Stuff - UK (2019-12)

GROUP TEST TABLETS

What’s the story?

Apple’s 2019 entry-level iPad is hard to

get excited about it, but it’s not like there’s

nothing to talk about. The 10.2in Retina

display is larger, there’s support for the

full-size Smart Keyboard and it runs iPadOS,

Apple’s tablet-specific software designed to

make the slab a credible laptop alternative.

It it any good?

It’s inferior to the iPad Air and Pro, but if all

you want it for is media consumption and

typing docs, Apple’s cheapest slate is hard

to beat. The £130 extra for an Air buys you

a faster processor than the A10 Fusion and

a better screen, but they’re not must-haves,

especially as this iPad remains an attractive

and strong-performing tablet. And the new

OS’s arrival makes this an ideal time to invest

in an iPad if you haven’t done so for a while.

Price from £349 / apple.com

What’s the story?
Amazon’s Fire HD tablets never change all
that much on the outside, but the latest 10.1in
version has had some significant upgrades
on the inside that make its £150 asking price
seem like a bit of a steal... that is, if you can
learn to live with a bit of a chubby bezel and
a matt plastic casing.

Is it any good?
Amazon frankly obliterates the competition
at the lower end of the tab market. Headline
features here include Alexa hands-free
functionality and a new picture-in-picture
mode for streaming video from Prime or
other services while you check your email
or browse the web. A faster processor,
12hr battery life with USB-C charging and
32GB of expandable storage all make this
an incredibly tempting proposition.

Price from £150 / amazon.co.uk

What’s the story?

The iPad Pro is Stuff’s No1 tablet, but it’s

oh-so-easy to spec up and spend a fortune

on. If you want an alternative, Samsung is

arguably the only name competing in that

genuinely premium arena. The Galaxy Tab S6

is its latest offering... and it might well be the

best Android tablet money can buy.

Is it any good?

After a fling with glass rears, Samsung has

reverted to aluminium on the Tab S6 and

it feels glorious to grab. The 10.5in display

offers sharp images, rich colours and great

contrast, but it’s with artwork that things get

interesting thanks to the S-Pen – a serious

piece of tech for sketching and other creative

pursuits. Elsewhere, the Snapdragon 855 chip

holds plenty of power for gamers, making this

the best premium tab for Apple-phobes.

Price from £619 / samsung.com

Amazon Fire HD 10 Apple iPad (2019) Samsung Tab S6

It’s bezels at dawn as Apple’s latest iPad duels with Samsung

and Amazon slates built for different purposes and purses

Stuff says ++++,

A minor update, but this is still the best

entry-level tablet

Stuff says +++++
An absolute bargain if you’re OK forfeiting
premium build quality

Stuff says ++++,

Speedy and packing the ace S-Pen, this is the

top Android tablet for sketchers and gamers

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