Tablets: The third screen in the Netflix-binge holy-trinity. Your phone is your daily commuter car (your Prius, if you will), but your tablet is your Corvette. It’s that fancy thing you don’t take everywhere, but you would always rather be using. Touch screen devices have undoubtedly taken over our lives in the last few years and it seems as though every major company is pumping out a tablet, giving you the perfect excuse to waste hours playing Candy Crush. Surely Apple drove the trend, but are iPads still the king of the tablet domain? We have compiled a list of the absolute best tablets going into 2017.
Here is our list of the top five best tablets available right now.
Nvidia Shield K1
The Nvidia Shield K1 was built from the ground up to be a gaming tablet. Running on Nvidia’s Tegra k1 192-core Kepler GPU, this really is one of the most high-performing tablets in terms of graphics. The most exciting feature is the K1’s ability to connect to GeForce Now. Nvidia’s new game-streaming platform will allow users to stream full PC games from a GeForce GTX 1080-equipped machine straight to their tablets. I am still a bit unsold on this service, but if it works, GeForce Now could make the Shield K1 the must-have gaming tablet of them all. Couple this service with the HDMI-out port on the K1 and you have yourself a portable high-end PC wherever you go.
BUY: Nvidia Shield K1
Google Pixel C
The Google Pixel C is an amazing tablet. Massively huge resolution packed into its 10.2-inch screen with a Nvidia 64-bit processor and 3GB of RAM to back it up makes it a stand out amongst other tablets of the same price. It is the perfect size no matter where you are engaging with the device. The optional keyboard (sold separately) is a great addition and, while small in size to match the Pixel C’s profile, functions well. The Google tablet also has industry-leading battery life with over 11-hours while web browsing. One of the only downsides (as much as I hate to admit it) is that its Android operating system gets later access to many of the apps that iPad users would get sooner.
BUY: Google Pixel C
iPad Pro 9.7-inch
Without question, Apple’s best tablet. With nearly all the power of the 12.9-inch model, this appropriately sized device will be doing all the same processes with a much more comfortable weight. The iPad Pro features the same great 12-meapixel camera as the iPhone 6, however with that great camera comes the dreaded camera bump that protrudes from the otherwise flawless design. Seeing how most people do not usually have cases on their tablets, that bump is a real concern. The iPad is, of course, compatible with the $99 Apple Pencil so you will find yourself doodling and jotting notes until your Farmville cows come home.
BUY: iPad Pro 9.7-inch
Samsung Galaxy TabPro S
The Galaxy TabPro S is the only tablet on this list to feature a 12-inch OLED screen. The crisp blacks are a must-have for users who watch movies on their devices, especially when viewing videos in low light. This Samsung tablet is a Windows 10 device and boasts a proper Intel chipset, a step up from the previous Galaxy tablet entry which had a proprietary Samsung chip. The TabPro S also ships with 128 GB SSD and a keyboard that doubles as a protective case. This is a particularly important selling point because most other tablet hybrids require the keyboard to be purchased separately. The TabPro S’s keyboard also has a trackpad, which gives it a leg up on the iPad, as Apple’s product does not support mice.
BUY: Samsung Galaxy TabPro S
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
This is, without question, the closest a tablet has ever come to having the same functionality as a proper laptop or PC. Running on a full version of Windows 10, the Surface Pro 4 can load any software that a regular PC can run. This means you can load up that copy of Photoshop and edit on the go or use any Windows-only, work-related programs whenever and wherever you want. This tablet can also be purchased with up to 16GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The Pro 4’s keyboard (sold separately) even has a trackpad, so when it is on your desk, you never have to touch the screen. Its massive 12.3-inch screen will mean you are never squinting, even when you have multiple windows open and its nine-hour battery life is pretty good considering the size of this bad-boy. The real kicker is the addition of extra USB ports as well as a separate charging port, something incredibly hard to come by with tablets. The only real drawback for the Surface Pro 4 is actually its size. While the huge screen is great on a desk coupled with its keyboard, in your hands it is just a bit too big for extended use. With that small caveat aside, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is an incredible device.
