I know many of you often think, “would it be wise to use a tablet to shoot my vlogs?”. I can say that with that surety because I was also one of you once.
The reason this thought even crossed my mind was that I thought using a tablet for making my vlogs would be a cheaper way and I will be able to use my tablet for other purposes as well.
So from here onwards, I will be telling you whether getting a tablet would be a wise decision and what are the best options you have if you do decide to use tablets for vlogging.
Why Use Tablet For Vlogging?
The market is saturated with various types of vlogging gear, but the question remains why you should go for a tablet and not invest in a good camera?
1- All-in-one Device
First things first, going for a tablet is more smart because it is an all-in-one device. You will get a video camera, video editing apps, a built-in microphone, and built-in speakers along with many other features, including social media apps that will help you to do your work in one place.
I mean, I think this is the best thing about it; you get to shoot with an amazingly light and portable device, edit your videos in the same and then easily export them onto your channel without the need of an external wire transfer or time-consuming WiFi transfers that you may find in even the best vlogging cameras.
2- Lower Price Point
Along with that, let me mention here that tablets are super cheap to buy as compared to vlogging cameras because well, they are not made for a specific purpose.
Though of course you will not find the same vlogging features in a tablet that you will have in a professional camera, for instance exposure settings, ISO and shutter speed dials, this is not much of a disadvantage given that tablets come at a way below price point.
3- Easily Portable
Secondly, tablets are so easy to carry and you can take them anywhere; they’ll just fit right into your bag and that is a good thing because as a vlogger, we know we go out a lot.
4- Easy To Use
Furthermore, you can manage your time easily because tablets are way easier to use and navigate as compared to professional cameras. You can click your pictures with pre-set settings with just one click, or if you prefer having your own customized settings, you can do so very easily from the menu too.
You can adjust the exposure with just one click and swipe and I think it is just so cool how new vloggers wouldn’t get lost in the plethora of settings.
5- Multiple Apps
One of the so many benefits of using a tablet for vlogging is the option to download different apps.
You can get an app for editing, maybe a camera app to capture different styles of pictures and videos, filters apps, and most importantly your social media apps. That way, you can easily interact with your audience then and there.
You won’t have to open up your laptop to reply to comments and your replies will be quicker too! Your viewers would love that! Along with that, you can always play some games to get some time away from the work life.
Tablets For Video Editing
I think along with the art of videography; video editing holds the same importance when it comes to making vlogs. When you use the traditional medium for vlogging i.e. a professional camera, you require a laptop to edit your videos.
Vlogs and other YouTube videos are incomplete without editing because there will be a lot of things in your raw video that will need to be cut out or enhanced.
I know that I make a lot of blunders while filming and therefore, I edit them later on. In this era, tablets are actually just very compact computers, with fast processing and larger, brighter displays and that is why an easier and smarter way to go about video editing is to just get a tablet for yourself.
Since it is portable, I was able to edit my videos on the go and I had a vast array of apps to choose from. I installed a few good-rated apps and tried them out and kept my favorite one.
Since these apps keep updating as per the latest trends and demands, you wouldn’t have to invest in an all-new tablet very soon because most tablets stay compatible with the newer versions of apps for a long time.
One thing that I noticed was the easy navigation of tools; I mean, all it took was just a few clicks and swipes and my whole video was ready to be published.
It was really good for me because I used to loathe the hassle I had to go through and the amount of time it took me before I could publish my videos.
They’re also better than using smartphones because they have larger screens than most smartphones and that makes editing a simpler task than in a smartphone.
Best Tablets For Vlogging:
There are many good reasons to invest in a quality tablet for vlogging so take a look at the top 3 compatible tablets for your vlogging journey.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ (Overall Best Tablet For Vlogging)
- Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ (Budget-Friendly Vlogging Tablet)
- Apple iPad Pro 12.9” (4th Gen) (Perfect For Video Editing & Vlogging)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is the successor to S7+ and it surely comes with a lot of improvements, including better performance, an improved design, and better software updates.
It won’t be wrong to say here that it is undoubtedly a luxury product with its price starting at a whopping $900 and going up to $1100, however it does serve its purpose well, especially in the case of video recording.
