Best Tablets for Photo and Video Editing in 2020
Tablets are amazing pieces of technology when you think about it. When we were growing up, seeing tablets on Star Trek, we wished it would become reality.
Today’s tablets can rival some laptops with their processing power and can be a much better option for those looking for portability. This can extend well into different areas of work including photo and video editing.
These days it is very common to see creatives using tablets to get their projects done. These people know something we don’t and we wanted to let you in on the secret of the Best Tablets for Photo and Video Editing in 2020.
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How do you pick a tablet for all of this work? That was our first question as well so I guess we should start there.
What makes a tablet good for photo and video editing?
Operating System
When you start shopping for a tablet, you are going to run into one of three different operating systems. macOS, Windows, and Android. Many people will choose a tablet solely based on the familiarity that they have with that operating system. While this may work for many, choosing a tablet that way can limit the tools you may have at your disposal as some operating systems may feature apps that aren’t available on other platforms.
Screen Size
Tablets come in a wide variety of screen sizes these days from 5 inches up to 18 inches. Having a large screen is important if you are editing photos and videos, but choosing one that is too big can become cumbersome and not very portable. If you go too small, it can make things too difficult to get your job done.
Resolution
Creating high-quality photos and videos in a high resolution requires you to have a tablet that can display your work-in-progress at that same desired resolution. If you’re editing a video to be presented in 4K, but your tablet only displays in 1080p, then when it hits that 4K monitor it is not going to look right. Lines per inch is the measurement of the number of digital lines will fit into 1 inch of the tablet’s physical screen. Having a higher LPI can result in much clearer images. Choosing a tablet with at least 1000 LPI resolution will ensure your work looks great.
Price
Tablets are a dime a dozen and it feels like every manufacturer in the world makes one. This can be good and bad. The good is that this “flooding” of the market drives prices down so that even the best tablets are available at better prices now than they were years ago. The bad thing is that it makes it harder to know which ones to choose. Well, that’s why our list below is ready for you to check out!
The Best Tablets for Photo and Video Editing in 2020
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2018) — $1070
- Microsoft Surface Pro 6 — $689
- iPad Air (2019) — $459
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 — $547
- iPad mini (2019) — $399
- Amazon Fire HD 10 (2017) — $149
- Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 — $695
- Microsoft Surface Go — $395
- Huion GT-191 Drawing Tablet — $299
The Best Tablets for Photo and Video Editing in 2020 Compared
Thumbnail
Title
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB) — Space Gray (Latest Model)
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB)
Samsung Electronics SM-T830NZAAXAR Galaxy Tab S4 with S Pen, 10.5 Inch, Gray
Fire HD 10 Tablet with Alexa Hands-Free, 10.1" 1080p Full HD Display, 32 GB, Black (Previous…
Huion GT-191 KAMVAS Drawing Tablet with HD Screen 8192 Pressure Sensitivity — 19.5 Inch
Apple iPad Air (10.5-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) — Space Gray (Latest Model)
Prime Status
-
-
Star Rating
Reviews
1,034 Reviews
336 Reviews
487 Reviews
46,851 Reviews
754 Reviews
1,251 Reviews
OS
iOS 12
