Here’s a perfect example: Samsung has been selling tablets for years, usually in two different sizes, with a “Plus” model being the biggest. However, earlier this year, Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra with a 14.6-inch display – the largest Samsung has used in a tablet.
So it begs the question – who else makes tablets with large displays? It turns out, there are more options than you’d think. Not all of them approach 15 inches, but there’s more than enough screen real estate in the picks below.
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Apple’s 2022 iPad Pro lineup is by far the most capable and impressive iPad lineup we’ve seen, making it our best overall pick. It’s also the most expensive by a long shot. The design hasn’t changed all that much on the outside, but on the inside, you’ll find Apple’s M2 processor which consists of 20 billion transistors — 25 percent more than the M1. It’s the same exact processor that Apple is using in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
Read the review: iPad Pro (2022) review: I’m cautiously optimistic. Or foolish
I spent some time with the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro and found it to be faster and more capable than any other iPad model we’ve tested to date. You can expect downloads up to 2.4Gbps, twice as fast as the previous model, 15 percent faster performance, and up to 35 percent faster graphics performance.
The Pro also supports the second-generation Apple Pencil, and there’s a new hover feature thanks to the M2 chip. The feature works like this: Once the tip of the Apple Pencil gets near the iPad Pro’s display, and when it’s within 12 millimeters, parts of the interface come to life in apps that support the new feature. The Smart Connector is on the back of the iPad Pro, giving you the option to use it with the Magic Keyboard which includes backlit keys and a trackpad, or Apple’s Smart Keyboard.
Also: M1 iPad Pro (2021) vs M2 iPad Pro (2022): Is it worth the upgrade?
And, although the differences between the fifth generation and this sixth generation model are more subtle, the M2 chip is really what shines here, making it a powerhouse tablet. The iPad Pro, combined with iPadOS and the M2 chip, is as close as you can get to a laptop without actually buying a laptop.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is by and large (pun intended) the tablet with the biggest display on our list. With a 14.6-inch AMOLED display, you’re sure to have enough room for work and play on the Tab S8 Ultra. Included in the box is Samsung’s S Pen stylus that can be used for drawing out ideas or writing notes, or you can use it to navigate the tablet’s Android 12 interface – and even write in any text field and have it automatically converted to digital text.
What’s not included in the box is Samsung’s $349 Book Cover Keyboard. The keyboard is a must-have accessory if you plan on doing any work on the Tab S8 Ultra, not only because it provides a physical keyboard and trackpad, but it’s also the best way to take advantage of Samsung’s DeX platform. When docked in the keyboard the standard Android 12 interface changes to something that looks and works like a regular computer with a desktop and windowed apps.
Read the review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra review: Stunning hardware, but Android holds it back
Outside of gaining extra memory, don’t upgrade from the base model just to gain extra storage. The Tab S8 Ultra has a microSD card slot that will accept up to 1TB of additional storage. If you’re invested in the Samsung or Android ecosystem of products, the Tab S8 Ultra will fit your workflow setup without much tinkering, if any, on your part.
Microsoft’s Surface lineup helped usher in the 2-in-1 detachable computer market, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t include it on this list. It is sold as a stand-alone tablet, after all. Microsoft redesigned the Surface Pro 8, shrinking the bezels around the 13-inch display and giving it the same basic design as the Surface Pro X.
With the Surface Pro 8, you’re getting a tablet that runs Windows 11 out of the box, instead of a mobile operating system like Android or iPadOS. That means you’re not going to have to worry about finding apps or workarounds for your workflows.
Read the review: Microsoft Surface Pro 8 for Business review: Still in love
Of course, if you want to use the Surface Pro 8 as a laptop you’ll need to buy a Surface Pro Signature Keyboard. Or, you can opt to get the combo that includes the keyboard and Microsoft’s Slim Pen 2 stylus. There’s even a handy compartment on the keyboard itself that stores the pen and charges it at the same time.
Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet 5 is a perfect option for someone who lives and works inside Google’s ecosystem of services and products. It’s a full-fledged ChromeOS device, but instead of having a permanently attached keyboard, it’s a tablet that docks into the keyboard that comes in the box. Finally, there’s a tablet that comes with a keyboard.
When it’s docked, you’ll get a standard Chromebook layout and interface. You can access all of your Chrome apps, visit websites, and the like. You can also install Android apps directly from the Google Play Store. These are the same apps you can install on your phone, some of which are optimized for tablets.
Read the review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5: Great Chromebook, great tablet
When you disconnect the keyboard from the Duet 5, the interface will slightly adjust and adapt to a touch-first approach, ideal for a tablet. If you live and work in Google’s ecosystem, then the Chromebook Duet 5 makes a lot of sense.
I already included the Surface Pro 8 on this list, but the Surface Pro X deserves its own callout. The Pro 8 and Pro X share the same design along with keyboard and stylus support. What makes the Pro X different is that it’s powered by Microsoft’s SQ1 or SQ2 ARM-based processor. That’s the same kind of processor architecture that’s used by Apple in its Apple Silicon chips currently found in the iPad Pro and several Macs.
The benefits of moving to an ARM processor are seen in battery life and, in the case of the Pro X at least, the addition of LTE connectivity. However, there are some downsides. One of which is that apps need to be rebuilt to support ARM processors, instead of the tried and true Intel or AMD processors Microsoft uses in the rest of its Surface products.
Read the review: Microsoft Surface Pro X review: Desirable but expensive hardware, work-in-progress software
I’ve used a Surface Pro X since it first launched and while the app compatibility issue has gotten a lot better, there’s still some work left to do before I’m not able to tell the difference between an app that’s been updated and one that hasn’t.
All of that to say – if you’re someone who likes living on the bleeding edge of technology and wants a tablet that has LTE connectivity so you can work from anywhere, the Pro X is worth considering.
If you want to spend less on a big tablet, Samsung’s “FE” series of devices are designed with Samsung fans in mind. That is, the company takes the best features of its high-end devices, trims some of them down, and releases a more affordable product.
The Tab S7 FE has a large 12.4-inch display, a snappy processor, as well as multiple storage and memory options. The device, which comes in various colors, also has a 5G version available if you want to use it while on the go.
Some standout features include face recognition technology, two stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and multi-device connectivity. It also has a great battery life that will last you for at least 12 hours.
While the display on the S7 FE isn’t as nice as the S8 Ultra, it’s still more than suitable for streaming or playing games, and it also comes with an S Pen, adding even more to its affordability.
If you’re stuck deciding between the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X, I’d recommend going with the Pro 8 only because you don’t have to worry about app compatibility as you do with the Pro X.
Keep in mind that the larger the tablet, the heavier it will usually weigh.
Google has all but admitted it gave up on making Android tablets, and developers have taken the company’s lead. You’ll find a lot of apps you can install and use, but ultimately they’re nothing more than the phone version of the app, and many just don’t work as they should.
