The best tablets for video editing are so much better than they used to be. Once, the idea of video editing on a tablet might have seemed like a pipedream; now, with the raw computing power that most mainstream tablets contain, they're basically slimmed-down laptops. This, plus the ever-better quality of tablet screens, makes them a fantastic choice for video editing!
If you're constantly on the go, having a slim, carry-everywhere device that's capable of video editing feels like it's surely a no-brainer. Whether you work with Apple, Windows or Android devices, it's easy to slot a tablet into your workflow, and the apps and software are getting better all the time. You can check out our lists of the best video editing software and best video editing apps to find out exactly what you can do on a tablet. Or try out our list of the best MacBooks for video editing.
So, if you're a busy content creator or just someone who fancies learning a bit of video editing on a tactile, touchscreen device, the best tablets for video editing have got you covered. We've put together this guide to include products at a range of price points and for different operating systems, so whatever your needs and your setup, there should be something here for you.
Don't forget to check out our list of the best drawing tablets if you fancy something that's great for art as well – you'll see a fair amount of crossover between this list and that. And if you want to hook your tablet up to a monitor, see our best 4K monitors and the best monitor stands.
If money is not object, there's really no question: the 2020 edition of the iPad Pro 12.9-inch is the best tablet for video editing. With its powerful A12Z Bionic chip, it's more than capable of handling even large 6K video files without issue, and thanks to the introduction of the new Magic Keyboard with a track pad makes it handle more like a computer than ever. Adobe's Premiere Rush app is pretty well-optimised for iPad, and having that gorgeous Liquid Retina Display is no bad thing when it comes to reviewing your footage.
The only real sticking point is the price, which is pretty hefty, and only gets higher when you consider that you'll also need to shell out extra for any accessories you want, like the Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard or anything else.
The line between tablet and laptop is pretty blurry these days, especially when it comes to Microsoft's Surface Pro range. If you're already editing on a PC, it's easy to hop to the latest Surface Pro, as all your programs and apps will work on it, and it's got enough horsepower to handled high-quality footage with ease.
Like the iPad Pro, it's an expensive proposition for sure. Touch functionality has been improved compared to previous models, and you really are getting a lot of power for your money, on a device that's easy to stow in a bag and take everywhere with you. Your mileage may vary on whether it's good value, but we're happy recommending it to any serious video editors who want to stay in the Windows ecosystem.
A light refresh for the iPad Air makes it an excellent choice for anyone who wants that Apple quality but doesn't quite want to drop the levels of dollar required for the latest iPad Pro. The computing power here is still pretty impressive, with the top-flight A14 chip that also powers the iPhone 12 range. It's more than enough for all but the most demanding video editing.
The all-screen design of this fourth-generation iPad really lets you sink into your work, and you can also use the Smart Connectors to add accessories like Apple's Smart Keyboard if you don't fancy working entirely with the touchscreen. The high-resolution display looks great; it's 60Hz, not 120Hz like the iPad Pro range, but it's still a solid choice for editing video.
If Android is your OS of choice, and you’re after the most powerful Android tablet there is, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is definitely the way to go. A credible rival to behemoths like the iPad Pro 12.9, the Tab S7 Plus offers a dazzling OLED display with a resolution of 2800 x 1752 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. It's a pleasure to use, even for long periods, and makes for a fantastic way to edit videos. You can hook it up to the Keyboard Cover if you prefer having keys to edit.
All this tech doesn't come cheap, and on the whole Android apps tend to be less well adapted for tablets. Still, there are plenty of options, so by all means play around and see what's out there.
Also read: the best stylus for Android devices in 2021
The fifth generation 7.9-inch iPad mini launched at the same time as the 2019 iPad Air, replacing the previous four-year-old model, which was getting particularly long in the tooth and falling behind other tablets in the performance stakes.
As with the 2019 iPad Air it has 3GB of system memory and is based on the A12 processor, meaning super fast performance in iOS apps. While it can't match up to the bigger tablets in raw power terms, it's much more portable, and is definitely superior to pretty much any Android tablet of an equivalent size. This really is a tool you can take anywhere with you.
The Amazon Fire HD 10 is superb value for money, given that it’s absolutely capable of just about any basic task you might want a tablet for, including viewing and editing video, and costs small change compared with some other tablets on the market.
The new version of the FireHD 10 has much better specifications than the smaller Fire HD 8, with more storage and a far better display. Out of the box it runs an Amazon-branded variant of Android, which is restricted to apps from Amazon’s store, but a quick poke around the internet will explain how easy it is to root a Fire HD tablet and load apps from the Google Play store as well.
It's not going to win any awards for in-depth editing capability, but for the basics it'll work well, and having that top-notch display to view your content on is no bad thing at all.
With an 8.4-inch screen size, Huawei’s neat Android tablet has a bright high resolution display, on which your videos will look great. It’s also very competitively priced, one of the cheapest tablets around. The downside is the software, it behaves more like a phone than a tablet at times, and there’s some junk supplied by Hauwei that really isn’t worth using, but you can still download your favourite Android apps and work away, with enough performance to cope with simple video editing tools,
The Surface Go is the “lite” experience of Surface, running Windows 10 S out of the box, which means you have to load apps from the Microsoft Store, but this can be upgraded to full Windows 10, with all the features and flexibility you’ll be used to.
It does so at a much lower price point, but before ignoring a more expensive tablet, be warned that there are a few catches. Although the screen stands out with some excellent brightness and contrast, it lacks the colour accuracy of the Surface Pro, and performance isn’t amazing.
Even though Apple has launched newer iPad models, the 2017 iPad is still available to buy and less than the half the price of an iPad Pro, making it by far the best value iOS device currently on the market.
For that reduced expenditure, you get 2GB of internal system memory and an A10 Fusion processor that’s now ageing slightly, but is still one of the fastest mobile processors around, capable of running video editing software without any serious slowdown.
Related articles:
