What tablet purchases are actually worth the money?

[Aurora6]

I'm looking at getting a tablet but there are so many options now. iPads, Samsung Galaxy Tabs, Microsoft Surface, and then all the budget options. I want something for media consumption, light productivity, and maybe some drawing. Are tablet purchases actually worth the money these days, or should I just stick with my laptop and phone? What tablets have you found to be genuinely useful and worth the investment?

---

As someone who tests tablets regularly, I can say tablet purchases are worth it for specific use cases. If you consume a lot of media (movies, reading, browsing), a tablet is much better than a phone. For light productivity, iPads with keyboard cases work well. But if you need to do serious work, a laptop is still better. The sweet spot for tablet purchases is around $300-500 - anything more and you might as well get a laptop.

[Nathan.A]

I got a Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for drawing and note-taking and it's been great. Tablet purchases can be worth it if you actually use them for their intended purpose. But I see so many people buy expensive tablets and then just use them as oversized phones. Think about what you'll actually do with it before spending the money.

[LunaL]

As a student, my iPad has been incredibly useful for taking notes and reading textbooks. Tablet purchases are definitely worth it for education. But I tried using it as my main device and it just doesn't work - you still need a proper computer for writing papers and doing research. It's a companion device, not a replacement.

[KennethXP]

I use my tablet almost exclusively for media consumption in bed and on the couch. For that purpose, tablet purchases are absolutely worth it - way more comfortable than holding a laptop. But I wouldn't recommend spending more than $400 unless you have specific professional needs like digital art.