and stable mobile Internet operation.
Of course, games that are demanding on memory and processor will not work on it, however, for Internet surfing with several open tabs, working in text editors and watching videos, Prestigio Grace PMT3758D's capabilities are more than enough.
pros: high-quality assembly, responsive touchscreen, bright backlighting, there is a 3.5 mm jack, 2 SIM cards.
Minuses: not very easy to navigate, needs to be charged every day if not used too intensively.
1. DIGMA Plane 1584S
Characteristics:
- tablet 10.1 ″, 1280 × 800, TFT IPS
- built-in memory 8 GB, slot microSDXC, up to 128 GB
- Android 8.1, 1 GB RAM, Spreadtrum SC7731G 1300 MHz processor
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, GPS
- dimensions 171.5 × 224.5 × 10 mm, weight 520 g
- cell phone operation
- rear camera 2 megapixels
- front camera 0.3 Mpix
- accelerometer
If the budget is limited, and the soul requires scope, then we offer you a compromise option - DIGMA Plane 1584S. Its main advantage is its large screen size.
Everything else is average, including performance and internal storage. The latter, however, can be easily solved by installing a memory card, and its allowable volume of 128 GB is more than most inexpensive tablets "can afford".
pros: lightweight, comfortable to hold, loud and clear sound, 2 SIM cards.
Minuses: no.