
There are a lot of questions on which tablets are the best? The answer is – it depends. We’re not going to try to figure that out. We are going to figure out which tablet with a keyboard is the best. Which features should be taken into account to make a smart and educated decision? If you plan to buy such a tablet and keyboard combo, these and many other questions are probably floating in your mind. To help you, our team has created an in-detail buying guide for the best tablets with keyboards found in the market. Happy tablet hunting!
So, a quick recap – What is a tablet? And why tablets now come with keyboards?
In 2010 Steve Jobs, visionary CEO of Apple, introduced the world with innovative and new product categories – a computer with a touchscreen display and no keyboard. This changed the whole perception of What and How work can be done on the go. But in time, a big pain point arose – a lot of previous (and still existing) classical PC users asked: Can I use an external keyboard with a tablet and utilize the full potential of my tablet’s gigantic screen?
It took quite a few years until tablet manufacturers heard their product users and solved this issue. Now you can find and buy tablets with keyboards. They are removable (with magnetic gimbals). Indeed, a keyboard can be very helpful if you want to do some serious work on your tablet. But how to know which tablets with keyboards are the best currently in the market? We have compiled a list of the best tablets with keyboards currently available in the market.
Check the buyer’s guide at the bottom before making your final decision.
1. Apple iPad Pro 2021 Model
With all the hardware introduced and the evergreen mechanism behind the Apple app integration, the 2021 iPad Pro is a revolution in the world of tablets. Moreover, this year’s iPad Pro is efficient enough to narrow down the gap between tablets and laptops to a considerable margin with all the accessories attached.
Whether we talk about meeting high-end performance or serving portability, the 2021 iPad Pro is perfect for almost anything. It brings a Liquid Retina XDR display operating at a refresh rate of 120Hz for a next-level viewing experience. The iPad is also home to the Apple M1 Silicon chipset, ensuring it can seamlessly render any kind of heavy tasks. However, the productivity of this device shoots up when paired with the official Magic Keyboard. The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro in itself is the most incredible keyboard made for tablets. From the Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity to the scissor key mechanism, everything about the Magic Keyboard is designed to convey performance, from adjustable viewing angles to excellent battery life.
Overall, the powerful iPad Pro 2021, together with the feature-rich Magic Keyboard, is nothing less than the most efficient duo to deal with all sorts of activities in your portable device in the most convenient manner. In simple words, the external keyboard gives the device an extra promising touch.
Full iPad Pro 2021 review – here
Specifications 🔧
- OS: The Apple iPadOS 14
- Processor: M1 Silicon from Apple
- Storage: 128GB, extendable up to 2TB
- RAM: 8GB, 16GB
- Camera: Wide Angle:12MP, with ƒ/1.8 aperture, Ultra-Wide Angle: 10MP with ƒ/2.4 aperture featuring 125° field of view
- Display: Two Variants: 11-inch and 12.9-inch
- Resolution: 2732×2048-pixel resolution operating at 264 pixels per inch (for 12.9-inch), 2388×1668-pixel resolution operating at 264 pixels per inch (for 11-inch)
- Weight: For the 12.9-inch model: 1.51 lbs., For the 11-inch model: 1.03 lbs.
- Port: USB-C port
- Battery Life: up to 10 hours
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Tablet
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 was released in 2020 August. It’s s a good and well-rounded device, thin and lightweight, making it travel-friendly and easily portable. Great as an additional device for your office. Performance-wise, this tablet will not disappoint. It is powerful enough for fast internet surfing since it has a 120Hz refresh rate, and you should be able to play any game without problems. In fact, the Snapdragon 865+ chipset improves CPU and GPU efficiency by 10%. Due to these specs, it makes this tablet one of the best tablets for gaming.
Furthermore, this tablet comes with an S Pen stylus that has been improved from the previous version. The latency of the stylus has been cut down to just 9ms. This is wonderful news if you are looking for a tablet for drawing and creating illustrations because it will feel more like a real pen than a stylus. A great device where you can take notes.
If performance is what you seek – it’s a great choice. The additional keyboard and S pen make it an excellent pick.
