A brief guide to choosing the best tablet 2023: some suggestions for selecting an ultra-portable device to combine with a keyboard and digital pen.
The tablet market has shrunk significantly in recent years. Nonetheless, the new tablets that offer the possibility of connecting and disconnecting a physical keyboard as needed, possibly combining the use of a digital pen, remain a very interesting option for a large number of users, especially for those looking for an alternative to a convertible.
The choice of best tablet 2023 therefore it largely depends on the intended use: based on Android or iOS, the new generation tablets can still be adopted as perfect replacements for laptops and convertibles with Windows. If you are satisfied with the slightly smaller size of the display.
Most tablets are made in aluminum: This means that they are generally light and thin, especially premium tablets. The cheaper models continue to use a plastic body instead: tolerating some more violent shocks, the latter are a good choice for children and teenagers.
The line that can be drawn when choosing a tablet is whether it will also be used for activities gaming: laptops costing around 100 euros should be discarded because they are not up to the task.
Apart from the SoCs built into Apple iPads, if we talk about android devices it is good to select tablets that integrate at least one Snapdragon 860.
As for the endowment of memory you should focus on models with at least 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.
I display that equip modern tablets are usually IPS even if the best mount OLED panels. The latter also have advantages in daily use since they guarantee greater battery life; although today screens use refresh rates higher (90-120 Hz) which leads to higher energy consumption.
The diagonal it must be chosen according to the use: to favor comfort, 10 inches or so are enough; if you plan to use the tablet instead of a laptop by connecting a physical keyboard then you should focus on the 12-13 inch models.
The density in ppi (dots per inch) is another important aspect: 330 ppi is an excellent value. Cheaper tablets offer a display with a density of 250 ppi which, given the distance from which a device of this type is normally used, is still sufficient. During heavy use for writing emails, documents, editing spreadsheets, and so on, however, the characters and lines may appear a little more washed out.
The best tablet models 2023 include HDR screens which also take the maximum brightness to the extreme. They are also ideal for multimedia uses then to see videos, movies and TV series.
In terms of connectivity today there is only one connector: USB-C. Depending on which tablet model you choose, the device can be connected with a cable that has its own USB-C connector on one side to a monitor and used with a large screen. Alternatively, the tablet can be connected to a hub or docking station with the possibility of connecting a keyboard, mouse and monitor: the table thus transforms into a PC desktop.
Modern tablets rarely include other USB ports, a card reader, and the jack audio yes 3.5 mm. to porta USB-C it can be used with an adapter and connected to earphones with a traditional 3.5 mm jack or directly to USB-C headphones.
The benefit of using USB-C headphones is that the DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) moves to the listening device – you no longer need to depend on the processing your tablet is doing.
Most tablets have support WiFi possibly with GPS. Models with support 4G/5G additional are very useful for professionals and accept a physical SIM and/or allow the management of eSIM.
Obviously the connectivity through mobile network tends to significantly reduce the battery life of the tablet each time it is activated and used.
The photographic sector has not historically been a source of particular pride for tablet manufacturers. Only by investing over 350 euros can you get a tablet that integrates photographic sensors similar to those used in higher-end smartphones: and we are talking about both the rear and front cameras, which are particularly useful for remote work and video conferencing. Select models capture 4K video at 60fps with optical stabilization.
Finally, tablets are the ideal devices for manufacturers who want to offer a wide range of accessories to end users. In the case of tablets there are cases, keyboards with touchpads, digital pens and even mice: these are all accessories that can usually be purchased separately from the tablet. Before buying it is therefore good to check carefully what will be present in the tablet package.
There is a lively market for accessories compatible products which can be purchased at an affordable price to complement the tablet already purchased but which sometimes differ in quality from the original. Thanks to the Bluetooth support of the tablets, it is practically possible to pair any type of keyboard.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
(about 230 euros)
Galaxy Tab A8 is a tablet that can be placed between mid-range devices: with a good metal design, it measures 246.8 x 161.9 x 6.9 mm and weighs 508 grams.
The screen has a diagonal of 26.7 cm (10.5 inches) with a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels and is accompanied by four speakers with Dolby Atmos audio support.
The battery has a good capacity, 7,040 mAh, and is charged via the USB-C port with a maximum power of 15W. The front camera is 5 Mpx while the rear one is 8 Mpx.
The SoC is a UNISOC T618very common among budget tablets: it is sufficient for everyday tasks but suitable for gaming.
The 230 euro version of the tablet features 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage with WiFi support (4G/5G connectivity is not provided). However, it is possible to eventually purchase the model with LTE support in order to connect to the mobile network when you are away from home or office.
