If you’re not familiar with what features and specs to look out for, finding the best tablet for work can be daunting. There’s so much choice out there, and for those that aren’t clued up about tech, it’s pretty tricky to tell the difference between an entry level tablet and a premium one that’s three times the price. But essentially, finding the right tablet is the same as finding the perfect laptop or desktop PC.
We’ll show you everything to look out for when it comes to making that all-important decision, and we’ll even share a few apps that we think will help you get productive.
Best tablet for students
A great tablet can make going from lectures to library revision sessions much easier. You probably won’t want to write your dissertation with it, but it takes the hassle out of note-taking and online research.
There are a few things to keep an eye out for: the size of the screen, how much RAM and how much storage it has.
Your tablet should be the perfect size to take to classes. A screen size between 8 and 11-inches is great for seeing everything clearly without adding too much weight to your bag. 4GB of RAM is enough to deliver laptop-like multitasking. And for storage, 32GB and higher is ideal for storing your work and your study playlist side by side. For a little storage boost, look out for tablets with a microSD card slot. That way, you’ll never run out of space.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is perfect for studying. With a choice of 64GB or 128GB storage and up to 512GB extra space with a memory card, you can always refer back to old notes.
It’s got a 14.5-hour battery life, so it’ll keep going even through the longest day of uni. Weighing roughly a third of the average laptop, it’ll sit comfortably in your backpack. And for those end-of-revision Netflix binges, there’s a Quad HD display and four speakers with Dolby Atmos for immersive entertainment.
Top tip: For even easier note-taking, treat yourself to a keyboard folio cover. That way, you can choose between typing like a pro or writing the traditional way.
Tablet apps for Students
Here are the apps we think will help make your studies hassle-free:
One word that makes students shudder: Referencing. With Citationsy, all you need to do is use your tablet’s camera to scan the book’s bar code and it’ll generate the reference for you. No matter what referencing style your college uses, you’re covered. And it’ll save you time when writing that big assignment.
No need to spend ages transferring your work from your tablet to your laptop. Upload your projects to Google Drive and continue working wherever you are, on any device. Even if you leave your tablet at home when you go to the library, you can still access ongoing projects. Easy.
Microsoft Office Lens (Android, iOS)
Lens is the perfect tool for lectures. Just hold your camera up to take a photo of the whiteboard, and it’ll crop everything else out and make the document readable. Give it a go when your lecturer displays a graph or diagram. Trust us, it’s better than frantically redrawing it yourself.
Take a look at our software and apps to find hands-on editing software and antivirus packages that’ll make your tablet even more secure and productive.
Best tablet for business
The best business tablets let you switch from working at your desk to taking notes at meetings with ease. Just like studying, you’ll want a tablet that can handle multitasking for when you’re working on several projects. You may also want pen compatibility, so you can use it like a notepad.
The 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro is a solid choice for business. It combines a powerful processor and 4GB RAM, making it super-fast even when you’re running multiple tabs at once. When you’re not using it, you can keep all your sensitive data and confidential projects under wraps thanks to Face ID. And if you purchase an Apple Pencil, you can use it for everything from annotating charts to casual browsing without leaving fingerprints.
More of an Android person? Give the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 a whirl. It might have a smaller screen than the iPad Pro, but it delivers power in spades. 6GB of RAM means you can run multiple browsing tabs and office software side by side, with the same snappy performance you’d get from running just one app. A Quad HD AMOLED screen lets you can see every project clearly, with vibrant colours.
Unlike the iPad, where you’ll need to purchase the Apple Pencil separately, the Tab S6 comes equipped with the Samsung S Pen. So, you can annotate notes and diagrams as soon as you’re set up.
Tablet for office work
If the office is where you’ll be spending the most time on your tablet, go for one that works seamlessly with the Microsoft Office suite. The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is pretty much a tablet and laptop rolled into one, with all the specs you need to tackle even the most hands-on workloads. Just like the latest PCs, it runs on Windows 10 and has an Intel® Core™ Processor for responsive start-up and fast loading time.
If you spend most of your time firing off emails and writing drafts, adding a Signature Type Cover is a great idea. The Surface Mouse is also a great purchase, and essentially completes the transformation from tablet to laptop. It really is one of the most versatile tablets money can buy.
