For artists, photographers, vigorous notetakers, productivity diehards, and other creative professionals, a tablet can be a handy second device for getting work done. We recommend the iPad Pro (11-inch, M2) for its beautiful display, fast M2 processor, and precise stylus—especially for users already immersed in Apple’s ecosystem. For those who prefer Android, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra.
For Windows users looking for the thinnest machine possible, we used to recommend the Surface Pro 9, which runs the full Windows operating system, making it better for taking your documents and Excel spreadsheets on the go. But the Surface Pro 9 has an aging processor and we hope Microsoft refreshes the line with a new model soon.
Our pick
The M2 iPad Pro has a faster processor and a more capable camera than previous models, plus a vivid screen and access to a wide library of iPad-optimized apps. But coders, web developers, and anyone who needs to use a lot of external accessories are likely to find iPadOS limiting.
Apple’s iPad Pro (11-inch, M2) is perfect if you primarily intend to use your tablet as a tablet instead of a complete laptop replacement. You can interact with the iPad using your fingers or the excellent second-gen Apple Pencil, and its keyboard support comes in handy. Most iPads have enough processing power for any daily office task, but the M2 iPad Pro is also fast enough for creative professionals who need to export 4K video, illustrate complex art pieces, or render 3D models. Other “pro” features include a 120 Hz refresh rate, which makes animation look smoother, as well as Face ID, and a new feature that detects the Pencil as it hovers over the iPad.
All iPads work seamlessly with Macs and iPhones in an Apple-centric workplace, and iPadOS is easy to use and simple to update, back up, and restore. It has a huge library of touch-friendly tablet apps, including lots of options for drawing, writing, and editing photos, audio, and video. And the latest version of iPadOS handles keyboards and mice, external storage, file sharing, and web browsing better than previous versions did. But iPadOS and its apps are limiting if you do any kind of coding or web development.
Also great
The Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra pairs a fantastic display with a fast processor, making this a great tablet for media enthusiasts.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra has a laptop-sized 14.6-inch display that’s equally great for watching a movie or multitasking during work. The S9 Ultra’s processor is fast enough for any app we tried, and didn’t slow down when working with and exporting 4K video. It comes with the S Pen, a proprietary stylus that magnetically attaches to the back of the tablet to charge. Tablet apps for specific use cases can be harder to find in the Android app store than they are for the iPad, but the S9 Tab Ultra is more than capable of any office tasks and is compatible with most modern productivity software, like Slack and Microsoft Office.
Budget pick
The iPad Air is a slightly less expensive pick for pros who don’t need Face ID or a 120 Hz screen.
The iPad Air offers fast performance with Apple’s M1 chip, supports the second-generation Apple Pencil, and has nearly the same display resolution as the iPad Pro. However, it lacks facial recognition, and its 60 Hz display doesn’t make motion look quite as smooth. But the M1 iPad Air can do almost everything else that the iPad Pro can do, starting at $200 cheaper.