Windows 10 Pro
Android 7
FireOS
Windows or macOS
iOS 12
Screen Size
12.9-inch
12.3-inch
10.5-inch
10-inch
19.5 inches
9.7-inch
Resolution
2732 x 2048
2736 x 1824
2560 x 1600
1920 x 1200
1920 x 1080
2048 x 1536
CPU
Apple A12X Bionic
Intel 8th Gen Core-i5/i7
Snapdragon 835
Mediatek Quad-Core
-
A12
RAM
4GB
8GB
4GB
2GB
1MB
3GB
Storage
64/256/512GB/1TB
128GB-1TB
64/256GB
32/64GB
18.7 x 11.7 x 1.4 inches
64–256GB
Weight
631g
771g
482g
500g
13lbs
469g
Dimensions
280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9mm
292.1 x 201.4 x 8.5mm
249.3 x 164.3 x 7.1mm
262 x 159 x 9.8mm
-
240 x 169.5 x 7.5mm
Price
$919.99
$614.95
$499.99
$149.99
Price not available
$459.00
Buy Now
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Title
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB) — Space Gray (Latest Model)
Prime Status
Star Rating
Reviews
1,034 Reviews
OS
iOS 12
Screen Size
12.9-inch
Resolution
2732 x 2048
CPU
Apple A12X Bionic
RAM
4GB
Storage
64/256/512GB/1TB
Weight
631g
Dimensions
280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9mm
Price
$919.99
Buy Now
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Title
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB)
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
Reviews
336 Reviews
OS
Windows 10 Pro
Screen Size
12.3-inch
Resolution
2736 x 1824
CPU
Intel 8th Gen Core-i5/i7
RAM
8GB
Storage
128GB-1TB
Weight
771g
Dimensions
292.1 x 201.4 x 8.5mm
Price
$614.95
Buy Now
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Title
Samsung Electronics SM-T830NZAAXAR Galaxy Tab S4 with S Pen, 10.5 Inch, Gray
Prime Status
Star Rating
Reviews
487 Reviews
OS
Android 7
Screen Size
10.5-inch
Resolution
2560 x 1600
CPU
Snapdragon 835
RAM
4GB
Storage
64/256GB
Weight
482g
Dimensions
249.3 x 164.3 x 7.1mm
Price
$499.99
Buy Now
Thumbnail
Title
Fire HD 10 Tablet with Alexa Hands-Free, 10.1" 1080p Full HD Display, 32 GB, Black (Previous…
Prime Status
Star Rating
Reviews
46,851 Reviews
OS
FireOS
Screen Size
10-inch
Resolution
1920 x 1200
CPU
Mediatek Quad-Core
RAM
2GB
Storage
32/64GB
Weight
500g
Dimensions
262 x 159 x 9.8mm
Price
$149.99
Buy Now
Thumbnail
Title
Huion GT-191 KAMVAS Drawing Tablet with HD Screen 8192 Pressure Sensitivity — 19.5 Inch
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
Reviews
754 Reviews
OS
Windows or macOS
Screen Size
19.5 inches
Resolution
1920 x 1080
CPU
-
RAM
1MB
Storage
18.7 x 11.7 x 1.4 inches
Weight
13lbs
Dimensions
-
Price
Price not available
Buy Now
Thumbnail
Title
Apple iPad Air (10.5-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) — Space Gray (Latest Model)
Prime Status
Star Rating
Reviews
1,251 Reviews
OS
iOS 12
Screen Size
9.7-inch
Resolution
2048 x 1536
CPU
A12
RAM
3GB
Storage
64–256GB
Weight
469g
Dimensions
240 x 169.5 x 7.5mm
Price
$459.00
Buy Now
iPad Pro 12.9 (2018)
The Most Powerful Apple Tablet Available
OS: iOS 12 | Screen size: 12.9-inch | Resolution: 2732 x 2048 | CPU: Apple A12X Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64/256/512GB/1TB | Weight: 631g | Dimensions: 280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9mm
While the iPad Pro has been out for quite some time, the version that was released in late 2018 is one of the most powerful, portable, and amazingly lightweight. Made in two different screen sizes, 12.9-inch, and 11 inches, the Pro does away with the home button to give the tablet and almost edge to edge screen that has a 120Hz refresh rate and supports the DCI-P3 color standard. The addition of a USB-C port allows you to load data from your SD cards and with Apple’s A12X processor and 4GB of system memory, it can perform better than some laptops. While the price may deter some from taking the plunge with this tablet, if you can afford it, it is well worth the money spent.
