What are the best tablets with a keyboard you can purchase today? Tablets are a great choice for users looking for mobile computing in a compact package. They’re typically lighter than your average laptop but may be lacking in functionality.
A tablet with a keyboard gives you flexibility when it comes to using your device for work. You still get the flexibility and portability of a tablet, but word processing is less of a chore. So, after looking at dozens of options, here are eight of our favorite tablets with a keyboard for 2023:
- Best Overall: iPad Pro
- Best Windows Tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
- Best Android Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
- Best Android Tablet for Media: Lenovo Tab P12 Pro
- Best Budget Windows Tablet: Lenovo Duet 3i
- Best Tablet for Creatives: iPad Air 5th Generation
- Best Budget Apple Tablet: iPad 10th Generation
- Best Budget Android Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
#1 Best Overall Tablet with a Keyboard: iPad Pro
- Brilliant 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color
- M2 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU
- 10MP ultra wide back camera, and LiDAR scanner for immersive AR
- 12MP ultra-wide front camera with center stage
- Wi-Fi 6E
Apple’s iPad Pro continues to stun, making it the best overall pick. This gorgeous tablet comes with Apple’s M2 processor and a minimum of 128 GB of storage. Apple’s iPad line has been one of the safest choices for tablets over the years, and the latest iPad Pro is great for work and play.
It doesn’t have access to the full version of macOS but does come with apps like Pages, Numbers, and Keynotes for productivity. Apple’s keyboard accessory is on the pricier side, but is a comfortable choice that also acts as a cover for the tablet.
Stylus support is solid, and the second-generation Apple Pencil is unerringly precise for handwriting and digital art. The price is a major sticking point, however. You could readily purchase an M2 MacBook Air for the $1,099.99 MSRP.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The iPad Pro has a stunning retina display. | Both the stylus and keyboard are additional purchases for the tablet. |
| Apple’s premium tablet has great battery life. | It is an expensive tablet, costing more than some laptops on the market currently. |
Check out the iPad Pro on Amazon.
Best Windows Tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
- Up to 15.5 hours of battery life
- 13" PixelSense touchscreen
- Surface Pro Signature Keyboard
- 12th Gen Intel Core i7-2640M processor
The Surface Pro 9 is the latest laptop replacement from Microsoft. This device comes with a full version of Windows 11, Intel processors, 8 GB of RAM at minimum, and up to a terabyte of storage through an integrated SSD.
The 13-inch touchscreen is beautiful and comes out of the box with Dolby Vision support. Wireless capabilities are handled with an 802.11ax wireless card and Bluetooth 5.1 compatibility. The Surface Pro 9 is certainly one of the more expensive tablets on this list. However, it is capable of some serious work, making for one of the best tablets with a keyboard you can purchase.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Surface Pro 9 has great battery life. | Additional accessories can be expensive. |
| Windows 11 on a tablet is great for work and productivity. | You’ll be spending quite a bit on just the base device without the pen or keyboard. |
Check out the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 on Amazon.
Best Android Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
- 14.6-inch screen
- 512 GB memory storage capacity
- 2560 x 1600 pixels
- 12 GB RAM
Android tablets have come a long way, and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is one of the best around. You’ve got access to a massive 14.6-inch screen at a 120Hz refresh rate. HDR support is native, with the display using HDR10+ to handle contrast for supported media.
This Android tablet is built for performance, with a snappy processor, 12GB of RAM at minimum, and up to one terabyte of onboard storage. It is a premium device, with a retail price starting at $1,200. This, unfortunately, doesn’t cover the cost of the keyboard.
Samsung’s DeX is a major selling point, however. You can use the device readily as a laptop replacement and take advantage of the productivity apps available on the Google Play store.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has great battery life. | The performance of the device isn’t on par with the latest iPad Pro. |
| Samsung’s screen is a beautiful AMOLED display with HDR10+ support. | There is no Dolby Vision support for media consumption. |
Check out the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra on Amazon.
Best Android Tablet for Media: Lenovo Tab P12 Pro
- 12.6" screen (2560 x 1600 pixels)
- Kryo 585 processor
- 3.20 GHz processing speed
- Optional 2-in-1 keyboard with trackpad
The Lenovo Tab P12 Pro is a great mid-range Android tablet and is geared toward media consumption. It is also one of the best tablets with a keyboard thanks to its strong performance — despite the price tag.
It is certainly built to impress, with a 12.6-inch AMOLED display. You’ve got 6 GB of RAM at minimum and up to 256 GB of built-in storage. Lenovo’s Tab P12 Pro runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, which is quite powerful despite being an older processor.
Where the Tab P12 Pro excels is in media consumption. You’ve got Dolby Vision support out of the box, which is great for watching movies while snuggled up on the couch.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The tablet comes with Dolby Vision support. | Spotty Android update support is a concern. |
| Lenovo’s tablet is powerful despite the more modest price tag. | The keyboard case is an additional purchase and isn’t nearly as strong as other offerings for Samsung and Apple. |
Check out the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro on Amazon.
Best Budget Windows Tablet: Lenovo Duet 3i
- 10.3-inch screen (1920 x 1080 pixels)
- 64 GB memory storage capacity
- Windows 11 OS
- 4 GB RAM
The Lenovo Duet 3i is a more budget-friendly choice, and its performance certainly reflects that. However, for the overall cost, you’re getting Windows functionality in an inexpensive tablet.
The Duet 3i is running Windows 11 Home S, which can be readily made to function as a full version of Windows 11. You’ve got an 802.11ac wireless adapter, which provides great speed despite not being the latest and greatest.
