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Best Tablets for Musicians – A Full Review

Jack

By Jack Lin

Update on

Tablets for Musicians

Tablets have quickly gained popularity among musicians in 2022. In addition to displaying lyrics and sheet music, they may also be used to play video lessons and even as a portable mixer, MIDI controller, or backing track player!

Among the wide range of tablets available, it might be difficult to choose the best tablet for musicians. Here, we present a review of the best five tablets for musicians.

#1 Tablet for Musicians – Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet

Best Tablets for Musicians - Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet

Because of its low cost, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is one of the most popular tablets in the market today. The Fire HD 10 is an excellent option if you’re on a tight budget and need a tablet.

When it comes to specifications, it’s hard to beat the 10-inch HD IPS display, quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage.

For most people, 32GB of storage space will be more than enough; however, if you need more, you can upgrade to 64GB or use a microSD card to expand your storage further. This tablet is compatible with a variety of file types and has a battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge.

The Fire HD 10 has passed 50 various tests in terms of durability, including drops, tumbles, spills, and ordinary wear and tear circumstances.

It offers a full HD panel at a reasonable price, which is an added bonus. With Dolby Atmos and a dual speaker arrangement, the audio quality is superb.

Due to its quad-core processor, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is more than capable of reading and multitasking. Because of the broad viewing angle and excellent brightness of the 10-inch IPS display, you can easily read your ebooks, even from a distance. Further, it stands among the best tablet for sheet music.

Features:

  • Screen size: 10.1 inches
  • Resolution: 1920*1200
  • Dimensions: 262*159*9.8 mm
  • CPU: Octa-Core 2.0 GHz
  • Storage: 32GB/64GB
  • RAM: 2GB
  • Front camera: 2 megapixels
  • Rear camera: 2 megapixels
  • Battery life: up to 12 hours

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Upgraded GPU

Cons:

  • A bit cheap quality
  • Poor camera quality

PS: here are the best music theory apps for your reference.


#2 – Apple iPad Pro 12.9

Apple iPad Pro 12.9

In addition to the 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display, the Apple iPad Pro has a Sim Card Slot, Face ID, a 12-megapixel rear camera, a 7-megapixel front camera, a USB C connector, support for the Apple Pencil, four speakers with wide stereo audio, and up to 256GB of storage.

The iPad Pro from Apple has a stunning design, excellent multitasking performance, exceptional audio, and is quite adaptable.

The visual appeal is outstanding, and it exudes professionalism. As a result of its sleek design, it’s ideal for artists who want to work on the go. Its 12.9-inch Liquid Retina model is one of the best displays.

With its four-speaker arrangement, it once again outperforms the competition in terms of audio quality. The sound quality is excellent, with deep bass, crisp treble, and high volume. Multitasking is easy with the A12X Bionic CPU, thanks to its superior performance.

Although the manufacturer states that it has a 10-hour battery life, your experiences may vary. When used continuously, the battery life may be reduced to 5-6 hours, making it unsuitable for extended travel. Though there are better products out there, this tablet is the best affordable option.

Features:

  • Screen size: 12.9 inches
  • Resolution: 2048*2732
  • Dimensions: 280.6*214.9*5.9 mm
  • CPU: A12X Bionic
  • Storage: 64GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
  • RAM: 4GB/6GB
  • Front camera: 7 megapixels
  • Rear camera: 12 megapixels

Pros:

  • Superfast processor
  • Large screen size allows for multiple app display

Cons:

  • Not much affordable
  • Average battery life

Besides, if you are looking for the best iPad Holder for Mic Stand, this guide you must check out.


#3 – Huawei MediaPad M5

Best Tablets for Musicians - Huawei MediaPad M5

Huawei MediaPad M5 comes with a 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD IPS display with a native resolution of 1920*1200 pixels. It also has ClariVu technology, which improves clarity and allows you to have a seamless viewing experience.

The Harman Kardon-tuned quad-stereo speakers are another highlight of the system. The MediaPad M5 is expected to produce a concert hall acoustic effect and multi-layered and deep 3D surround sound.

