The Best
Top 10 Best Tablets with a Keyboard | 2024 Edition
What are the best tablets with keyboards in 2024? There are a lot of options with Windows, Android, Chrome OS, and iPads. Here are the best.
Which are the best tablets with a keyboard? Tablets with a keyboard dock or cover are popular, whether they run Android, iPadOS, or Windows. The reason is clear: With just one device, you get both a classic tablet and a notebook. You can work productively on them because you don’t have to settle for an on-screen keyboard. Usually, a touchpad is built-in, and the docks or covers protect the display when closed.
There are quite a few tablets with keyboards. Almost every Windows tablet has one, but also the iPad Pro models and some devices with Android can be purchased together with a keyboard. I have been testing tablets for over 10 years, and here are my current recommendations if you are looking for one with a good keyboard. Linked are my test reports, and you can find all tablet tests here.
We start with a short overview of all my recommendations, and further down, you will find more details about the devices and my test results. Also included is always a video of the tablet that I have made, in which I share my impressions.
Best tablets with keyboards: An overview
Here is a quick overview of the test winners, i.e., in my opinion, the currently best tablets with a keyboard.
- Best Windows tablet with keyboard: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (at Amazon*). The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is, in my opinion, the best Windows tablet with a keyboard cover. And if you’re looking for a tablet that can replace a full-fledged notebook, it’s probably the best choice for you. It offers a chic 13-inch display, current Intel Core processors, a high-quality design, and above all, an excellent keyboard cover.
- Best iPad with keyboard: Apple iPad Pro (at Amazon*). The 11-inch and 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro are, in my opinion, the best pure tablets with a keyboard option. They can’t quite replace a laptop as well, but they are better normal tablets than the Surface Pro 9. We get outstanding displays, the powerful M2 chipset, support for the Apple Pencil 2, and with the Apple Magic Keyboard, there is a good keyboard cover as an accessory.
- Best Android tablets with keyboard: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series (at Amazon*). The three tablets of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series are not quite as powerful as the iPad Pro but are the best Android tablets on the market. They are packed with premium features like the S Pen, a super AMOLED display up to 14.6 inches, and just like Apple, you can choose between two types of keyboard covers.
- Great iPad Pro alternative: Apple iPad Air (at Amazon*). If the iPad Pro is too expensive for you, I consider the Apple iPad Air to be an excellent alternative. Inside sits the M1 chipset, almost as powerful as the M2, and it works with the same Apple Magic Keyboard. However, the Air is only available with a 10.9-inch display, so it’s not an alternative to the 12.9-inch Pro.
- Good mid-range tablet with Android: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE & FE+ (at Amazon*). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE+ are cheaper versions of the S9 and S9+ and both work with exactly the same keyboards. So, they are a great alternative if you want to save money and can do without some premium features.
- Great value for money: Lenovo Duet 3 Chromebook (at Amazon*). The Lenovo Duet 3 Chromebook offers an excellent value for money and is especially interesting for students. It’s exciting because Chrome OS, including the full desktop Chrome Browser, is the operating system, and a good keyboard cover is standard. However, it is not suitable as an entertainment tablet.
- Mid-range iPad with keyboard: Apple iPad 10 (at Amazon*). The Apple iPad 10 is a stripped-down iPad Air that works with a completely different keyboard. Although the Apple Magic Folio Keyboard is quite expensive, it works great. The iPad 10 itself is a good tablet for work, only the display has a weak point.
- Affordable Android tablet with keyboard: Lenovo Tab P11 G2 (at Amazon*). The Lenovo Tab P11 G2 is the cheapest Android tablet with a keyboard cover that I can recommend with a clear conscience. In many ways, it resembles the Lenovo Duet 3 Chromebook, but the operating system is regular Android. It is weaker than the Galaxy Tab S9 FE but also a good bit cheaper, and I think the keyboard cover is great.
- Cheapest iPad with keyboard: Apple iPad 9 (at Amazon*). The Apple iPad 9 is the cheapest tablet from Apple, and they also offer an official keyboard cover for it. I consider the official keyboard to be the worst on this list, but the ones from Logitech for the iPad 9 are pretty good. Although the design looks a bit older, the performance for this price is outstanding, and you can use it with the Apple Pencil 1.
