06-22-2026, 01:04 PM
Tablets had a rough few years where it wasn't clear what problem they were solving. The situation has improved but the answer is still very use-case dependent.
iPad (especially iPad Air M2 / iPad Pro M4)
The M-series iPad hardware is genuinely impressive - faster than most laptops, excellent display, best-in-class stylus (Apple Pencil Pro). The software is still the limitation. iPadOS multitasking is better than it was but still feels like a stretched iPhone in ways that Apple hasn't fully resolved.
Worth it for:
Android tablets (Samsung Galaxy Tab S10)
Samsung's top-end tabs are competitive on hardware and DeX mode is a legitimately useful desktop mode for some workflows. The app ecosystem quality gap vs iPad is smaller than it used to be but still exists for productivity apps.
Worth it for:
Budget tablets: Avoid. The performance cliffs below the mid-range are steep and the software support is short. Better to save for an iPad (10th gen at £349 is solid value) or a Pixel Tablet.
Honest take: If you already have a good laptop and a phone, a tablet is a luxury. If you read a lot, draw, or take handwritten notes - an iPad makes a lot of sense. For pure content consumption a Kindle and a phone cover most bases for less money.
Do you use a tablet and what for?
iPad (especially iPad Air M2 / iPad Pro M4)
The M-series iPad hardware is genuinely impressive - faster than most laptops, excellent display, best-in-class stylus (Apple Pencil Pro). The software is still the limitation. iPadOS multitasking is better than it was but still feels like a stretched iPhone in ways that Apple hasn't fully resolved.
Worth it for:
- Digital art and illustration (Procreate is still unmatched)
- Note-taking with Apple Pencil (GoodNotes, Notability)
- Video consumption and casual browsing
- Musicians (GarageBand, audio apps ecosystem)
Android tablets (Samsung Galaxy Tab S10)
Samsung's top-end tabs are competitive on hardware and DeX mode is a legitimately useful desktop mode for some workflows. The app ecosystem quality gap vs iPad is smaller than it used to be but still exists for productivity apps.
Worth it for:
- Android familiarity / preference
- More flexible file management
- Samsung DeX if you travel and want something close to a laptop experience
Budget tablets: Avoid. The performance cliffs below the mid-range are steep and the software support is short. Better to save for an iPad (10th gen at £349 is solid value) or a Pixel Tablet.
Honest take: If you already have a good laptop and a phone, a tablet is a luxury. If you read a lot, draw, or take handwritten notes - an iPad makes a lot of sense. For pure content consumption a Kindle and a phone cover most bases for less money.
Do you use a tablet and what for?