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The best tablet to buy in South Africa 2020

Despite the incredible advancement of mobile phones — and the introduction of foldable phones — over the years, tablets still remain remarkably versatile devices that are great for a number of different reasons. From Huawei and Samsung to iPad and Asus, we truly are spoiled for choice.

Whether you want to surf the net and stream your favourite shows or keep up with social media, there really isn’t much these nifty devices can’t do. It does, after all, combine the power of a notebook and a mobile phone.

With hundreds of models to choose from, we’ve lined up a few of our most-loved tablets to make your shopping research just a tad bit easier. Here’s what you need to know about our favourite tablets for 2020.

Best tablets of 2020: Editor’s Pick

Huawei Matepad T8

This is the one device you can’t do without. Not only does it have a price point of only R2 999, but it’s also perfect for the entire family and is specifically designed for children. When kids go online, privacy and security are of utmost importance.

Huawei matepad t8
Image credit: Huawei

The lightweight design is perfect for tiny tots and is pre-loaded with the Kids Corner app, a virtual playground enabling children to learn and play. Parents will be able to monitor their children’s tablet usage while also teaching children to develop healthier technology habits.

That is one of the many reasons why the Huawei MatePad T8 is our editor’s pick. In addition to the safety features, the EMUI10 OS also ensures improved system response speeds for a smooth, seamless experience.

The Huawei MatePad T8 is good value for money. If you were looking for a flagship model with these features, you’ll be paying three times its cost.

Specifications

Weight: 310g
Dimensions: 199.7mm x 121.1mm x 8.55 mm
Operating System: EMUI 10.0.1, based on Android 10
Screen Size: 8 inches, LCD
Resolution: 1280 x 800
CPU: MTK MT8768, 4 x Cortex A53 2.0 GHz + 4 x Cortex A53 1.5 GHz
Storage: 16GB
Battery: 5 10mAh, up to 12 hours
Camera specs: 5MP rear-facing camera and 2MP front-facing camera
Price: R2 999

Verdict

  • Powerful, capable, portable, affordable
  • Immersive viewing experience thanks to ultra-slim bezels
  • Powerful chipset, long-lasting battery
  • Specially designed for children
  • Facial recognition for unlocking

Read more about the Huawei MatePad T8 here.

Best tablets of 2020: Sweet alternatives

iPad Mini

The iPad is a tiny little thing with crisp resolution, Apple’s A12 Bionic chip and a long-lasting battery. It’s compact yet capable. If only it was more affordable…

Best tablets 2020
Image via MacWorld

Specifications

Weight: 340g
Dimensions:
203.2mm x 134.8mm x 6.1mm
Operating System:
iPadOS
Screen Size:
7.9 inch
Resolution:
1 536 x 2 048
CPU:
A12 Bionic
RAM:
3GB
Storage:
64GB or 256GB
Battery:
5 124 mAh
Camera specs:
8MP rear-facing camera and 7MP front-facing camera
Price: 32GB for R6 999

Verdict

  • Compact tablet, fits in any bag
  • Outdated design with thick bezels
  • Affordable yet powerful

 

Asus ZenPad 3S 10

Even though the Asus was released in 2016, we feel that is still worthy of this list. It’s cheaper than most devices with a MediaTek CPU and is quite capable despite its screen size.

Best tablets 2020
Image via Asus

The ZenPad 3S 10 falls in the “good value for money” category. Perfect for browsing the web, managing social media and watching videos. If, however, you’re looking for top-of-the-range tablet, it might not be for you.

Specifications

Weight: 430g
Dimensions:
240.5mm x 163.7mm x 7.2mm
Operating
System: Android 7
Screen Size:
9.7-inch
Resolution:
1 536 x 2 048
CPU:
MediaTek MT8176
RAM:
4GB
Storage:
32GB and 64GB
Battery:
Up to 10 hours
Camera specs:
8MP rear-facing camera and 5MP front-facing camera.

Verdict

  • Good tablet despite low specs
  • Affordable, value for money
  • Bright and beautiful display

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S6 has all the cutting-edge features you’d expect, with an added bonus that the camera is quite remarkable for a tablet. The two rear sensors will suit your basic photographic needs.

Unfortunately the Tab S6 doesn’t have a headphone jack and the UX is bit problematic at times. Other than this, the Samsung S6 is iPad’s most ardent competitor. The biggest downside is that hefty price tag.

Specifications

Weight: 420g
Dimensions:
244.5mm x 159.5mm x 5.7mm
Operating System:
Android 9
Screen Size:
10.5 inch
Resolution:
1 600 x 2 560
CPU:
Snapdragon 855
RAM:
6GB or 8GB RAM
Storage: 128GB or 256GB
Battery:
7 040mAh
Camera specs:
8MP front-facing camera and 13MP plus 5MP rear-facing camera.
Price: R9 499 with S Pen

Verdict:

  • Powerful Android tablet
  • Powerful processor
  • Better camera than expected
  • Comes with S Pen
  • Expensive

Microsoft Surface Go 2

The Surface Go 2 may very well be the Microsoft tablet that replaces your Microsoft laptop. While it may not be as powerful as its iCore 7 relatives, the Surface Go 2 is a powerful device.

Best tablets 2020
Image via Mobility

Specifications

Weight: 553g
Dimensions:
245mm x 175mm x 8.3mm
Operating System:
Windows 10 Home S mode (upgradable to Home or Pro
Screen Size: 10.5″
PixelSense Display
Resolution:
1920 x 1280 (220ppi)
CPU:
Intel Gold Processor 4425Y
RAM:
4GB or 8GB RAM
Storage:
eMMC drive 64GB | SSD: 128GB
Battery:
Up to 10 hours of typical device usage
Camera specs:
5MP front-facing camera, 8MP rear-facing camera.

Verdict

Based on online reviews, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is a small but powerful device. However, you’ll need to save up because it won’t be cheap. It currently sells for about $399 and $549 (R6 660 to R 9 200) in the States.

Microsoft also confirmed that the Surface devices will be available in South Africa later this year.

“To help better address the global demand we are seeing for Surface, we excited to share that we will bring Surface to Mexico and South Africa later this year”.

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