Michael Rivera
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If you do video editing on the go, a tablet could be a great addition to your setup. Modern tablets are small, lightweight, and have developed a lot in recent years. Some of the best tablets even have processors that can rival those of laptops or desktops – even their resolution and storage options have seen substantial upgrades.
However, considering the abundance of tablets available, choosing the best tablet for video editing can be a complicated process. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the best tablets for video editing.
Top Tablets For Video Editing
If you’re a video editor who wants a lightweight device to take with you on the go, you might be wondering what tablet to get. Click through to learn which is the best.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
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iPad Pro 12.9
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
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Microsoft Surface Go 3
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Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8
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Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
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Microsoft Surface Pro 8
4.4
5/5
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is the first tablet to be built on Intel’s Evo platform.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is the first tablet to be built on Intel’s Evo platform. The Evo platform is a specialized tech certification by Intel, awarded to laptops that meet the specific speed, battery life, and weight requirements. Tablets that have this certification are especially high quality – they have the best specs you can get for a portable device, promising strong and responsive performance.
The Surface Pro 8 tablet comes with Intel’s 11th generation quad-core processor which also offers Iris Xe graphics. This gives the Surface Pro incredible speed and beautiful graphic quality, making it ideal for video editing professionals. It has an impressive resolution of 2880 x 1920, compared to the standard 1920 x 1080 on Full-HD tablets.
It features two Thunderbolt 4 ports that allow you to hook up an external GPU and extra screen. It also has among the best battery life you can find on a tablet.
Essentially, it’s a highly compact, portable, and unplugged desktop alternative you can deploy while you’re working away from home. This is definitely the best tablet for video editing if you’re an editor looking for a high-tier machine. That said, all those features come at a high price.
Specs
- Operating system: Windows 11 Home
- Processor: Quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core™ i5-1135G7 or i7-1185G7
- RAM: 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPDDDR4x
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
- Display: Screen 13in PixelSense Flow Display, Resolution 2880 x 1920, Aspect Ratio 3:2, Touch 10-point multi-touch
- Weight and dimensions: i5 – 3.83 lb (1742.9g) / i7 – 4.00 lb (1820.2g), 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37in
- Battery life: Around 10 hours of full use, charge to 80% in around an hour
- Accessories: Surface Pro Signature Keyboard and Surface Slim Pen 2
Pros
- Exquisite display
- Incredible performance
- Up to 32GB RAM
- Massive storage space of up to 1TB
Cons
- Exquisite display
- Incredible performance
- Up to 32GB RAM
- Massive storage space of up to 1TB
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
4.4
5/5
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iPad Pro 12.9
4.8
4.8/5
Apple’s latest and most powerful tablet for video editing
Apple’s latest and most powerful tablet for video editing
Apple’s most recent iPad Pro is equipped with a top-of-the-line ARM-based M1 processor. This CPU is exclusively found in Apple products and is the same one used in their MacBooks. This octa-core processor has incredibly strong and responsive performance that can rival even desktop processors.
The iPad Pro 12.9in Liquid Retina XDR display has stunning visuals and an impressive resolution of 2048 x 2732. Additionally, the aspect ratio for this tablet is 4:3, compared to the 16:9 most commonly found on tablets. A 4:3 aspect ratio means that you will have more horizontal screen surface area to work with. The extremely high resolution and unique aspect ratio make it one of the best tablets for video editing for professionals.
The iPad Pro’s exceptional display, along with its M1 processor, make it possible to do 2K quality video editing. Of course, that wouldn’t be possible without the storage space – thankfully, Apple upgraded the storage capacity of the iPad Pro 12.9 up to 2TB.
Specs
- Operating system: iPadOS 14.5.1
- Processor: Apple M1 octa-core chip
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB
- Graphics: Octa-core GPU
- Storage: Internal 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB
- Display: Screen 12.9in Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, Resolution 2048 x 2732, Aspect Ratio 4:3, True Tone color, HDR10, Dolby Vision
- Weight and dimensions: 1.50 lb (682g), 11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25in
- Battery life: around 7-8 hours of full-usage time, fast charging at up to 20W
- Accessories: Apple’s Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard, and the Apple Pencil
Pros
- Has Apple’s new M1 chip
- Starts with 8GB of RAM
- Incredible performance and display
- Massive storage space up to 2TB
Pros
- Expensive upgraded RAM and storage options
- Accessories not included and may be expensive
iPad Pro 12.9
4.8
4.8/5
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
4.7
4.8/5
Samsung’s best mid-range Android tablet for video editing
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Samsung’s best mid-range Android tablet for video editing
Samsung’s answer to the Microsoft Surface Pro and Apple iPad Pro is the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+. Its Snapdragon 8 1st gen octa-core processor is incredibly capable, giving it strong and responsive performance. It can run highly demanding video or photo editing software with no issues.
