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7 Best Tablets For Musicians and Music Lovers (Performance + Practice + Surfing) | 2023
If you're a musician looking for the best tablet that can handle all your music and daily needs, look no further. We've reviewed 7 of the best tablets for music on the market today.
Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links which means as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you) that helps us keep this site going. Learn more
So, you're looking for the best tablet for musicians you can load up with all the music making apps you can shake a stick at?
Whether you're after the best tablet for gigging, the best tablet for displaying sheet music or the best tablet to use as a portable recording studio, you'll also need it to handle all types of everyday use.
And in a world where Apple undeniably has the lion's share of the tablet market, the devices featured in this review will show you that Android and Microsoft aren't willing to lie down and submit.
So be it as a multi-tasking music production machine or for chilling out watching Youtube videos, we've found 7 of the best tablets musicians will love.
From the affordable to the pricy, to the feature dripping premium, to the beginner friendly, let's dive into the review right after we consider the top 5 uses of a tablet for those of you of a musical persuasion.
Use a tablet for your music needs? Tell us which device you use and why you rate it in the comments section at the bottom of the post.
5 Top Uses Of A Tablet For Musicians
1 - Sheet Music (Chord Charts and Tablature)
Get with the program. It's not 1999 anymore. Cluttering up the place with all those sheet music and tablature print outs is a waste of time and a headache.
Many digital sheet music apps these days allow you to not just read chord charts with lyrics and scores, but playback charts, transpose scores, and create set lists.
2 - Apps and Sound Tools
Metronome, timer, amp modelers, digital music, multi-track recording apps, synths... they're all easy to handle on a tablet. It's often a pain to get out your laptop or trudge to the other room to sit at your desktop every-time you want to do your musical thang.
Buying a portable, light-weight tablet solves all these irksome pain points and will make your playing and listening time more enjoyable.
3 - Music Player
Want to nail that rhythm in the new song you're learning on guitar? Grab your tablet, load up your music player of choice and get jamming.
Whether you're listening to your own uploaded music library or want inspiration from music streaming apps, one thing's for sure, you'll have a ton of choices to choose from on your tablet.
Pro Tip: Hook your tablet up to a bluetooth speaker to get extra playback volume and oomph.
4 - Recording (Home and Live)
Whether you want to record regular practice progress clips, catalogue song ideas or create multi-track studio productions, tablets are one of the top gadgets every musician should have.
This is because now it's easier than ever to lay down music on the go by pairing up your tablet with devices such as iRig and Line 6 Sonic Port and your favourite music software apps.
5 - Youtube and Online Tutorials
From how to play that intro riff to how you change the bpm in your latest music app - most things you need to know are laid out in a video somewhere online.
So whether it's for work, research or general surfing, for convenience alone a tablet is the wise way to go. And with that extra screen real estate, squinting at your smartphone will become a distant memory.
7 Best Tablets For Musicians
Tech Spec | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 12.3 " |
Resolution | 1824 x 2736 |
Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB |
RAM | 4GB/8GB/16GB |
CPU | Intel Core m3, i5 or i7 |
Dimensions | 292 x 201 x 8.5mm |
Weight | 768g/770g/784g |
Battery | 13.5 hours |
Front Camera | 5MP |
Rear Camera | 8MP |
Are you tempted to change your Windows laptop or desktop for a tablet but you're a little dubious as to whether or not it'll cut the mustard? The latest Surface Pro from Microsoft is definitely up to the task. And then some.
With its integrated kickstand, optional Surface Pen and detachable keyboard, Microsoft’s flagship tablet gives you outstanding battery life and full laptop functionality.
If you're looking for a tablet for music production and are wondering about the Surface Pro's performance and capabilities, you're in safe hands.
There are 3 processor configurations; Intel m3, i5, and i7 coupled with a range of storage and memory options to choose from. For music producers and musicians serious about their craft, the Intel Core i7 option with 16 GB RAM, and sizeable 1TB SSD will easily handle any CPU heavy programs thrown at it.
If you want to save yourself some cash and don't need such lightening fast processing power, the less expensive i3 or i5 could never be called sluggish and are equally worthy options also.
