Tabs made a comeback of sorts at the beginning of this decade as WFH and then hybrid work models became the norm. According to Statista, the global revenue of tablets is likely to hit $54.98 billion and then grow annually by 1.74% (CAGR) until 2028. It’s a modest growth projection and yet it’s a clear sign that tabs are here to stay even as the average screen size of our smartphones continues to grow.
We’re seeing a slew of launches in the sub-Rs 35,000 segment, where brands have upped their productivity game. From keyboards to stylus pens, there’s a whole bunch of accessories that are being designed for tabs to help you get stuff done. Are these tabs ready to replace your laptop? I’m still undecided – even though this feature has been typed on a tab keyboard near a departure gate of the Mumbai Airport. Many of these tabs might actually work for a day business trip or a short holiday when you need to work occasionally. Unless your work flows involve Excel spreadsheets loaded with data or crafting elaborate PowerPoint decks, they might even work as an everyday work machine. They’re also great for those binge-watch sessions and gaming marathons, thanks to immersive, ultra-smooth displays.
OnePlus Pad
It’s the brand’s first foray into the tablet segment and comes in a beautiful shade of green. OnePlus opts for a unique 7:5 ratio screen in an effort to create a book-like experience for the best reading experience. OnePlus calls it the world’s first 7:5 144Hz ‘Read Fit’ display; the 11.4-inch LCD display is one of the highlights of this tab that’s propelled by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor and comes in a choice of hardware options – 8GB/128GB or 12GB/256GB.
Price: Rs 35,999 (after a cashback)
Apple iPad 9th Generation
The entry level iPad offers the best of the iPad OS experience that has improved the productivity capabilities of the iPad over the past few years with support for accessories like the smart keyboard. You also get access to countless apps that have been specifically designed for the iPad and an ultra-wide cam with the Centre Stage experience for video calls. Apple doubles the storage for the base variant - it’s now 64GB
Price: Rs 33,900
Xiaomi Pad 6
Xiaomi makes a serious productivity pitch for its latest tablet with optional accessories (sold separately) like the Pad 6 keyboard and the second gen smart pen. The Pad 6 comes with MIUI for Pad, Xiaomi’s tab-specific OS that offers a better multi-tasking experience with split screens and floating windows. It’s ready for play, thanks to a 11-inch 2.8K display (2880 x 1800 pixels / 309 PPI) with a 144Hz refresh rate that’s backed by a robust 8840 battery
Price: Rs 26,999
Lenovo Tab M10 5G
Lenovo’s all-new sub-Rs 30K tab is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset. It features a 10.61-inch LCD display (1200 x 2000 pixels) that peaks at 400 nits of brightness and offers excellent visibility even if you’re scrolling through a graphic novel under direct sunlight. Lenovo keeps the heft under 500gms despite a dependable 7700 mAh battery that offers up to 12 hours of uninterrupted video streaming.
Price: Rs 24,999
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
The Tab S7 FE offers a premium tab experience at a slightly more affordable price tag. One of the headline features of this tab is it’s massive 12.4-inch display (2560 x 1600 pixels) with vivid colours. At it’s heart is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor that powers both hardware variants (both come with expandable storage). The tab offers quite a few productivity-friendly features like Multi-Active Window, that makes multi-tasking easier.
Price: Rs 31,499 onwards
Realme Pad X
One of the talking points of this tab is Realme’s UI 3.0 for Pad that offers split screen functionality for easier multi-tasking. We also approve of the slinky form – it’s just 7.1mm thin and will slip into your slimmest portfolio bags. This despite a large 10.95-inch display and a solid 8,340mAh battery in the mix. The tab comes in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 5G options. It’s powered by a Snapdragon 6nm processor, the top-end variant comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
Price: Rs 18,999
