Tablet Review 2023

Tablets have been extremely popular for years. The tall ones Smartphones offering better battery life, clear larger screens and improved sound. Whether for work, watching videos or just browsing. tablets are versatile devices where it numerous differences should be noted. In this TechWatch In this comparison, we take a close look at five tablets from well-known manufacturers and try to find out which device is the best. Can the affordable Amazon Fire HD 10 hold its own against the more expensive competition from Apple and Samsung?

What is important when it comes to tablets

A tablet is a flat computer, usually and unlike laptops, without a mechanical keyboard. These are universal devices. Most users use the tablets for consuming media or browsing the internet. Competing products are mainly smartphones, which are getting bigger and bigger these days. While at the time of the first iPhone a screen diagonal of 4 inches was considered extremely large, manufacturers such as Samsung are offering devices with 9 inches with the S6,2+. That's not that far off from the tablets in our review. 2 in 1 notebooks are also becoming increasingly popular. These are laptops that have a touchscreen and can be folded down. The keyboard disappears on the back and a slightly thicker tablet is created. All the advantages of a tablet computer are only available with the original. Before you buy, however, you should consider a few important aspects:

iOS vs Android – Which operating system should it be?

Android or iOS - a discussion for eternity. Although we are more inclined towards robots, we try to stay out of this debate and objectively work out the advantages and disadvantages of the respective operating systems. From the outset, it can be said that users who already own several Apple devices should continue to use iOS devices. In our opinion, the biggest advantage of the Apple ecosystem is the linking of the various devices with each other. This connection is also possible with Android devices, but not nearly as smoothly. The reason for this is the sheer number of manufacturers working with Android. The operating system serves as a basis for many producers, which is further adapted in the course of development. Whether TouchWiz for Samsung or EMUI for Huawei, these systems often only have distant similarities with pure Android. In addition, one of Apple's greatest strengths is keeping users connected to their systems. Whether with iMessage, Apple Music or the iCloud - once you have used the full range of the Americans, it will be difficult to get rid of it. And that although Android often has equivalent or better solutions ready. The biggest advantage of the Google operating system is the freedom to do almost anything you want with your own device. New launchers, different keyboards, completely new ROM à la CyanogenMod? No problem. Ultimately, the test shows an often overlooked advantage of the Android operating system. In principle, the choice of devices is limitless. While Apple disciples have to choose between iPad, iPad Mini and iPad Pro, Android users have hundreds, if not thousands, of products to choose from.

Whatever your choice, in the end it will almost certainly be a good one. However, that could change in the next section.

4G or WiFi – For on the go or just at home?

An enormously important point for first-time buyers is the question of whether the new tablet should also be used on the go. Because the fact is that a tablet computer, much like a Smartphone, is almost nonsensical without the internet. So if you don't prepare well and want to download videos, music or articles before leaving the house, you should choose a tablet with a SIM slot (often also referred to as an LTE or Cellular Data variant). A commercially available SIM card from any provider can then be inserted. There are special tariffs for tablets that do not require telephone and SMS options, starting at 10 euros per month. 

Of course, all this only applies to people who leave the house. Within your own four walls, the in-house WLAN takes care of the data supply. An additional tariff and a SIM card slot is then not necessary. The good news: With the exception of the Amazon Fire HD 10, all devices are available with WLAN or LTE versions. The LTE variants are all about 50 euros more expensive. Only Apple demands almost 160 euros more. A pity.

The products in the tablet comparison

This series of tests is a special feature of our approach. There are no individual tests for the different products. All the information is in this large comparison article. Therefore we take a short time to introduce the tablets.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is another edition of the South Koreans' successful line of tablets. With 9,68 inches and a thickness of just 0,6 centimeters, the Tab S3 is the thinnest device in our comparison. The included S Pen is one of the best pens on the market. Writing, precise drawing and even painting pictures is easily possible with the stylus. In addition, the great implementation in the operating system ensures sensible use of the S Pen.

Apple iPad 2020

The Apple iPad 2020 is the fifth generation of the extremely popular tablet division of the Americans. Apple installed their then current A9 chip and thus ensures sufficient performance. The 9,7-inch iPad has a resolution of 2048 x 1536, which is on par with Samsung's Tab 3. The two tablets can therefore be compared very well.

Huawei MediaPad M3

Although the Huawei MediaPad M3 is a few months older than the first two tablets, it is an interesting alternative in terms of dimensions. At 8,4 inches, the Huawei is significantly smaller and feels a little better in the hand. In addition, the tablet weighs only 324 grams. 