Final thoughts? This premium tablet is a top choice for all professionals and not just music and media creatives but anyone in the market for a high-end suited and booted tablet.
Tech Spec | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 12.9 " |
Resolution | 2048 x 2732 |
Storage | 64GB/256GB/512GB/1TB |
RAM | 4GB/6GB |
CPU | A12X Bionic |
Dimensions | 280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm |
Weight | 632g |
Battery | 9,720mAh |
Front Camera | 7MP |
Rear Camera | 12MP |
Love of the Apple iPad Pro by both working musicians and the masses alike have made it top dog in the tablet market for many years. Thanks to it’s whacking great screen, fast processing power and commanding choice of apps, if you have a generous budget the iPad Pro should be top of your list to consider.
You can use the tablet with a nifty Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil which will help musicians turn the iPad Pro into anything from a music mixing workstation to a live recording device.
Having multiple app windows open at the same time in your mobile DAW is now also easier on your eyes too thanks to the high res 2048 x 2732 retina display. And despite the large 12.9 inch screen size, the Pro is easy to stick in your backpack on the go.
Featuring a super fast A12X Bionic processor chip, if you're planning on using the tablet for live music performance, you'll be pleased to know the iPad Pro gives ultra low-latency and thus solid execution of multiple tasks running at once. Above all, from the guys that brought the world GarageBand and Logic Pro, the iPad Pro is built to make you feel you can trust it won't let you down when you need it the most.
If you’re looking to use a tablet only to do basic tasks this high end iPad would be a waste of your money as it's by no stretch of the imagination cheap. If on the other hand you have large-scale professional and pleasure reasons to get a new tablet, the new Ipad Pro may be one of the best future-proof investments you’ve made all year.
Tech Spec | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 10.5 " |
Resolution | 1600 x 2560 |
Storage | 128GB/256GB |
RAM | 6GB/8GB |
CPU | Snapdragon 855 |
Dimensions | 244.5 x 159.5 x 5.7 mm |
Weight | 420g |
Battery | 7,040mAh |
Front Camera | 8MP |
Rear Camera | 13MP + 5MP |
The versatile Galaxy Tab S6 is light-weight and portable with performance to impress anyone doubting that Android can pull up their sleeves and go the full twelve rounds with Apple.
The crisp 10.5 inch AMOLED display and Quad AKG speakers makes both work and play a pleasurable experience on the S6. And the speedy Snapdragon 855 processor means multi-tasking between taking notes, checking emails and using music applications is a easy as pie. From music to movies, media loaded quickly and streamed like clockwork over WiFi many users report.
The battery life is very decent on the Tab S6. However, despite Samsung claiming you get 15 hours, standard video playback battery tests have reported 11 hours. Because battery life is deadly important to anyone using a tablet for music performance, bear in mind when using more power hungry apps, you'll likely get less than 11 hours juice.
Luckily though this isn't an issue for those of us not planning on entering the Guiness Book of Records for the longest ever recorded live show in history. And it's still longer than you get from most similar spec Apple iPads (iPad Air 3 2019 = 10 hours approx).
With it's stellar processing performance, optional S pen and detachable keyboard, for those of you preferring to get an iPad alternative without compromising on performance and speed, Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is one of the best non iOS Android tablets on the market today.
Tech Spec | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 10.5" |
Resolution | 1668 x 2224 |
Storage | 64GB/256GB |
RAM | 6GB |
CPU | A12 Bionic |
Dimensions | 250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1 mm |
Weight | 456g |
Battery | Li-Po 8134 mAh |
Front Camera | 7MP |
Rear Camera | 8MP |
Want an iPad but can't justify paying the eye-watering cost of the iPad Pro? With its compatibility with a Smart Keyboard Cover and 1st Gen Apple Pencil the latest iPad Air is well worth your attention.
Fist off, for those of you using hefty music production multi-tracking and apps, you'll be pleased to know Apple have upped the storage size to 64GB/256GB on the Air. The battery life also has been upgraded from the previous model with you getting around 10 hours of normal use.
