Great Tablets You Should Buy If You Want One

Tablets are still relevant today. They have evolved to full functioning PCs you can use every day for work, not just for leisure and entertainment. To be honest, having a tablet is handy in times you don’t have to bring your laptop — unless you already have an expensive thin notebook.

Here is a list of tablets you should buy if you want one.

Apple iPad Mini 4

Let’s begin with the most popular slate of all — the iPad. The Apple tablets are still the best tablets you can spend your bucks on if you have the budget. They have introduced a number of sizes and variants too from everyday tablets to a super tablet that replaces your laptop. If you want something handy, you can opt for the iPad Mini 4 that has a 7.9-inch display. Pricing starts at Php20,490.

Apple iPad Air 2

Then we have the iPad Air 2, which is a blown up iPad Mini 4 with little more power to play with for as low Php21,490. With a 9.7-inch display, you can pair with a keyboard case available from different 3rd-party manufacturers to add productivity to the tablet.

Apple iPad Pro 9.7

Lastly, we have the latest king of the iPads and the Pro moniker added to it is not just an additional name for differentiation. The iPad Pro comes in two sizes, and the smaller 9.7-inch model has the best specs so far for an iPad. It has a specially designed smart keyboard case and the Apple Pencil. As with most devices, with great power comes higher asking price. The base Wi-Fi model with 32GB of storage starts at Php32,990 and if you wish to have LTE built in, pricing starts at Php39,990.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9

The iPad Pro 12.9 is the largest iPad to date and it shares about the same features and functions of its 9.7-inch sibling. It’s a little behind in some aspects despite its size. At 12.9-inches though, it’s a humongous piece of mobile tech. It’s best paired with its smart keyboard case to fully take advantage of it. You can grab one for as low as Php42,990 and that’s just for the Wi-Fi and 32GB base model only.

Asus Transformer 3

ASUS’ recent launch of new Transformer line of computers included two convertible tablets that run Windows 10. The initial offering is the Transformer 3. It’s similar to the TabPro S from Samsung but with more processing power thanks to its 7th Gen Intel processor. It’s locally available for Php49,995.

Asus Transformer 3 Pro

If you want more processing power and a chassis ala Surface Pro, then it’s the ASUS Transformer 3 Pro for you. It’s got a built-in kick-stand and a 12.3-inch display on its body. Of course, you can attach a keyboard to turn it into a full laptop experience with it’s Intel Core i7 processor. It’s pricey at Php69,995 but you’re getting more than just a mere tablet.

Google Pixel C

Let’s jump to the Android world with the best tablet Google is offering for now. The Pixel C is a 10.2-inch tablet running the latest Android software available, and as of writing, it’s Android 7.0 Nougat. As months pass by, it will be updated to newer versions immediately as with other Nexus devices. It’s powered by the NVIDIA Tegra X1 and it tops the benchmark scores. Unfortunately, it’s not officially available in the country but you can purchase it where available for just $499 or roughly Php23.3k before taxes and international shipping.

Huawei MateBook

Huawei also has a striking convertible that battles the likes of the Transformer 3 and it’s called the MateBook. Similar to the other slim tablets above, the MateBook is a 12-inch slate that can be attached to a keyboard case for a full PC setup. It’s pretty powerful too with up to 6th Gen Intel Core m7 processors and has adequate features for a slim and portable tablet that runs Windows 10. It’s not yet in the country though but it has a listed starting price of $699 or around Php33k.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

One of Android’s best OEMs is Samsung. And for tablets, the Galaxy Tab S2 is their top of the line Android slate. It’s got the usual Samsung best traits on board including an AMOLED display and quality build. It also comes in two sizes, 8-inches and 9.7-inches. The Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 is available for Php24,990 while the larger Tab S2 9.7 is at Php26,990. Both have identical specs and memory as they just differ in screen size and battery capacity.

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S

Apart from Android, Samsung is also on the Windows 10 wagon with the Galaxy TabPro S. Initial launched early this year, the TabPro S is a thin Windows tablet that just as beautiful as it is functional. With a Super AMOLED display, it’s probably the best screen to work on the go. Its 12-inch display is large enough to comfortably type on and with the included keyboard case, it’s full productivity tablet. It’s power by an Intel Core m3 processor and has a thinness of just 6.3mm. You can check it out at Samsung stores for Php55,990.

Surface Pro 4

The Surface Pro 4 from Microsoft themselves is the benchmark of all Windows 10 tablets. It’s sleek, beautifully craft, powerful, and just the best Windows tablet around. It’s fully powered and will run all your desktop apps on the go. It’s not officially available in the Philippines but some retailers have it on stock like Villman who has the slate listed at Php69,999 for the Core i5 variant with 128GB storage. That already includes the Type Cover and Surface Pen as a freebie.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 2

Another Android slate in the list is from one of the OEMs that gives the best value for your money. Mi Pad 2 from Xiaomi is one of the overlooked tablets since it’s not officially available in the country, unlike other relatively cheap tablets. Its specs are not exactly the best around but it’s great for everyday use. Xiaomi’s MIUI is also pleasant to use on a bigger display thanks to its iOS-like interface. You can avail of the Mi Pad 2 for just Php10,990 (32GB) or Php13,990 (64GB) through Widget City.

NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1

NVIDIA’s own gaming tablet equipped with their own K1 processor is absolute a tablet you’d want for Android gaming. It’s also cheap at just $199 (~Php9,400) and you can purchase accessories for it like a controller and a cover stand to complete its gaming setup. It’s not officially available in the country as well so you’d have to cover international shipping for it unless you’re able to spot a retailer that have it on hand.

And that’s pretty much the tablet we know that you should buy if you are eying for one. There are cheaper models on the shelves but if you’re already in the market for buying a tablet sidekick, better get the good ones. Did we miss anything? Chime in the comments below!

Updated with additional tablets