The Best Tablets for Zoom and Video Calls
Tablets have come a long way in the 10 years since the release of the first iPad, bringing them closer to laptops in terms of computing power without sacrificing the portability and convenience they’re loved for. For one thing, the first iPad didn’t have a camera. Now, most tablets have a front and rear-facing camera. That’s why tablets can be a viable option for Zoom or other videoconferencing needs.
There’s a good chance you’ve spent some time in this past year working from home, and many companies are looking to shift to remote work full time or some kind of hybrid schedule. Suffice to stay, Zoom meetings are likely to be a permanent part of office jobs. Having a reliable tablet can make remote videoconferencing meetings easier.
Tablets for Zoom are compact and easier to take on the go, making them a great option if you need to set up a mobile workstation at a cafe or hotel room. If you’re already working from a laptop, you can set up a tablet for Zoom for the work meeting and keep working or taking notes on the computer. Of course, not all video calls are work-related. A tablet is more comfortable than even a small laptop if you’re sitting in bed and checking in with your family or significant other, while also allowing you to feel closer to them than a small phone screen allows.
Of course, the first spec to check when buying a tablet for Zoom is the camera — you don’t want to deal with fuzzy resolution when giving the presentation that could land you your next promotion. But if you want your tablet to be a stand-in for your laptop, there are a lot of other details to look for.
These are some of the best tablets for Zoom meetings to buy in 2021.
1. Apple iPad Air 10.9-inch
BEST OVERALL
Apple’s iPad is still the leader when it comes to tablets, and the new iPad Air is a lightweight yet powerful option for your on-the-go or at-home computing needs. This tablet for Zoom has a 12MP back camera and a 7MP front camera. It supports Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard to get work done more easily.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 features an 11″ screen, making it a better option if you want a larger display for video calls or for browsing, working and watching videos. It has 128 GBs of storage, and the tablet includes the S pen. It has a USB-C charging port, making it easy to use with the chargers you likely already have. The front camera is 8MP.
Read More: Best Samsung Tablets
3. Lenovo – Chromebook Duet
MOST VERSATILE
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet leans into Chromebook’s reputation of being something of a hybrid — it has a tablet-sized 10.1″ screen, and it comes with a detachable keyboard and stand for using it as a laptop. Like the other tablets for Zoom on this list, this Chromebook has both a front and rear-facing camera. While the 2.0MP is not as high resolution as other options, it’s still suited for video calls.
Buy: Lenovo Chromebook $229.00
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7
BEST VALUE
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is the more economical alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. While it does lack the larger storage and higher-resolution cameras of the Samsung S7 and iPad, it’s also substantially cheaper than either of those options. It has a 5 MP front-facing camera and an 8 MP rear-facing camera. The USB-C charging port makes charging easy, and it also has a headphone jack. The screen is 10.4 Inches.
Read More: Best Drawing Tablets
5. Apple iPad Mini
MOST PORTABLE
It’s only just been made available, but the Apple iPad mini is a great alternative to the more expensive iPads. As the name suggests, it’s small — the 8.3″ screen is substantially smaller than the 10.9″ iPad Air. As for the cameras, the new iPad minis pack a lot of punch in a small package. The mini has a 12MP wide back camera and 12MP Ultra Wide front camera. Plus, you can use it with the second-generation Apple Pencil for easier note-taking.
Read More: Best Tablets for College
6. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
BEST WINDOWS TABLET
With its 12.3″ screen, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is closer to a small laptop than a big phone in terms of dimensions. It’s also accessorized more like a laptop. The screen cover also doubles as a full keyboard, including a trackpad. If you prefer to stick with just the tablet for Zoom, the keyboard detaches. The front-facing camera has a 5-megapixel resolution, so it’s not as clear as the iPad or some other options.
Buy: Microsoft Surface Pro $599.99
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