Due to it's laminated display the screens thinner top glass layer sits snugly on-top of the LCD panel underneath. What this means is the colours and clarity of the colours shine through on this latest Air model noticeably more than previous.
So what if you've done your research, come across the iPad Mini and can't make your mind up which one to go for? If you're planning on using your tablet predominantly for making music, we'd recommend you go for the Air.
The larger storage size options combined with the 10.5-inch Retina screen alone make the Air more ideal for musicians - the virtual controls and dials on many music making apps are much easier to use. Oh, and as usual latency on music software is excellent.
This iPad is for professionals and anyone who can't get enough of media in any form.
Tech Spec | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 10.1" |
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 |
Storage | 32GB/64GB |
RAM | 2GB |
CPU | Octa-Core 2.0 GHz |
Dimensions | 262 x 159 x 9.8 mm |
Weight | 432g |
Battery | Up to 12 hours |
Front Camera | 2MP |
Rear Camera | 2MP |
Amazons Fire HD 10 is our most inexpensive tablet on the list. Whilst it won't be the tablet of choice for serious musicians, it will easily cope with the bedroom musicians everyday demands of using practice tool apps, making notes or general web browsing.
The Fire HD 10 features an upgraded octa-core 2GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM and capable battery life of up to 12 hours. Many users testify that thanks to it's improved processing power, the new HD 10 feels snappier than the HD 7 or 8. The 1080p 10.1 inch screen makes reading and watching videos more enjoyable than the other models also.
If you want to binge watch your favourite shows on apps like Netflix or download movies, these larger files can very quickly gobble up the storage space on any tablet. Fortunately, the Fire HD now supports microSD cards up to 512GB - double that of its predecessor.
With it's dual-band Wifi connectivity and easily navigable interface, you'll be up and running virtually out of the box. Our top tip however would be to install Google Play Store app as whilst the Amazon Store is good, some users report it lacking some of their favourite choice apps.
In conclusion, Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet is perfect for those looking for a cheap easy to use tablet for general entertainment and leisure use.
Tech Spec | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 10.1" |
Resolution | 1920 x 800 |
Storage | 32GB |
RAM | 2GB |
CPU | Quad core |
Dimensions | 9.84 x 7.09 x 0.39 inches |
Weight | 798g |
Battery | 10 hours |
Front Camera | 2MP |
Rear Camera | 5MP |
Another tablet great for musicians and everyday peeps alike, the Tablet 10 Inch Android tablet can easily replace your bulky laptop. This sleek, modern tablet delivers snappy performance all thanks to the 1.3 GHz Quad Core CPU.
The 32GB internal Storage is expandable to 128GB, which makes the Tablet 10 ideal for running your favourite apps such as Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, etc.
If you're after a tablet to put your music sheets in it so you don't have to carry around that large binder anymore, you'll be happy with this Android tablet for sure.
Tech Spec | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 10.5" |
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 |
Storage | 32GB |
RAM | 3GB |
CPU | 1.8 GHz |
Dimensions | 0.8 x 16.11 x 26 cm |
Weight | 530g |
Battery | 15 hours |
Front Camera | 5MP |
Rear Camera | 5MP |
If you don't feel like spending the extra cash to get a high-end tablet, Samsung's Galaxy Tab A is great iPad alternative tablet that's well made with loads of features.
There are many reasons for you to buy the Galaxy Tab A. Above all, it is packed with features and won't cost you an arm and a leg. The speakers featuring Dolby Atmos knock-out better audio quality than the average tablet.
In addition, the tablet comes with little bloatware, meaning you get more space for the actual stuff you want to use. Couple that with the expandable storage up to 512GB via an optional microSD card, you can cram all the apps, music and movies onto the device you fancy.
If you’re a musician that doesn’t need a tablet for high-performance music making with all the bells and whistles, the Tab A will be ideal.
From making set lists, keeping your digital practice planner up to date this guy is fine for daily use. If you're after a tablet with more firing power, don't disregard Huawei just yet. Check out it's more powerful big brother MediaPad M5 Pro.
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Use a tablet for your music needs, and are there any tablets you'd avoid like the plague for live music? Tell us which device you use and why you rate it in the comments section below.
