Tablets In Test 2020: The Best Tablets In Comparison

2023 Author: Sheila Hailey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 15:18

Fire HD 8 tablet, 32 GB, black, no special offers

Now from € 49.99 at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 2020-22-06 3:43 p.m.

The new Fire HD 10 tablet│10.1-inch full HD display (1080p), 32 GB, black with special offers

Now from € 97.46 at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 27.07.2020 00:52 a.m.

New Apple iPad (10.2 ", Wi-Fi, 32GB) - Space Gray

Now from € 349.53 at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 2020-27-07 01:54 a.m.

Microsoft Surface Book 2 34.29 cm (13.5-inch) laptop (8th generation Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics 620, Win 10) silver

Now from € 2,082.90 at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 27.07.2020 02:14 a.m.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 T860 (10.5 inch) Wi-Fi, mountain gray

Now from € 614.00 at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 2020-27-07 00:11 a.m.

The tablet with the best price-performance ratio:"Fire HD 8" and "Fire HD 10" from Amazon

The Fire HD 8 has a screen size of 8 inches

Fire HD 8 tablet, 32 GB, black, no special offers

Now from € 49.99 at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 2020-22-06 3:43 p.m.

The new Fire HD 10 tablet│10.1-inch full HD display (1080p), 32 GB, black with special offers

Now from € 97.46 at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 27.07.2020 00:52 a.m.

The Fire tablets from Amazon have a very good price-performance ratio (test: Fire HD 8). However, they are also closely linked to the Amazon universe. An adapted Android called Fire OS is used as the operating system. The Fire HD 8 has an 8-inch display, the Fire HD 10 has 10 inches. Here is the test of the Fire HD 10 2019 (9th gen.).

Basically, these tablets are strongly tied to the services of Amazon, such as the Amazon app, books, games, photos, Alexa and Prime Video.
However, anyone who buys or streams a lot of eBooks, music or videos via Amazon or uses the Fire TV Stick will be satisfied with the tablets.
There is no Google Play Store, only the Amazon Appstore to install apps and games.
So there may be a missing app that you know from Android smartphones.
However, you can install the Play Store on some models later.
If you use the tablets to show your children videos, you can also set up a child lock in the settings.
We recommend the "Fire HD 8" with 32 GB storage for 119.99 euros or the "Fire HD 10" with 64 GB storage for 204.99 euros.

If you choose the tablet version " with special offers ", you pay 10 to 15 euros less. With these versions, advertisements appear on the lock screen.

Advantages

Very good value for money
Smooth operating system
Connection to Amazon services

Disadvantages

No Google Play Store ex works
Connection to Amazon services

Application areas:

Videos, music, e-books
Internet, apps and games

Price-performance alternative from Apple

New Apple iPad (10.2 ", Wi-Fi, 32GB) - Space Gray

Now from € 349.53 at Amazon Price comparison price can be higher now. Price from 26.07.2020 23:29

If you like the Apple ecosystem, you can also buy an iPad. These are also unbeatable in terms of price-performance ratio and comparatively not as expensive as iPhones. We recommend the 2019 version with 32 GB storage for currently 359 euros on Amazon. If you add 80 euros, you get 128 GB of memory.

Advantages

Very good value for money
Smooth iOS operating system
Touch ID fingerprint sensor (but a bit slow)
High quality apps adapted to tablets

Disadvantages

Closed system
No memory expansion possible
Passable display only

Application areas:

Videos, music, e-books
Internet, apps, games
(With Apple Pencil: drawing, writing)

Test: Logitech-Crayon instead of Apple Pencil

Android alternatives: If you are looking for an Android tablet without an Amazon connection, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab A510 with a 10-inch display for currently 186.87 euros in the Wi-Fi version with Android 9.0 Pie.

Before you decide on a tablet, you should also read the opinions of the other GIGA editors.

The best tablet for productive work:"Surface Book 2" from Microsoft

Microsoft Surface Book 2 34.29 cm (13.5-inch) laptop (8th generation Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics 620, Win 10) silver

Now from € 2,082.90 at Amazon price comparison price can now be higher. Price from 27.07.2020 02:18 a.m.

