Photo Editing On Surface Pro 7
The best tablet for photo editing and photographers in 2021
Included in this guide:
Buying the best tablet for photo editing can help take your photography to the next level. But which should you choose?
While iPads used to be the obvious choice for the best tablet for photo editing, powerful rivals have appeared over recent years. With models to suit every budget from top-tier manufacturers such as Microsoft and Samsung, users have a lot of great devices to choose from.
Recently, though, Apple has struck back, with the introduction of the iPad Pro 2021. Running the M1 chip, which also found in the Mac Mini M1, the iMac 2021 and some of Apple's best laptops, it's truly a portable powerhouse.
Here you'll find the very best tablets for photo editing available today. We'll start with the pricier models, but if you're on a tighter budget, don't worry; we've also included some older and more affordable tablets below.
• See also: Best Wacom tablets
Best tablet for photo editing
The best iPad for photo editing
Specifications
Weight: 682g
Dimensions: 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm
OS: iPadOS 14
Screen size: 12.9-inch
Resolution: 2048 x 2732 pixels
CPU: Apple M1 chip
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
microSD slot: No
Rear cameras: 12MP wide (f/1.8), 10-MP ultra-wide (f/2.4)
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide TrueDepth (f/2.4)
Reasons to buy
+New M1 chip +Up to 2TB of storage +TrueDepth selfie camera
Reasons to avoid
-No microSD slot -Key accessories cost extra
The iPad Pro is the first tablet to ever house the Apple M1 chipset. This means that the 8-core CPU will be 50% faster than the previous generation, while the 8-core GPU will deliver 40% faster graphics (interestingly, the new iPad Pro will be an astounding 1500x faster than the very first iPad Pro!).
Outside of the introduction of the M1 chip, some of the other exciting features include a 2TB storage option, the addition of 5G and a 12MP ultra-wide front-facing camera with a 122º field of view. This TrueDepth selfie camera is particularly delightful, as it features a Center Stage function that's perfect for video calls.
All this makes the iPad Pro (2021) 12.9 the best iPad for photo editing overall right now; and indeed, the best iPad for most creative tasks. That said, the iPad version of Photoshop doesn't have all the features of the full desktop software. If you want to run that, then you'll need a Windows tablet, and the next on the list is our top recommendation.
2. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
The best Windows tablet for photo editing
Specifications
Weight: 771g
Dimensions: 292 x 201 x 8.5mm
OS: Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro
Screen size: 12.3-inch
Resolution: 2736 x 1824
CPU: Intel 10th Gen Core i3/i5/i7
RAM: 4/816GB
Storage: 128GB-1TB
Battery life: Up to 10.5 hours
Reasons to buy
+Laptop functionality +High precision +USB-C +Long battery life
Reasons to avoid
-Accessories cost extra
If you're seeking a tablet running Microsoft's OS, you'll be hard pushed to beat the Surface Pro 7. Featuring the processing power of a laptop, a beautiful 12.3-inch PixelSense display and a longer battery life than many, this is without doubt one of the best tablets for photo editing available today.
This device features the latest multicore processors, which means you're not limited to mobile versions of anything, including the operating system. The Pro 7 is able to run the full Windows OS and that means you can download the full version of Photoshop.
The Surface Pro 7 also has a dedicated full-size illuminated keyboard, touchpad and precise pressure-sensitive stylus (all sold separately). This combined package, then, provides photographers with everything they need for high-precision photo editing.
3. iPad Pro 12.9" (2020)
The best value iPad for photo editing
Specifications
Weight: 639g
Dimensions: 280.4 x 214.8 x 5.8 mm
OS: iOS 1
Screen size: 12.9-inch
Resolution: 2732 x 2048
CPU: A12Z Bionic
RAM: 4GB (6GB with 1TB version)
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
Battery: 9,720mAh
Reasons to buy
+Very powerful +Big screen
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive -Accessories cost extra
It might be a generation old now, but the iPad Pro 2020 is still a fantastic bit of kit with a big beautiful screen, portable and stylish design, useful peripherals and iOS running on Apple's A12Z Bionic chipset. But does that make it one of the best tablets for photo editing?
The answer is, quite simply, yes. The Pro offers an attractive combination of high power and portability, which can run Lightroom Mobile and Photoshop for iPad without issue.
The luxury Retina LCD screen is one of the biggest on the tablet market – a whopping 12.9 inches – offering a crystal clear viewing experience and an excellent surface to draw on with the Apple Pencil (sold separately).
The downside with the iPad Pro is the price. It doesn't come cheap, so you'll probably be thinking of this as a laptop replacement. And if that's the case, be prepared to shell out extra for accessories (and check out the best iPad Pro cases).