Alternatively there is the Realme Pad, a device with a 2000×1200 pixel IPS display, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, MediaTek Helio G80 SoC with 18W recharge and 7,100 mAh battery for around 280 euros.
Oppo Pad Air
(about 260 euros)
It is a device made by the Chinese Oppo which in Italy holds the fourth place in the smartphone market after Samsung, Apple and Xiaomi.
It integrates a good 10.36-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2,000 x 1,200 pixels (225 ppi) and 360 nits of maximum brightness.
Obviously the price, cheap, you pay a little in terms of refresh rate which does not go beyond the standard 60 Hz, the RAM which is limited to 4 GB with 64 GB of internal storage in the base model and the Snapdragon 680 SoC which it is not exactly the most performing but which still knows how to assert itself. The battery is 7,100mAh.
The real flagship of Oppo Pad Air is the audio equipment which return an immersive and engaging listening experience: Widevine L1 DRM support is also present so as not to have problems playing Netflix or other similar streaming platforms.
Occasionally Oppo Pad Air drops below 250 euros, confirming itself as an even more interesting product.
An alternative to Oppo Pad Air is Xiaomi Redmi Pad which for around 215 euros integrates a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, 10.61-inch 2000 x 1200 pixel 220 ppi display, 8,000 mAh battery.
Apple iPad Air 2021
(about 330 euros)
With the leap forward, in terms of price, of the iPad Air 2022 tablet, if you want to save some money while still grabbing a quality device, you can search online for the ninth generation of iPad Airthat of 2021.
The device has a diagonal of 25.9 cm and a resolution of 2160 x 1620 pixels: already compared to the 2020 version it offers a clear improvement in terms of color rendering and maximum brightness while retaining the previous aluminum design and the power button that integrates The fingerprint reader.
iPad Air 2021 (9th generation) integrates a processor Apple A13 Bionican 8,827 mAh battery, 802.11ac WiFi support, Bluetooth 4.2 and can also be purchased in the LTE version.
The rear camera is 8 Mpx with f/2.4 focal aperture capable of recording in FHD at 30 fps or slow motion in HD at 120 fps. On the front, the camera is 12 Mpx f/2.4 with 120° ultra wide angle.
The version with 64 GB of storage that can be purchased for around 330 euros is also interesting in 2023.
Xiaomi Mi Pad 5
(about 360 euros)
With its interesting Mi Pad 5, Xiaomi wanted to have its say again in the tablet market: equipped with an aluminum structure and a screen with frames reduced to a minimum, this device is characterized by a good design and level finishes. It records just 6.85 mm in thickness compared to 511 grams in weight.
The 27.9 cm (11 inch) screen is of the IPS type with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels: it also supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision manifesting its first-class ambitions. The display can reach an impressive 500 nits of maximum brightness.
The SoC is great Snapdragon 860 with 6 GB of RAM and 128/256 GB of UFS 3.1 type storage. The audio equipment consists of four speaker Dolby Atmos very powerful.
The battery is particularly generous: from 8,720 mAh, it is recharged via a USB-C port up to 33W and is able to ensure a maximum autonomy of 12-14 hours. It takes about 2 hours to recharge the battery from scratch.
Mi Pad 5 is also equipped with a 13 Mpx rear camera that records 4K video at 30 fps and an 8 Mpx front one. Both are of decent quality even if in low light even the main sensor really struggles.
Even on Amazon Italy, in the recent past Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 was just under 390 euros. On eBay it can also be found for around 360 euros using the codice coupon which is often published.
Huawei MatePad 11
(about 430 euros)
A well-designed aluminum frame tablet that includes a 27.8 cm (10.95 inch) diagonal IPS screen with 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
The included processor is one Snapdragon 865 and in the version we offer it offers 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage plus a microSD card reader. It includes 802.11ax WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1 and comes with HarmonyOS 2.
The battery is 7,250 mAh; offers fast charging at 22.5W and can be used to charge other devices at up to 5W (reverse charging).
The rear camera is 13 Mpx with f/1.8 focal aperture: it can record video at 4K and 30 fps. On the front there is an 8 Mpx f/2.0 camera.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
(starting from around 620 euros)
The Serie Galaxy Tab S8 consists of three models that differ in screen size and battery capacity: otherwise, the characteristics are completely superimposable.
The base model display measures 11 inches (27.9 cm diagonal), offers a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. Everyone is kind AMOLED and have a 120Hz refresh rate. They include an AKG four-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos.
The drums of the basic model is 8,000 mAh with 45W fast charging. The SoC is an Exynos 2200, the same one that Samsung used…