Latest Price on Amazon:
Sale
1,034 Reviews
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB) — Space Gray (Latest Model)
- 12.9-inch edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display with ProMotion, True Tone, and wide color
- A12X Bionic chip with Neural Engine
- Face ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay
- 12MP back camera, 7MP TrueDepth front camera
- Four speaker audio with wider stereo sound
$919.99
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
A Desktop in the shape of a tablet
OS: Windows 10 Pro | Screen size: 12.3-inch | Resolution: 2736 x 1824 | CPU: Intel 8th Gen Core-i5/i7 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB-1TB Weight: 771g | Dimensions: 292.1 x 201.4 x 8.5mm
If you live in the United States, during football games on Sunday, if you look closely enough, you will see teams using the Surface from Microsoft. This is due to the quality that Microsoft puts into the product and the Surface Pro 6 is no exception. Solidly designed, the tablet is built from PC hardware that makes it capable of running all of the software on Windows. That means if you’re working on a PC at the office, you can take that office on the go and not worry about not being able to access certain apps. Under the hood, the Pro 6 comes with a quad-core Intel Core i5 or i7 chip and has up to 16GB of system memory along with 1TB of storage. All this plus a beautiful 12.3-inch PixelSense Display gives you a desktop computer on-the-go.
Latest Price on Amazon:
Sale
336 Reviews
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB)
- A best in class laptop with the versatility of a studio and tablet
- More power now with the new 8th Generation Intel Core processor
- Ultra slim and light, starting at just 1.7 pounds. Sensors : Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
- All day battery life, with up to 13.5 hours of video playback
- Pair with our Signature Type Cover in luxurious Alcantara material and rich colors for a full keyboard experience
$614.95
iPad Air (2019)
The Best all-round iPad
OS: iOS 12 | Screen size: 9.7-inch | Resolution: 2048 x 1536 | CPU: A12 | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 64–256GB | Dimensions: 240 x 169.5 x 7.5mm | Weight: 469g
The iPad Air was designed to be a lighter, more portable iPad option for professionals on the go and the 10.5-inch version brings that lightweight design along with some important upgrades. The internal memory has gotten a boost to 3GB and the screen works better in direct sunlight now that it is fully laminated. Inside the casing, the little brother to the A12X found in the iPad Pro, the A12 powers everything you need to accomplish whether you’re editing a documentary or family photos. Unlike the Pro, the iPad Air is available for a more affordable price meaning you can get a performance like the Pro at almost half the cost.
Latest Price on Amazon:
Sale
1,251 Reviews
Apple iPad Air (10.5-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) — Space Gray (Latest Model)
- 10.5-inch Retina Display with True Tone and wide Color
- A12 Bionic chip
- Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor and Apple Pay
- 8MP back camera, 7MP FaceTime HD Front camera
- Stereo speakers
$459.00
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
The fastest Android tablet
OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 10.5-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1600 | CPU: Snapdragon 835 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64/256GB | Battery: 7,300mAh | Dimensions: 249.3 x 164.3 x 7.1mm | Weight: 482g
While in the world of operating systems, the big two are macOS and Windows, users have found that the Android OS is right up there in terms of quality and performance. With the Galaxy Tab 4, you get that performance in the most powerful Android tablet available. Packed with 4GB of internal memory as well as 64GB of internal storage, the Tab 4 delivers solid performance thanks to the Snapdragon 835 processor which will keep you from having any issues editing photos or videos while the 10.5-inch AMOLED display helps everything look amazing.
Latest Price on Amazon:
Sale
487 Reviews
Samsung Electronics SM-T830NZAAXAR Galaxy Tab S4 with S Pen, 10.5 Inch, Gray
- DeX: Transform your tablet into a PC
- S Pen included; Imagination unlocked; Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4G+5GHz, VHT80 MU MIMO
- With far field mics, your tablet listens and responds to your voice when your tablet is out of reach
- Super AMOLED Display. Crisp. Clear. Captivating
- Cinematic Dolby Atmos Surround for truly cinematic surround sound
$499.99
iPad mini (2019)
The iPad for those on a budget
OS: iOS 12 | Screen size: 7.9-inch | Resolution: 2048 x 1536 | CPU: A12 | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 64–256GB | Battery: 7,300mAh | Dimensions: 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1mm | Weight: 300g
Released at the same time as the iPad Air in 2019, the 7.9-inch iPad Mini replaces a previous model that had long gone to pasture. Like the Air, the Mini has 3GB of system memory and uses the A12 processor to help you handle tasks super quick. The biggest update is the support that the Mini has for the first-generation Pencil. This makes the Mini a great budget-friendly option for illustrators and designers alike.