See also: The best iPads for photo editing and video editing
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
The best Android tablet for photo editing
Specifications
Weight: 575g
Dimensions: 185.0 x 285.0 x 5.7mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 12.4-inch
Resolution: 1752 x 2800
CPU: Snapdragon 865 Plus
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128/256GB
Battery life : up to 10 hours
Reasons to buy
+Gorgeous, high-quality screen +S-Pen included +All-day battery
Reasons to avoid
-Android apps less tablet-optimised
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is the best Android tablet you can get right now for photo editing. It's basically a laptop in terms of power, and makes for an excellent productivity tool and photo-editing base. With the S-Pen stylus included, it's easy to get cracking on your projects right away, with no extra cost, and the beautiful display has a refresh rate of 120Hz, making it smooth and enjoyable to use for long periods.
If you like editing with hotkeys, it's worth also picking up the Samsung Book Cover Keyboard. You do have to pay extra for this, but it's a satisfying tactile device that also includes a trackpad, providing more options for those who don't care for working on a touchscreen for long periods.
If it's stretching beyond your budget, though, consider the Galaxy Tab S7, which has a slightly less spectacular display and a smaller battery, but is available for a lower price, and will still do everything you need for photo editing.
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Another brilliant Android tablet for photo editing
Specifications
Weight: 420g
Dimensions: 244.5 x 159.5 x 5.7mm
OS: Android 9
Screen size: 10.5-inch
Resolution: 2560 x 1600
CPU: Snapdragon 855
RAM: 6/8GB
Storage: 128/256GB
Battery life: Up to 15 hours
Reasons to buy
+Long battery life +Highly portable +Stylus included
Reasons to avoid
-Limited apps -Keyboard sold separately
While the S7+ and S7 steal the headlines, the Tab S6 is still well worth consideration. Weighing in at just 420g, it's one of the lightest, most portable tablets on the market. But don't be fooled by its appearance, this lightweight device features enough power to handle precision photo editing on the go.
The S6 is equipped with desktop-like software, up to 8GB of internal memory and 256GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD cards), so plenty of space for uploading images. Under the hood, the S6 is powered by a Snapdragon 855 processor, meaning it can handle photo editing software such as Lightroom and Photoshop Express with ease.
The S6's 10.5-inch HDR-ready Super AMOLED display makes viewing imagery a pleasure, and unlike with Microsoft or Apple devices, the S Pen is included in the purchase price. The S4 also features a larger batter capacity (7,050mAh), meaning it can last up to 15 hours on one charge, and be back to full force in as little as 200 minutes with fast charging.
6. iPad Air (2019)
A great value iPad for photographers
Specifications
Weight: 456g
Dimensions: 250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1mm
OS: iOS 12
Screen size: 9.7-inch
Resolution: 2048 x 1536
CPU: A12
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 64-256GB
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Reasons to buy
+Powerful +Super-lightweight
Reasons to avoid
-Less memory than other options -Lacks support for 2nd gen Pencil
If you're an Apple fan but can't (or don't want to) shell out for the iPad Pro, Apple's iPad Air is a more affordable but still highly capable option. A lot of attention has gone into this model, powered by Apple's A12 chip.
It's less powerful than it's older sibling, but still packs enough of a punch to be able to run photo editing software comfortably. In fact, the processing power and RAM is really quite impressive when you consider it's working in a device that weighs less than half a kilo and is just 6mm thick.
There is, as you would expect, less RAM in the Air, but still a respectable 3GB to play with. The 2019 iPad Air also includes support for the Apple Pencil (first generation).
7. Amazon Fire HD 10
The best Amazon tablet for photo editing
Specifications
Weight: 500g
Dimensions: 262 x 159 x 9.8mm
OS: FireOS
Screen size: 10-inch
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
CPU: Mediatek Quad Core
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 32/64GB
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Reasons to buy
+Highly affordable +Quality hardware
Reasons to avoid
-Limited apps
The Amazon Fire HD 10 is a fantastic option if you want a cheap, portable device for light photo editing work. Its 10.1-inch full HD screen is more than adequate for showcasing work and it's highly portable, weighing just 500g.
The Fire HD 10 is available as a 32GB or 64GB version, both of which have a microSD card slot to expand memory up to 256GB should you need it, and the battery life is said to last up to 10 hours after one full charge.
Very much part of the Amazon eco-system, the Fire HD 10 helpfully has Amazon's Alexa voice-assistant onboard. However it does mean using the FireHD for anything outside of that system – Google apps, for example – isn't possible.
That said, the ever-growing Amazon app store presents a number of lightweight photo editing apps, so you won't be short on software. A basic but capable option for anyone wanting a device for light editing work on the go.
