The Best Tablet for Photo Editing is a perfect inclusion to your workflow. If you like editing your pictures while on your travel or outside your office, then they are a must-have.
With the many brands and types of tablets available, choosing the best one for you is not easy. You may find it difficult to decide the perfect one for you between Apple iPads, Samsung, Windows, or even Amazon Fire HD tablets.
After testing different brands and types of tablets, we found Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inches to be our top pick. Powerful features and a long battery life set it apart from the rest. Unfortunately, it is an expensive tablet and may not be available for everyone.
If you prefer a cheaper Android tablet that almost matches up to the iPad Pro, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra. Although it is not as good as the iPad Pro, it takes the spot as the Android tablet available.
We have also included other brands of tablets such as Windows tablets and also highlighted your cheapest options. Most photographers and professional designers use Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom to edit photos.
Top 6 best tablets for photo editing and Photography
| Best tablet for editing photos | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 |
| Best Android Tablet | Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra |
| Best Windows Tablet | Microsoft Surface Pro 9 |
| Affordable iPad | Apple iPad 10.5 |
| Best tablet for photography | Apple iPad Air |
| Cheap Tablet | Amazon Fire 10 HD |
| Best drawing tablet for photo editing | Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inches: Best tablet for editing photos
- Screen size: 12.9 inches
- Resolution: 2732 × 2048 Pixels
- Liquid Retina display technology.
- Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
- Brightness: 16 nits brightness
- Pencil: Apple Pencil 2
- OS: iPad OS
- RAM: 8 GB to 16 GB RAM
- Storage: 128 GB to 2 TB
- Battery: 10 hours
- Cameras: 12 MP Wide and 10 MP Ultra Wide rear cameras plus 12 MP Front camera.
Apple iPad is one of the most recommended tablet for photo editing and Photography. It packs enough power to seamlessly run any photo or video editing software without any lags or hanging.
The iPad Pro is a premium level tablet and will not come cheap. If you are not on a budget, the Apple iPad Pro is a perfect choice. Its
It comes with a large 12.9 inches screen size and very high at 2732 × 2048 Pixels resolution with liquid Retina display technology.
This screen has a high 120 Hz refresh rate and up to 16 nits brightness. A fast refresh rate ensures you can use the tablet for gaming without any display issues. Additionally, high screen brightness means that you can both use the iPad Pro in high and low light situations.
For fast processing, the iPad Pro features a powerful modern Apple M2 chip processor and 8 GB to 16 GB RAM. The 8 GB option will be perfect for editing photos while the 16 GB option is best for editing videos.
If you prefer using a keyboard with your tablet or stylus pen for drawing or writing, the iPad Pro features easy Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard compatibility. Unfortunately these 2 accessories are bought separate adding to its overall price.
You will have 128 GB to 2 TB of storage space but you can not expandable the storage space using an external memory card like on Android tablets.
Pros
- Large screen
- Fast Processor
- High-Quality Liquid Retina Screen Display
- 4K Camera Recording
- Apple iPad Pro does not need a computer
Cons
- Pen Comes separately
- Expensive
Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra: The Best Android Tablet for Photo Editing
- Screen Size: 14.6-inch
- Resolution: 1848 x 2960 pixels
- AMOLED Screen
- Processor: Gen 2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8
- RAM: 12 GB / 16 GB
- Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
- Expandable Storage
- Comes with free S Pen
- Battery: 10 hours
If you are looking for an affordable tablet that overcomes the iPads limitations but maintains a reasonable budget and performance, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra.
First, the tablet comes with a huge 2X AMOLED 14.6-inch screen size and 1848 x 2960 screen resolution. This is larger than the Apple iPad Pro screen. However, it is not as clear.
The Galaxy S9 Ultra comes with a free S Pen and free Nibs for replacement. It is also compatible with Samsun Tablet DAX mode, a system used to combine Samsung tablets with keyboard to instantly become writing tablets.
The processing power is good and adequate for Photoshop, Lightroom, and most other photo editing applications. This is made possible by Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 8 to 16 GB RAM.
The Apple iPad Pro with its M2 chip has for long been the most powerful iPad. However, if you’re looking for more power and performance, the new M4 chip produced in 2024 on the iPad Pro 13 and iPad Pro 11 M4 is the most powerful iPad available.
For those who need a budget-friendly option, we recommend the iPad Air with its M1 chip which is slower but equally versatile and good for any photo editing tasks
Like the iPad Pro, the battery life stands at 10 hours. However S9 Ultra features lower brightness levels at 300 nits compared to Apple’s up to 650 nits to 1000 nits. This is however only important if you are working outside and in high-light areas.
