Tried and tested: the best new tablets

It’s tablet season! Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and TCL all have new computers on the market but each has a special set of skills. We’ve put them to the test and here’s our top picks.

Displays that flip up, double as a second screen, or entertain the kids: the new generation of tablets has something for everyone

MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP STUDIO

Possibly the most versatile laptop on the market

$2399-$4649, surface.com

PROS

– Game-changing, practical design

– Sharp, fast, 14.4-inch screen

– Up to 19 hours of battery life

CONS

– Just two USB-C ports

– Stylus costs extra

– Screen won’t hover over keys

Microsoft’s newest Surface device could change how you use a computer. Part laptop, part tablet, this device has a 14.4-inch touchscreen that can open up for traditional computing, tilt forward for use in “Studio Mode,” or lay flat if you want a canvas to draw on or read. Its hinge is sturdy and that screen features a 120 hertz refresh rate more common to smartphones for smooth scrolling. This Surface also comes with face recognition, a battery life of up to 19 hours, an efficient keyboard, and powerful magnets to hold its stylus securely beneath its lid.

VERDICT: ★★★★★

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S8 ULTRA

The biggest tablet on the market some big advantages

$1799-$2199, samsung.com/au

Samsung’s big tablet can be used with an S Pen.

PROS

– Made for multi-tasking

– Can be used as a second screen

– Fast, crisp, 14.6-inch display

CONS

– Awkward to hold vertically

– Stand an extra purchase

– Adds a screen notch

Samsung’s newest top tablet is enormous. The Galaxy S8 Ultra features a 14.6-inch touchscreen that is longer than an A4 notebook but with that size comes serious advantages. You can open three apps at once on its screen without compromises, for example, and you can even connect it to a compatible PC for use as a second screen to create a highly mobile office. It also features an in-screen fingerprint sensor, two front-facing 12-megapixel cameras, and a speedy new chip. Users should note that it’s not water-resistant, however, and is unmistakably awkward to hold upright.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

APPLE IPAD AIR (5TH GEN)

There’s more power in the Air this year

$929-$1389, apple.com/au

PROS

– Faster and more capable

– Better camera up front

– 5G connection

CONS

– No big design changes

– Storage limited to 256GB

– No Face ID sensors

The iPad Pro has some serious new competition … from another iPad. Apple has just updated the iPad Air with an M1 chip, making it more capable, and a 5G connection, ensuring it can tap into the fastest mobile networks. Other enhancements include a 12-megapixel camera up front with Centre Stage to keep you in the frame during video calls, and compatibility with the latest Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. This 10.9-inch tablet doesn’t feature facial recognition yet — its on button doubles as a fingerprint sensor — and it only has one rear camera, but it’s otherwise very close to going Pro.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

APPLE IPAD (9TH GEN)

Even the basic iPad has plenty of features the old models missed

$499-$929, apple.com/au

Apple's iPad (9th generation) will support multi-tasking.

PROS

– Cheapest iPad

– 10.2-inch Retina screen

– Works with Apple Pencil

CONS

– Last with Touch ID, big bezel

– Requires Lightning connection

– Limited colours

Apple iPads have come a long way. The most basic model will appeal to school kids, first-timers and buyers on a budget, but anyone with a pre-2016 iPad should appreciate its many improvements. The ninth generation model has a bigger, 10.2-inch screen, 4G connection, eight-megapixel front camera with Centre Stage, and uses an A13 Bionic chip. This model is also compatible with the Apple Pencil — allowing drawing in class — and it’s compatible with the Smart Keyboard. It’s the last model with some older features, like Touch ID, a wide bezel and a Lightning charger, but a slick modern device regardless.

VERDICT: ★★★★

TCL TAB 10S

A budget-friendly tablet for the kids

$399, bigw.com.au

The TCL Tab 10s is a 10.1-inch tablet that comes with a stylus and case.

PROS

– Comes with stylus and case

– 10.1-inch touchscreen

– $100 cheaper than an iPad

CONS

– For basic tasks only

– Screen writing lags

– Average cameras

TCL is best known for making televisions so it makes sense that its first tablet is ideal for streaming TV on the go and entertaining kids. For $100 less than Apple’s cheapest tablet, the Tab 10 delivers the basics: a 10.1-inch full high-definition screen, two-megapixel camera up front, 128GB storage, and a battery that will last up to eight hours. TCL also adds a TCL Kids app, with parental controls and cartoon content, to its Android software, and throws a stylus and case into the package. It lacks the mod cons and is slow to register pen strokes, but it’s a small investment for a bigger screen.

VERDICT: ★★★

Originally published as Tried and tested: the best new tablets