Best Tablets For Writers And Writing

Generally, tablets such as Android, Apple, or Microsoft devices are designed to be able to perform a multitude of tasks, such as browsing, watching movies, listening to music, creating reports, presentations, playing games, etc. There is NO such tablet made specifically for writing unless you plan on ditching your pen and keyboard.

In a hurry: Check out our tablet buying guide!

Typing on an onscreen keyboard is not the best option for writers and journalists as it decreases your typing speed, is very uncomfortable compared to a standard keyboard, and is really harmful to your thumbs if used for an extended duration.

However one thing tablets allow writers to do is easily create notes and simple presentations, edit an article they already have, or look up information on the internet without having to access their PC. If you are a writer or journalist and you want to buy a good all-purpose tablet to assist you with your daily work then there are plenty of options these days.

You may find a tablet from a lesser-known company with amazing specifications on paper, but in real life usage you will found out that the tablet lags behind in performance or does not perform as well as you were expecting.

What to seek when buying a tablet for writing?

Then there is also the question of build quality and user experience. These two details are really important if you ask us. Why? Because as a writer you will be using the tablet much more frequently than a casual user, and depending on your level of experience and workload you may end up pushing the device to its limits.

It really matters to you as the user, how the tablet responds and feels in your hands, whether you feel comfortable while writing on its screen, how responsive the stylus is, stuff like that goes a long way in determining how productive you can get with a tablet.

If you don’t feel comfortable typing on a certain keyboard, or if your hands feel strained after a while, your work quality gets affected as a result. Some other things you need to watch out for are display quality and resolution, RAM, CPU power, and most importantly the battery life and portability.

While you can compromise on the RAM and CPU if you are a writer, you cannot compromise on portability and battery life if you plan to do a lot of work without stopping to charge for every few pages you complete. Now, we are about to take a look at the best tablets for writers available right now. Each tablet has its pros and cons listed, you just have to decide which one suits your needs best, simple as that.

Take a peek at our list of best laptops for writers!

Best ANDROID tablets for writers and writing

Asus Transformer Pad TF103C-A1

Pro: Nice build quality, comes with a detachable keyboard.
Con: No HDMI port.

Really well built, runs Android, super slim, and the display rocks. Asus transformer pad series has always impressed us with its clean, sleek design and impressive performance and this one is no different. Powered by a 1.33 GHz quad-core Intel Atom processor and equipped with 1GB of RAM, its speed is more than enough for any writer or journalist. The transformer pad’s battery can power the tablet for up to 16 hours of video playback if you are going to browse the web and work on documents that timer goes up even higher. It is shipped with a really good detachable keyboard which is super comfortable to type on, and includes a trackpad that no one will ever use because it’s rather inaccurate, also the tablet screen is just 5 inches away. The Transformer Pad is really good for browsing the web, working on documents, and watching movies on the go. Its display consists of an IPS panel, and the colors are extremely crisp and vivid. If only Asus has included an HDMI port…

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4

Pro: Amazing display, really fast, and responsive.
Con: The resolution.

This little device from Samsung is an iPad killer in disguise. Small on price, but high on everything else…except the display resolution. But if you are given a resolution of 1280×800 on a 10.1″ screen, you can’t really complain about the image quality since the effective pixel density is still greater than larger full HD screens. The colors are really vivid and the brightness is so good that you can use this tablet in broad daylight without having to cover your head with an umbrella(no jokes intended). Seriously, though, the display is very bright and the battery still manages to hold up longer than 10 hours while viewing which is nothing short of impressive. One good thing about having a low resolution is the fact that the processor has a fewer number of pixels to push and as a result, you get snappy, an instantaneous response from the UI. Apps and tabs open instantly thanks to 1.5 GB of RAM, and the screen responds accurately and quickly to every gesture of your fingers.

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3

Pro: Really nice display and audio system.
Con: Could use more RAM.