- Small Windows tablet with keyboard: Microsoft Surface Go 4 (at Amazon*). If the Surface Pro 9 is too big for you, you can take a look at the 10-inch Microsoft Surface Go 4. It is significantly weaker but also has high-quality workmanship and an excellent keyboard cover. Unfortunately, the Surface Go 4 is relatively expensive.
How to choose the right tablet with a keyboard
There are quite a few good tablets that come with a good keyboard cover or dock. So, which one is the right one? That’s a bit different for everyone.
The most important question is: Do you want to replace a desktop PC or a fully-fledged laptop with the tablet? Although all of them can do this to some extent, in my opinion, iPadOS and Android aren’t really there yet. In this case, I would opt for a device with Windows 11 – and my current recommendation is the Surface Pro 9.
Chrome OS is indeed suitable as a notebook replacement, and therefore tablets like the Duet 3 Chromebook can be great for students or anyone looking for a small, compact tablet with a keyboard at a low price.
I love Android and I love iPadOS. There are very good keyboards for both, you can even connect mice, and I can be amazingly productive with both. However, I can only recommend tablets with these operating systems as a secondary device without reservation. Do you have a desktop PC or a big laptop at home and are looking for something small and light for on the go? iPads and Android tablets are great.
Tablets with Keyboard: All the Details
Let’s now look at all the recommendations in detail. If you want to know more, you’ll find my detailed reviews linked under each.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9: Best Windows Tablet with Keyboard
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is, in my opinion, the best Windows tablet on the market, and since you can get it with an excellent keyboard cover, it’s also the best Windows tablet with a keyboard.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is the best Windows tablet you can buy at the moment. It offers a premium built, newest Intel processors, a pretty 120Hz display, as well as fantastic accessoires with the Slim Pen 2 and Signature Keyboard. Sadly, the battery life is short and not much has changed compared to the Surface Pro 8.
It’s at the top of this list because you can indeed replace a very high-quality notebook with it without having to make major compromises. The operating system is Windows 11 and together with the keyboard, it behaves just like a laptop but can also be a pure tablet without it.
For the Surface Pro 8 and 9, Microsoft released a new keyboard that is not compatible with the Pro 7 and is now called the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard. However, it is built just as high-quality as the predecessors and is connected via a magnetic connection. Folded together, the display is protected and you can charge the Slim Pen 2 stylus in the keyboard.
I was immediately able to write very comfortably on the keyboard because it is full-sized with a good key travel. Below it sits a touchpad that, although not as big as on a laptop, is big enough for a tablet.
Together with Windows 11 and Office 365, the Surface Pro 9 is a very good office tablet. However, without a keyboard, I don’t consider it to be as good a “pure” tablet as the iPad Pro or Galaxy Tab S9 because Windows 11 is a desktop operating system.
The Pro 9 features Intel Core i5 or i7 processors of the 12th generation, we get between 8GB and 32GB of RAM, as well as a 128GB up to 1TB SSD. You can even replace it yourself.
It is one of the fastest Windows tablets on the market, but Apple’s M2 chipset is more powerful. Especially for Adobe Photoshop and for simple video editing in Premiere Pro, the performance is great.
The display is 13 inches large and has a 3:2 aspect ratio which I find perfect for working. With a resolution of 2880 x 1920 pixels, the resolution is beautifully high and we get a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. On the PixelSense Flow display, you can write with the Microsoft Slim Pen 2 and the Surface Pen. The tablet is very suitable for handwritten notes.
Apple iPad Pro: Best iPads with Keyboard
The Apple iPad Pro, in my opinion, cannot quite replace a laptop as well as the Surface Pro 9, but it is the much better pure tablet. I think it’s the better choice if you’re also looking for an entertainment device for games, Netflix, etc., and additionally want a keyboard mainly for occasional work.
The Apple iPad Pro M2 is the best tablet you can buy right now. It's more powerful than all competitors, has two very pretty 11-inch and 12.9-inch displays, as well as a premium built. We get great premium features like the good Apple Pencil 2, fantastic keyboard covers, facial recognition, and good speakers. However, compared to its predecessors, almost nothing has changed.