Technical Specifications:
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G
- Dimensions: 11.22*7.28*0.22 inches
- Weight: 567g, 572g
- SIM: NanoSim
- Stylus: Yes
- Display: Super AMOLED, 12.4 inches, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- System: Android 12, Octa-core
- Storage capacity: 128GB/8GB, 256GB/8GB, 256GB/12GB
- Camera: 13MP (26mm wide), 6MP (ultra wide)
- Front camera: 12MP
- Video resolution: 4K@30 and 60fps, 1080p @30fps
- Speakers: 4
Performance:
If I compare it to its predecessor, Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ has not failed to impress me.
Despite the fact that Android is not well suited for tablets, I was able to actually enjoy my experience with this tablet; mostly because the Android 12 software brought some changes to the main screen and the keyboard of the tab; most of the work is done by Samsung’s collaboration with Google that made this software to be highly user-friendly and lag-free.
I absolutely loved the split-screen feature; I was able to edit my YouTube videos on the same page as I had written down my ideas for editing and it made the whole process 2x easier and faster.
Coming to the main thing, which is the camera performance, I’d like to mention here that it wasn’t up to the standard I was expecting it to be, but it is still pretty good. It’s fairly better than the cameras other tabs offer.
Its 13MP camera captures clear stills however they’re not as bright as I’d like them to be. The video resolution on the other hand is pretty brilliant, recording 4K at 30 and 60fps frame rates.
For a tablet, that is quite impressive because this video resolution is offered by professional cameras that come at a way higher price point.
Adding to that, if you’re still a pc lover and always need a desktop, the Samsung tab just made it easier for you to enjoy the desktop experience right there in this feature-packed device.
Samsung included a DEX mode, which allows us users to switch the regular tablet display to a display that is more similar to a desktop which includes a taskbar, System tray, multi-window support and is definitely more powerful than the standard Android UI. It also houses the Android App drawer behind a handy icon on the left bottom.
Navigation & Speed:
The S pen makes it even easier to navigate through the countless apps that it can house. The stylus makes it so much easier to tweak my videos with precision. It is great for people that find it difficult to draw on or trim out their videos with their fingers.
This tablet is lightning fast and smooth and it makes the perfect choice for vlogging, because you don’t want your camera to freeze while you’re in the middle of an interesting part of your video or if you’ve found the best angle to capture something; I mean, it frustrates you, no? I know that it frustrates me and this tablet made my life so easier with its lag-free performance.
I can safely say I am very impressed.
Design:
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ has a very similar design to the previous S7 FE, with a sleek aluminum body that is silky smooth, and shiny. Better yet, it has an edge-to-edge screen with slightly curved corners and is symmetrical i.e. you won’t be bothered by an annoying notch at the top of your screen.
This sleek tablet was very comfortable in my hand, and it was a very smooth experience.
The display is a 12.4 inches OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it is fairly brighter than most tabs’ displays which gave me an edge when it came to video editing because I knew how bright the colors would appear and I was able to tweak them accordingly.
Furthermore, it has a fingerprint sensor on the right of the screen and Samsung also decided to return to its old school-wide-screen OLED screen. It is relatively lighter in weight than most tablets which makes it perfect for handheld video recording, and for selfies too!
I’d say it is one of the perfect fits for the YouTube industry because you get everything under one roof and that too, in exceptionally great quality.
I would definitely go for it and I think you should too if you’re just stepping foot in the vlogging community or if you are tired of using two separate devices to make your vlogs watchable.
PROS
- Sleek design
- Outstanding display
- S pen included
- Dex mode
- Fast and smooth
CONS
- No separate headphone jack
- The keyboard cover is not included; separate buy not worth it
Microsoft Surface Pro 7+
Microsoft has always impressed us with their cool windows tablets; they’re the real mini computers because well, we have always used computers with Windows, haven’t we? Similarly, with this model too, Microsoft has stolen our hearts.
This tab was actually designed for business purposes but that does not mean it’s limited to it.
In my opinion, this tablet is a great choice for vlogging and editing purposes because it has a fast running software and a very powerful processor.
Technical Specifications:
- Dimensions: 11.5*7.9*0.33 inches
- Weight: 1.7 lbs, 1.75 lbs, 1.73 lbs
- Display: 12.3 inches’ screen with 3:2 aspect ratio
- Graphics: Intel UHD (i3 only), Intel
- Iris Xe (i5 and i7)
- USB-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, NanoSim
- RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB
- ROM: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- removable SSDs
- Battery: Up to 15 hours
- Camera: 5MP front, 8MP Rear
- Video resolution: 1080p full HD video
- Audio: dual mics and 1.6W stereo speakers
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE
- Windows 10 or above
Performance:
If you have been a user of the previous model, Surface pro 7, you wouldn’t think of buying the 7+ because it looks the same, however, there have been quite some changes in the system and its performance and that’s what makes this one stand out when it comes to these two.