Yoga Tab 3 is an incredibly enjoyable tablet with amazing video and audio quality. In fact, the audio is Dolby Atmos and easily outperforms the speakers you find on the most expensive tablets. Watching movies on one of these is a treat and the battery life is an incredible 18 hours, making sure your tablet lasts an entire day by your side. A really unique feature is the adjustable kickstand which allows you to use the tablet in four different modes- hold, tilt, stand, and hang. While some extra RAM could have been helpful given the fact that multitasking eats up 1GB really quick these days, it should not matter if all you care about is a good display and long battery life. As a writer, you can easily use a digital pen to scribble down notes or you can use the 180″ rotatable 8MP camera to take high-quality photos for use in your articles.

Microsoft Surface 2

Pro: Sweet display, really fast processing.
Con: The operating system is Windows RT 8.1.

The Surface 2 compensates for its mediocre OS and lack of apps by offering a gorgeous display and beefy processor. And, you get Microsoft Office Suite factory-installed. Not a demo version but the real thing, meaning you can start working on your articles and presentations and whatnot right out of the box. It instantly connects with your other Windows 8 devices such as your PC and synchronizes contacts, apps, and everything to make the transition from PC to tablet as smooth as possible. You will need to buy the optional type cover if you want a detachable keyboard, but it includes a full-size USB port for you to plug in an external keyboard if you already have one.

And it comes with an SD card slot, something you’re not going to find in any iPad. The expandable memory allows you to use your Surface like a portable writing workstation once you get a digital pen and keyboard. MS Office works like a breeze, browsers don’t hang no matter how many tabs you open and movies run super smooth thanks to 2GB of RAM and an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor. The body is built from magnesium and aluminum which gives it a really premium and lightweight feel in the hands, while at the same time being extremely durable.

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S 12″

Pro: Super sharp display, amazing processing power.
Con: Limited connectivity options.

We like to call this one “90% tablet, 10% computer”. In reality, though, it seems as if Samsung took a full PC, and packed the damn thing into the body of a tablet. We know, it sounds physically impossible but the performance doesn’t lie. Packing an Intel m3 processor and 4 gigs of RAM the TabPro performs like an entry-level laptop, except it is a fraction of the size. The display is simply the best in the entire tablet market. Forget the Retina display. Forget everything. Nothing compares to the Super AMOLED display of Samsung, and when you experience the beauty of that 2160×1440 12″ screen, you cannot resist yourself from buying one of these. A 128GB solid-state drive gives ample space to store media and documents, and although we seriously needed some USB ports along with mini Displayport and HDMI, all of those issues are resolved by buying an adapter. Oh, and the operating system is not Android for this Samsung device, it is Windows 10, the OS designed for PCs as well as tablets.

Microsoft Surface 3 Tablet

Pro: 64GB inbuilt storage, lots of expansion, and connectivity options.
Con: Could use a faster processor.

One of the best tablets in the market for writers, this can effortlessly run MS Office and breezes through daily tasks such as editing documents, writing notes, watching videos, etc. The RAM is sufficient for any task that you throw at it, and Windows 10 is factory-installed, so you get the productivity and power of a full-size PC in the form factor of a tablet. It is beautifully crafted and the display is 1080p. The Surface 3 tablet features a 64GB flash storage, along with a host of features such as a full-size USB port, mini DisplayPort, and HDMI out. There is an SD card slot if you want to expand your storage even further. For this particular model, the Surface pen is sold separately, you should definitely buy one of those if you love to scribble on your tablets with a digital pen. It is pressure sensitive and very comfortable to hold. Just remember that you are fine as long you don’t try to pull off any heavy-duty tasks such as AAA gaming, or video and photo editing. The Intel Atom processor is just not built for that sort of task.

Apple iPad Air 2

Pro: Amazing build quality, really good display.
Con: Low on RAM

This is an older model of the iPad and comes with iOS 8. Its RAM is rather limited at 1GB and the internal storage is just 16GB, not expandable at all via SD cards and stuff since it was made by Apple. But all of you are still going to love it because of its immaculate design and premium construction, along with the Apple brand name. Featuring the A8X 64 bit processor designed by Apple, it processes heavy workloads with ease and delivers a great user experience with its solid construction and amazing OS, besides that it features 802.11 b/g/n wi-fi and a digital compass with iBeacon micro-location in case you accidentally lose your precious iPad.