Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad Pro makes the list. But is it the best tablet you can buy?
When Apple revolutionised the tablet category with the iPad, it was criticised for being a device designed for consumption rather than creation, despite it clearly being the best tablet around.
From Apple’s larger iPad Pro to Android’s Google and Samsung tablets, there’s a lot of choice out there. And it’s more than just iOS and Android Nougat devices, unlike the best smartphones — Windows makes an appearance, too.
And with the arrival of even more powerful devices like the iPad Pro and the new Microsoft Surface Pro, that trend towards creation is only going to grow.
But it creates a new problem. With so many quality devices to choose from, how do you select which device is best for your needs?
It’s only the beginning of 2017, so we can expect a number of tablet announcements in the near future. For now, we’ve tried to make it easy for you to pick the right slate for you with our round up of the best tablets of the moment available in Australia.
Apple’s biggest slate isn’t its best, but it’s not far off either
The iPad Pro is Apple’s biggest and most powerful tablet yet, with a 12.9-inch screen, an A9X processor and 4GB of RAM.
That big screen combined with four great speakers make it a media powerhouse and if you splash out for the Apple Pencil or Smart Keyboard you can get serious work done on it too.
The size and weight won’t be for everyone and the price certainly won’t be, but the iPad Pro is an accomplished slate for everything from gaming and movies, to drawing and typing. It’s not quite a laptop replacement, but it’s the closest you’ll to that this side of a Surface Pro.
The best small-screen tablet
The iPad mini 3 might have been a disappointment but Apple more than made up for it with the iPad mini 4. With its sleek design, fairly powerful processor and stunning screen it’s everything the mini 3 should have been.
It’s still slightly less powerful than the iPad Air 2 and a lot less powerful than the iPad Pro, but it’s also cheaper than them and it’s one of the highest-spec compact slates around.
So if you want an Apple tablet in a smaller package than is offered by the Air 2 then this is the best in the business and with Touch ID and iOS 9 it’s slick and feature-packed too.
A great tablet option for the media-minded
Most tablets are very similar to one another, but not the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro. It sits in its own sub-category of Android tablets that try and succeed at being weird, yet awesome.
This tablet has all of the usual amenities that one desires in a 2017 tablet, such as 2,560 x 1600 display and a huge 10,200mAh battery. But this tablet also houses a hidden projector that can splash the screen onto a wall for night-time viewing. Cool, right? It’s novel, but actually useful.
Lighter, faster, waterproof… this is a real iPad Air 2 rival
Sony’s Xperia Z4 Tablet is one of the best Android tablets available on the market and it’s one of the few capable of putting up a fight against the iPad Air 2.
It’s got a lovely screen, lightweight design, all the Sony elements you’d look for and the right power combination to keep it on the front foot.
The waterproof design makes it a more attractive proposition over the less robust slates on the market, although the UI isn’t the slickest and the price tag is one of the highest.
The best iPad rival around
There are plenty of reasons to invest in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 — especially if you’re after the best Android tablet on the market.
It’s reading and web surfing-friendly, while the new 4: 3 screen and general size and shape is better suited for most things. Videos work better on its predecessor thanks to the more elongated aspect ratio — but they don’t exactly look bad here.
You can pick the Tab S2 up in 8-inch and 9.7-inch variants, to challenge Apple’s iPad and iPad Mini ranges, with the smaller option being more portable and cheaper.
The Wi-Fi 32GB iPad is terrific value for money
Even though it has been replaced by Apple iPad Pro line, it’s Wi-Fi only iPad is still a brilliant tablet that has further raised the bar for the rest of the competition in terms of build quality, features and performance.
The best part is this is now cheaper than ever before thanks to the release of the iPad Pro 9.7, with a hard-to-beat price of $469.Apple’s range of tablet-optimised apps and a slick user interface makes the iPad extremely versatile while also being incredibly easy and enjoyable to use.
If you want an iPad but aren’t interested in cellular connectivity or the iPad Pro’s productivity-focused features, this is the iPad to get. Alternatively, you can also opt for a cellular version with 128GB of storage for $799, but for the purposes of this list, we’re recommending the entry-level model because of its unbeatable price.
The best Android Tablet around
Google’s done it – it’s made the best Android tablet around. The Pixel C has it all: a fantastic display, heaps of power and a premium design.
Okay, it’s not quite got it all — it’s a little on the heavy side and the pricey (yet rather clever) keyboard dock isn’t fully utilised by the Android interface which is made very much for touch and not physical keys and productivity.
The Pixel C just misses out on top spot to the iPad Air 2, which has an even more desirable design and a fleet of tablet optimised applications for a more complete experience.
The best Surface Pro by a good margin
There’s no doubt that the Surface Pro 4 has its fair share of issues, many of which took a bit too long to rectify or at least patch up. With the new, numberless Surface Pro, it couldn’ t be more obvious that Microsoft took that feedback to heart.
For one, the battery life has been improved by as much as 32%, based on our testing, in a design that refines the existing template without tangibly adding any weight or thickness. Secondly, Microsoft vastly improved the Surface Pen, Type Cover and even the Surface Pro hinge to make it a stronger laptop-and-tablet replacement than ever.
Though it no longer includes a Surface Pen in the package, Microsoft has improved just about every facet of the Surface Pro 4’s design while addressing complaints of battery life and even issues some might not have even noticed – like a hinge that could have titled even further.
If you’ re willing to pay a bit more for the latest accessories than even before, the new Surface Pro remains the ultimate 2-in-1 laptop and productivity tablet. So much so that, despite Microsoft’s decision to pull the Surface Pen from the box, it remains worthy of our Recommended award.
The best Android tablet to date
Finally available to buy in Australia, the Galaxy Tab S3 is easily the best Android tablet on the market right now thanks to its all-glass design upgrade, a beautiful future-proofed HDR-ready display and included S Pen and all the extra functionality that brings with it.
