The Best Tablets for Travel

In this day and age of inter-connectivity, keeping up with your work and personal lives has never been easier. However, it can also be incredibly overwhelming, especially when it comes to travel, both domestic and international.

Tablets are the best of both worlds in regards to both function and portability. Larger than a cell phone and with similar capabilities to a computer, this portable solution to work and play away from home can be an essential addition to your ever-growing tech collection.

Why Are Tablets Ideal for Travel?

When you either have a desktop or don’t have the space for your laptop in your travel bag, a tablet is the next best thing. Since many tablets have a compatible design with your other devices, it is easy to pick right up from where you left off. 

Tablets can be multipurpose or have a particular focus. For example, giving your children a tablet of their own to play with instead of handing them your cell phone for entertainment is probably much more ideal. 

Tablet Features and What to Look For

Choosing the right tablet can be overwhelming at first. With so many brands, styles, and purposes, wading through all the options is challenging, especially for first-time buyers.

Luckily, most tablets have similar features, and the extras are where you want to place your focus. Most tablets are within seven to 13 inches, use a standard operating system, and have extended battery lives. 

Processing speed, resolution, and storage space can vary. Many accessories pair well with tablets, depending on the OS and brand. The ideal tablet will depend on your individual needs and how you plan to use it.

 One of the most important things to keep in mind when looking for a travel tablet is how compatible it will be with your other devices and your life in general. 

5 Best Travel Tablets

Out of the many to choose from, several tablets stand out from the rest. These tablets are not the only ones you may consider but are on the higher end of quality, function, and performance. 

Hopefully, this list should help you get a better idea of what you are looking for and what works the best for you or your family.

Quick Reference Guide:

Best Budget Tablet – Fire HD 10

Best All-Purpose Tablet – Apple iPad Air

Best Tablet for Work – Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Best Tablet for Young Children – Fire HD Kids Edition

Best Tablet for Overall Value- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

Best Budget Tablet - Fire HD 10

With several attractive color options, WiFi, and Alexa compatibility, the Amazon Fire is an excellent option, especially for those on a budget. Two storage sizes and a fast charger at an extra cost make it easy to find what will suit your lifestyle the best.

However, Amazon’s tablet user interface can be a little complicated, especially for those unfamiliar with technology. Even so, the Fire is excellent for casual use with its lightweight design and Amazon features. You also have a choice between a version with ads and one without, but you can always pay to remove the ads later on.

Specifications

  • Weight: 10.1 ounces
  • Size: 10.1 inches
  • Storage: 32 GB or 64 GB
  • Battery Life: up to 7 hours
  • Operating System: Fire OS

Pros

  • Easy to set up and get started.
  • Compatible with many Amazon accessories.
  • It has excellent sound and picture quality.
  • It gets the job done, whatever the job may be.
  • Lightweight and fast.

Cons

  • Some may find the interface complicated. 
  • Not compatible with many non-Amazon products or apps.
  • The advertisements slow performance and drain battery.

Check out latest pricing on Amazon: Fire HD 10

Looking for a case to protect this tablet? We recommend: Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet Case

Best All-Purpose Tablet - Apple iPad Air

For Apple-lovers, the iPad Air is the best way to go. Not only will you be able to sync with all of your devices, but you will be able to use any accessories that you may already have. 

With the Touch-ID system, you can keep out anyone who you don’t want accessing your tablet. Anything from watching movies or playing games is a breeze with this tablet. There are also several options for colors, and the 10 hours of battery life will get you through many hours of travel.

Specifications

  • Weight: 1 pound
  • Size: 10.9 inches
  • Storage: 64 GB or 256 GB
  • Battery Life: up to 10 hours
  • Operating System: iPadOS

Pros

  • Incredibly responsive user interface.
  • Clear picture and sound.
  • Excellent battery life.
  • Compatible with Apple accessories such as the Pen and Keyboard.
  • It has accurate handwriting recognition.