I tried out the variant with the core i5 processor and 16GB RAM along with Iris XE graphics. This tablet houses features like multiple screens/windows, lag-free experience in browsing and everyday use and most importantly a fairly competent camera.
If compared to other Microsoft business tablets, this one outlasts all of them when it comes to video recording. It shoots a 1080p video, which by the way is crystal clear and not shaky at all, it takes only 24 minutes to convert a 4K video to 1080p video with the Handbrake app, that is substantially lesser than the Surface pro 7.
Along with that the graphics are outstanding, all because of the Intel Iris Xe graphic card. It makes your videos play in a lag-free software and I felt at ease editing my videos on this tablet.
It is great for animation as well, so if you make animations as YouTube videos, you should definitely go for it.
Talking about the audio, it houses 1.6W speakers and the audio is impeccable. It is very audible in a medium sized room (speaking from experience). Not gonna lie, it was pretty shocking when the audio was crystal clear in that big room, but I was impressed.
The sound was of amazing quality, with no distortion. The microphones also work well and maybe that was the reason behind the audible voice, but if you want, you can connect an external microphone as there is a separate headphone jack available.
Design:
When it comes to the build and ergonomics of the tablet, it’s not much different than that of its predecessor, Surface Pro 7. The only minor difference is that Microsoft added a hidden door behind the kickstand to house the removable SSD. Other than that, it’s all pretty much the same.
The tablet comes in a beautiful, sleek design made up of pearlescent silver Magnesium alloy. It has symmetrical lines all over and a classy chrome Microsoft logo at the back.
This tablet has squared corners, it’s kind of like a notebook. You will find the power button and the volume controls at the top and at the bottom, there is a connector for the keyboard which is sold separately.
The kickstand or you can call it the flap, is an interesting feature. This flap made my life easier because it helped me to edit my videos easily without breaking my back.
I could also easily watch my draft videos and take notes on the side because it had a stand. Other tablets just slip down if kept on a smooth surface so you’re bound to hold them or keep them in your lap which sometimes gets uncomfortable. But this isn’t the case with 7+.
Lightweight:
When it comes to the weight and size, Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ takes the trophy. It is extremely lightweight, weighing only 1.8 pounds which is not bad for a fully functional, feature-packed, business-grade tablet.
It is also slim and fairly smaller in size. While the small size is a good factor for portability, it can sometimes be a hindrance for multi-tasking but hey, it’s better than the tiny screens of phones and cameras.
Durability:
Lastly, you would wanna make sure that the device you’re investing in is durable because you don’t wanna trip and fall down and lose all the efforts you put into your videos. While it is wise to regularly back up, you never know what can happen so it is wise to check the product’s durability.
That being said, I did kind of my own durability test and I think this tablet passed with flying colors.
Being a business-grade tablet, it was bound to be durable but it was necessary to have hands-on experience so that I don’t misguide you guys. The body already felt very strong and durable but still,
I did put some pressure over the tablet and there were no sounds, no cracking or breaking of the screen, no creaking of the chassis, nothing Then I threw it down from a significant height and it did not break so, it is perfect for storing your videos without having to worry about losing them over just one fall.
PROS
- Extremely light in weight
- Smooth interface
- Vivid display
- Switchable SSD
CONS
- Thick bezels
- Separately sold accessories
Apple ipad Pro 12.9” (4th Gen)
According to my experience, the best tablet for vlogging and YouTube videos would have to be the Apple iPad Pro (4th Generation). It does not only have a charming design but an amazing quality camera that is usually hard to find in tablets.