This is a great alternative to iPad Pro 2020 and an updated version of the Samsung Galaxy S6
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Android 10, One UI 2.5
- Processor: 1.8GHz octa-core
- Storage: Starting from 128GB
- RAM: Starting from 6GB
- Camera: Rear Webcam Resolution 13 MP & Front Camera 8 MP
- Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno 650
- Display: 11-inch, 12.4-inch
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600
- Size: 9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 inches (253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3 mm)
- Weight: 17.71 oz (502.0 g)
- Port: Type-C (reversible), USB 3.2
- Battery: 8000mAh up to 10-hours
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Tablet
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 can be perfect for all those who want to combine the functionality of tablets and the flexibility of their smartphone in a 2-in-1 device. You can easily attach the keyboard to make your tablet a multitasker. Also, you will appreciate the speed of the processor and can quickly switch between your tasks and apps. It comes with an S pen that you can use to skip and pause with a single push of the button. You can use this pen to sign docs and mark up.
This tablet is lightweight and can be great for entertainment. The superior graphics with quad speakers can be ideal for boosting your gaming experience. The weight of this device is another benefit. It does not weigh more than a pound, and that ensures easy transportation. It can be best for frequent travelers. The lightweight design will offer easy storage and durable battery life that will support you to enjoy your favorite game for a long time without any intervention. You can get up to fifteen hours of battery life with one charge.
Besides, you can enjoy continuous streaming and browsing and can create and edit throughout the day. The battery charges very fast as well. The keyboard size is a bit smaller than the standard notebook. The resolution is also high. It can be best if you are looking to buy the fastest Android tablet to do some serious work. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 definitely deserves a place at the top.
you can read the full review – here
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Android 9.0
- Processor: Octa-Core (2.8GHz+3×2.4, 4×1.7)
- Storage: 128GB/256GB
- RAM: 6/8 GB
- Camera: Rear Webcam Resolution 12 MP
- Graphics: Adreno 640 graphics chipset card
- Display: 10.5 inch
- Resolution: 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio
- Size: 0.22 x 6.28 x 9.63 inches
- Weight: 1.55lbs
- Port: 1 USB 3.0
- Battery: Up to ~ 14 hours of video streaming (realistically ~10 hours)
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 has an upgraded battery life from 6-hours to 10-hours. You don’t even need to bring your charger to the office if it’s fully charged. Quite the improvement from its predecessor – Surface Pro 6. It’s a great pick for your daily office tasks. It can be paired with any keyboard and any stylus. (The stylus and keyboard is included) Which makes it more appealing to a broader audience. It’s also a lightweight tablet, which makes it portable and convenient.
Microsoft is getting closer to creating 2-in-1 tablets. Definitely, a great pick if you’re looking for a new device or just an additional device for your work.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Window 10 Home
- Processor: Dual-core 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i3-1005G1 Processor, Quad-core 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1035G4 Processor, Quad-core 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1065G7 Processor
- Storage: SSD 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
- RAM: 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB LPDDR4x RAM
- Camera: 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p full HD video, 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p full HD video
- Graphics: Intel® UHD Graphics (i3), Intel® Iris™ Plus Graphics (i5, i7)
- Display: 12.3 inches
- Resolution: 2736 x 1824
- Size:11.5” x 7.9” x 0.33” (292 mm x 201 mm x 8.5 mm)
- Weight: 1.70 lb (775 g), 1.74 lb (790 g)
- Port: USB-C®, USB-A, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover port⁴, MicroSDXC card reader
- Battery: Up to ~ 10 hours
5. Apple iPad Pro 2018 Model
Tablet itself is lightweight, quite comfortable to hold, and it offers a magnificent 11-inch and12.9-inch Liquid Retina display. So, you can enjoy graphics in vivid colors, and thanks to smooth pixel reaction times, there will not be any unexpected image pixelation or deformations.
It can be combined with a detachable keyboard, but be aware that usually, you have to buy it separately. It connects to keyboards effortlessly, and you can turn your tablet into a laptop within seconds.
We believe iPad Pro models are one of the best tablets you can buy. They offer great build quality, gorgeous and bright screens, and outstanding performance. You can also get a Stylus pen with your iPad for some note-taking or artwork. We at worldoftablet.com have written and edited multiple articles with this specific setup. So if you’re looking for a tablet that you can multitask with – this is a great choice: great resolution, great speakers, face ID, optional keyboard, and optional stylus pen. Although there’s a new model iPad Pro 2020, which will be a bit more expensive, the difference isn’t that huge. You can read both of the reviews to figure out which suits you the best. The most expensive one isn’t always what you need.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: iOS
- Processor: A12X Bionic chip
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- RAM: 4 GB, 6 GB
- Camera: 12MP wide (f/1.8), 10-MP ultra-wide (f/2.4)
- Graphics: Apple A12X Bionic GPU
- Display: 11-inch, 12.9-inch
- Resolution: 2732 × 2048
- Size: 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 in), 280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.23 in)
- Weight: 1.03 lbs, 1.39 lbs
- Port: USB-C
- Battery: Up to ~ 10 hours
6. Apple iPad Air 2020
One of the most popular brands in this world, yet with another new tablet – Apple iPad Air, released at the end of 2020. Is it any good? Oh, Yes! Some say it’s a direct competition to its iPad Pro 2020, and we agree, the new processor – A14 bionic has made the device incredibly powerful. It exceeded our expectations.