This is very much a budget device, as shown by the Intel Celeron N4020, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of eMMC storage. However, for users with tighter purses, this should do just fine for browsing, productivity, and light media consumption.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Duet 3i comes with a keyboard included. | 4 GB of RAM is anemic for anything but light usage. |
| Lenovo’s Windows tablet has decent battery life for the price. | The 64 GB of storage doesn’t leave much room for personal files, especially after the Windows installation. |
Check out the Lenovo Duet 3i on Amazon.
Best Tablet for Creatives: iPad Air 5th Generation
- 10.9-inch screen (2360 x 1640 pixels)
- 64 GB memory storage capacity
- Apple M1 8-core CPU chip with 8-core GPU and Neural Engine
- Compatible with Smart Keyboard Folio and Magic Keyboard
The fifth-generation iPad Air is one of the best tablets with a keyboard you can buy today. While the keyboard is an optional accessory, you’re getting near iPad Pro performance without the price tag. It comes out of the box with Apple Pencil support and an M1 processor.
The iPad Air is Apple’s mid-range offering but isn’t lacking in performance. You’ve got access to the full breadth of the App Store, a beautiful Retina display, and one of the most precise stylus options on the market.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It has great performance at a very affordable price. | The iPad Air doesn’t support the faster refresh rates seen on the iPad Pro. |
| The Apple Pencil is one of the best stylus options on the market today. | The keyboard folio case is a separate purchase. |
Check out the iPad Air 5th Generation on Amazon.
Best Budget Apple Tablet: iPad 10th Generation
- Striking 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone
- A14 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU
- 12MP Wide back camera
- Landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage
- Touch ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay
Apple’s base iPad is another of the best tablets with a keyboard on the market today. While the iPad 10th Generation may lack performance compared to the Pro and Air models, it won’t disappoint.
You’ve got access to the A14 Bionic chip, which has plenty of power for most apps on the App Store. It also comes with Apple Pencil support, which is great for digital artists on a tighter budget. The lack of performance is felt especially when multi-tasking.
If you’re willing to compromise a bit, this is a great choice for general media consumption, gaming, productivity, and quite a bit more.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The A14 Bionic is a solid performer. | It is a bit underpowered compared to the Air and Pro models. |
| The latest iPad comes with Pencil support. | The keyboard is a separate purchase. |
Check out the iPad 10th Generation on Amazon.
Best Budget Android Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
- 10.4-inch screen (2000 x 1200 pixels)
- 128 GB memory storage capacity
- The included S Pen attaches magnetically to your tablet
- Android 12 OS
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a budget-friendly tablet that’ll fit most budgets. It is a bit lacking in performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 720G processor and 4 GB of RAM. The S6 Lite does have access to Samsung’s S Pen and DeX, though.
It isn’t an ideal laptop replacement, but it is one of the best tablets with a keyboard you can purchase today. Unfortunately, there isn’t an official Samsung keyboard for the device. There are third-party options, but your mileage will vary for overall performance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The S6 Lite comes with an included S Pen and it has DeX support. | The processor and RAM can be lacking with more demanding apps. |
| Built-in AKG speakers also support Dolby Atmos for media consumption. | Samsung doesn’t manufacture an official keyboard case for it. |
Check out the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite on Amazon.
Choosing the Best Tablet with a Keyboard: What to Know
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Operating System
The choice of operating system for your tablet is a very important consideration to keep in mind. Most tablets will run a larger version of a smartphone operating system, like the iPad and Galaxy Tab in particular.
However, some options will run full laptop operating systems, like the Surface Pro 9. Now, for productivity, Windows is king. However, you can find word processing, data entry, and slideshow apps readily for both Android and iOS. More specialized applications that are crucial to your work might rely on Windows.
Included or Optional Keyboard
Most tablets won’t come with a keyboard as part of the package. When deciding on a tablet, you’ll need to factor in the cost of a keyboard and any additional input devices you might like. Tablets are touchscreens by default, but it can be cumbersome when using a keyboard.
Great keyboard cases like Apple’s keyboard folio package a trackpad with the keyboard. You’re getting an input interface more akin to a laptop, while still retaining your fingers or stylus for more precision when needed.
Included keyboards are rare, but seen with the likes of the Lenovo Duet 3i. These function in the same way, but it does help to keep costs down when purchasing your next tablet.
Usage
Tablets, much like laptops, are multi-use devices. It is certainly easy to think of a tablet as a media consumption device. However, that is a dismissive line of thought, especially with the slew of productivity apps on the market today.
Apple’s iPad line, for example, can do full image editing through the use of Photoshop or Affinity Photo. You’ve also got access to word processing, spreadsheets, vector image utilities, and so much more.
Now, you could readily just choose a Windows tablet like the Surface Pro 9. However, this might not be the best choice for detaching the keyboard and surfing the web on your couch. Consider what you need out of your tablet, what apps are available, and how you intend to use it.
Using a Tablet with a Keyboard: What It’s Like
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Using a tablet by its lonesome is very much like using a larger smartphone. You’ll navigate your apps and windows through the touchscreen interface. It gets interesting when you pair a keyboard, becoming decidedly more like a laptop.
Now, some operating systems like Windows and Android excel when using a keyboard and trackpad as the primary input interfaces. Windows is mainly a desktop operating system, with touch support coming after decades of keyboard and mouse usage.
iOS is a bit more unorthodox in its approach, especially with the adaptive mouse cursor. However, it operates like a more pared-down version of macOS in use. Using a keyboard makes for a much more comfortable text entry. You can certainly fill in a spreadsheet with your fingers, but a keyboard will make it far easier.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Fadhli Adnan/Shutterstock.com.