Overall this is a premium-level tablet that packs great features for many tasks such as photo editing. The iPad Pro’s liquid Retina display provides bright and high color accuracy, which is perfect for adjusting and editing even 4K resolution images.
Pros
- Large Clear Super AMOLED Screen
- Powerful Processor and RAM
- Best iPad Alternative
- Long Battery Life
- Compatible with Pen and Keboard
Cons
- Expensive
- Low Brightness Levels
- Lacks 3.5 mm Jack
- Keboard bought separate
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Best Windows Tablet for Photo Editing
- Screen size: 13-inch
- Resolution: 2880×1920 Pixels
- Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i5 – i7
- OS: Windows 11
- RAM: 8 / 16 / 32 GB
- Storage: 128 GB – 1 TB
- Battery life: 16 hours
If you prefer a 2 in 1 laptop tablet option, Microsoft has for years made the best. The new Microsoft Surface Pro 9 takes the spot for top Windows editing tablet.
Although it packs powerful specs, it is not so different form the older Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro 8 which are way cheaper.
The Surface Pro runs a full Windows 11 operating system and can run full versions of all the good software that photographers use, including Lightroom and Photoshop.
To run such complezx software, it features a powerful Intel Core i7 processor with a core i5 option which is slower but still good. Other Surface Pro 9 versions also come with the native Microsoft SQ 3 processor which is not at all bad.
This tablet is versatile and multipurpose. It features 8, 16 and 32 GB RAM options which make sure you can edit photos, play games and edit videos without issues.
The tablet holds down pretty nicely into what they call studio mode which makes it easy for you to have a little bit of a rise to it so that when you are retouching on images or something else it becomes easy.
The screen looks great and it is 2880×1920 Pixels at 13.3 inches in size. The overall 2 in 1 laptop tablet build quality of the surface line in general is fantastic for photo editing. A great addition is the USB port that a lot of people have been asking for.
Older Surface Pros were using Intel’s 10th and 8th generation processor but in this new version we see a jump up to the 12th generation.
Surface Pro 9 features a long 16 hours battery life of continuous video watching which is longer than an 8 hours full working day. The iPad Pro is a premium level tablet and will come at a higher price point. The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 on the other hand, offers a more affordable tablet that does not compromise on essential photo editing capabilities. This makes it a perfect budget tablet option for both beginners and creative professionals.
Pros
- The Surface Pro has a fast processing speed.
- Long 16 hours battery life
- Large RAM
- High resolution screen
- Touch sensitive 2 in 1 laptop tablet display
Cons
- The pen and keyboard are at an extra cost.
- The tablet has no Thunderbolt 3
- Most features are available in the cheaper Surface Pro 8 and 7.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 – Best Midrange photo edit tablet
- Screen Size: 11 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600 Pixels
- AMOLED screen
- Processor: Snapdragon 865+
- RAM: 6 / 8 GB
- Internal Storage: 128 / 256 GB
- Connectivity: Dual sim, 3G, 4G,5G Wi-Fi
- OS: Android 10
- Connectivity: USB-C Port
The Galaxy Tab S7 is without a doubt the best tablet running on an Android operating system and one of the most formidable competitors of the iPad Pro. It features a 11 Inches super AMOLED screen along with a 120-hertz refresh so you will still get to experience superb video clarity that flows like butter.
You will get a PC lag experience with the snap of a keyboard and can use the ultra-low latency S pen to write and move photos around the screen like never before after you are done with your sketches, snap it magnetically onto the back of the tablet where it charges wirelessly.
Samsung tab comes in a Wi-Fi-only version and is powered by the Qualcomm snapdragon 865 plus which is backed with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of built-in memory ensuring there is enough storage for all your photos, videos, and apps making it interesting when it comes to video editing.
There is also an 8-megapixel front-facing camera and a dual camera set up at the back that is capable of recording videos at 4k.
Pros
- Tab 7 has a solid processor and RAM
- The tablet has a high-quality camera
- Expandable storage.
Cons
- The tab has LCD instead of OLED
- Expensive
Apple iPad Air: Best tablet for photography
- Screen size:10.9-inch
- Resolution: 2360 x 1640 pixels
- Operating System: iPad OS 14
- RAM: 3 GB
- Processor: Apple M1 chip
- Storage Space: 64 GB / 256 GB
- Non expandable Storage
- Cameras:12 MP front and rear cameras with dual pixel PDAF
Apple’s new iPad Air is a more affordable but still highly capable option with its 10.9-inch retina display good for photo editing. A lot of attention has gone to this new model powered by Apple’s A12 chip, it’s less powerful than the older Apple versions but it is still able to run photo editing software comfortably.