The design is almost identical to the iPad Pro. There are a couple of differences – the camera is different from the visual aspect, and there’s also a touch ID at the side of the iPad. This is a bit tricky, you have to press on it to unlock the device and hold it a bit, but if you hold it for too long, it will open Siri. So it takes time to get used to.
You can attach the device to Apple Magic Keyboard, just as an iPad Pro, and you can also use Apple Pencil (2nd generation) on it. You can’t use the first generation because the Air model no longer has a thunderbolt port. It switched it to USB-C.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: iOS
- Processor: A14 Bionic processor
- Storage: 64GB, 256GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Camera: 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, front – 7 MP, f/2.0, 31mm
- Graphics: A14 Bionic GPU
- Display: 10.9-inch
- Resolution: 1640 x 2360 pixels
- Size: 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 in (247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm)
- Weight: 1.04lbs
- Port: USB-C
- Battery: Up to ~ 10 hours
7. Google Pixel Slate
If you are looking for a tablet with keyboards and runs Chrome OS, that’s your best pick. You have to keep in mind that it’s very niche-oriented and quite pricy, compare to other similar tablets. It is secured with a molecular display for sharp image quality. It is a multitasking tablet with split-screen functionality. It holds up to 12 hours of battery. Great if you’re planning to use it for reading or writing. We know that these things take time. If OS is not that important to you, we would advise picking one of the tablets above Google Pixel Slate.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Chrome OS
- Processor: Intel Core m3 – Core i7
- Storage: SSD 64GB – 256GB
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Camera: 8MP rear and front camera
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615
- Display: 12.3 inches
- Resolution: 3000×2000
- Size: 11.45 x 7.95 x 0.27 inches
- Weight: 1.6lbs
- Port: 2 USB-C Ports
- Battery: Up to ~ 12 hours
8. Microsoft Surface Go 2
The Surface Go 2 once again proves that Windows can create good tablets. A good budget tablet.
It’s a better productivity device than a media-consumption tablet. But it’s also good for sharing with the family and is up to be your only computer or used as an ultraportable second computer.
Overall, it’s a good device, but it’s not exactly the working device they want it to be. The 10.5-inch screen makes it difficult to work on it, and it also has modest battery life. It’s a great tablet. Don’t get us wrong, but if you want it to be the only device for your work – it probably won’t be enough. The solid performance will ensure that it works well for web browsing, emails, and other routine tasks. It’s more than capable of doing so. As well as video calls. It’s a good alternative for your heavy laptop. To do smaller tasks.
The product features a portable design. It looks like the Surface Pro 6. However, it is a cheaper version. If you are looking for something affordable and portable for your office, this one is certainly worth buying. The design is impressive and looks appealing for all tastes.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Windows 10 Home in S Mode
- Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core m3 – Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4425Y
- Storage: 64GB eMMC – 128GB SSD
- RAM: 4GB – 8GB
- Camera: 5MP front-facing with 1080p Skype HD video, 8MP rear-facing with 1080p HD video
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615
- Display: 10.5-inch
- Resolution: 1920 x 1280
- Size:9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches (245 x 175 x 8.3 mm; W x D x H)
- Weight: 1.22 lb (553 grams)
- Port: 1 x USB-C®, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 x Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover Port⁶, MicroSDXC Card Reader
- Battery: 8000mAh up to 10-hours
9. Lenovo Chromebook Duet
We’re pretty excited to include Lenovo Chromebook Duet in our best tablets with keyboards list. A lot of reviewers don’t do it for some reason.
It’s running on Chrome OS, it’s 10-inches big, it comes with a keyboard, lightweight, and it can take up to 10-hours of mixed usage. The best part? It’s under $300. It’s $285, to be precise.