For both sizes, Apple offers two different types of keyboards.
If you still want to replace a notebook with the iPad Pro as well as possible, the 12.9-inch model is of course the better choice. Especially with the Apple Magic Keyboard accessory, it has a similar size to a 13-inch laptop. This keyboard is really well implemented, it’s a kind of keyboard dock, designed so that the tablet almost floats above the keyboard. The keys have a good key travel and the touchpad is also good.
For the 11-inch iPad Pro, Apple offers exactly the same keyboard. However, due to the smaller 11-inch display, the Magic Keyboard for it is not normal size, but a bit smaller. It takes a little getting used to before you can type quickly and fluidly on it.
For both sizes, Apple also offers a Smart Keyboard Folio, which is more of a keyboard case. This keyboard is significantly lighter and thinner, but especially in the long run, it’s not quite as comfortable.
The iPad Pro runs iPadOS, with which you can now work amazingly well. Additionally, due to the large number of apps optimized specifically for tablets, it is indeed the better pure tablet.
Interestingly, due to the Apple M2 chipset, it is more powerful than the Microsoft Surface Pro 9. The performance is also significantly superior to any Android tablet.
In addition to the M2 processor, we get 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB up to 2TB of storage. 5G is also an option. On the iPad Pro, you can play the latest and most demanding games with the highest graphics settings.
The 11-inch iPad Pro has a classic LCD that is very bright at 600 nits and offers a resolution of 2388 x 1668 pixels. A bit better is the 12.9-inch model with its Liquid Retina XDR display, which has just as good black values as an OLED. Here the resolution is 2732 x 2048 pixels and both support 120Hz. On both, you can write with the good Apple Pencil 2.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series: Best Android Tablets with Keyboard
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra are the best Android tablets on the market. For all three models, Samsung offers, similar to Apple, two types of keyboards. A thin keyboard case and a better, but also more expensive keyboard cover, whose keyboards are more similar to the Surface Pro 9 and the Apple Magic Keyboard. Thus, they are also the best Android tablets with a keyboard.
Similar to the iPad Pro, in my opinion, the Galaxy Tab S9 tablets are the better pure tablets compared to the Surface Pro 9. What’s cool here is that we get the Samsung DeX desktop mode, which allows the tablets to be used more like laptops. However, the processor performance is noticeably weaker than Apple’s.
As mentioned, for the three tablets, there is a keyboard case that is definitely okay for occasional work. It’s pretty thin, lacks a touchpad, but it’s also cheaper.
More exciting for work, however, are the Samsung Book Cover Keyboards, which have pretty good keyboards and built-in touchpads. Here we get a separate back with a folding stand, which can also be used without the keyboard.
The keyboards for the 12.4 inch Galaxy Tab S9+ and the 14.6 inch Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra are about as big as those for the Surface Pro 9 and typical laptops.
For the 11 inch Galaxy Tab S9, it is naturally much smaller, just like the 11 inch iPad Pro and many other tablets. Personally, I like 11 inch devices because I like to use them as a secondary device and they are lighter, which is why I like to take them to a café.
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor ensures decent performance, with access to 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB RAM, and internal storage ranging from 128GB to 512GB. Samsung also offers versions with 5G.
Although the performance is not as good as the iPad Pro, it is good enough for intensive multitasking, Samsung DeX, and even the latest games.
Especially great are the Super AMOLED displays with deep black levels. Therefore, they are also wonderful as entertainment tablets.
All three support 120Hz just like Apple and Microsoft. In this case, the S Pen stylus is included and does not need to be purchased separately.
Also Read: Best Samsung Tablets Compared
Apple iPad Air: Great iPad Pro Alternative with Keyboard
The Apple iPad Air is an excellent alternative to the iPad Pro, especially if you want to save some money and can do without a few features. With its 10.9 inch display, it closely resembles the 11 inch iPad Pro, and the Apple M1 chipset is almost as powerful as the M2.