Technical Specifications:
- Capacity: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
- Speakers: 4
- Microphones: 5
- Display: 12.9 inches, LED-backlit Multi-touch with IPS tech
- Wide-screen display
- A1 2Z Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture
- Camera: Wide (12MP, f/1.8 aperture), Ultra wide (10MP f/2.4 aperture)
- 2x optical zoom out, 5x digital zoom
- Panorama: Up to 63MP
- Autofocus: Yes
- Tap to focus: Yes
- Exposure control: Yes
- Noise reduction: Yes
- Stabilization: Auto image stabilization and Cinematic video stabilization
- Image formats: JPEG and HEIF
- Video resolution: 4K at 24fps, 30 fps and 60fps (Wide); 60fps (Ultra wide), 1080p at 30fps and 60fps, 720p at 30fps
- Slo-mo at 1080p at 120fps or 240fps (Wide), 240fps (Ultra Wide)
- Geotagging: Yes
Performance:
Speaking of this iPad’s performance, it’d be safe to say that this tablet easily outruns most pcs and cameras.
That’s because its 12MP Wide-angle camera captures breathtaking images and they’re so crystal clear because of its auto image stabilization that no other camera can achieve with so much ease.
Other than that, I used its 10 MP ultra-wide lens to capture some images and I was amazed at the clarity of those images. I mean, you don’t get that kind of aesthetic, professional-grade shots with a camera that has an image resolution of 10MP.
Along with that, the 4K video resolution is just astounding. The video clips that I recorded were smooth as silk, all because of the amazing cinematic video stabilization.
There is no shakiness, the noise is almost non-existent and the audio is clearly audible and understandable.
We all know these are the most essential elements required for making videos and Apple iPad Pro is offering you these at an acceptable price point. Along with these basics, you get much more!
One more interesting feature that I discovered in this tablet is the availability of augmented reality; you can capture beautiful shots with your ultra-wide camera and experience augmented reality through the LiDAR Scanner. It’s just amazing.
Speed:
The device is silky smooth to use because of its 4GB RAM. It acts quickly to commands and I feel really comfortable using it; in fact, it is fun to use because of all the interesting apps you can use with no lag.
It is faster than many computers as it has an 8-core CPU and GPU along with a neural engine. The iOS itself is a very strong and brilliant operating system, it is very user-friendly and that makes it very easy to use.
Battery & Speakers:
Oh and I almost forgot to mention its whopping 10 hours of battery life! It will keep you busy for a relatively longer duration than other tablets will have to offer.
The speakers built into this tablet are amazing and what’s more amazing are the 5 built-in microphones. I did not feel like I was using only the built-in microphones when I was reviewing the clip I shot. The audio was so clear and loud, so audible; it is honestly the best audio quality I have ever experienced on a tablet.
Design:
I chose to go for a tablet rather than a camera of a smartphone because of its size and portability.
The design of the tablet matters a lot. The Apple iPad Pro comes with a relatively larger screen than some other tablets and that gives it an edge. Because of its 11 inches’ edge to edge Liquid retina display, it was very easy for me to edit my videos right there on this iPad and I did not feel frustrated in doing so as I would’ve felt if I had been doing it on my smartphone or if I have had to use my computer for that.
The display is even bright and clear, and it adjusts to your comfortability, given its TrueTone and ProMotion features. The display has an incredible resolution of 2388×1668 pixels that makes it the best quality display yet in Apple’s iPad line. The screen is coated with a scratch and fingerprint resistant coating.
Along with that, the Apple iPad Pro weighs only 1.41 pounds with the added keyboard. It is relatively lightweight according to its size which is quite big, making it great for video editing as mentioned above.
It features a USB-C port but sadly, there is no separate headphone jack. You won’t really need that though, because the 4 speakers are more than enough for clear and good quality audio output.
Lastly, the Keyboard that comes with is so beautiful in looks and so comfortable to use. It is a backlit folio style keyboard with a 1mm typing travel. It makes your typing experience really good.
Not once did I get any finger cramp, and I noticed my typing speed definitely increased because of this. I also tried out the 2nd Gen Apple pencil for some rough doodling and captions and it works perfectly and is very smooth to use.
PROS
- Outstanding resolutions
- Long battery life
- Incredible display
- Options in storage capacity
- Smooth performance
CONS
- Keyboards and other accessories have to be bought separately
Final Words:
Hence concluding, Apple iPad Pro (4th Gen) is the best buy for video recording given its vast array of features and brilliant quality. It surpasses all the standards in every aspect and it wouldn’t be fair not to rank this as the best tablet for vlogging and YouTube videos. I would definitely recommend you guys to buy this if you’re spending $900 because honestly, no other tablet would give you the best value for your money except this outclass tablet.