Elegant is the word that describes the entire design of this top-rated tablet for musicians. It is made of aluminum and has a 2.5D curved glass edge around the perimeter. An impressive 7500 mAh battery powers this Huawei tablet, providing you with more than 13 hours of video playback time.

You may also play your favorite games on this gadget for up to 7 hours at a time, and you can recharge your tablet in less than three hours. When it comes to storage space, you’ll get 64 GB of built-in memory with this device.

This device is highly recommended for those who enjoy tablets that are compact, lightweight, and delicate.

Features:

  • Screen size: 10.1 inches
  • Resolution: 1920*1200
  • Dimensions: 24.3*16.2*0.8 cm
  • CPU: HiSilicon Kirin 659
  • Storage: 16GB/32GB/64GB
  • RAM: 1GB/2GB/3GB/4GB
  • Front camera: 8 megapixels
  • Rear camera: 8 megapixels

Pros:

  • Awesome sound quality
  • Long battery life

Cons:

  • Android software occupies greater space
  • Comparatively heavier

#4 – Microsoft Surface Pro

Microsoft Surface Pro

Microsoft Surface Pro is a tablet and a laptop in one. It can do a variety of tasks depending on how it is used. It also has remarkable power, a fantastic display screen, and excellent battery life.

Its 0.33-inch thick body and light weight make it visually appealing. It has a display of deep blacks and bright hues. It can be used as a laptop and placed on a table to view digital music sheets while recording music.

The front-facing speakers also sound terrific. The volume isn’t great, but it’s fine for making music. If you want more sound, you can connect speakers.

On average, the battery lasts 13 hours with mild to medium use. Its battery life may go down to 8-9 hours with continuous usage, which is still pretty excellent considering the performance.

It works nicely with devices like a Bluetooth Foot pedal and wireless Page-Turners to help you streamline your music production workflow. 

Features:

  • Screen size: 12.3 inches
  • Resolution: 1824*2736
  • Dimensions: 292*201*8.5 mm
  • CPU: Intel Core m3, i5 or i7
  • Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
  • RAM: 4GB/8GB/16GB
  • Front camera: 5 megapixels
  • Rear camera: 8 megapixels
  • Battery life: 13.5 hours

Pros:

  • Different specification configurations
  • Long battery life

Cons:

  • Not available with Windows 10 Pro
  • Comparatively heavier

#5 – Sony Xperia Z

Best Tablets for Musicians - Sony Xperia Z

The Sony Xperia Z tablet is a lightweight device that may easily replace your laptop. This ultra-light, ultra-sleek, and ultra-attractive tablet gives extremely swift performance responses since it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, which delivers fast, responsive performance.

This tablet, which is waterproof and dust resistant, allows you to work virtually in any weather.

With its attractive 1920*1200 high-definition screen, it becomes more flexible to view music sheets featuring standard notation, lyrics, and chords simultaneously.

It has 16 GB of internal storage and 2 GB of RAM and a microSD card slot that can accommodate files up to 64 GB in size.

For those who want to use a tablet as a music controller for other devices or transfer material between numerous monitors, the Xperia Tablet Z’s One-touch mirroring feature will be a great convenience.

This wonderful all-rounder tablet offers high-resolution music output and commendable battery life. 

Features:

  • Screen size: 10.1 inches
  • Resolution: 1920*1200
  • Dimensions: 17.2*26.59*0.71 cm
  • CPU: Snapdragon S4 Pro
  • Storage: 16GB/32GB
  • RAM: 2GB
  • Front camera: 2.2 megapixels
  • Rear camera: 8.1 megapixels
  • Battery life: 10 hours

Pros:

  • Crystal clear display
  • Impressive 3D surround sound 

Cons:

  • Not waterproof
  • Not light in weight

Buying Guide for the Best Tablet for Sheet Music (Tablet for Musicians)

Before buying a tablet, you need to make a checklist of features you are looking for. Here are some aspects you should consider while reaching a final purchase decision. 

#1. Size of the tablet for musicians

First and foremost, when it comes to viewing sheet music on any digital device, musicians must consider the overall size of the gadget they intend to purchase to have a significant and top-notch viewing experience.