Additionally, its screen size of 12.4in, stunning Super AMOLED display, and a high resolution of 2800 x 1752 make it possible to see your high-res videos in beautiful quality. Another excellent feature of this Android tablet is that it comes with 4 Dolby Atmos surround sound speakers, so your audio playback will be crisp and clear.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab won’t surpass high-tier tablets like the Microsoft Surface Pro or Apple iPad Pro in terms of performance. However, if you’re looking for the best tablets for video editing that won’t hurt your wallet as much, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab may be the one for you.
Specs
- Operating system: iPadOS 14.5.1
- Processor: Apple M1 octa-core chip
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB
- Graphics: Octa-core GPU
- Storage: Internal 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB
- Display: Screen 12.9in Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, Resolution 2048 x 2732, Aspect Ratio 4:3, True Tone color, HDR10, Dolby Vision
- Weight and dimensions: 1.50 lb (682g), 11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25in
- Battery life: around 7-8 hours of full-usage time, fast charging at up to 20W
- Accessories: Apple’s Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard, and the Apple Pencil
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Small and lightweight travel tablet
- Upgraded processor
- Built-in kick-stand
Cons
- Fast charger sold separately
- Only one USB 3.2 connection port available
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
4.7
4.8/5
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Microsoft Surface Go 3
4.4
4.8/5
Great tablet for video editing on the go
Great tablet for video editing on the go
While not as impressive as the Microsoft Surface Pro series, the Surface Go still packs a punch with its affordable price and 2-in-1 feature. The Surface Go 3 is the most recent generation in Microsoft’s line-up.
This new release comes with an upgraded processor and Windows 11. It also has a 10.5in PixelSense display and is Full-HD with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. Its speaker quality is impressive with its 2W Dolby Atmos studio speakers and 2W Dolby Audio Premium stereo speakers.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 isn’t among the best tablets out there if you’re looking for raw power and speed. Its specs are decent, so don’t expect to do high-quality video editing or have fast rendering times. However, if you just want to do simple editing while on the go, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 will do the job quite well for a more reasonable price
Specs
- Operating system: Windows 11
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y or 10th Gen Intel Core i3-10100Y
- RAM: 4GB or 8GB
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB with expandable storage available
- Display: 10.5in PixelSense Display, Resolution 1920 x 1280, Aspect Ratio 3:2, 10-point multi-touch
- Weight and dimensions: 1.2 lb (544 g), 9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33in
- Battery life: Around 8 hours of normal use
Accessories: Surface Keyboard with trackpad, Surface mouse, Surface pen
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Small and lightweight travel tablet
- Upgraded processor
- Built-in kick-stand
Cons
- Fast charger sold separately
- Only one USB 3.2 connection port available
Microsoft Surface Go 3
4.4
4.8/5
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Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8
4.7
4.8/5
Huawei’s more affordable tablet for video editing
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Huawei’s more affordable tablet for video editing
The MatePad Pro tablet has quality performance and comes in either a 10.8in or 12.6in variant. Its fast and capable CPU will be able to run various video or photo editing software without skipping a beat.
This tablet has amazingly fast charging, both wall and wireless. Another interesting feature is that it also has reverse charging, which means that you can keep your phone or accessories topped up at all times with the tablet.
Specs
- Operating system: Harmony 2.0
- Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm
- SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G
- RAM: 6GB or 8GB
- Graphics: Adreno 650
- Storage: 128GB or extended storage of 256GB
- Display: Screen 10.8in FullView IPS LCD, Resolution 2560 x 1600, Aspect Ratio 16:10
- Weight and dimensions: 1.01 lb (460g), 9.69 x 6.26 x 0.28in
- Battery life: around 8-9 hours of heavy use, fast charging at 40W, wireless charging at 27W and reverse wireless charging at 10W
- Accessories: M Pencil and Smart Magnetic Keyboard
Pros
- Great display that doesn’t use too much power
- Super fast charging, either plugged into the wall or wirelessly
Cons
- Fast charger sold separately
- Only one USB 3.2 connection port available
Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8
4.7
4.8/5
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Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
4.6
4.8/5
Super affordable tablet for on-the-go, simple video editing
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Super affordable tablet for on-the-go, simple video editing
This Android tablet by Amazon has some great specs for its price. It’s extremely affordable and is one of the best tablets for simple video editing. Its increased storage and upgraded display make editing videos on the go a smoother process.
This tablet is also very lightweight, so it’s easy to take with you. It has expandable storage options because of its microSD slot. Additionally, it comes with wireless charging if you get the charging dock. If you like using Alexa, this tablet can also be used with your smart home system.
