10 Best Tablets That Work Really Well With Keyboards

Are you looking for the best tablets with keyboards or the best tablets that work really well with keyboards? If yes, then you are in the right place!

Tablets with keyboards, also known as two-in-one tablets, allow you to experience the best of both worlds. Since you do not have to settle for an on-screen keyboard, you can work more productively on them. In addition, they often have a built-in touchpad, and the docks or covers protect the display when folded.

These tablet computers fall into the niche category of hyper-mobile computing and serve functions that fit between a smartphone and a laptop.

In recent years, they have become much better and faster with advanced hardware and accessories, such as removable keyboards. Some of them can also use a stylus to improve functionality.

There are various customizations and configurations for these two-in-one tablets in the marketplace. Apple and Samsung are no longer the only ones producing elite-level devices; companies like Lenovo and Microsoft are stepping up to deliver better tablets and compete with their powerful rivals. The latest versions of these multi-functional devices have special keys on their keyboards and many new applications to support multitasking user operations and provide a smoother workflow.

As a result, it can be pretty challenging to choose from the wide range of products available now. Therefore, in this article, I have listed the ten best tablets with keyboards for you to purchase today.

10 Best Tablets with Keyboards in 2024

Let us now go through my picks for the top 10 tablets with keyboards available in the market currently.

Table of Contents

1. Apple iPad Pro

The Apple iPad Pro is arguably the best tablet that money can buy. It is an excellent choice for users who want an exceptional PC-like experience on the tablet.

For the keyboard, I recommend getting the optional official Apple Magic keyboard.

It connects to the tablet magnetically and appears to be levitating in midair! It also has a trackpad and a USB-C port through which you can charge the tablet.

The Apple iPad Pro is available in two screen sizes: 12.9 inches and 11 inches. The primary difference between the two models lies in the display technology. The 12.9-inch variant features a Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting, offering superior brightness, contrast, and HDR performance. In contrast, the 11-inch model has a Liquid Retina display with traditional LED backlighting, still providing excellent color accuracy and brightness but not quite matching the 12.9-inch model's HDR capabilities.

Both models are powered by Apple’s M2 chip, the same chip that powers the latest MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and iMac. This chip ensures top-tier performance, handling everything from high-end gaming and 4K video editing to complex productivity tasks and multitasking with ease. The M2 chip includes an 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, making the iPad Pro incredibly powerful and efficient.

Display and Design

12.9-inch iPad Pro:

Display: Liquid Retina XDR with mini-LED backlighting
Resolution: 2732 x 2048 pixels
Brightness: 1000 nits (typical), 1600 nits (HDR peak)
Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1

11-inch iPad Pro:

Display: Liquid Retina with traditional LED backlighting
Resolution: 2388 x 1668 pixels
Brightness: 600 nits (typical)
Contrast ratio: 1,000:1

Both models support ProMotion technology with a 120Hz refresh rate, True Tone, and P3 wide color gamut, ensuring smooth and vibrant visuals.

Performance

Processor: Apple M2 chip
CPU: 8-core
GPU: Up to 10-core
Neural Engine: 16-core

Storage Options

Both iPad Pro models are available with the following storage options:

128GB
256GB
512GB
1TB
2TB

Camera and Audio

Rear Camera System: 12MP Wide camera + 10MP Ultra-Wide camera + LiDAR Scanner for enhanced AR experiences
Front Camera: 12MP Ultra-Wide front camera with Center Stage for better video calls
Both models have a four-speaker audio system, delivering rich, immersive sound for media consumption and video calls.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with MIMO
Bluetooth: 5.3
Optional 5G connectivity: Available on both models

Battery Life

Both models offer up to 10 hours of battery life for web browsing and video playback on Wi-Fi.