Latest Price on Amazon:
925 Reviews
Apple iPad mini (Wi-Fi, 64GB) — Silver (Latest Model)
- 7. 9-inch Retina display with True Tone and wide color
- A12 Bionic chip
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor
- 8MP back camera, 7MP FaceTime HD front camera
- Stereo speakers
$384.00
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2017)
The best budget-friendly tablet available
OS: FireOS | Screen size: 10-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | CPU: Mediatek Quad-Core | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 32/64GB | Weight: 500g | Dimensions: 262 x 159 x 9.8mm |
With such an attractive price, the Fire HD 10 from Amazon can handle just about any task you can think of. Compared to the Fire HD 8 which many lauded, the specification on the 10 is much better and the display is an upgrade as well. The only real downside is that the OS is an Amazon-branded variant, but with a little investigation online, you can easily root the tablet so you can use apps from the Google Play store also. Being an Amazon product, this tablet also goes on sale quite a bit, lowering the incredible price even more.
Latest Price on Amazon:
46,851 Reviews
Fire HD 10 Tablet with Alexa Hands-Free, 10.1" 1080p Full HD Display, 32 GB, Black (Previous…
- Brilliant 10.1" 1080p Full HD display (1920 x 1200), up to 1.8 GHZ quad-core processor, 2 GB RAM, and up to 10 hours of battery life.
- Our largest display, now with over 2 million pixels, stereo speakers, Dolby Audio, and dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi — perfect for watching Full HD video, playing games, reading magazines, and streaming…
- Use Alexa hands-free mode to pause videos, play music, open apps, show sports scores, display the weather, and more — just ask
- Call or message almost anyone hands-free, or make video calls to family and friends with a Fire tablet, Echo Spot, Echo Show, or the Alexa App. Instantly connect to enabled Echo devices.
- 32 or 64 GB internal storage expandable by up to 256 GB (using the microSD slot). Watch downloaded videos anywhere with a Prime membership, Netflix plan, or Showtime subscription.
$149.99
Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4
The best basic tablet
OS: Android 8.0 | Screen size: 8.4 inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1600 | CPU: Kirin 960 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32/64/128GB | Battery: 5100mAh | Weight: 316g | Dimensions: 212.6 x 124.8 x 7.3 mm
While the MediaPad from Huawei comes with a bright high-resolution 8.4-inch display that is great for viewing photos, the only real downside to this tablet is the software, which at times makes it seem like the tablet has an identity crisis, thinking that its a phone and not a tablet. You can download your favorite Android apps to get your work done and the Kirin 960 CPU is more than enough to handle most photo editing tools and filters.
Latest Price on Amazon:
Docooler Huawei Mediapad M5 Android 8.0 Kirin 960 Octa Core Tablet 4GB RAM 2K IPS 2560x1600…
- [Operating System] Android 8.0 operating system allows you to remain connected and productive. CPU: HiSilicon Kirin 960s Octa Core. Equipped with better performance, delivering plenty of power for…
- [10.8inch IPS Screen] Natural finger-touch screen with the 2560 x 1600 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity and IPS technology provides wide viewing angles, brings your photos and videos to…
- [4GB RAM + 32GB/64GB/128GB ROM, TF Card Expansion] Provides room to store pictures, videos, music and more. Accepts compatible cards up to 256GB (not include) for easy expansion.