Specs
- Operating system: Amazon Fire 7 with Android 9.0
- Processor: Octa-core Mediatek MT8183 Helio P60T
- RAM: 4GB
- Graphics: Mali-G72 MP3
- Storage: 32GB or 64GB, expandable to 256GB with microSDXC
- Display: Screen 10.1 in IPS LCD, Resolution 1920 x 1200, Aspect Ratio 16:10
- Weight and dimensions: 1.03 lb (468g), 9.72 x 6.54 x 0.36in
- Battery life: Around 10 hours of video streaming, wireless charging available
- Accessories: MoKo Case, and Fintie Amazon Bluetooth Keyboard
Pros
- Great display that doesn’t use too much power
- Super fast charging, either plugged into the wall or wirelessly
Cons
- Can only run Amazon Store apps
- Limited RAM and internal storage options
- Low-quality speakers
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
4.6
4.8/5
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How To Choose The Right Video Editing Tablet
3 Benefits Of Video Editing On A Tablet
Highly Portable
Tablets are the middle-man between laptops and mobiles. The best tablets offer laptop-grade performance with a larger screen compared to a mobile phone. A tablet’s portability is useful when you want to take your work with you but don’t want to carry a heavy laptop around all day.
Versatile
Many tablets these days are highly versatile in that they can be adaptable laptops. They come with accessories, like a wireless keyboard, a mouse, or a stylus. You can also add a mount to your tablet to make it more ergonomic, as it won’t wear your arm out from holding it constantly.
If they have Thunderbolt 4 ports, you can transform tablets into laptops by connecting them to external screens or GPUs.
Budget-Friendly
Opting for a tablet instead of a laptop can save you quite a bit of money, especially if you need a portable device to edit videos on. While they won’t be as powerful as most high-tier laptops, they still offer decent specs while still being almost as portable as a smartphone.
Best Specs For A Video Editing Tablet
CPU
The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is commonly referred to as the brain of your tablet. The faster your CPU, the more processing power it has, and the more instructions it can handle at any given time. The slower your CPU, the longer it would take to perform tasks like rendering videos or transferring files.
When choosing a tablet, make sure that you get one with a CPU that is the latest generation possible. The later the generation, the better the performance. This is especially important as tablets typically do not have dedicated GPUs, so the video rendering task is done solely by the CPU.
RAM
RAM is the memory of your tablet and affects how many apps you can run at the same time. Modern tablets that are good for video editing come with 4GB to 16GB RAM, some even more. Each app on your tablet takes a certain amount of RAM to run. So, the more apps you want to run at the same time, the more RAM you need.
The way RAM works on a tablet is different compared to laptops and desktops. On tablets, when the RAM reaches its capacity and you open an additional app, the tablet will simply stop running previously opened apps. This means that if you are running too many apps for the RAM to handle, your previously opened apps will have to re-load, which means a longer waiting time.
How much RAM you need for editing videos depends on the size of your files, their quality, and how fast you want your tablet to perform. More demanding video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro requires at least 8GB of RAM. The best tablets for video editing will come with higher RAM options.
Storage
Video editing tablets have storage spaces of at least 64GB, while the best tablets will have up to 2TB. How much storage space you need largely depends on the size of the files you’ll be editing and how many video files you want to keep on your tablet.
If you want a cheaper tablet with smaller built-in storage space, consider getting one that has external storage options. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Tab supports up to 1TB microSDXC on top of its 128GB built-in storage. Not a lot of tablets have this feature, which makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab a great high-capacity tablet for a lower price.
DISPLAY
When choosing a tablet to edit videos with, it’s important to consider its screen size and resolution. Of course, you’ll want a high res tablet to better view your videos. However, you’ll also want to balance this with the physical screen size. A bigger screen sacrifices portability, but a smaller screen sacrifices viewing quality.
We recommend getting a tablet that supports at least Full-HD 1920 x 1080. If you want more of a widescreen experience, get an aspect ratio of 16:10. However, some tablets come in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which gives more horizontal screen size. So, it really depends on your preferences.
Conclusion
If you’re a professional video editor, you’ll most likely have your main desktop setup. But a tablet can be a highly portable, lightweight option to carry with you to showcase your work or for when you want a change of scenery while editing videos.
The Microsoft Surface Pro, Apple iPad Pro, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ are the best choices for professionals. However, there are cheaper alternatives that will perform just fine if you only need to do simple video editing.
If you’re the average hobbyist who only does light video editing or are on a budget, a simple tablet with basic video editing software will do the work just fine. Even simple tablets come with good processors and a decent amount of RAM and storage space.