Accessories

The iPad Pro supports a range of accessories, including:

Apple Pencil (2nd generation): For drawing, note-taking, and marking up documents
Magic Keyboard: For a laptop-like typing experience
Smart Keyboard Folio: For a more portable keyboard solution

The iPad Pro runs on iPadOS, offering a range of features optimized for touch and Apple Pencil input, including advanced multitasking capabilities, support for external displays, and a suite of productivity apps.

In summary, the iPad Pro, with its powerful M2 chip and advanced display technology, remains the top choice for professionals and creatives looking for a versatile, high-performance tablet. Whether you choose the 11-inch model for portability or the 12.9-inch model for its superior display, both deliver exceptional performance and a seamless user experience.

2. Apple iPad Air

The Apple iPad Air is an excellent alternative to the iPad Pro for users who need to save some money and can compromise with a few features. Overall, it is better than the regular iPad for content consumption and a step below the iPad Pro for content creation. It runs on Apple’s M2 chip and features a 11-inch retina display with a Wide color (P3) gamut and the ability to hit 500 nits brightness.

Also, it works with the same Apple Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio.

Unlike its Pro sibling, the iPad Air only has two speakers that nevertheless are loud and clear. Furthermore, it has a single front and back camera and the much-appreciated ID fingerprint reader for security. In addition, to help you nurture the artist in you, it supports the Apple Pencil. Overall, the Air’s performance is excellent for all games and more powerful than the Galaxy Tab S9.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra are the best Android tablets. For all three of them, Samsung offers two keyboards similar to Apple: a thin keyboard case and a better but more expensive keyboard cover. In addition, they feature Samsung’s DeX desktop mode, which makes them feel more like laptops.

The devices’ Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor provides decent performance and has access to 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB of RAM, respectively. Their internal storage lies between 128GB and 512 GB. While not as good as the iPad Pro, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series performs well enough for intensive multitasking, Samsung DeX, and even the latest games.

By virtue of their 12.4-inch and 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy Tab S9+ and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra are especially great as entertainment tablets. On the other hand, the Galaxy Tab S9 has a classic 11-inch LCD. In addition, all three of them support 120 Hz, like Apple and Microsoft.

Here is the updated and corrected device list with the latest models and specifications:

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ offers the best of Android with Samsung's DeX UI, providing a PC-like experience when connected to a keyboard. It is available in variants such as the S8, S8+, and S8 Ultra.

The S8+ is the top-of-the-line model with a 12.4-inch Super AMOLED display, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and HDR10+ support. Its 16:10 aspect ratio makes it excellent for productivity tasks like working on documents and spreadsheets. The display is also great for gaming and content consumption. The Tab S8+ supports a stylus for creative professionals and has a sleek design similar to the iPad Air. The official back cover and keyboard case's hinge allows for a 165-degree prop-up, making it more convenient than a traditional laptop hinge.

5. Lenovo Tab P12 Pro

The Lenovo Tab P12 Pro is a great alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+. While it might not receive software updates for as long, it is often more affordable and includes a versatile keyboard cover that can be used separately via Bluetooth. The P12 Pro features a 12.6-inch Super AMOLED display, slightly smaller than the Surface Pro 8 and the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro. It includes Lenovo's Precision Pen 3. The tablet is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. While its performance is slightly below the Galaxy Tab S8 series, it can smoothly handle games like Fortnite on high settings. Premium features include a metal casing, fingerprint reader, and powerful speakers.

6. Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 is an excellent budget alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. It features an 11.2-inch OLED screen with HDR 10+ support, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a resolution of 2560 x 1536 pixels.

It includes Lenovo's Precision Pen 3. The P11 Pro Gen 2 is powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 1300T chipset, which is sufficient for games like PUBG Mobile and Fortnite. It offers 6GB to 8GB of RAM and 128GB to 256GB of storage. The optional keyboard cover is nearly as good as Samsung’s, making it a reliable secondary device with a good keyboard at a reasonable price.