The Apple iPad Air 5 is a fantastic premium tablet. It's cheaper than the iPad Pro but offers the same super-fast Apple M1 processor. We get a premium metal body, good speakers, a fingerprint scanner, two keyboard options, and the fantastic Apple Pencil 2. The 10.9 inch LCD screen is a good one but a bit darker than the Pro and supports 60Hz only.
The Air also works with exactly the same Apple Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio.
Right, the keyboard experience with the iPad Air is thus just as good as with the 11 inch iPad Pro. The software is identical, and it is almost just as well made. It’s just a shame that Apple does not offer a 12.9 inch version of the Air.
The Air differs from the Pro by the slightly smaller 10.9 inch display, which is also slightly dimmer at 500 nits. Moreover, instead of 120Hz, it only supports 60Hz, making it seem as if the Apple Pencil 2 does not respond quite as smoothly. But it is exactly the same pen. If you can do without the 120Hz, you almost only have to live without Apple Face ID and get the Touch ID fingerprint reader instead.
As said, the exact same Apple M1 chipset sits inside. In addition, there is 8GB RAM and depending on the version 64GB or 256GB internal storage. There are no more storage options, but built-in 5G is available upon request. The performance is still great for all games, and thus the Air is more powerful than the Surface Pro 9 and Galaxy Tab S9.
Also Read: Tablets vs Laptops: What’s the Difference?
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE & S9 FE+: Good Mid-Range with Keyboard
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ are two more affordable alternatives to the Galaxy Tab S9 and S9+. Although they are significantly cheaper, the basic design is identical, and therefore the same keyboards that fit the S9 and S9+ also fit with both. So, with the S9 FE and S9 FE+, you can use two keyboards that are both excellent: A thin Samsung Book Cover Keyboard Slim and a higher-quality Samsung Book Cover Keyboard.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is currently the best mid-range tablet with a pen. We get a pretty good overall package here with a high-resolution 10.9-inch 90Hz IPS display, a great design, latest software with long updates, and the S Pen, which is included. The S9 FE has many premium features such as a fingerprint reader, good speakers, and a water and dust-resistant body. It would be even better if the processor was more powerful. So, it's not a perfect gaming tablet.
- Premium design
- IP 68 certification
- Pretty 90Hz display
- Fingerprint reader
- Up-to-date software
- Good speakers
- S Pen is included
- Good keyboard cover
- Performance just average
With the tablets, one can work almost as well as with the more expensive tablets with a keyboard. The S9 FE and FE+ are powerful enough, and exactly the same software is preinstalled. Unfortunately, you cannot connect external monitors to the USB Type C port. This is only possible with the regular S9 series.
If you don’t need external displays, they can be a great laptop replacement with good keyboards, a housing protected against water and dust, and screen sizes of 11 and 12.4 inches. The S Pen is included and works almost exactly the same, and the displays even support 90Hz.
Also Read: Best Note-Taking Apps for Android Tested
Lenovo Duet 3 Chromebook: Great Value for Money
Especially for students, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook offers very good value for money. For me, it’s a kind of insider tip, because the tablet is not particularly well-known. But it should be, because for an RRP of around 400 Euros, the keyboard cover is included.
The Lenovo Duet 3 Chromebook is an 11-inch tablet with Chrome OS and a keyboard cover. Its highlights are its operating system because it'll get updates until 2030 and the desktop version of Chrome is preinstalled. The built quality, performance, display, and especially the keyboard are good. However, the USI Pen 2 is a bit disapointing and the battery life could be longer.
The second highlight of the tablet is Chrome OS, which is supposed to be supported with updates directly from Google until 2030. The heart of the operating system is the full-fledged desktop Chrome browser, which we know from Windows and macOS. With it, web apps like Google Docs can be used well. Thanks to the Google Play Store, Android apps can also be installed.
As said, the keyboard cover is included and typically Lenovo consists of two parts. There is a back with a built-in folding stand, which is magnetically connected to the tablet and also works without the keyboard. Then there is the keyboard with a built-in touchpad. Since Chrome OS was originally developed as a desktop operating system, it can be operated better with a mouse and keyboard than Android and iPadOS.
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor with 4GB or 8GB RAM and 64GB to 256GB storage ensures adequate performance. The display is 11 inches large and has a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels. You cannot write on it with a USI 1 pen, but you can with a new USI 2 stylus. They work, but are not as good as the competition from Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft. I wouldn’t buy it because of the pen.
Apple iPad 10: Mid-Range iPad with Keyboard
With the iPad 10, Apple has released a cheaper but significantly stripped-down version of the iPad Air. Although the design looks the same at first glance, it does not work with the Apple Magic Keyboard. Instead, for the iPad 10, you can buy the Apple Magic Folio Keyboard, which currently does not work with the Pro, Air, or Mini.
The Apple iPad 10 is faster than all Android tablets. Especially compared to its predecessor, it offers a better and more modern design, a bit lager and bright 10.9-inch display, as well as a new and good keyboard cover. Overall, it's a great tablet but it does have a bunch of downsides. The screen is not laminated and I noticed a jelly effect. You can get it with the first-generation Apple Pencil. However, for that one to work you have to buy an extra adapter which is ridiculous. And, sadly, the price has increased.
The Magic Folio Keyboard is similar to the keyboard covers from Samsung and Lenovo. It consists of a separately usable back with a folding stand and a keyboard with a touchpad. The keyboard cover works really well, also because you can now work surprisingly solidly with iPadOS. Sure, the accessory is expensive, but for those looking for a better tablet than the iPad 9 with iPadOS, the iPad 10 is a solid option.
Due to the Apple A14 processor, it is not quite as powerful as the Pro series with the M2, but it is faster than any Android tablet currently available. In terms of performance, most people, in my opinion, almost don’t have to make any compromises compared to an Air or Pro.
However, this changes with the display. Although the 10.9-inch IPS display is high-resolution, very bright at 500 nits, and also looks chic, it is not laminated. There is a visible air gap between the IPS panel and the touchscreen, which can particularly be annoying with the Apple Pencil 1. And it’s annoying that it only works with a separate 10 Euro adapter. Otherwise, the stylus is as good as usual.
Also Read: Best iPads for students compared
Lenovo Tab P11 G2: Cheapest Android Tablet with Keyboard
The Lenovo Tab P11 G2 is the cheapest Android tablet with a keyboard cover that I can currently recommend. It is weaker than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, but also a good bit cheaper. The keyboard has to be purchased separately and works almost as well as the Lenovo Duet Chromebook. There is also a productivity mode here.
The Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 is a great choice if you're looking for an inexpensive Android tablet with keyboard or a good but affordable entertainment tablet. It offers a large 120Hz screen, a good build quality, almost pure Android and it's well made overall. However, if you need a great pen, Samsung's competition is a better choice.
When designing the keyboard covers, manufacturers like to copy each other, although Lenovo was a pioneer here, to be fair. Again, we get a back with a built-in folding stand and a keyboard with a touchpad that is connected separately. In this case, everything looks very robust, as if it were perfect for students.
The keyboard cover works very well; I was able to type quickly and comfortably with it. Although the touchpad is small again, that’s just how it is with tablets.
A MediaTek Helio G99 processor with various storage options ensures adequate performance. The CPU performance is similar to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022. In many ways, I find the S6 Lite 2022 better, but it does not have a good keyboard cover. The performance of the Lenovo Tab P11 G2 is sufficient for most applications. High-end games, however, cannot be played well.
We get an 11-inch LCD screen with a rich 120Hz and a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels. I think the display is fine, especially for the price. Cool is that you can write on it with the Lenovo Precision Pen 2. You have to buy it separately, and I would say it works similarly to the Lenovo Duet Chromebook. And that also means that the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the better pen tablet.
We also have to do without premium features here. There is no fingerprint reader, but there is a metal case, and the speakers are adequate. It is also regrettable that Lenovo often distributes so few updates.
Apple iPad 9: The cheapest iPad with a Keyboard
The Apple iPad 9 is the cheapest iPad with an official keyboard cover. I find Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio adequate for occasional typing work, but it’s not as good as the Apple Magic Keyboard of the Pro series. And it does not work with the iPad 9. I find the Logitech keyboards for the iPad 9 more interesting, and if you want to work properly with the tablet, I would go for that. Software-wise, the iPad 9 is just as good as the Pro or Air.
The value of the Apple iPad 9 is fantastic. Because of its Apple A13 processor it is faster than every premium tablet running Android right now. We also get a great built quality, a solid screen, up-to-date software, Apple Pencil support, and the TouchID fingerprint scanner. Sadly, the design looks a bit outdated and the display continues to be not laminated.
For the iPad 9, Apple offers the Smart Keyboard Folio, which is more of a thin keyboard cover. They offer such a thing for the Pro and Air, but it is mainly a cover with a keyboard as a secondary function. A proper keyboard cover, however, comes with the Logitech Combo Touch for the iPad 9. Then you have a decent keyboard and a touchpad. Keep in mind that iPadOS can now also be operated properly with a mouse and keyboard.
In one respect, despite its low price, the iPad 9 belongs to the top class, and that is in terms of performance. Inside is an Apple A13 processor, due to which it is more powerful than many Android tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. That’s really impressive. Even games like Fortnite and PUBG Mobile can be played with the highest graphics settings. And fast multitasking is also possible.
The 10.2-inch display is nicely bright at 500 nits and also has a decent resolution of 2160 x 1620 pixels. It’s regrettable, however, that the screen is not laminated. So, there is a visible air gap between the IPS panel and the touchscreen. Many don’t notice this, and often it’s not a big deal. But it is annoying when writing or drawing with the Apple Pencil 1. Due to the air gap, it looks like you’re not directly touching the display.
Although the iPad 9 has an old design, it has two good speakers, a TouchID fingerprint reader, and a high-quality metal case. As I said, I would rather use a third-party keyboard like the one from Logitech.
Microsoft Surface Go 4: Small Windows Tablet with Keyboard
The Microsoft Surface Go 4 is a good alternative to the Surface Pro 9 if you’re looking for a small tablet with a keyboard that must run Windows 11. With the Go 4, exactly the same keyboards work as with all the predecessors of the Go series. And that means that here too, the Type Cover is excellently implemented and really good. So, the Go 4 is a great tablet if you want to work with a small device.
The Microsoft Surface Go 4 is an excellent choice if you're looking for a 10-inch Windows tablet. It offers a pretty display, a high-quality design, an excellent Surface Pen and a good keyboard. The performance is very good, especially for office work, but I can't recommend it as a gaming tablet or for graphic work. It's also a shame that it's quite expensive.
- Premium design
- Pretty display
- Great Surface Pen
- Good keyboard
- Perfect for office work
- Short battery life
- Quite expensive
- Slower than an iPad
In comparison, the Surface Go 4 offers great design, a chic display with a good image, the excellent Surface Pen, and Windows 11. It’s a great 2-in-1 device that can quite be a small notebook replacement.
It’s just a shame that the design has not changed since the first generation. Also, the battery life is relatively short. The advantages outweigh, however, because it’s a lot of fun to use the Surface Go 4.
Inside are an Intel N200 chipset, 8GB RAM, and up to 256GB storage capacity. Plus, as with all Surface tablets, there is no version with LTE or 5G.
What is the right tablet with a keyboard for you?
First, you should think about what kind of tablet you need. There are many different types of tablets with keyboards, and for everyone, a different one is the better choice.
Some keyboards, along with their tablets, are so good that they can easily replace high-quality premium notebooks. This includes, for example, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro 6.
Others, like all Apple iPads or, for instance, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6, are excellent as a second device. They are great tablets with good keyboards, which are beautifully light and mobile. However, I wouldn’t completely replace a laptop with them. At least not if you often have to write longer texts.
Once you have answered this question, you possibly already know which device is the better choice for you. Next, you can consider how much money you want to spend and whether you absolutely need a specific operating system. There are programs that only run on Windows, only on iPadOS, and some are only available for Android. However, most common apps are available for all three systems.
How I review tablets with a keyboard
I test pretty much every tablet that is released in Germany. And if there is an official keyboard available for the device, I try to buy and test that as well. For my tests, I run many standard tests like benchmarks and battery tests. To get a comprehensive picture, I also use each device privately and professionally. I watch YouTube and Netflix on the devices, surf the internet, read and answer emails, or play a few games. But I also work with every model, at least a bit, even those for under 100 euros – which can sometimes be painful.