- [Dual Cameras] 8.0MP front camera and 13.0MP rear camera let you capture memorable moments or chat with friends and high quality pictures in daily life. HUAWEI MediaPad M5 is a cost-effective tablet…
- [BT 4.2 Interface Syncs with Compatible Devices] Wirelessly transfer photos, music and other media between the computer and your BT enabled cell phone or MP3 player, or connect BT wireless…
Microsoft Surface Go
The most affordable Windows tablet
OS: Windows 10 S | Screen size: 10 inch PixelSense | Resolution: 1800 x 1200 | CPU: Dual-Core Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Dimensions: 245 x 175 x 8.3mm | Weight: 520g
The Surface Go from Microsoft is designed to be the iPad Mini of its line. It runs the Windows 10 S OS from the get-go but you have to load apps from the Microsoft Store and it can also be upgraded to the full version of Windows 10 giving you all of the flexibility and features you know and love. While it is offered at a lower price point compared to the Surface Pro, there are a few caveats to understand. The performance isn’t top of the line and while the screen does have excellent brightness and contrast, it does lack the Surface Pro’s color accuracy. For the price though this is a quality tablet.
Latest Price on Amazon:
442 Reviews
New Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM, 64GB)
- High res 10 inch PixelSense Display designed to be viewed, touched, and written on
- Lightest Surface yet, starting at just 1.15 pounds. Aspect ratio: 3:2
- All day battery life, with up to 9 hours of unplugged power. LTE Advanced Up to 8.5 hours of battery life for local video playback
- Comes with Windows 10 in S mode, to do the things you want with performance that lasts, including Microsoft verified security, Windows Defender, parental controls, and world class support
- Includes multi tasking USB C, fast charging Surface Connect, and headphone jack
$399.00
Huion Kamvas GT-191 Drawing Tablet
Best Professional Grade Editing Tablet
OS: Windows or macOS | Screen size: 19.5 inches | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | RAM: 1MB | Dimensions: 18.7 x 11.7 x 1.4 inches | Weight: 13lbs
Compared to the other tablets on our list, the GT-191 from Huion is a tablet that may be better suited for professionals that hobbyists. With a 19.5-inch screen with a 1080P resolution and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. The only real downside to this tablet is that it’s not portable. You need to connect it to another computer for it to work although it does work with both Mac and Windows easily. If you have an editing computer but would like something a little more tactile to use than a mouse click, the Kamvas GT-191 table may be a good choice for you.
Latest Price on Amazon:
754 Reviews
Huion GT-191 KAMVAS Drawing Tablet with HD Screen 8192 Pressure Sensitivity — 19.5 Inch
- IPS screen: GT-191 is an interactive display with 19.5 inch IPS LCD widescreen in perfect 16:9 ratio and 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution.(An adjustable stand included) NOTE: This drawing monitor must…
- Amazing Color: 72% NTSC color gamut plus 1000:1 contrast ratio which allows the display to present 16.7 million colors vividly.
- Better Display Effect: 233PPS report rate and 5081LPI resolution give faster recognition and better display effect during your work.
- Two New Pens: Two digital pens that come with the GT-191 have 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and a comfortable ergonomic design. It is light-weight and can provide long battery life.
- Newest pen stand: The pen stand has a built-in nib extractor and 8 spare nibs inside. Compatibility: Works on Windows 7/8/8.1/10, Mac OS X10.11.0 or above, and is compatible with all major programs…
The Best Tablets for Photo and Video Editing
If you edit videos or photos for a living, or even as a hobby, sitting at a desk can get very boring very quickly. Thankfully, technology is at a point where we can take our work on the go and get things done on a tablet instead of a desktop or laptop computer. We hope that with our list of the Best Tablets for Photo and Video Editing that maybe we swayed you a little bit into considering a tablet and enjoying a nice workday outside every once in a while.
Do you have a tablet you use for edition photos and videos but don’t see it on our list? Let us know what is in the comments below.
