The 6 best tablets of 2022

The tablet market is in very good health. According to reports from business research, and beyond post-pandemic economic contractions, that went from $71.6 billion in sales in 2021 to $84.8 billion for this 2022. That’s a pretty healthy track record for a market that, even before the coronavirus, I’ve only experienced regular annual downturns. But they survived. And perhaps due to new work and consumption habits, its sales have increased a lot in the past two years.

We’ve already said that tablets bridge the gap between productivity and entertainment, the missing link between a smartphone and a laptop, with screen sizes ranging from compact 7-inches to roomy 10″. And that there are, more and more, different types of tablets, depending on the needs of each user.

There are some with a keyboard that can be separated, hybrids – which allow different positions and modes -, and some even for outdoor use. For many people, they have become an irreplaceable tool that brings together mobile productivity, entertainment and communication.

Because reading a digital book is possible (and more comfortable) on a tablet. Or write a text without having to go through the notebook. Or what about the possibilities for video games, for example. They are lighter, more versatile and take up less space than a computer.

In terms of dominance, Apple has been ahead of this segment for over a decade, with over 37% of the market, growing 31% from 2021. Its iPads, as we’ll see, continue to be exemplary devices. take advantage of its size and mobility.

However, it is also possible to appreciate that, of all the other manufacturers, it is obviously Samsung who, year after year, has reduced this gap. Even Amazon, somehow, has been steadily increasing sales with its cheap fires.

In Chile, yes, the situation is reversed: Samsung dominates the local market, followed by Apple and then by the rest of the manufacturers, such as Huawei, Lenovo and Xiaomi. But there are others. Here is the list of the tablets that we liked the most during this year 2022.

Undoubtedly, the great novelty of this year has been the new iPad Air, which has become a favorite for the vast majority of users of this device, which we can see in these pages. Thanks to the renewal of its processor with the powerful M1, which allows practically everything, and to the novelties of its operating system —iPadOS16—, the iPad Air, with its thin thickness of 6 mm and its weight of 460 grams, is the roundest tablet of this 2022. Personally, I consider it the best of the year.

But if you really want to achieve maximum performance, productivity and power, there is no other than the iPad Pro 2022 , Apple’s most powerful device (with eight-core M2 chip) and possibly also on this list. Plus, it has a massive 12.9″ Retina XDR display – although there’s also an 11″ version – which works great as a second monitor or for any graphics-intensive and productivity task. A real beast.

As for tablets that host Android, there’s no doubt: Samsung has taken the hat off with the benefits of its Galaxy Tab 8, probably the most powerful tablet with Google’s operating system. It was introduced earlier this year and comes in different configurations, but we’ll focus on its high-end version: the S8 Ultra.

Rather oriented towards productivity —such as demanding graphic and audiovisual design work—, in its specifications, the model in many ranges is even superior to an iPad. In design it has a similar build, at least in size and weight, although the Ultra’s screen – which is Super AMOLED – comes in at almost 15″. Is very big.

Plus, it has mobile network connectivity, a powerful 11,200 mAh battery — which lasts all day of use — and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. It comes with a Full HD front camera with autofocus and keyboard/protector, in addition to the S Pen (stylus) and keyboard case included.

Lenovo is another brand that knows something about tablets. The Chinese giant, and the world’s largest seller of computers, has a large catalog of mobile devices, where its always comfortable Yoga series is the most popular with the public. But it’s not the only one: Lenovo offers several ranges of tablets, with some of the most innovative on the market (such as the ThinkPad X1 Fold, the first foldable tablet), and others more varied in terms of models and functionalities. . .

Although released in late 2021, the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro was officially unveiled at this year’s Consumer Electronic Show. And given its features and design, it is an ideal device to fight the iPad and other similar ones. Starting with its processor, a powerful Snapdragon 870, its large 10,200 mAh battery and its four JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos.

It has a generous 12.6″ 2K AMOLED display and comes with a precision stylus that charges inside the case, a case that doubles as a keyboard, and a stand (both are included). Elegant and discreet, it also seems to be more oriented towards productive modes, even if leisure is not left out with any type of application or use.

The great Chinese brand, which a few years ago found itself with a stumbling block to stay in the North American market (due to the sanctions of the Trump government, let’s remember), continues to be more alive than never. Instead of ending up with regrets, he took advantage of the setback in his mobile phone business to focus on other consumer tech products, such as tablets. In this case, with its still effective MatePad range, version 2022.

This year’s model is just one of those devices that strikes the right balance between technical specifications and price. We’re talking about a 460 gram tablet —as light as the iPad Air—, with a 10.4″ IPS LCD screen and 2K resolution (2000 x 1200), four speakers with very good output audio, Full HD photo and video recording, and the ability to multitask with up to four simultaneous apps.

It also offers a multi-screen connection, for productivity tasks, and to be able to view and manage phone content from the tablet. These are just a few details that make it a versatile screen for all types of use, at a fairly acceptable price. Note: It has Android as the operating system, but there is still no access to Google services. And the M-Pencil (the brand’s stylus) is sold separately.

To be honest, this tablet from the Chinese giant TCL does not really stand out for its rather mid-range specifications. We are talking about a gadget whose main features are a screen of standard size (10.1″) and Full HD, with 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of memory on an eight-core MediaTek MT8768 processor weighing 490 grams. Nothing extraordinary, really.

Except for its screen, which is simply exceptional to read. TCL is primarily the maker of this – it’s a market leader in smart TVs – so they know what they’re doing. And it has more than twice as many layers as a traditional screen, which translates into special eye care but also an ideal tablet for reading (even in black and white), very similar to the effect produced with gadget electronics like the Kindle.

With it the sight does not get tired, the brightness does not bother the eyes and the blue light does not make itself felt. Interesting and inexpensive alternative for those who use tablets primarily for reading.

Finally, we have the flashiest, largest and most sophisticated tablet on the list: the Asus Zenbook Fold OLED. It’s the first foldable with an OLED screen on the market, and possibly also the pioneer with a size of more than 17 inches.

It’s huge, ultra-sophisticated, it comes with a keyboard and the possibilities of use are dizzying. It may be closer in design and foldability to a notebook than a tablet, but that’s precisely where the lines merge.

With its formidable screen resolution (2560 x 1920) and weighing 1.5 kilos, it’s a pretty sturdy device to hold in your hand, but the beauty is that the Zenbook Fold can work in many ways: folded or extended, with or without additional keyboard, inside or outside the office, as a monitor or as a computer. The screen can even be split into three.

Added to its internal specs—again, closer to a laptop than a tablet, with an Intel Core i7 processor, 75Wh battery, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD—they make of this model more than a simple tablet: it is a unique and gigantic machine which can be folded up on it. Only for the most ambitious.

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of December 13, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.