A larger tablet screen is preferable for the user because it provides a more immersive experience. It is better to choose a tablet with a display of at least 9 or 10 inches before purchasing one.

#2. The display quality of the tablet for musicians

Another key factor to consider when purchasing a tablet to view sheet music is the display quality of the device you intend to purchase.

The quality of an image on a tablet is determined by its resolution, including pixels, sharpness, color, and so on.

Tablets with varying resolutions can be found in the market. Before making a selection, thoroughly consider all the factors listed above.

#3. Battery life of the best tablet for sheet music

Another significant aspect is a quality tablet with a long battery life that can last several hours.

Musicians that are dedicated to their profession want their gadget to view music sheets whenever they want, and they may require it for an extended period of time.

In that case, they will require a device that can operate for at least 9 hours straight after a single charge. Consequently, it is wise to choose a tablet with a battery life of 9 to 10 hours on a single charge so that you don’t have to be concerned about the battery going out every time you use it.

#4. The memory of the best tablet for sheet music

For musicians, tablets with larger memory storage are strongly recommended. You may store various files of different data types in them without worrying about losing any of your vital information.

You can store your viewer reviews, many songs, a variety of music beats, music sheets, and other items on your tablets so that you can access them at any time.

Bringing music sheets to a concert is no longer fashionable in this day and age. It will help if you look for a tablet with greater in-built storage, preferably accompanied by expandable storage.

#5. Budget of the best tablet for sheet music

Further, if your budget is limited, you won’t be able to purchase all of the fantastic features you desire. However, this does not imply that you will be compromising on all fronts.

A large number of different tablets with a wide range of functions are available in the market at prices that are within your budget. Thus, it is important to consider your requirements thoroughly before making a buy within your specified budget.

#6. Weatherproof of the best tablet for sheet music

An artist may require their device in any situation, regardless of the location or weather conditions in which they are working.

To accomplish this, their gadget should be capable of dealing with any condition that Mother Nature may throw at them.

Consequently, the device should be waterproof, dustproof, and maybe scratch-resistant, accompanied by other such features.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I use a tablet for recording and producing music?

A: Absolutely! Many tablets offer powerful processors, sufficient RAM, and a wide range of music production apps that enable recording, editing, and producing music. Tablets like the Apple iPad Pro, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+, and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 are specifically designed to handle resource-intensive music production tasks.

Q: Are tablets suitable for reading sheet music?

A: Yes, tablets can be excellent tools for reading and annotating sheet music. With their high-resolution displays and intuitive touch interfaces, tablets provide a convenient and portable solution for musicians. Tablets like the Apple iPad Air, Sony Xperia Tablet Z4, and Samsung Galaxy Tab A with S Pen are particularly well-suited for music notation tasks.

Q: Can tablets be used for music education?

A: Absolutely! Tablets offer a wealth of educational apps and interactive learning experiences for music students. Tablets like the Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, and Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition provide dedicated educational features and parental controls, making them ideal for music education purposes.

Q: Which tablet is best for a tight budget?

A: If you’re on a tight budget, tablets like the Amazon Fire HD 10, Lenovo Tab M10 Plus, and Google Nexus 7 offer decent performance and features at affordable price points. While they may not have the same processing power as high-end tablets, they still provide a viable option for musicians with budget constraints.

Q: Can I use a tablet to learn music theory?

A: Absolutely! Tablets offer a range of music theory apps and interactive lessons that make learning music theory engaging and enjoyable. Tablets like the Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, and Lenovo Tab M8 provide access to educational resources and music theory materials, helping aspiring musicians deepen their understanding of music.

Q: Are tablets compatible with external MIDI devices?

A: Yes, many tablets offer compatibility with external MIDI devices, allowing you to connect keyboards, controllers, and other MIDI-enabled instruments. Make sure to check the tablet’s specifications and compatibility with MIDI protocols to ensure seamless integration with your preferred devices.

Key Takeaways on Tablets for Musicians

Tablets provide musicians with a great deal of flexibility in terms of creating fresh and original music.

Along with portability, musicians prefer the best tablet for sheet music. We hope our buying guide will help you while purchasing the best tablet for yourself.

Jack
Jack

10 years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

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