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The best iPad alternatives have the same power and features as Apple’s tablet, but they cost less. We used to only recommend Apple iPads because they were powerful, stable, and reliable. But those days are long gone. So, if you want a tablet with a bigger screen, a cheaper price, or a different operating system, you should look outside of the Apple Store.
iPads are still the most popular tablets on the market, and it’s easy to see why. They are usually very strong, well-built, and full of features, and they can usually do a lot of different things. They’re not cheap, and not everyone wants to be stuck with the iPad OS. Check out this list of the best iPad alternatives for 2022.
Best iPad Alternatives Comparison Table
| Device | Operating System | CPU Speed | Hard Disk Size | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra | Android 12 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 898 | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 11.2 x 7.28 x 0.22 inches | 1.5 pounds (approx) | Starts at $849.99 |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 9 | Windows 11 | 11th Gen Intel Core Processors | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches | 1.7 pounds (approx) | Starts at $1,099 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ | Android 11 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ | 128GB, 256GB | 12.4 x 7.6 x 0.22 inches | 1.28 pounds (approx) | Starts at $849.99 |
| Amazon Fire 7 | Fire OS 7 (based on Android 9) | 1.3 GHz quad-core | 16GB, 32GB | 7.6 x 4.5 x 0.4 inches | 0.65 pounds (approx) | Starts at $49.99 |
| Microsoft Surface Go 3 | Windows 11 | 10th Gen Intel Pentium Gold Processor 6500Y | 64GB eMMC, 128GB or 256GB SSD | 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches | 1.2 pounds (approx) | Starts at $399 |
| Amazon Fire HD 10 | Fire OS 7 (based on Android 9) | 2.0 GHz octa-core | 32GB, 64GB | 10.3 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches | 1.03 pounds (approx) | Starts at $149.99 |
| Lenovo Duet Chromebook | Chrome OS | MediaTek Helio P60T | 64GB, 128GB | 9.44 x 6.29 x 0.71 inches | 0.99 pounds (approx) | Starts at $259.99 |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 14.6-inch Super AMOLED, 2560 x 1600 pixels |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 898 |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB |
| Rear Camera | 13MP + 5MP |
| Front Camera | 5MP |
| Battery | 10,090mAh |
| Operating System | One UI 3.1 based on Android 12 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 287.2 x 185.1 x 5.5 mm |
| Weight | 575g |
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is bigger than the biggest iPad Pro at 14.6 inches. Its thin design makes it easy to carry around, and the AMOLED screen technology used by Samsung makes for a very rich display. It’s perfect for watching movies or looking at or making your latest piece of art. Overall, it is one of the best iPad Alternatives that you can buy.
If you bought an iPad, you would have to buy an Apple Pencil separately. The tablet comes with a S Pen. One thing that makes this tablet worse than the iPad is that the creative apps on Apple’s App Store are better than the ones on the Google Play Store. If you like Android apps, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a great alternative to the iPad Pro.
- Large, high-quality screen for immersive viewing
- With the powerful Snapdragon 898 processor, things will run smoothly.
- There are many ways to customize storage and RAM.
- High-resolution back camera for taking photos with lots of detail
- The thin and light design makes it easy to carry.
- Long-lasting battery to use for a long time
- Compared to other tablets on the market, it is expensive. It is also heavier than some other tablets, which may make it less comfortable for long-term use.
- Some places only have limited access to some features.
The Good
The Bad
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 13.5-inch PixelSense, 2736 x 1824 pixels |
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i5 / i7 |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB |
| RAM | 8GB / 16GB / 32GB |
| Rear Camera | 8MP |
| Front Camera | 5MP |
| Battery | Up to 16 hours |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 292 x 201 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 775g |
The Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft is another device that competes with the iPad Pro. It has a smooth 120Hz refresh rate on its PixelSense screen, which is usually found on gaming monitors. It’s great for games, but it’s also good for work, watching movies, and making digital art. The 10MP camera is also very good, and like Apple’s Centre Stage feature, it can follow you around a room.
The Surface Pro 9 comes in three different versions: one with an Intel i5 processor, one with an Intel i7 processor, and one with a SQ3 5G processor that is made for working on the go. In our review of the Surface Pro 9, we found that the 5G version couldn’t run some digital art software, like Rebelle 5. If you want to do serious art work or play games for a long time, you should get one of the Intel versions.
- The 2-in-1 design is flexible, and the keyboard can be taken off so you can work and play on the go.
- Powerful Intel Core i5 or i7 processor for smooth performance
- There are many options for storage and multitasking when it comes to RAM and storage.
- Compared to other tablets on the market, it has a high price.
- The price goes up because the keyboard and stylus are sold separately.
The Good
The Bad
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 12.4-inch Super AMOLED, 2800 x 1752 pixels |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB |
| RAM | 6GB / 8GB |
| Rear Camera | 13MP + 5MP |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 10,090mAh |
| Operating System | One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 285 x 185 x 5.7 mm |
| Weight | 575g |
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ came out in August 2020. The newer Galaxy tablet, shown above, has now made it obsolete. But it is still a high-end tablet, and if you can save a little money on the S8 Ultra, you should still think about getting it. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor in the S7+ is fast, and its 10,090mAh battery means you won’t have to keep plugging it in for hours.
With a refresh rate of 120Hz, the 12.4-inch Super AMOLED screen is a joy to look at, and the S Pen stylus is almost as sensitive as the Apple Pencil 2. It’s a great choice for photography because its 13MP wide and 5MP ultrawide cameras give you beautiful, bright colors, especially when used with the Panorama, Night, and Live Focus modes.
