If you’re looking for the best tablet for all your music and everyday needs as a musician, look no further. Choosing a tablet as a musician is not an easy task. It’s a big decision, and you want your tablet to last for years. Here we listed the best tablets that dominate among professional musicians, but with so many other options out there, finding the right one can be overwhelming.
2025 brings new tablet options for amateur and professional musicians. The new Apple iPad, Samsung’s best android tablet, and best windows Microsoft Surface tablet now face competition, making choosing a tablet for reading, recording, and performing music more complicated than ever.
29+ Best Tablets for Musicians in 205
1. Apple iPad Pro 13
The iPad Pro is without a doubt the most popular tablet for professional musicians. The large iPad Pro 13, which comes with forScore is the definitive standard for reading music. For most professional and amateur musicians, the new 13-inch iPad Pro is simply the best choice if you have the budget.
The iPad Pro, in particular, is the most popular tablet among professional musicians and has the best stylus and keyboard. iPadOS still has some exclusive apps and it’s the best performing tablet of any tablet today.
However, there are a few drawbacks to the Apple iPad in general, the biggest being its aspect ratio, which is ideal for office use but not for displaying sheet music.
Also, don’t expect a fast battery charge during rehearsal breaks; the iPad Pro has the slowest charging speed of any tablet in its category. If you already own an iPhone or Mac, the 13-inch iPad Pro is a no-brainer.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a high-end Android tablet with a 14.6-inch display. It is the largest tablet on the market in 2025. The display area is equivalent to 102% of the area of a letter-sized paper, or 99% of the area of an A4 paper.
This makes this tablet the closest thing to a printed sheet of music in terms of display size. Nevertheless, it is much smaller than commonly used orchestral scores and sheet music.
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is arguably the best Android tablet for music. It has the largest display on the tablet market. This huge screen, combined with its unique aspect ratio, makes it an excellent tablet for reading sheet music.
In fact, the battery life has proven to be better than that of the 12.9-inch and 13-inch iPad Pros. Thanks to the super-fast charging, you can charge the battery between rehearsals or during rehearsal breaks (an additional 20% every 10 minutes).
One of the downsides is the stylus, which I couldn’t convince myself of (but it’s included with the tablet). And of course, they are very expensive, but still much cheaper than Apple.
I have had the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra for 2 years and the S9 Ultra for 10 months already (alternating between other tablets and e-readers). All in all, that has meant a lot of practice, rehearsals, and a lot of concerts. So I would recommend the S8 and S9 Ultra to (almost) any musician on par with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
3. Microsoft Surface Pro 8
The Surface Pro 8 was released in the fall of 2021, so it has more updated specs than the Surface Book. It’s a bit smaller, though, and definitely more tablet-like than laptop-like.
The screen size is still good, though. At 13 inches, it competes with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. If you’re a Windows fan and don’t mind using MobileSheets, the Surface Pro 8 is a great alternative to the iPad Pro. If you prefer a laptop over a tablet, the Surface Pro 8 is a great choice.
4. Apple iPad Air 4
If you’re looking to save money, the iPad Air is a great option. After years of careful tweaking and fine-tuning on design and performance, this musician tablet is an easy choice to beat.
This tablet features a powerful A14 Bionic processor, a lightweight, durable design, and a colorful, vivid Retina display, making it perfect for musicians of all stripes. According to our analysis, the Apple iPad Air 4 is the best tablet for music creation, thanks to its powerful A14 Bionic processor, user-friendly interface, and operating system.
The A14 chipset is the best Apple has ever released, and it can run audio recording and music creation apps without a lot of pauses or dropouts. iPadOS, the operating system for all new iPads, is incredibly user-friendly, and it has access to Apple’s amazing App Store, which features only high-quality music creation apps that have been vetted by our quality assurance team.
When it comes to design and form factor, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better-designed device than the fourth-generation iPad Air. With a large 10.9-inch display, you’ll have plenty of room to explore music creation and listening apps.
The display features Liquid Retina technology, which produces a sharp resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels and stunning colors. Plus, the iPad Air is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil and Apple’s new Magic Keyboard, both of which are great accessories for creating and producing music.