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus

The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus shares the name with the very popular line of laptops from the Microsoft brand. The 10,1-inch tablet has the necessary flexibility thanks to the integrated stand. Where other devices need a case, the Lenovo Yoga can be easily placed. In addition, the tablet convinces with four speakers on the front. This could make the device the ideal TV replacement for on the go.

Amazon Fire HD 10

Ultimately, the Amazon Fire HD 10 offers a lot of Amazon for little money. With a price of just under €170, nobody expects a potential test winner here. However, the Fire HD 10 should be able to do everything a tablet needs to be able to do. Maybe just not as good as the competition. At least in terms of size, the Amazon Fire is top notch. At 10,1 inches, it shares first place with the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus. Anyone who pays attention to money and uses the well-known Amazon services may be right here. Prime members can save an additional €20 when purchasing via Amazon.de. It can therefore be assumed that most potential buyers can buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 for less than €150.

The criteria of the tablet test

Before each test series, we define the criteria with which we compare the tested products. This allows you to find out which aspects are valued to what extent and why. In the case of tablets, one point stands out right from the start: the displays of the devices are crucial. We therefore pay attention to the resolution, pixel density and brightness of the tablets. We have also picked up a new trend. The little brothers of tablet computers, the smartphones, are leading the way and are losing frames on the front from year to year. We therefore calculate the display/body ratio of the devices to find out what the ratio between the screen and the frame is. We also record the performance of the products. With GeekBench, AnTuTu and 3DMark we use three of the leading benchmarking programs to draw the broadest possible performance picture. Here are differences between the processors and graphics Cards of the devices clearly.

We avoid the eternal dispute between iOS and Android and, under the point of software, primarily evaluate the topicality and the appearance of the software. In addition, we check the existing assistants of the devices. After all, three of the four best-known systems are available in our product field, only Microsoft's Cortana is missing. The sound is almost as important as the display. Therefore, we measure the volume of the devices with our decibel meter. The quality of the loudspeakers is also checked. To put the tablets' batteries to the test, we use the battery test integrated in GeekBench. This measures the runtime of the tablets. At the same time, the program gives a performance rating that is calculated from the runtime and the work done within the runtime. We also measure the charging time and the standby time of the tablet computers.

Although we don't want to admit it, some users run around with their iPads and take pictures of the landscape. Whether it makes sense or not, those who install cameras in their devices must expect that they will be tested. We therefore test the products' cameras in five different scenarios to determine their performance in low light, among other things. Ultimately, we evaluate the materials used, the buttons and the connections of the devices under the workmanship & design category. Expandable memory also gives extra points. These were the criteria of the most comprehensive TechWatch comparison of all time. Let's weigh the individual criteria before our test really starts:

• display (20%)
• Performance (15%)
• Software (15%)
• sounds (15%)
• Battery (15%)
• Camera (10%)
• Workmanship & Design (10%)

Display (20%) – Who shines brighter?

The display is the most important interface between the device and the user. And the display is particularly important for tablets, which are primarily used for consuming media or browsing the Internet. In terms of resolution, the Huawei M3 and the Lenovo Yoga are equally convincing. With a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, the two devices are well ahead of the Apple iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 with 2048 x 1536. The Amazon Fire HD 10 is in last place with 1920 x 1200. As a result, the Huawei M3 with 359 ppi (pixels per inch) also has the highest pixel density. However, individual pixels cannot be identified on any tablet. Almost all manufacturers use IPS (in-plane switching) panels as a basis. They ensure great viewing angles, vivid colors and good contrast values. Only Samsung uses their typical Super AMOLED display. The viewing angle stability is also pleasing here. However, the colors of the Galaxy Tab S3 appear unnatural and too saturated. The saturation cannot be reduced in the settings, so there is no vivid color mode. We like the other models much better here.

Above all, the Huawei MediaPad M3. The display of the Chinese is by far the sharpest in comparison. The colors look natural and the M3 has the best display/case rate of 76,4%. Huawei only has to take a lot in terms of brightness. The iPad 5 achieves an almost 454% higher brightness with a value of 20 cd/m², closely followed by the Lenovo Yoga with 452 cd/m². The Amazon Fire HD 10 takes last place with 252 cd/m². You don't need a measuring device to tell the difference. The Fire HD 10 is clearly dimmer than the other devices. Very few users will be satisfied with the display in direct sunlight. But it's enough for a relaxed movie night in bed. If you're looking for the sharpest display, you'll have to go for the Huawei MediaPad M3.

IPS or In-Plane-Switching is a further development of LCD displays. The electrons lying in a plane below the display surface are rotated horizontally when excited. Due to the design, IPS offers significantly better viewing angle stability compared to conventional LCDs that work with TN panels, for example. In addition, IPS displays offer better color reproduction.

