When you're in the middle of your creative flow and inspired to write, a great writing tablet to hand is a must.
If you're a professional writer and on the lookout for a writing tablet, we've done the hard work and picked some of the best writing tablets so you can decide which is best for you.
The best tablets for writers
Key characteristics of a great writing tablet are portability and long battery life. These features make the writing process for a writer easier and stress-free as you can write wherever inspiration hits.
A writing tablet is positioned somewhere between a PC and a smartphone. Consider your particular needs as a professional writer when choosing a writing tablet device.
A writer would look for some of these key features in their writing tablet:
-
Screen size
-
Display quality
-
Good refresh rate
-
Good and easy connectivity
-
Long battery life
-
Sufficient cloud storage
-
Compatible, external keyboard (on screen keyboards are cumbersome when writing for long periods)
-
All weather compatible (inspiration can strike anywhere!)
Let's move on to our choice of the best tablets for writers currently on the tablet market.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
If you're looking for the perfect portable device for your writing needs, the Microsoft Surface Pro offers a top-of-the-line writing tablet.
It's widely regarded as one of the best tablets for writers currently available on the market. This does mean that the Microsoft Surface Pro is also on the expensive side.
Pros
-
It operates on Windows 10 home.
-
It's a thin, light computer with a comfortable 12.3 inch screen size
-
It has storage of up to 2TB.
-
It's versatile (write, touch, draw, play, etc.)
-
Has USB-C and USB-A ports
-
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 has two modes. A laptop mode where you can use it like a laptop, and a studio mode where you can angle it perfectly for drawing with a surface pen
-
A comfortable keyboard for hours of use as a writer
-
A stylus pen with pressure sensitivity and minimum lag for natural handwriting.
-
It works fluidly with Microsoft Word with Windows 10 and Microsoft pre-installed
Cons
-
does not have long battery life (if you write for a long period, you'll have to carry a charger)
-
Some users feel the design could be more elegant (it can look a little industrial and clunk)
-
Expect to pay extra for the keyboard cover and stylus pen
Pricing
The Microsoft Surface Pro retails at $749. If you want to buy the keyboard cover, it will come at $129, and a Surface pen will set you back by $99.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra is an upgrade on the S7 series and is considered one of the best android tablets.
If you're looking for a premium writing tablet to streamline your content creation, and speed up your writing process, then this is one of the best tablets for writers.
It's larger screen enables comfortable writing and composing for long periods.
Pros
-
A big 14.6 inch screen size.
-
Integrated responsive AMOLED display.
-
Bright and responsive LCD display panel.
-
Qualcomm Snapdragon processing power
-
16GB RAM to efficiently power up its functioning.
-
Android 12 OS gives makes the latest applications easily accessible.
-
DeX mode allows the writing tablet to have PC-level multitasking.
Cons
-
The S Pen that comes with this writing tablet can be a bit iffy and erratic.
-
DeX mode fails to work sometimes.
-
Apps have scaling issues.
-
The keyboard case becomes very expensive after some time.
-
It's big and heavy.
-
It's on the expensive side for a tablet in this category.
Pricing
The Samsung Galaxy Pad S8 Ultra base model starts at $1,099. This has a storage of 8GB RAM/128GB storage and Wi-Fi connectivity only. The top model can be up to $1,380.
Apple iPad Pro
If you're looking for multi-functionality in your writing tablet, then the Apple iPad Pro will meet all your needs as a professional writer, as well as aspects like graphic design, videography, or even gaming or watching movies.
This portable device lives up to Steve Jobs's promise - it just works!
Pros
-
The M1 chip in this iPad makes it one of the fastest writing tablets of its kind.
-
Enhance your writing experience with an Apple Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard Folio. Magic Keyboard has an inbuilt trackpad, while Smart Keyboard Folio has backlit keys to make it easier to write in poorly lit spaces.
-
Along with Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro offers speed and convenience of note-taking in documents, notes, and text fields.
-
Get rid of your storage problems with a big 2TB of storage.
-
Get 10 hours of battery life on a single charge.
-
XDR display offers an immersive experience.
-
8GB/26GB RAM.
-
Battery life of up to 10 hours
-
Sharp and bright liquid retina display.
Cons
-
You have to purchase the Apple Pencil as an extra as it does not come with the iPad, unlike some other writing tablets.
-
Its operating system is pushed to the limits, and it discourages multitasking.
-
You can't install third-party work-specific apps not supported by Apple iOS.
-
The Smart Keyboard doesn’t feel real.
-
There are no function keys and light for the Caps Lock.
-
You can’t use a cursor with your iPad Pro.
Pricing
The Apple iPad Pro starts from $799 for the 11 inch screen size. For the 12.9 inch screen size, the price is $1099.
The Apple Pencil costs $129. The Magic Keyboard costs $299. And the Smart Keyboard Folio is $179.
HP Pavilion 14
The HP Pavilion 14 is the best writing tablet for writers who are on a budget. They're considerably cheaper than most tablets for writers
Pros
-
It's a hybrid tablet and is considered the most reliable on the market.
-
Despite a larger screen size of 14 inches, it's portable and lighter than a laptop.
-
Display has excellent FSD resolution.
-
Long battery life of more than 11 hours.
-
Superfast charging technology.
-
360 degree hinge movement.
-
Its low price makes it the best budget tablet for writers.
Cons
-
With low RAM storage and little cloud storage, it makes multitasking impossible.
-
Its performance can be sluggish and not up to the mark of some of the more expensive tablets on this list.
Pricing
The HP Pavillion 14 ranges from $ 299 to $369.
Lenovo Flex
The Lenovo Flex is more of a 2-in-1 laptop. It's a best in class laptop that converts into a tablet.
Writers who need the flexibility of both a laptop and writing tablet will love this portable device.
Pros
-
Full HD touch screen display.
-
AMD Ryzen mobile processing power, so that you can write for hours (as well as stream, game, etc.).
-
Has HDMI, USB - C, and USB - 3.1 inouts.
-
Built-in cyber protection with Windows 10 to protect you against viruses and malware.
-
You can physically close your webcam with an in-built shutter for privacy.
-
Quick recharge technology (charge your device in one hour).
-
Great battery life.
Cons
-
Lenovo Flex is a bit clunkier and heavier than similar writing tablets.
-
The keyboard is not detachable, so a writer has to use it mainly in laptop mode.
Pricing
Lenovo 14 Flex comes at a price of $719.
Conclusion - writing tablets for professional writers
We know that writing is fun, but it can also be stressful for writers to produce great content again and again. Having the right tools can help immensely, which is why we compiled this list of the best tablets for writers. In our opinion, a great tablet will not only help you to write efficiently but also do multiple tasks related to writing.
Finding the best writing tablet to fulfill your needs is not a difficult task if you know what your needs are.
A familiar operating system
Why spend time learning how to use Microsoft Surface tablets or a Samsung Galaxy Tab if you're used to using an Apple iPad Pro or vice versa?
Screen size versus portability
The smaller the screen size, the more portable the device. But too small a screen size, and it becomes difficult to work on for long periods, even with great screen quality.
Battery life
This is important depending on your lifestyle. If you plan on writing mainly when you're out and about, it can be infuriating if you run out of power. The best writing tablet for you would be one with longer battery life.
Storage space
If you're likely to have a lot of Apple or Android apps, you need a good tablet with a decent storage