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The Insider Pick:
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Tablets are ideal for kids, travelers, and professionals — it just depends on which one you buy. The best tablet for most people is Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad, but we’ve also included a number of other excellent tablets that are best for different uses.
When I was a kid, and our family went on a long car ride, my parents would keep us entertained by making us play games like I Spy, Don’t Hit Your Brother, and Who Can Stay Quietest the Longest. These days, though, kids are just as likely to have a tablet screen in the backseat, watching movies or playing games while wearing headphones.
Tablets have contributed to the parental bliss of silence in the car like few other inventions.
Beyond that, tablets are interesting pieces of technology, giving you a nice mix of computer processing capabilities and entertainment on a touchscreen.
If you already own a laptop and a smartphone — and you don’t have the need to entertain kids in the backseat — you may wonder whether you also need a tablet. Depending on how you use your current pieces of tech and based on what else you’d like to do, a tablet can be a great addition.
We’ve picked the best tablets you can buy in several different categories, including ones that are best for kids, professionals, and travelers. We’ve tested all but two of these tablets personally, so you can trust our recommendations. If you need more guidance before you choose, read the last slide for everything you should know about buying a tablet.
Read on in the slides below to learn why Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad is our top pick and why you might also like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, the Amazon Fire HD 8, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, the Asus Zenpad 3S 10, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition.
The best tablet for most people
Apple
Why you’ll love it: The new 9.7-inch iPad is an absolute steal at $ 330 with a gorgeous sharp screen and high-end metal design.
Apple’s iPads have always been the best tablets you can buy, but the high price tags made it tough to find an iPad on a budget. All that has changed with the new 9.7-inch iPad. It costs a mere $ 330, and it offers nearly all of the same high-end specs and features as the top-of-the-line iPad Pros.
Early reviews are out, and big-name tech publications like Digital Trends, The Verge, and CNET are giving it top marks. If you own an aging iPad or iPad Mini, the new 9.7-inch iPad is an excellent upgrade. Obviously, if you have an iPad Air 2 or an iPad Pro, you don’t need to get the new one. The new iPad is for anyone who has always wanted an iPad, but couldn’t afford the $ 500+ price tag. It’s an absolute steal at $ 329.99.
The 9.7-inch screen is sharp and clear with its 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution, the A9 processor is still very capable, the battery life should be great, and you can even buy things on it with Apple Pay, thanks to the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
You simply can’t beat those specs at that price point. Comparable Android tablets cost hundreds of dollars more, and the iPad still has a better app library and accessory support.
The aluminum build looks and feels premium, and the 9.7-inch screen size makes it a very portable device that’s easy to stow away in your bag. It’s quite light, too, so you can happily binge-watch Netflix in bed on your new iPad. — Malarie Gokey
Pros: Incredible price for an iPad, powerful A9 processor, slick aluminum design, Touch ID for security and Apple Pay, gorgeous screen, and iOS 10
Cons: No Apple Pencil support and it’s not the latest A10 processor
Buy the 9.7-inch Apple iPad from Best Buy for $ 269.99 on sale (originally $ 329.99)
The best Android tablet
Samsung
Why you’ll love it: When you want to watch videos on your tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 provides outstanding image and audio quality.
If you’re looking for a great Android tablet for watching movies or streaming video, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 sits at the top of the heap. This screen not only gives you excellent images now, but it’s also a future-proof screen, as it contains HDR technology.
Even though HDR-enabled content isn’t really available for tablets yet, this Samsung tablet makes sure you’ll be ready when HDR content does appear. With a maximum resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, this tablet has better-than-HD resolution in its 9.7-inch screen.
Insider Picks’ guides editor Malarie Gokey tested this tablet when it first came out and loved it. The sharp screen, fast processor, and incredibly lightweight build make it the best Android tablet you can buy.
In its review, TechRadar calls the Galaxy Tab S3 the best Android tablet developed yet, thanks to the high-quality display screen and four speakers that give you better audio quality than you’d expect from a tablet.
The Galaxy Tab S3 also has 12 hours of battery life, a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front camera, and 4 GB of RAM, all of which are above-average features.
You’ll appreciate having the Samsung S Pen stylus included with this tablet, and the stylus works incredibly well, according to one Amazon reviewer. However, an Amazon buyer wishes there was a storage location for the stylus attached to the tablet because the stylus can easily be lost.
Pros: One of the best tablet screens for video quality, includes four speakers for better-than-expected audio quality, includes a stylus with the kit, plenty of above-average components for fast performance
Cons: No keyboard included with this model, no option to attach the stylus to the tablet for storage
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 on Amazon for $ 499 (originally $ 599.99)
The best tablet under $ 100
Amazon
Why you’ll love it: The Amazon Fire HD 8 is super affordable, but it still delivers a good set of features that you’ll enjoy using for watching videos and running apps.
Normally, you get what you pay for when it comes to technology. Once in a while though, you receive more than what you expect with a bargain-priced piece of tech.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 is going to surprise you with its sub-$ 100 price tag and great performance. This certainly isn’t a tablet that’s going to compete with high-end iPads, but it has a good set of features for those who need only the basics from a tablet.
Insider Picks reporter Brandt Ranj tested the new Fire HD 8 and couldn’t believe how good it was for the price. If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you get access to tons of popular TV shows, movies, and music on the tablet. The app selection is also very good, and if you read Kindle ebooks, this tablet is just the perfect size.
CNET says the Fire HD 8 is one of the best cheap tablets you can buy, although PC Mag says this tablet doesn’t work as well unless you have a subscription to Amazon Prime services. But it’s still a good value among tablet options.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 also offers good parental controls, so it’s a great tablet to give an older kid.
One Amazon buyer calls this tablet an amazing value that will perform all of the basic functions most people need from a tablet. However, a few other Amazon reviewers say the Fire HD 8 doesn’t last very long.
Pros: Extremely low price point, performs basic functions of a tablet well, offers expandable storage with a memory card slot, good for kids, works especially well for those with Amazon Prime accounts
Cons: Can’t compete with powerful iPads, battery charges very slowly, display size of just 8 inches
Buy the Amazon Fire HD 8 on Amazon for $ 49.99 (originally $ 79.99)
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