Performance (15%) – You can't live without it

The performance of the tablets depends on the installed processors and graphics cards. In addition, the capacity of the RAM also plays a role. However, this is highly dependent on the operating system. Apple usually uses a smaller storage unit because iOS gets by with it thanks to intelligent optimization. To check the performance of the devices, we use so-called benchmarks. These are apps that process different tasks and measure how quickly or how effectively the tested tablets process them. At the end, the programs give an evaluation that can be compared. Finally, we also check the start time of the tablets. In the first benchmark GeekBench, the Huawei M3 with the Kirin 950 processor was able to convince. While in the single core test the iPad is still above the M2541 with 3 with 1655, the Chinese surpass Apple in the multi core score with 5729 to 4475. This is because the MediaPad M3 has a quad core while the Apple iPad has a dual core have to get by. The Huawei has the strongest processor, followed by Apple in second place and Samsung in third place. The South Koreans use the well-known Snapdragon 3 in their Galaxy Tab S820, which was also used in the Galaxy S7 and LG G5. Surprisingly, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is second to last with a 3055 in the multi-core score, ahead of the Lenovo Yoga with a 2650.

In the AnTuTu benchmark, not only the CPU but also the graphics performance of the devices are taken into account. It can be observed that the lead of the Huawei MediaPad M3 is decreasing. With 132523, it is just under 7% above the Apple iPad with 124433. The Galaxy Tab S3 is in third place with 114380. Lenovo and Amazon swap places, but with 94101 and 78570 they are far away from the other devices. 

Ultimately, the 3DMark Sling Shot benchmark determines which tablet is most suitable for gamers. The test prioritizes graphics performance and immediately leads to different results. Samsung is now at the top of the product field with 3354, followed by Apple with 2900. Huawei only achieves a value of 1375 and is just ahead of the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus with 1322. The Amazon Fire HD 10 lags behind with 698. But where do the serious differences in the results of the various benchmarks come from? Huawei installs a Mali T3 as graphics card in the M880. However, the chip released in 2015 cannot keep up with the somewhat newer Adreno 530 installed by Samsung. We therefore recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 to gamers and other users whose future tablet is intended to perform GPU-intensive tasks. 

In matters random access memory Samsung and Huawei are in first place with four gigabytes of memory each. The Lenovo Yoga comes with a capacity of three gigabytes. The remaining devices each have two gigabytes RAM. The speed of the internal memory is what counts most when it comes to the start time. Here the iPad beats every other device with 18 seconds. The Huawei comes second and third with 22 seconds and the Amazon Fire 10 HD with 26 seconds. Lenovo and Samsung bring up the rear with 28 and 29 seconds.

Software (15%) – Any way you want it

No matter what the camps of the two major operating systems claim: nowadays it actually makes no difference whether you use iOS or Android. In principle, both operating systems offer every imaginable app in their app stores, both systems are programmed without errors and work exactly as planned. Which system you want to use is completely up to you. As already written in the introduction, we tend to orient ourselves to the existing devices. Anyone who already owns several Apple devices should stick with it and vice versa. As Android users, we initially had a hard time with the iPad's gesture control. After a while, however, the whole thing runs smoothly. In the product field, however, there is a small busybody. The Fire HD 10 is based on Android 5.0, but Amazon has given it its own interface. And of course it is designed for the well-known Amazon services. Books, music, videos, games and shopping - everything from a single source. It should be clear that there is no escape here. Anyone who buys a Fire device binds themselves to Amazon or is wasting their time. It's even possible to save some money and go for the "special offers" version. In fact, these are ads that appear on the home and lock screens. If you have had enough of it, you can also switch to the normal version afterwards. The change costs 20 euros. By default, the Amazon Fire HD 10 does not have a Play Store but the Amazon App Store. Here you will find most of the important apps like Spotify and the like. However, not nearly as many applications as in Google Play or the App Store. Fortunately, that can be changed.

Install Google Play Store on Amazon Fire 10 HD

To install the Google Play Store on your Amazon device, all you really need is the right files.

1. First enable installation from unknown sources in your device's settings. You can find the setting under Settings > Personal > Security > Advanced > "Apps from Unknown Sources".
2. Download the installation files. You need a pack program that can unpack RAR files (e.g. WinRAR). You find the files here.
3. Installs the included apps in the following order: GoogleLoginService.apk > GoogleServicesFramework.apk > com.google.android… > com.android.vending…
4. You may need to turn your device's screen off and on again to continue the installation.
5. After installation, the Google Play Store is fully installed and can be used on your Amazon Fire device.