If you not only want to consume media content, but also want to work productively, you should get a Windows convertible that can also be used as a tablet. The premier class would be the "Surface Book 2".

Windows 10 is installed as the operating system.
8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage should be enough for most office work.
Microsoft also has its own app store, but compared to Google's Play Store, Amazon's Appstore or Apple's App Store, there are very few high-quality apps available.
But you can also install normal Windows programs here.
If you also pull a lot of films, pictures, videos, programs or games onto your laptop, you should rather choose the variant with a 512 GB SSD.
Click here for the technical data.

We generally recommend the "Surface Book 2" with a 13.5-inch display, Intel i7 CPU, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD for 1770.41 euros.

Advantages

Windows laptop and tablet in one
Perfect for productive work
Very customizable

Disadvantages

No Google Play Store
Microsoft Store has only a few apps

Application areas:

Office tasks
Productive work
Windows programs
Not too graphics-intensive games

As a cheap alternative, we recommend a Microsoft Surface, either as a Go version (less performance, cheaper) or in the Pro version (more performance, more expensive). Make sure you have a sufficient internal memory size.

The best high-end tablet: Galaxy Tab S6

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 T860 (10.5 inch) Wi-Fi, mountain gray

Now from € 614.00 at Amazon price comparison price can now be higher. Price from 27.07.2020 00:16 a.m.

If you want to have an absolute high-end tablet with Android 9, go for the "Samsung Galaxy Tab S6".

Even Samsung's DeX mode is included, with which you can use the tablet like a PC with a classic desktop surface.
Also included is a stylus: the “S Pen”, which you can use to write and draw on a tablet.
The tablet is therefore suitable for almost any purpose.
PC mice and keyboards are also supported.
The recommended retail price is 652 euros.
The tablet is also available in an LTE version, if you need mobile internet on the go, for 899 euros.
Tip: Buy a Bluetooth keyboard for your tablet to be able to write properly.

The predecessor "Samsung Galaxy Tab S4" is still available on Amazon for 475 euros. However, it has Android 8.1 and only 4 GB of RAM. Here is the test. Nevertheless, it is extremely fast, can handle multitasking like nothing and plays graphics-intensive 3D games like a champion.

Advantages

Android 9 as the operating system
Very smooth animations
Super AMOLED display with 10.5 inches and 2,560 x 1,600 pixels
Extremely good color and brightness rendering
4 speakers with very good sound
Fast processor (Snapdragon 855, 6 GB RAM)
Samsung DeX mode integrated
Including stylus "S Pen"

Disadvantages

16:10 display format somewhat unfavorable for writing with the "S Pen"

Application areas:

Videos, music, e-books
Internet, apps and also complex games
With "S Pen": writing, notes
Simple office work is also possible with the purchased Bluetooth keyboard.

The Galaxy Tab S6 in the hand-on test:

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 This is Apple's high-end alternative: iPad Pro (2019).

What you should consider when buying a tablet

So that you get what you want for your money when you buy a tablet, we have summarized the most important questions that you should answer for yourself.

The best tablets Amazon bestseller

Which operating system should my tablet have?

On the left is a Samsung tablet with an Android operating system. On the right is an iPad with IOS from Apple

As with smartphones, two operating systems dominate tablets:

Tablets with Apple's iOS operating system are called "iPads" and are exclusively produced by Apple itself.
Tablets with Google's Android operating system are called Android tablets. In addition to Google, there are many different manufacturers.
Amazon uses “Fire OS” on its devices, which is based on Android.

Then there are tablets with Microsoft's Windows operating system such as the "Surface Pro" series. However, these are rather smaller, mobile office laptops that can also be used as tablets. Therefore, they may not really count as a tablet for one or the other. There are also many different manufacturers here.