Now, with the tablets that have an official keyboard, I work significantly more. I write articles almost daily for work and then do it on my test devices. With all models on this best list, I could work very well. Otherwise, they would not have made it onto this list. Almost all of my reports are written in Microsoft Word, which is available for Android, iPadOS, and of course, Windows.
You can follow my exact test process in my individual test reports, which are linked under my recommendations.
Your Questions Answered
We get tons of questions regarding tablets with keyboards every day. Here are a couple of common ones and my corresponding answers. If you have further questions, feel free to hit us up on Twitter.
Every tablet is compatible with keyboards. All support Bluetooth keyboards, for instance, and you can connect them using USB. For some devices, you can also get official keyboard covers which are usually the better choice if you want to use them while traveling.
Well, that depends on the exact device you’re thinking about getting. Some tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+, Galaxy Tab S7, Galaxy Tab S6, Galaxy Tab S5e, and Galaxy Tab S4 do support official keyboard covers. However, usually, you’ll have to buy them separately. Other tablets like their 8-inch Galaxy Tab A series, for instance, don’t have official keyboards. With that being said, you can connect Bluetooth ones to all current Samsung tablets.
Microsoft is offering many Office 365 apps for Windows, Android, and iPadOS. That includes Word and Excel. So, in theory, you can use both apps on every tablet you can buy right now. But since the versions for Android and iPadOS are a bit limited, you’ll have the best experience with a Windows tablet like the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 or Surface Go 2.
For writers, I think the best tablets are the ones that offer big keyboards. Because with these, you can type comfortably for longer. That means you should check out tablets like the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro, and the 12.4-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+.
You can get Microsoft Word for pretty much every tablet out there. If you’re a Windows user, you can get it from the Microsoft Store or the Microsoft website. iPad owners can find Office apps inside the Apple App Store. And if you use Android or Chrome OS, you can find Word, PowerPoint, and Excel inside the Google Play Store.
Yes. All operating systems including iPadOS, Android, Chrome OS, and Windows 10 officially support a mouse and even touchpads these days. So, feel free to connect them either by using Bluetooth or a wired USB connection. Most generic mice should work fine on all of them.
Update history
- The first version of this article was published on June 4, 2018.
- On August 2, 2018, I added the TrekStor Primetab T13B because it is very well implemented for the price.
- I updated the top list with the new iPad Pro models, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, Galaxy Tab A 10.5, Microsoft Surface Go, and Lenovo IdeaPad D330 on November 20, 2018. I removed older tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 and the 2017 iPad Pro tablets.
- On February 4, 2019, I updated the section on the iPad Pro to the current status and linked it with my test report.
- On May 10, 2019, I removed the TrekStor PrimeTab T13B because it is hardly available anymore. Additionally, I added the iPad Air 2019.
- I replaced the Android tablets with the Galaxy Tab S6 and Galaxy Tab S5e and added the iPad 7 2019. This happened on October 7, 2019.
- It was time to remove some older Windows tablets like the Acer Switch 3. Additionally, I added the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X.
- On October 2, 2020, I added the Lenovo Yoga Duet 7i, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, and iPad Pro 2020. At the same time, I removed older models like the Galaxy Tab S6 and Surface Pro 6 and replaced the Surface Go with the Go 2.
- The iPad Air 3 and iPad 7 were replaced by the iPad Air 4 and iPad 8 on November 21.
- On October 17, 2022, I completely revised the list.
- I revised the list again on January 22, 2024.
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Sev
February 7, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Are you sure Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 use the same keyboard dock? I just bought that tablet and went to Samsung Store.. and sadly the S4 keyboard dock doesn’t work on it. Tried many ways to put it, also dimension are different from S4.
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Stanley Hipkiss
December 9, 2022 at 3:29 pm
thanks for the recommendation
Richard
January 7, 2023 at 2:09 am
Excellente review! on peut trouver des tests en francais sur https://meilleur-test.com/
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