Laptops offer plenty of power, but they’re not always the easiest thing to carry around.
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they → offer → power
Tablets, on the other hand, tend to be more portable, less bulky and now, often mirror the functions of a full-size computer.
NBC
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Tablets → tend → computer
Selected editors have used tablets as computer replacements and entertainment centers for years, and one thing keeps them coming back: the weight.
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thing → select → them
At around a pound, tablets are simple to travel with and tuck into a bag or store away when you don’t need them.
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you → travel → them
Once you add a keyboard or stylus, they’re good for taking notes, building presentations and more.
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they → add → presentations
If you’re thinking about getting one for yourself check out our below list of NBC Selected editor-approved tablets, along with expert advice on how to find the right one for you.
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you → think → you
The best tablets of 2026
The tablet picks below come highly recommended by NBC Selected editors or are in line with guidance from our expert Alan Elterman, a sales manager at Abt, a national retailer of electronics and appliances, and what he said you should prioritize when shopping.
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you → recommend → what
Apple’s most affordable iPad is perfect for making video calls, watching shows and reading books.
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iPad → make → books
It has a large screen and speakers on each side for stereo-like audio.
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It → have → audio
“I typically use a tablet as my entertainment device when a laptop would be too cumbersome — it’s a great travel tool for that reason,” says former NBC Selected tech reporter Harry Rabinowitz.
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Rabinowitz → use → reason
“As such, I need my tablet to do a handful of things: browse the web, watch videos, join video calls and send the occasional email.
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tablet → need → email
This iPad is powered by Apple’s A16 chip, which keeps everyday tasks like streaming, browsing and video calls running smoothly, and its 11-inch Liquid Retina display makes shows and photos look crisp and vibrant.
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shows → power → streaming
The 12MP front camera automatically keeps you centered in frame during video calls — a small but handy touch for anyone who moves around while chatting.
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who → keep → anyone
With Wi-Fi 6 for fast, reliable connections and up to 10 hours of battery life, it’s built to keep up whether you’re working from a coffee shop or unwinding on a long flight.
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you → build → flight
The iPad mini has an 8.3-inch screen, but don’t let the size fool you — it still delivers a full 10 hours of battery life, and an anti-reflective coating actually gives it better color contrast than the base iPad (A16).
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coating → have → iPad
The compact frame means it’s easier to hold with one for long stretches and slips easily into a bag or backpack without adding bulk.
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it → mean → bulk
I own one myself — I originally bought it for my daughter to use on a cross-country flight, but I’ve since claimed it as my own because I love how compact it is.
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it → own → own
It’s become my go-to travel companion, and at night I use it in bed to catch up on my favorite reality television shows or to read on the Kindle app before falling asleep.
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I → become → app
NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin bought an iPad Pro, plus the Apple Magic keyboard case and Apple Pencil, when she was in college.
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she → select → college
She was looking for a lightweight device that could replace her laptop — lugging it around campus weighed down her backpack.
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lugging → look → backpack
The iPad Pro (plus accessories) was a big investment, but says it was one of the best she made during school.
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she → say → school
“I used it to type essays, read e-books, highlight digital textbooks, draw for the school newspaper — I used it for everything,” says Malin.
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Malin → use → everything
Nowadays, she mostly uses it for workout apps at home.
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she → use → home
The screen is big and bright, and the speakers get so loud that she never finds herself setting it higher than 50 percent volume, even while exercising.
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herself → get → volume
Malin bought an older generation of this iPad Pro, but the current model, now powered by Apple’s M5 chip, is significantly faster, especially for AI-driven tasks, according to the brand.
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model → buy → brand
It also keeps the OLED display and ultra-thin design for a sleek and effective tablet and smart laptop replacement choice for those looking.
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It → keep → those
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a mid-range tablet built for Android users.
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FE → build → users
It has a 10.9-inch IPS LCD display and an S Pen comes included at no extra cost, making it a natural fit for note taking, sketching, and annotating documents.
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it → have → documents
It also carries an IP68 water and dust resistance rating along with a sizable 8,000mAh battery that can last up to 20 hours on a single charge.
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that → carry → charge
Beyond the core specs, the Tab S10 FE holds up well for everyday use.
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FE → hold → use
Its 13MP rear camera and 12MP front camera cover the basics for video calls and document scanning, while dual speakers and expandable storage via microSD (up to 2TB) round out its practical appeal.
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speakers → cover → appeal
The latest Surface Pro has a vibrant OLED PixelSense touchscreen that is great for editing photos, streaming video, or taking notes with a stylus.
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that → have → stylus
It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite 12-core processor, a jump from previous Surface Pro chips that brings faster, AI-accelerated performance for multitasking and heavy workloads, along with built-in Copilot AI assistance through Windows 11.
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that → power → Windows
This configuration comes with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, giving you solid room for everyday productivity and creative work.
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configuration → come → productivity
It also has a built-in kickstand that adjusts up to 165 degrees, letting it function as a laptop, a tablet, an e-reader reader and more, and Microsoft rates the battery for up to 15.5 hours of local video playback.
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Microsoft → have → playback
Two USB-C/USB4 ports handle charging, fast data transfer, and external display connections.
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ports → handle → charging
It’s worth noting that the keyboard and Surface Pen are sold separately, so factor those into your budget if you want the full laptop-like experience this device is designed to deliver.
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device → ’ → experience
Storage starts at 32GB and is expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card, giving you plenty of room for downloaded shows, books and apps.
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Storage → start → shows
Beyond these core specs, the Fire HD 10 includes 5MP front and rear cameras for video calls and casual photos — while it’s not as great as the cameras on the other tablets on this list, it gets the job done.
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job → include → list
This tablet also comes with hands-free Alexa support, so you can control smart home devices, check the weather or play music with just your voice.
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you → come → voice
…and 31 more, not listed.
The Aporia