Now all apps from the Google Play Store can be installed on the Amazon tablet. This was necessary, for example, to carry out all our benchmarks, since only GeekBench 3 was available in the Amazon store.

The assistants as a criterion

Since the operating systems offer hardly any options for differentiation, we have to go a step further to evaluate the devices. Every tablet has a virtual assistant. Android comes with the Google Assistant, Amazon with Alexa and the iPad with Siri. The latter shows its age so slowly. Siri was the first of the great assistants and can hardly compete these days. [snippet revid=”2017″ message=”own system” excerpt=”The Amazon Fire HD 10 runs on the basis of Android 5.0, but has its own interface. All major Amazon services such as Video, Music, Kindle and Audible have been implemented. A round thing for Amazon users." affid="2098″]

The lady follows simple definition questions and instructions without any problems. However, even somewhat more complex queries lead to problems. This is always visible when Siri only outputs a Google search. Siri cannot answer contextual questions at all. The Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa work much better and more precisely here. Google in particular can identify a surprising number of connections. So dialogues like "Who is Manuel Neuer" - "How tall is he?" - "Where does he play?" become possible. If you don't value the assistants, you can use any operating system you like. 

Sound (15%) – size matters

For the right cinema experience, the tablet speakers are just as important as the display. We therefore check the volume and sound quality of the devices. And when it comes to sound, a lot helps a lot. The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 have four speakers, giving them an advantage over the competition. The Lenovo even has upward-facing speakers. So the sound comes exactly in the direction of the viewer. Due to the structure of the device, the loudspeakers are not covered by your hands either. A big advantage over Samsung. Here the four speakers are on the sides. This means that at least two speakers are covered when held normally. And in terms of volume, the device from the South Koreans isn't really convincing either. While Lenovo makes full use of its four speakers and is the loudest at 94,2 decibels tablets in comparison is, Samsung ends up in penultimate place with 84 decibels. So the Huawei M3 and Apple iPad are louder with two speakers than the Tab S3 with four. Only the Amazon Fire HD 10 is quieter with 83,6 decibels. Of course, all devices are sufficient for normal listening to music or watching videos. However, keep in mind that an increase of ten decibels is perceived as a doubling of the volume. So the Lenovo is twice as loud as the Amazon Fire tablet.

In terms of audio quality, Lenovo wins again. The sound is powerful and clear, while the other devices struggle with minor problems. The iPad sounds a bit tinny, the Huawei M3 is a bit unclear, but it has a decent bass. The Samsung tablet has less bass and appears a bit dull. If you are looking for a great speaker, you have to go for Lenovo. In combination with the good display and the integrated stand, the Yoga Tab is an ingenious media center.

But maybe the internal speakers aren't an option for you either. Maybe you have a practical Bluetooth headset. Then you are particularly interested in the Bluetooth range of the devices. To test this, we connect the tablets to a Bluetooth speaker and measure the distance until the connection breaks. We did not notice any major differences in most devices. After about 14 meters in a straight line, three of the tablets lost connection with the speaker. The Galaxy Tab S3 made it two meters further. Only the Huawei MediaPad M3 could achieve a clear advantage with 21,7 meters.

Battery (15%) – sprinters versus long runners

And the triumph of the Yoga Tab continues. The Lenovo tablet is also at the top of the scale when it comes to battery capacity with 9300 mAh. The Apple iPad with 8820 mAh is close behind. Last place goes to the Amazon Fire HD 10 with 3830 mAh. Samsung and Huawei are in between with 6000 and 5100 mAh respectively. However, the capacity does not say everything about the true battery performance. Especially with mobile devices, optimizations in the operating system can cause big differences. Therefore, we use the battery test from GeekBench to determine the runtime and the battery score. Unsurprisingly, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus achieves the longest runtime with 10:40:00, closely followed by the Amazon Fire HD 10 with 9:54:00. Exactly, the tablet with the second smallest battery comes in second. However, only in terms of runtime, because the battery score of the Fire tablet shows that the tablet was able to perform significantly less than the other devices over the long runtime. With 3138, the Amazon device is therefore in last place. Lenovo takes first place with 5915, followed by iPad with 5100. Samsung and Huawei follow with 4550 and 4000.

The charging time is just as interesting as the stamina of the devices. Because if a device quickly gets up to speed again, short charging units are enough to make the tablet mobile again. After an hour, the Huawei was in first place with 41%. The Samsung Galaxy Tab follows in second place with 37%. Last place goes to the Lenovo Yoga with 21%. However, this is not surprising due to the large capacity of the device. After two hours, the two devices at the top were able to extend their lead. With 77 and 71%, the Huawei MediaPad and the Tab S3 were well ahead of the following iPad with 57%. Towards the end, the Tab 3 was able to catch up to be the first fully charged device after 3:11:00. Huawei follows with 3:18:20. The Amazon Fire HD 10 was able to achieve 3% after 50:00:100. The Apple iPad took 4:10:30, and the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus fully charged in 5:28:30.