Cons

  • It does not come with a power adapter, only the cord.
  • Potential issues with quality control.
  • The camera is bulky and doesn’t allow the tablet to lay flat.

For latest pricing on Amazon, click here: Apple Ipad Air

Our recommended case for protection: Zugu Alpha Protection Case

Apple Ipod Air

Best for Work - Microsoft Surface Pro 7

When you have a business, traveling around can be a pain, especially if you have everything on your computer. Luckily, this Microsoft tablet can sync with your laptop or desktop and even your phone, even if it is an Android. 

With a Windows OS, this tablet is technically a computer, so it is best for work and businesses. The sleek silver or bold black design is easy to use and even more comfortable to set up. This impeccably-designed mini-computer has limited applications, but that is due to it not having a mobile OS.

Specifications

  • Weight: 1.7 pounds
  • Size: 12.3 inches
  • Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB
  • Battery Life: up to 10.5 hours
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Home

 Pros

  • The sound, microphone, and display are incredible.
  • It has three modes: studio, laptop, and tablet.
  • Compatible with Windows accessories like the pen and mouse.
  • Fast charging.
  • Ideal SDD functionality.

Cons

  • The bezel can be too chunky for some.
  • It doesn’t work well in sunlight.
  • There are limited available apps.
  • No keyboard included as pictured.

Check out latest pricing here: MS Surface Pro 7

Looking for a protective case to keep your new investment safe? We like the: Moko Case Fit Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Best for Young Kids - Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

It can be challenging to find a kid-friendly tablet that also gives parents sensible options to manage what their children can access. In bold blue, purple, and pink, the Kid’s Edition of the Fire just might be what you need for the road.

With 32 GB of storage and a sturdy kid-proof case, this tablet is excellent for games, streaming, and more. Running out of storage isn’t an issue either, with a slot for a microSD card. 

You can even get this tablet with an age-appropriate headset and carrying sleeve for an additional cost. 

Specifications

  • Weight: 16 ounces
  • Size: 7 inches
  • Storage: 16 GB
  • Battery Life: up to 7 hours
  • Operating System: Fire OS

Pros

  • It has profiles for multiple children.
  • There are two size options for the extra headset.
  • Available in several colors.

Cons

  • It needs a subscription for parental controls after a trial.
  • The user interface is not the best.
  • The display is hard to see in the sun.

Check out latest pricing here: Kindle Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

We highly recommend these thick rubber foam cases: Kindle Fire HD 8 Case

Best for Overall Value - Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

With voice activation and an Android OS, the Galaxy Tab S7 is an impeccable piece of technology. After charging super fast, you can take it with you and count on it to last for hours. 

 The sound from its four speakers is terrific, and the included pen provides an easy way to keep up with things. However, if you plan to do a lot of note-taking, this pen will be too fragile to be worth it. 

 When it comes to value, performance, design, and cost, the Galaxy Tab S7 is genuinely one of the leading tablets from which to choose. 

Specifications

  • Weight: 1.1 pounds
  • Size: 11 inches
  • Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB
  • Battery Life: up to 5 hours
  • Operating System: Android 10

 Pros

  • It has a crisp, clear, bright screen.
  • Beautiful color options.
  • T-Mobile or Verizon models with data plans are available.
  • A fingerprint scanner allows for extra security.
  • Great battery life.

Cons

  • It does not have a headphone jack.
  • The pen is excellent but breaks easily.

For latest pricing, click here: Galaxy S7

A great case for this tablet: Galaxy Tab S7 11 case

Tablet Time?

Whether it is domestic or international or for leisure or business, having a way to stay connected during travel is essential. Tablets are ideal for doing this, allowing you to do more than you could from your cell phone while removing the need to pull out a bulky laptop for a quick task.

Even children can benefit from a tablet designed just for them, and the whole family can have something to do while going from one place to another without having to share devices. 

Regardless of how you plan to use a tablet for travel, there is one that will suit your lifestyle and individual needs.

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