For the price that it’s worth, it has definitely surprised us. Sure the display and performance isn’t nearly as good as some tablets above, but we’re talking about budget class tablets here. If your purpose is to watch movies, YouTube, or other entertainment, maybe it’s not a good pick, we would recommend a tablet with a better resolution, but if you’re looking for a budget device that will help you with some routine work tasks or some writing – this is the best pick.
If you’re looking for a working-class tablet with a keyboard, this is what we recommend.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Chrome OS
- Processor: MediaTek™ Helio P60T Processor (2.00 GHz, 8 Cores, 8 Threads)
- Storage: 64GB
- RAM: 4GB
- Camera: 8MP autofocus (main); 2MP fixed focus (front)
- Graphics: ARM G72 MP3 800GHz
- Display: 10.1-inch
- Resolution: 1920 x 1200
- Size: 9.44″ x 6.29″ x 0.29″ / 239.8mm x 159.8mm x 7.35mm
- Weight: 450g / 0.99lbs (no attachments)
- Port: USB-C (2nd gen)
- Battery: Up to ~ 10 hours
10. Lenovo Miix 520 Tablet
Lenovo Miix 520 features a lot of innovations to become the first choice for modern buyers. The design is similar to the previous one. However, the features will vary. It comes with an optional fingerprint for login and a watchband hinge to offer better flexibility and strength. Besides, the tablet has an ergonomic keyboard that comes with a folio case to protect your screen. You will get a 12-inch vibrant and full-definition detachable touchscreen display and Dolby-enabled stereo speakers. Its integrated camera can take high-quality photos with 8MP rear-facing camera and a 5Mp forward-facing camera.
The product features an integrated kickstand, a full metal body, an active pen, and a keyboard cover. All these accessories will be included. So, you will not have to buy them separately. It is quality built and is designed to last long. The keyboard is made of fake leather and plastic. Also, it has a magnetic bar to be angled up with the keyboard.
Lenovo MIXX can be the best alternative to the Surface Pro. The look and design are similar. You can also expect some similar features. Here, the benefit is the price. You can get wonderful hardware and many advanced features at an affordable price.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- Processor: Intel quad-core processor
- Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD storage
- RAM: 8GB
- Camera: Integrated camera with 5MP Forward-Facing and the 8MP Rear-Facing
- Graphics: Intel Graphics HD 620
- Display: 12.2 inch
- Resolution: 1920 x 1200
- Size: 11.8 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
- Weight: 2.65 lbs
- Port: 2x 3.0 USB
- Battery: Up to ~ 8 hours
11. Lenovo Yoga Book – FHD 10.1 inch Tablet
Lenovo Yoga Book – FHD 10.1″ is a bit different from the other Android tablets with keyboards. It is one of the lightest and thinnest android tablets available in today’s market. The size is super portable and comes with a 64GB SSD hard drive. Besides, it features GB LP DDR3. The battery life is certainly worth mentioning. It can be used for up to 15 hours with a single charge. This tablet can digitalize the notes of users instantly with the Real Pen stylus. It will take no time to transform the device into your notebook computer. Also, it has a full high definition and crystal–clear touchscreen display for perfect movie watching.
With this tablet, you can expect endless options that include taking notes, types, draw, and browse the web whenever you want. This keyboard is not like an attachable keyboard. So, you will not have to carry it always. Whenever you want, you can use it. At other times, you can use the Real Pen Stylus to boost the performance of your tablet.
Lenovo Yoga Book – FHD 10.1″ is highly appreciated for its performance. It features 4GB RAM and a 64GB hard drive. The battery life also makes it one of the preferred choices for all those who work for long hours. You can use it as a productive laptop, flexible smartphone, a digital sketchpad, and a regular tablet. It is super versatile.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Atom
- Storage: 64 GB
- RAM: 4GB
- Camera: Rear Webcam Resolution 2MP
- Graphics: Integrated graphics
- Display: 10.1 inches
- Resolution: 1920×1200 pixels
- Size: 10.1 x 6.7 x 0.4 inches
- Weight: 1.52 pounds
- Port: 1 2.0 USB ports
- Battery: Up to ~ 15 hours
12. RCA Viking Pro 10inch 2-in-1 Tablet
RCA Viking Pro 10″ 2-in-1 Tablet is one of the budget tablets available in the current condition. You can say that it is the cheapest one. Though it does not feature many advanced features like the tablets mentioned above, it is still worth buying. If you consider the price and combine the features, you might try this one. Adding it to the list is to offer a cost-effective solution to people on a budget.