8. Microsoft Surface Go
The best value Windows tablet for photo editing
Specifications
Weight: 522g
Dimensions: 245 x 175 x 8.3mm
OS: Windows 10 S
Screen size: 10 inch PixelSense
Resolution: 1800 x 1200
CPU: Dual Core Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery life: Up to 9 hours
Reasons to buy
+Full Windows 10 for free +Affordable +Pen compatibility
Reasons to avoid
-Lacks power -Pen and keyboard cost extra
If you prefer to work with the Windows OS and on a budget, Microsoft's Surface Go is the less powerful but still very capable alternative to the Surface Pro 6. With less power comes slightly less functionality and reduced performance, but the Surface Go has enough weight behind it to handle light photo editing work comfortably.
Unlike its bigger sibling, the Surface Go runs the locked down 10 S version of Windows, but also offers the option to switch to the full version for free. And by doing so, the Go offers the functionality of a standard PC, including running photo editing software, anywhere and everywhere.
9. iPad Mini (2019)
The best iPad for photo editing on the go
Specifications
Weight: 300.5g
Dimensions: 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1mm
OS: iOS 12
Screen size: 7.9-inch LED
Resolution: 2048 x 1536
CPU: A12 Bionic chip
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 64/256GB
Battery life: Up to 9 hours
Reasons to buy
+Compact design +Good battery life +Affordable
Reasons to avoid
-Lacks power
Ok so we know that makes three iPads in this list, but each of these devices offer something slightly different and therefore all are worth consideration.
The latest iPad Mini is a good option if you spend a lot of time traveling. The lightest device on this list, it weighs just under 300g, so it will fit in almost any camera bag and you'd barely notice it's there.
The cheapest iPad option on the list, it also has the smallest screen size of all the tablets we've mentioned – but what a small but beautiful display it is. There's enough power in the Mini to run the mobile version of Lightroom comfortably and, like the iPad Air, support for the Apple Pencil makes the Mini well worth considering.
10. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3
The best tablet for photo editing in rugged conditions
Specifications
Weight: 429g
Dimensions: 09.9 x 126.8 x 213.8mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 8-inch
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
CPU: Exynos 9810
Storage: 64GB
microSD slot: Yes
Rear camera: 13 MP (f/1.9)
Front camera: 5 MP (f/2.2)
Reasons to buy
+Water resistant +Drop proof +Can use with gloves on
Reasons to avoid
-Not the fastest performer
Do you do a lot of photo editing on the fly, while out on location? Are those locations often cold, wet and windswept? Then you need a rugged-ish tablet that'll withstand a few bumps and raindrops. We recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3. It's IP68 rated water-resistant, drop-proof to 1.5m drop resistance and comes with a replaceable battery. You also get an S Pen, and you can even use the touchscreen with gloves on.
11. Samsung Galaxy Tab A (10.1-inch)
The best cheap Samsung tablet for photo editing
Specifications
Weight: 458g
Dimensions: 149 x 245 x 8mm
OS: Android 9.0, upgradable to Android 11
Screen size: 10.1-inch
Resolution: 1200 x 1920
CPU: Exynos 7904
Storage: 32GB
microSD slot: Yes
Rear camera: 8MP (f/2.0)
Front camera: 5 MP (f/2.2)
Reasons to buy
+Great value +Nicely designed +Perfect for light use
Reasons to avoid
-Low powered overall
If you just want to do some basic photo editing – using a lightweight, free app for example – you don't necessarily need a top-of-the-range tablet. So here's one that might suit a more limited budget. Released in 2019, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A is a fairly basic device, but has a nice 10.1-inch screen, and offers pretty decent performance for the price.
Be warned: you shouldn't expect to run any resource-intensive software on this budget tablet. But if you want something mainly for things like checking emails and watching Netflix, and occasionally want to do a bit of light photo editing, this offers excellent value for money.
Choosing the best tablet for photo editing
Just because a tablet has some impressive numbers and a slick design, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's the best tablet for photo editing. There are a few features that you'll want to keep an eye out for, including the size of the screen and its resolution. You'll also want to make sure that the quality of the screen and its color accuracy is assured.
One important aspect to consider is the tablet's battery life. There's nothing more frustrating than sitting down to edit, only to realize that you've only got a few minutes of charge left. You'll also want to consider how much the tablet weighs and whether it'll fit into your camera bag.
Most crucially, you'll need to consider whether the device you're looking at is capable of powering your favorite photo editing software without any risk of unnecessary lagging. Also, be aware that not every app is available for every OS, and if it is, not all the tools you're used to may be available.
Photoshop, for example, is available for Windows and iPad, but the latter version is less powerful and feature rich. For Android, meanwhile, there's an even more scaled-down version in the form of Photoshop Express. With Affinity Photo, meanwhile, the Windows and iOS versions are pretty interchangeable, but there's no Android app.
Read more:
• The best iPads for photo editing
• The best phablets
• The best portable monitors
• The best monitors for photographers
• Best graphics tablets for photo editing
• The best photo-editing laptops
• The best desktop computers for photo editing
• Best laptop stands
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Photo Editing On Surface Pro 7
Source: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-tablets-for-photo-editing
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