For what and how do I mainly use the tablet?	Operating system recommendation
Videos and music Apps and games (Play Store) Google services (Google Maps, Drive, Gmail, Calendar, …) High adaptability (more freedom) Android operating system relatively open Easy data exchange between tablet and PC Relatively cheap price	Android / Fire OS
Videos and music Apps and games (app store) Apple services (iTunes, iCloud, …) Less adaptability (more beginner-friendly) iOS operating system severely isolated Sometimes cumbersome data exchange between tablet and PC Reasonable price	iOS
Office and productive work Create and edit Excel, Word, and PowerPoint documents Apps and games (Microsoft Store) Steam games (if enough power is available) Run similar programs to my Windows PC High adaptability Easy data exchange between tablet and PC Prices from cheap to expensive	Windows

IPads are generally more beginner-friendly and use Apple services such as the App Store, iTunes and iCloud. Android, on the other hand, can be customized much more and, depending on the model, rooted quite easily, which allows advanced users to get even more out of their devices. If you need a tablet that you would like to work with professionally or privately, you should rather buy a Windows convertible - this is a Windows laptop, the screen of which can be removed and used as a tablet.

Easy data exchange: Android smartphones and tablets can be easily connected to the PC via USB cable to copy data, images, videos or music. With iPhones and iPads this is sometimes not so easy and you need a synchronization software like iTunes.

With the Android operating system, you should still pay attention to the version number. Android is currently 9.0 Pie. Android 8.1 or 8.0 and 7.1 would also be fine. We would no longer recommend older Android versions.

How big should the tablet be?

A screen size of 8 inches corresponds to approximately 20 cm. Such a display can still be held relatively well in one hand and operated with the other. If you also use the tablet as a TV replacement, you should use a screen size greater than or equal to 10 inches (≥ 25 cm). In addition, tablets should have a resolution of at least 1280 x 800 pixels.

Conclusion: If you watch a lot of videos, you should choose a tablet from 10 inches.

How big should the tablet storage be?

If you want to save a lot of pictures, videos and films on your tablet, you need enough internal memory. Nowadays it should be at least 32 GB. In addition, a microSD card slot is ideally available so that the memory can be expanded with a microSD card if required.

iPads do not have a microSD card extension!

The best microSD cards Amazon bestseller

How big should the RAM in the tablet be (RAM)?

If you want to play demanding games on the tablet, we recommend at least 2 GB. The Amazon Fire HD 8 reaches its limits with 1.5 GB RAM. So you should at least choose the Amazon Fire HD 10 with 2 GB RAM, the Galaxy Tab S4 or a convertible. For simple browsing, listening to music and simple games, 1.5 to 2 GB of RAM are sufficient.

How important is battery endurance on a tablet?

How long a battery really lasts can usually only be noticed after using the tablet for a while. As a rule, the manufacturer's battery information is exaggerated, since it is based on special laboratory conditions that nobody achieves in everyday life. If you only surf or read with your tablet on the Internet, you will be able to use it longer than someone who only uses it to watch films or play many games.

Battery life: The brighter the display, the shorter the battery lasts!

Would you like to surf the Internet on the go with your tablet?

Typically, tablets only have WiFi and Bluetooth. That means you can't surf the web on the go. If you still want this, there are some tablets as LTE or 4G version. In addition, you can also access the Internet on the go with your tablet using tethering on your smartphone.

Start photo gallery (11 photos)

Should you spend more than 100 euros on your tablet?

We answer this question for you with one: Yes. Because we cannot recommend tablets under 100 euros. You will only be happy in the price category of 100 to 300 euros, because, for example, the operating system runs smoothly and there is enough power to easily switch between apps. In addition, the resolution of tablets that are too cheap is often very low, which has a negative effect on the image quality.

If a tablet is to be in use for several years, we recommend looking in the price range of 200 to 300 euros. For a professional device with a fast CPU and multitasking for intensive applications, we even recommend planning 400 to 500 euros. Laptop convertibles are even higher in the range of 500 to 2000 euros.

Conclusion: You should spend more than 100 euros on a reasonable tablet. Really good tablets are available from 200 to 300 euros. This does not mean the laptop convertibles, which are even more expensive.