7. Lenovo Duet Chromebook 5

The Lenovo Duet Chromebook is one of the few Chrome OS tablets, making it a unique choice. It comes with a keyboard cover for around $250, offering an excellent price/performance ratio, especially for students. The 10.1-inch display makes it smaller than a regular laptop, but you can get used to it for writing.

Chrome OS, initially developed for laptops, works wonderfully with a mouse and keyboard. The Duet Chromebook has a MediaTek Helio P60T processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. Its performance is comparable to a Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite or Lenovo Tab P11, making it more powerful than entry-level tablets but not suitable for intensive multitasking or gaming.

8. Microsoft Surface Pro 9

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is one of the best Windows tablets, featuring the Windows 11 operating system and a high-end Surface Pro Signature Keyboard that connects via a magnetic connector.

The display is protected when folded, and the Slim Pen 2 stylus can be charged inside the keyboard. The Pro 9 features Intel Core i5 or i7 processors of the 12th generation, 8GB to 32GB of RAM, and storage space of 128GB to 1TB. Its performance is excellent for tasks like Adobe Photoshop and basic video editing in Premiere Pro. The 13-inch display has a 3:2 aspect ratio, a resolution of 2880 x 1920 pixels, and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.

9. Microsoft Surface Pro X

The Microsoft Surface Pro X is a modern and remarkable tablet with a fantastic Type Cover, ideal for using Microsoft Office apps. It features an ARM processor designed by Qualcomm and Microsoft and runs Windows on ARM, specifically for ARM chipsets.

The Surface Pro X runs apps made for Windows on ARM smoothly, including Microsoft Word and OneNote. However, many traditional apps and drivers don't run as well on it, making it less suitable for traditional Windows users.

10. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a powerful and versatile tablet that offers an impressive blend of performance, display quality, and productivity features. It comes in two variants, the S7 and S7+, with the S7 being slightly more compact.

The Galaxy Tab S7 features an 11-inch LTPS TFT display with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smooth visuals and an excellent viewing experience for both productivity and entertainment. It supports HDR10+ for vibrant and dynamic picture quality. The tablet's 16:10 aspect ratio makes it ideal for multitasking, allowing users to comfortably work on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Under the hood, the Tab S7 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor, which delivers fast performance for a variety of tasks, including gaming, content creation, and media consumption. It comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and storage options ranging from 128GB to 512GB, with expandable storage via microSD.

The S7 supports the Samsung DeX mode, which transforms the tablet into a PC-like experience when connected to a keyboard and mouse, enhancing productivity for professional tasks. The official keyboard cover, available separately, provides a comfortable typing experience and includes a built-in trackpad.

For creative professionals, the S7 includes the S Pen, which offers a responsive and precise input for drawing, note-taking, and other creative tasks. The S Pen attaches magnetically to the back of the tablet for easy storage and charging.

The tablet's design is sleek and modern, featuring a metal body that feels premium and durable. It includes a dual-camera setup on the back, with a 13MP main sensor and a 5MP ultra-wide sensor, as well as an 8MP front-facing camera for video calls and selfies.

Battery life on the Galaxy Tab S7 is robust, thanks to its 8,000mAh battery, which supports fast charging to keep you productive throughout the day. It also features quad speakers tuned by AKG, delivering immersive audio for media playback.

In summary, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a versatile and powerful tablet that caters to both productivity and entertainment needs, making it a great choice for professionals, students, and creative users alike.

Conclusion

We’ve now explored some of the best tablets with keyboards available today. Before choosing one, consider the kind of tablet you require. For example, some of them are so good that you can replace a premium laptop with them. Others are great tablets with excellent portable keyboards, but you wouldn’t want to replace your notebook with them.

After that, you can think about your budget and how much you are willing to spend. You should also consider operating systems; some people may choose a Windows 10 device, while others are more comfortable in Apple’s ecosystem. Finally, I hope you choose a great 2-in-1 tablet that helps you with your professional and personal endeavors.