The processing power and RAM are quite impressive storage when you consider it is working on a device that weighs less than half a kilo and is just six millimeters thick. There is as you would expect less RAM in the tablet still a respectable 3 gigabytes and 256 GB storage to play.
The iPad Air has a long-lasting battering 28.6-hour battery that will give you up to 10 hours of runtime for your day-to-day run. Furthermore, the Apple pencil creates more possibilities and greater efficiency as you can write notes and draw.
The iPad Air is not only good in performance but also comes with a high-resolution rear camera, for taking photos and videos in crisp and clear quality. The front camera is also clear and good for web conferencing.
Pros
- Super fast processing speed
- Solid build quality.
- Easily portable
- Compatible with Apple Pencil 2
Cons
- Storage capacity cannot be upgraded
- No 3.5 mm jack
- Pencil bought separate
Apple iPad – Best iPad for Photoshop
- Screen size: 10.5-inch
- Resolution: 2360 x 1620 pixels
- Operating System: iPad OS 16.1
- Processor: A14 Bionic
- Storage Space: 64GB / 256GB No expandable Slot
- Cameras: 12 MP Rear 12 MP front camera
With a 10.5-inch retina display a screen resolution of 2360 x 1620 pixels, and amazing color accuracy. This is one of the best tablets for most photographers and artists alike.
You can comfortably use the tablet for 10 hours with just one charge. It has a slim design which means it will not take up a lot of space in your bag thus making it convenient for getting jobs done on the go.
The tablet has also the Apple app which has various features with over 100 different photo editing apps such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom that allow you to easily sync your work from your desktop or computer, is engineered for both performance and responsiveness and it has a great processor and decent storage.
Pros
- Bright and high-resolution displays.
- The iPad has excellent battery life.
Cons
- No SD card slot for photo transfer.
- Expensive compared to earlier Apple versions.
Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium: best drawing tablet for photo editing
- Product Dimensions: 12.61 x 9.16 x 0.3 in / 320.5 x 232.85 x 8mm
- Working area size: 10.33” x 5.8”
- Resolution: No screen
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Pen: Tilt Sensitive, Battery-free
- Pen Pressure: 8192 levels
- Weight: 5 Pounds
- Ports: USB-C to USB-A, Wireless Dongle
First, the back is made of hard plastic with an aluminum-like feel that is hard and sturdy. This goes a long way to make it durable and strong. The Xencelabs Pen Tablet is also sleek and surprisingly thin and only weighs 4.49 pounds which is light enough to carry around.
The tablet layout is artist-friendly and comes with a physical shortcut button remote not having them cluttered on your screen area.
Under the engraved product logo, you have 3 buttons and that is all that appears on the device. One will bring up tablet settings, switch the display, and finally the last one to adjust the pen pressure.
The remote comes with 4 modes that can be easily set with a simple dial to memorize. You can set up to 40 custom keyboard shortcuts on the remote that can speed up your workflow.
The bottom grooves on each side make picking the tablet easy even when on a flat table surface. This level of attention to detail and concentration on the simple improvement of user experience is by far unmatched in other brand devices even more expensive.
The screen is slightly below 13 inches with an active 10.33” x 5.8” Active area and some reasonably sized bezels. Bezels refer to the area not covered by the screen along the edges of the front side. The 12.62 x 9.17 x 0.31-inch size is also not too big and not too small, so it’s perfect to use and move around.
The screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio, the same in proportion to a normal laptop. However, if you prefer a smaller laptop screen, you can opt for the Xencelabs Pen Tablet small option.
In terms of drawing surface texture, Wacom Intuos has been an industry standard for a very long time. Finally, a worthy competitor in the form of the Xencelabs Pen Tablet has come up with an excellent paper-like feel when drawing.
The Xencelabs is not a standalone tablet and does not have a computer to store software. It also lacks a screen and needs a computer connected to use. Although it is a cheap pen tablet, it is a premium product and offers a great user experience for both beginners and professionals and will give other similarly priced tablets a run for their money.
When it comes to the Pen, this tablet matches up to the Apple Pen and Wacom Pen 2 which are considered industry standard.
The tablet comes with 2 wireless stylus pens that do not need to connect to charge. One is thick with 3 customizable buttons while the other one is thinner and smoother without any buttons. Additionally, they have decent 8192 pen pressure levels that feel great as you draw.
Just like pro pens, they also have tilt recognition and an eraser, plus good pressure sensitivity. The 2 pens come in a nice plastic case that has a case and a wireless USB dongle inside to keep them safe. You can’t easily misplace them.