Last but not least, we compare the standby time of the tablets. We leave the devices fully charged for two days. The result of the first-placed device can only surprise. The Apple iPad barely used any power in 48 hours and stayed at 100% charge. Lenovo came in at 96%, Huawei and Samsung at 95% and 94%, respectively. The Amazon Fire lost 14 percentage points over the same period and stayed at 86%.

Camera (10%) – not for the demanding

In order to be able to take a closer look at the tablets' cameras, we recorded the same scenarios with each device. This allowed us to compare the products with each other and determine which tablet takes the best photos. But let's work the field from the back. The Amazon Fire HD 10 can take photos. Nothing more. The quality of the pictures is sub-par. The front camera has a resolution of the old-fashioned 640 x 480 pixels. And the rear lens also shoots with only 2 megapixels. That's not enough to shoot acceptable photos. It lacks sharpness and details. The remaining four devices are much closer together.

The Huawei MediaPad M3 achieves the sharpest image. Samsung's camera achieves the best depth of field. This looks professional and sets the subject apart from the background. The Lenovo camera shoots sharp photos, but drifts towards the bluish and oversaturated. Samsung and the Apple iPad offer the best colors. The brightness and contrast are also the best here. Our low-light scenario reveals clear weaknesses in Lenovo. Here the bright areas break out at the window. Samsung works best here. Huawei and Apple are neat. 

Workmanship & design (10%) - from a single source

During processing, we pay attention to the selected materials and the general quality of the tablets. Two devices immediately stand out from the rest: the Apple iPad and the Huawei MediaPad M3 are made entirely of glass and aluminum. The metal back feels cool and extremely high quality. The Huawei's keys are on the right side and have a comfortable pressure point and noticeable feedback. The controls on the iPad, on the other hand, are a bit recessed and not that easy to press. Both devices offer fingerprint sensors. However, the Huawei's sensor is significantly faster.

The third tablet with a fingerprint sensor is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3. Unlocking works without any problems and there is nothing to complain about in terms of workmanship either. However, Samsung is again using their devilish gloss finish on the back and top of the device. Every touch therefore leaves traces. The whole thing is also prone to scratches. At least the Tab S3 uses a modern USB-C port, just like the Lenovo. Apple sticks with the proprietary Lightning port, Huawei and Amazon use the older Micro USB port.

The low price of the Fire HD 10 is noticeable. The rubberized back just doesn't want to feel real. The buttons are all on the top and feel soft. The only real feedback here is via the screen. Only the volume rocker of the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus is worse here. You really can't feel the buttons at all. There is no resistance and therefore no feedback. Very disappointing. Additionally, the Lenovo lacks a fingerprint sensor. Completely incomprehensible. After all, the tablet's power button is in the frame of the stand. There would have been more than enough space to install a sensor. In the variant we tested, all tablets offer storage space of 32 gigabytes. Not exactly generous. The ability to expand the memory using a micro SD card is therefore essential for power users. Amazon, Huawei and Samsung therefore offer a micro SD slot and can be expanded by up to 256 gigabytes.

Summary of the tablet test

So which tablet should you buy? As always, it depends on you. What do you want to use the tablet for, how much money do you want to spend. We believe that the Huawei MediaPad M3 the best tablet this comparison is. It offers strong performance, a great display, good sound and battery, a powerful camera and perfect workmanship. And that as the second cheapest tablet in the product field. Only gamers should refrain from using the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 or the Apple iPad. If you only want to watch films and series, you can benefit from the great speakers and the great runtime of the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus. If you want to remain loyal to Apple, you can't go wrong with the iPad either. The Galaxy Tab S3's S Pen makes it an interesting tablet for work. And if you are an Amazon customer and use the services anyway, you will probably be able to handle the Amazon Fire HD 10. So the decision is yours. Here are our scenarios for the undecided:

My last money went on the Prime membership.

The Amazon Fire HD 10 looks worse than it actually is. It can do everything that the other tablets can do and for a lot less money.

I love in-app payments and I like playing on mobile devices!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 offers the best gaming performance and is versatile. If you are looking for a tablet to gamble with, you should in our gaming tablet test drop by.

I am reading this text on my iPhone X.

Buy an iPad.

I want the best mix at the best price.

Then grab our test winner, the Huawei MediaPad M3.

While you're here, check out our comparison article on the best external hard drives.