You can expect a dual camera and six hours of battery life. The product weighs 2.29 lbs. This tablet comes with a detachable keyboard. Also, you will get a built-in memory of 32GB, a 1.4GHz MediaTek MT8127 Quad-Core Processor, and 1 GB DDR SDRAM RAM.
You can get all these features at a very affordable price. You can say that it is an affordable alternative to expensive Android tablets.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Processor: 1.3 GHz None
- Storage: 32 GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera: Rear webcam 2MP
- Graphics: Integrated graphics
- Display: 10.1 inches
- Resolution: 1920×1200 pixels
- Size: 10.2 x 6.5 x 0.39 in
- Weight: 1.15 lbs
- Port: 1 USB & 1 Micro-USB
- Battery: Up to ~ 8 hours
Why the iPad Pro 2021 is better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 in this category?
When we talk about using a tablet with an effective keyboard, the mentality expects a laptop-like performance. This is where the 2021 iPad Pro comes in as a better option when compared to its relevant competitors, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and the Microsoft Surface Pro.
We can’t deny the fact of how well these devices are capable of delivering powerful performance. Still, somehow the entire laptop-like feeling is so much better with the iPad Pro, majorly because of the hardware that it bags and how well the duo with Apple’s Magic Keyboard works out.
Although a bit expensive, Magic Keyboard is undoubtedly one the best keyboards you’ll find for tablets. Whether we talk about the design or the productivity factor, the Magic Keyboard is worth every cent. Honestly speaking, it is an essential tool that makes iPad Pro 2021 the best tablet with a keyboard. Especially when you have to write an extended essay, email, or text, the overall build of the Magic Keyboard just makes the entire process as smooth as you can wish for. Besides, the keyboard also features an efficient trackpad which makes navigating through varied destinations a seamless process.
However, if you’re tight on budget and owning an expensive keyboard seems quite a challenging task, the premium tablets from Samsung and Microsoft are always there to save the day.
Best Budget Tablet with Keyboard
Suppose you’re on a budget and looking for a device to help out with routine tasks – Lenovo Chromebook Duet. It is perfect for emails, web browsing, video meetings, and other routine tasks. If you need a tablet for heavier tasks – video editing, photo editing, work with a large amount of data, this is probably not the best choice. It’s the best budget tablet, but it won’t replace your laptop. You can get it for $285 at Amazon.
It runs Google Chrome OS and has a keyboard included in the price. It’s a tablet that a lot of tech reviewers have missed, but it’s competent. Not for games and high-performance tasks, but for daily routine tasks. It’s definitely the best budget tablet we can recommend. It’s a great working-class tablet that will be a great addition to your daily life. You can easily watch movies/YouTube on it as well, but if that’s your priority, we would suggest a device with higher resolution, better sounds, and longer battery life.
Do tablets have Word and Excel?
Yes, Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office Excel are available for most tablets. All Windows, Android, and Apple devices. They are not installed by default for most of the devices. You can download them for free at App Store or Play store. You can also use spreadsheets while working on your tablet.
Do I even need a keyboard for my tablet?
Not necessarily, but if you intend to get real work done on your tablet, the keyboard will help you accomplish that. Writing, messaging your colleagues, and responding to your emails, often they are long, with the keyboard, you will finish these tasks much faster. You don’t need it, but you will be much more productive with a keyboard.
Conclusion
Tablets with keyboards can be versatile. Our today’s choice is clear – the new Apple iPad Pro 2020. It just has everything and more. The new model has transformed every imagination into a striking reality. When you pair up this baby with the new amazing accessories, it’s ready to compete with any laptop out there.
We’re also very aware of its price, but we don’t really look at the price when it comes to performance and the overall best. If you want something a bit less expensive, we would recommend – Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. A high-end device with incredible performance.
But as we mentioned above, every person has it’s own needs, so don’t take our advice, but read the features and description and only then make the decision. You can use any of these as a tablet and a laptop—2-in-1 Tablets. Do your research and find the best product for your needs. First, know your budget and try to find all the improved features to get the best deal. Always go with the one that offers extended battery life and high resolution regardless of the type and model. Don’t forget about the warranty as well.
We hope this was helpful. Leave us a comment below and let us know which tablet and which keyboard did you choose. Have a good one. Thanks for reading. If it was helpful, please, share it with your friends.
You might also want to look at:
Best Tablets For Note-Taking
Best Laptops with Backlit Keyboard
Best Keyboards for Tablets & iPads
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