Both pens are ergonomically shaped like normal pens, creating a natural feel. The thick pen’s buttons increase the grip and pen mass. If you have sweaty hands, you will get a free glove in the box to use.
A great pen and screen will result in the creation of quality strokes and overall great art. As mentioned earlier, you will get a nice Pen holder to store your 2 pens and USB dongle.
Whether you prefer a wired or a wireless connection, this tablet works on both. The tablet Connection works from a single USB-C for the tablet side and connects to the USB A cable end that connects to your computer.
This cable comes with the tablet. For a wireless connection, just take the USB dongle from your case and connect it to use a wireless connection.
What you get in the Box
- XencelabsPen Tablet
- 2 Stylus Pens
- Pen case
- Drawing glove and Storage Bag sleeve
- USB Wireless dongle
- USB-A to USB-C CABLE
- Remote dial control
Pros
- Affordable Price for a Premium Tablet
- Many additional freebies
- Durable body
- Large textured 16:9 screen
- Both wired and wireless connection
- Premium Pen
- Many customizable shortcut Keys
- Slim lightweight
Cons
- Not a standalone tablet
- No Display
Amazon Fire 10 HD: Cheap Tablet for Photo editing
- Screen size: 10-inch
- Resolution: 1920 x 1200 Pixels
- Processor: Mediatek Quad Core
- RAM: 2 GB
- Storage: 32 / 64GB Expandable to 512 GB
- Battery life: 10 hours
- OS: FireOS
If you are on a budget the Amazon Fire 10 HD from Amazon is for you. This cheap tablet features a 10 inch screen and Full HD 1920 x 1200 Pixels resolution.
You will have a long 10 hours battery life and 32 / 64 GB storage space which is small but can be expanded to 512 GB using a MicroSD card slot.
Unfortunately, the 2 GB RAM on this tablet will be slow and result to Lags. We recommend 8 GB RAM and above for editing Photos seamlessly. The Fire 10 HD features a FireOS this is another downside.
Although it works perfectly with Alexa and Amazon App Store, it will have problems with Google Play store applications.
Pros
- Affordable Price
- Full HD resolution
- Alexa and Amazon Store compatible
- Expandable storage to 512 GB
Cons
- Low RAM
- Poor Google Play Store application compatibility
How to choose the best Tablet for Photo Editing.
Just because a tablet packs powerful features, it does not necessarily mean it has to be good for photo editing or video editing. Some specific features set it apart and allow it to carry out this purpose effectively.
First, the screen size and resolution are very important. This will affect how you will view your work and overall working area. A large and comfortable working area is preferable over smaller ones. The color gamut or color accuracy also needs to be good for quality output of work.
Photo editing is a system-intense process and requires powerful software to be done. Make sure that your tablet is powerful enough to comfortably run whichever editing software you like using without lags.
For this, you need to check the RAM, Operating system, and processor. Large RAM preferably from 8 GB will make sure your tablet does not lag as you work.
Choose a modern processor and operating system that you are comfortable working with. Older processors may not be compatible with new versions of software such as Photoshop CC.
Raw photo files may be too big and occupy lots of storage space. If you like saving your files in your tablet memory instead of an external memory source, you need to consider the storage space. Choose a tablet with a large storage volume or one that can be expanded using an external MicroSD card.
Top 3 Tablets for Photo Editing
| Feature | iPad Pro Best Overall | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra Best Android | Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Best Windows Tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 12.9 inches | 14.6 inches | 13 inches |
| Resolution | 2732 × 2048 pixels | 1848 × 2960 pixels | 2880 × 1920 pixels |
| Display Technology | Liquid Retina display | AMOLED | PixelSense™ Flow Display |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | Up to 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 930 nits | 450 nits |
| Stylus | Apple Pencil 2 | Free S Pen | Microsoft Classroom Pen 2 and Microsoft Business Pen |
| Processor | M2 Chip | Gen 2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 | 12th Gen Intel Core i5 – i7 |
| Operating System | iPadOS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, One UI | Windows 11 |
| RAM | 8 GB to 16 GB | 12 GB / 16 GB | 8 / 16 / 32 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB to 2 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB – 1 TB |
| Expandable Storage | No | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 10 hours | 10 hours | 16 hours |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Related Content:
Frequently Asked Questions About Tablets for Photo Editing
Can tablets replace laptops for photo editing?
Yes, Many new tablets pack very powerful specifications and can be used as perfect video and photo editing laptop alternatives. Tablets that are compatible with keyboards make it possible to use tablets just like you would laptops only with better functionality such as touch sensitivity.
What tablet can I use for editing photos?
The 6 tablets discussed in this article are perfect for Photo edits. However, for the best user experience, we recommend the iPad Pro or Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra.