Best business tablets of 2024

PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID

The best business tablets are essential for staying productive at home, in the office, and on the go. 

Whether you need the best tablet for accounting, finance, and checking your emails, or one tailor-made to graphic design and content creation, there are lots of models on the market from the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft. With so many different models on the market, what makes a good business tablet and which ones are the best? 

Having tested all the best business laptops and best business computers, our team of experts turned their attention to work devices offering maximum portability. Thin, lightweight, and feature-filled, we benchmarked the speed and performance of the best business tablets you can get right now. As part of our review process, we compared the specs, build quality, weight and dimensions, and overall design of a range of Apple and Android business tablets. 

Best business tablet in 2024

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Below you'll find full write-ups for each candidate for the best business tablet. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted. 

Best business tablet overall

An Apple iPad Pro on a table, with a keyboard

The iPad Pro (2022) (Image credit: Future)
For the professional Apple user

Specifications

Operating system: iPadOS 16
Processor: Apple M2
RAM: 8GB - 16GB
Screen size: 12.9in
Resolution: 2732 x 2048
Storage: 128GB - 2TB
Battery life: Up to 10 hrs
Weight: 1.51lb / 6.82kg

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful mini-LED screen
+
Future-proof M2 chip
+
The best range of tablet apps

Reasons to avoid

-
128GB is small for the price
-
Battery life isn't huge
-
Steep price rise in some countries

The iPad Pro 12.9" is the best iPad available today. This iPad Pro saw an update in 2022 to bump it to an Apple M2 chipset, giving this piece of glass even more power under the display. Additionally, the larger storage sizes allow for an increase in RAM, topping out at 16GB.

The large screen size is perfect for content editing or creation and multitasking. Much like the iPad Air, this iPad has a few keyboard options, giving way to another level of productivity. 

The impressive cameras on the back, with LiDar, included, can pave the way for immersive AR functionality at a job site or in an office. Powerful speakers can project important content to a mass of people, and the Center Stage front camera can keep the focus on whoever is involved in a virtual meeting.

There is also an 11-inch model with the same great chip, with a slightly smaller screen and, in some cases, a little less RAM. If you are looking for the best of the best but don't need the largest screen, this might be a great solution.

Read our full Apple iPad Pro (M2, 12.9) review

Best business tablet for Windows

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The smoothest Surface yet

Specifications

Operating system: Windows 10 / 11
Processor: Microsoft SQ3 3.00 GHz
RAM: 16GB
Screen size: 13in
Resolution: 2880 x 1920
Storage: 256 GB
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Weight: 1.95lb / 883 g

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent design
+
Big, responsive screen
+
Great battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
ARM Introduces some system compatibility and stability issues
-
Keyboard and pen cost extra
-
Expensive

The best business tablet isn't necessarily the newest, which is why the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G doesn't top this list, but it's still a decent device that could be useful for you, depending on what you need from your slate.

We didn't find the Surface Pro 9 a huge upgrade on the impressive and dependable Surface Pro 6. The fact that the older slate is more affordable now is why we don't believe the newer tablet will topple its predecessor. The Surface Pro 9 5G takes a continued step in the progression of Microsoft's tablet lineup.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G features a quality array of cameras on the front and back, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a surface connector port. Another element that makes this stand out among competitors is including Windows 11 as the operating system.

Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G review

Best Android tablet for business

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (Image credit: Future)
A top Android for work and school

Specifications

Operating system: Android 12L
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
RAM: 8GB - 12GB
Screen size: 11in
Resolution: 1600 x 2560
Storage: 128GB / 256GB
Battery life: Up to 13 hours
Weight: 1.1lb / 5.03kg

Reasons to buy

+
Premium-feel design
+
S Pen stylus included
+
Clear, bright display

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited upgrade
-
Lacks in-screen fingerprint
-
Cameras are 'good enough'

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is the best option for business use and beyond if you're looking for a tablet outside of the Apple Ecosystem. The included S Pen unlocks so much for designers and those who prefer to handwrite meeting notes, sign many documents, add some red pen to a written document or draw diagrams.

These tablets can expand their storage thanks to a microSD card slot. Alternatively, if you want to expand your screen size, you can opt for the Ultra, adding 1.4 inches of diagonal display. We use our Tab S8 as our daily driver, finding it impressively fast, with a sharp, bright screen ready-made for watching Netflix. Armed with the stylus, we've found the tablet more than capable of photo editing and digital art - although it does sometimes struggle with very large canvases. For handwritten notes, though, it's a delight. 

This tablet packs a good amount of power while also having an impressive battery life. You shouldn't be disappointed if you choose this tablet for your professional endeavors.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 review

Best business tablet for portability

Apple iPad Air 5

(Image credit: Future)
A cheaper alternative to the latest iPad Pro

Specifications

Operating system: iPadOS 16
Processor: Apple M1
RAM: 8GB
Screen size: 11in
Resolution: 1640 x 2360
Storage: 64GB / 256GB
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Weight: 1.02lb / 461g

Reasons to buy

+
Great design
+
Speedy performance
+
Incredibly versatile

Reasons to avoid

-
Too close in cost to iPad Pro
-
Battery life only average
-
64GB is too little storage for base model

We'd recommend this iPad Air to people interested in the best iPad Pro but perhaps don't need all its bells and whistles. The tablet has the same Apple M1 chipset as the iPad Pro 11 (2021), so it's very powerful - plus, it has a similar design, battery life, and accessory compatibility.

The key differences are that it doesn't have as much storage space, and its screen is smaller (and technically uses different technology, though we're not sure most people will notice). When we tested the devices, we didn't mind these differences most of the time, and unless you're a power user, you might find the Air a better device.

That's especially the case for students. Since the iPad Air feels the same as the iPad Pro but costs less, people who want to save some money will find it perfect. 

Read our full Apple iPad Air (2022) review

Best business tablets: FAQs

What are business tablets?

Business tablets are mobile devices that allow professionals to get important work done on-the-go, whether it be during a long commute or during a flight for an important work event.

While these generally won't have the same functionality as business laptops, it trades some functionality for better connectivity, battery life, and portability while still offering professionals access to all of their important work apps and accounts.

Which tablet is best for working professionals?

Generally, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch is the best business tablet if you're talking about features and performance, but the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus are also great alternatives.

How to choose the best business tablets for you

Complete your set-up

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When deciding how to choose the best business tablet, remember that these days, for a tablet to prove itself genuinely useful, it needs to boast performance that is almost on a par with the top laptops. 

These kinds of tablets need to have enough processing power to manage demanding tasks, long battery lives to power you through long work sessions and lightweight builds.

Thankfully, the tablets featured on our list are incredibly versatile devices, and thanks to the combination of power and form factor, they are excellent devices for business use. The best 2-in-1 laptops, however, offer even more versatility if you're looking for a true tablet-laptop hybrid. 

The best business tablets you'll find on this page can be used for various professional tasks, whether that's reading documents on the go, being creative in a range of ways, or managing different systems and channels at the same time. You'll therefore need to consider what tasks you plan to use your tablet for, whether you prefer working with iOS or Android, and also what budget you have to play with.

How we test the best business tablets

Our team of reviewers have expertly tested a massive range of the best iPads and best Android tablets for work, school, and play.

There are no shortage of contenders out there when it comes to selecting the best business tablets on the market. Since Apple changed the game with the launch of the iPad in 2010, the market has been swamped with the biggest names in tech looking to claim a chunk of the pie.

So we've been ruthless in whittling down our list, and among the areas we've sought to analyse include key factors one might expect, like graphics, processing speed, storage space and screen size. But we’ve also taken into account some considerations that can often be forgotten about. 

Given the smaller size of tablets compared to desktop PCs and laptops, connectivity options aren’t always in high supply, which is why we’ve noted where tablets have managed to cram in an impressive variety of connectivity options and ports. 

We’ve also tested what were previously deemed luxury features but now should be considered as standard, such as cameras, docking stations, and styluses. Finally, given the importance that Apple placed in design when launching the iPad, we’ve also made sure to consider the look and feel of each tablet.

Collin Probst

Former TechRadar Pro B2B Hardware Editor, Collin has been in journalism for years, with experience in small and large markets, including Gearadical, DailyBeast, FutureNet, and more.

With contributions from