- Large, high-quality Super AMOLED screen for vivid and immersive visuals
- Powerful Snapdragon 865+ processor for smooth, lag-free performance
- There are many ways to customize storage and RAM.
- High-resolution cameras on the back and front to record memories
- Long-lasting battery to use for a long time
- Based on Android 11, One UI 3.1 has a modern and easy-to-use interface.
- Price is pretty high compared to some other tablets on the market. Some features aren’t available in all areas.
The Good
The Bad
Amazon Fire 7
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 7-inch IPS, 1024 x 600 pixels |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.3 GHz |
| Storage | 16GB / 32GB |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Rear Camera | 2MP |
| Front Camera | 2MP |
| Battery | Up to 7 hours |
| Operating System | Fire OS 7 based on Android |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Dimensions | 192 x 115 x 9.6 mm |
| Weight | 286g |
Want a cheap alternative to the iPad? Then you should get the new Amazon Fire 7 that came out on June 29, 2022. But even though it’s one of the newest places on our list, it’s very cheap and not very fancy. In short, don’t expect anything that works or has features like an iPad.
But if you just want a basic 7-inch tablet for streaming videos, looking up information on the web, using Alexa, and running apps, it will do the job. This 2022 model is an update to the 2019 model, so make sure you buy the right one.
- Affordable price for buyers on a tight budget
- The design is small and light to make it easy to carry.
- Integration of the Amazon ecosystem for easy access to Amazon Prime services
- There are front and back cameras for simple photography
- Compared to high-end tablets, the screen has a lower resolution.
- Storage and RAM space are limited
- Compared to high-end tablets, this one has a basic processor and doesn’t work as well.
The Good
The Bad
Microsoft Surface Go 3
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 10.5-inch PixelSense, 1920 x 1280 pixels |
| Processor | Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y or Intel Core i3-10100Y |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC / 128GB / 256GB SSD |
| RAM | 4GB / 8GB |
| Rear Camera | 5MP |
| Front Camera | 1080p HD |
| Battery | Up to 11 hours |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 245 x 175 x 8.3 mm |
| Weight | 544g |
If you don’t like iOS or Android, you might want to think about a tablet that runs on Windows. With the Surface Go 3, it feels like you’re carrying a computer around in your backpack. We love how the built-in stand pops out with a satisfying click and lets you prop it up on a desk.
It can be moved around so you can find the best angle for watching videos, and the keyboard case can be used to work on Word or Excel, making it a mini laptop in an instant. The 10.5-inch screen is a little smaller than an iPad Air, but we found it to be bright and clear.
- The design is small and light to make it easy to carry.
- Processor and storage options let you make it your own.
- Windows 11 is an operating system that makes using a computer easy and productive.
- Long battery life to use for a long time
- Compared to bigger tablets, the screen size isn’t that big.
- Not enough processing power for tasks that use a lot of resources
The Good
The Bad
Amazon Fire HD 10
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 10.1-inch Full HD, 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Processor | Octa-core 2.0 GHz |
| Storage | 32GB / 64GB, expandable up to 512GB with microSD |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Rear Camera | 5MP |
| Front Camera | 2MP |
| Battery | Up to 12 hours |
| Operating System | Fire OS 7 based on Android |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Dimensions | 262 x 159 x 9.8 mm |
| Weight | 504g |
The HD 10 is the most powerful model in Amazon’s line of tablets. It’s a great deal for the price, and it’s often even cheaper during sales like Prime Day. It has a lot of entertainment and work apps, like Netflix, Office, Netflix, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer.
However, it works best when you’re signed in to Amazon’s own services, like Prime Video and Kindle, because your data, shopping history, and preferences are all linked. It comes with the Alexa voice assistant, so you can use your voice to control the tablet and other smart home devices in your home.
- Full HD screen for pictures that are sharp and clear
- Affordable price for buyers on a tight budget
- Storage options that can grow to give you more freedom
- Long battery life to use for a long time
- Tablets with full Android OS have more customization options.
- Compared to some other tablets, it has less RAM.
- Basic processor and lower performance for resource-intensive tasks
The Good
The Bad
Lenovo Duet Chromebook
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 10.1-inch FHD, 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio P60T |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB eMMC |
| RAM | 4GB / 8GB |
| Rear Camera | 8MP |
| Front Camera | 2MP |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Dimensions | 239.8 x 159.8 x 7.35 mm |
| Weight | 450g |
The least expensive alternative to the iPad 8 is the Lenovo Duet Chromebook. This Android tablet comes with a case, a keyboard, and the ability to use a stylus. This tablet from Lenovo has a lot of good tips for its main audience, which are people like students who want to use it for work. It runs on Chrome OS, which is based on Linux and can also run Android apps from the Play Store. One of the best things about the program is that it’s safer than Windows.
It means that you can work without having to worry about attacks from bad people. Another great thing about this device and its software is that it will continue to get updates until June 2028. This makes the Lenovo Duet Chromebook one of the best alternatives to the iPad 8 that don’t use touch screens. Users rarely get constant software support when they leave the iOS/iPadOS ecosystems, but Chrome OS fills that gap.
- The design is small and light to make it easy to carry.
- Full HD screen for images that are clear and bright
- Storage and RAM options that can be changed to fit your needs
- Compared to bigger tablets, the screen size is smaller.
- Not enough processing power for hard jobs
The Good
The Bad
FAQs
We’ve seen a lot of iPads, but Apple’s 2022 iPad Pro lineup is by far the most capable and impressive one we’ve seen. As a result, we think it’s the best laptop replacement overall. It is also by far the most expensive.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is a strong competitor to the iPad Pro line you just read about. Even though it’s not as good as the Tab S8 family, it’s still a great tablet. Its 12.4-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 2800 x 1752 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate might be better than the iPad’s.