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Samsung generally produces the best technology for Android, and the Tab S8 line is its most premium tablet. The S8+ model is probably the closest competitor to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro display, but the S8 Ultra is one of the largest tablets you can buy.
That large screen is great for musicians who can’t play very close to the stand and need to read everything out loud! It also has great specs.
6. Apple iPad Pro 12.9
The Apple iPad Pro has been a top-tier tablet for years, beloved by working musicians and the general public alike. With its massive screen, fast processing power, and wide range of apps, the iPad Pro should be at the top of your list if you’re on a budget.
When paired with the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil, this tablet allows musicians to use iPad Pro as a versatile tool, from a music mixing workstation to a live recording device.
Opening multiple app windows in a mobile DAW is easy on the eyes, thanks to the high-resolution 2048 x 2732 Retina display. And despite its large 12.9-inch screen size, the Pro easily fits into a backpack when you’re on the go.
If you plan on using this tablet for live music performances, you’ll be happy to know that iPad Pro is capable of handling multiple tasks reliably with extremely low latency, thanks to the super-fast A12X Bionic processor chip.
Above all, iPad Pro is built by the people who brought you GarageBand and Logic Pro, so you can trust it won’t let you down when you need it most.
If you’re only looking to use your tablet for basic tasks, this high-end iPad is a waste of money, as it’s surprisingly affordable.
On the other hand, if you have a big, professional or fun reason to buy a new tablet, the new iPad Pro could be one of the best future-proof investments you can make this year.
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 12.3-inch
If you’re looking to turn your Windows laptop or desktop into a tablet, Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro will definitely get the job done. And it’s more than that.
With an integrated kickstand, optional Surface Pen, and detachable keyboard, Microsoft’s flagship tablet offers great battery life and full-on laptop functionality.
If you’re looking for a tablet for music production and are curious about the performance and capabilities of the Surface Pro, you’re in safe hands.
There are three processor configurations available: Intel m3, i5, and i7, and you can choose from a variety of storage and memory options.
For music producers and musicians, the Intel Core i7 option with 16GB of RAM and a massive 1TB SSD will easily handle all your CPU-intensive programs.
If you’re saving money and don’t need lightning-fast processing power, the cheaper i3 or i5 aren’t exactly slow, and are equally worthy options.
This premium tablet is a great choice for any professional, as well as anyone looking for a high-end tablet for music and media creatives.
8. Huawei MediaPad M5
If you’re looking for the best tablet for music quality, you can’t go wrong with this option and its premium speakers tuned by Harman Kardon. In addition to its premium audio, this tablet offers a 2560 x 1600 display resolution and a responsive octa-core processor. The Huawei MediaPad M5 is an 8.4-inch tablet that focuses on creating a premium user experience with a solid design and subtle yet reliable basic performance.
First of all, the tablet case is made of durable metal material, and the display takes the viewing experience to the next level. The 8.4-inch display offers a stunning 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution that looks sharp, colorful, and detailed.
It also offers curved edge glass for a more comfortable experience. The Huawei travel tablet also features dual speakers that deliver rich and loud audio, thanks to being tuned and certified by Harman Kardon. These speakers make it the best tablet for listening to music without headphones available today.
The MediaPad M5 backs up this premium design with a powerful processor and a smooth UI. The Kirin 960 chipset lets you navigate without hesitation and play most mobile games with ease. We were also happy to find a vanilla version of Android installed on the tablet. That means you won’t get all the extra bloatware and weird UI features that many companies try to offer.
The MediaPad offers a solid 64GB of internal storage, but it also includes a microSD card slot that you can use to expand the internal storage space for your travel photos. This is one of the best Chinese tablets on our list.
9. Sony Xperia Z4
The Sony Xperia Z4 tablet for musicians offers an excellent user experience thanks to the device’s ultra-light and thin design. The device weighs just 13 ounces, which is equivalent to 0.81 pounds. It’s also incredibly thin at just 0.24 inches thick.
This design makes the tablet extremely comfortable to hold for long periods of time, making it perfect for music professionals who are always on the go. Plus, the Sony Xperia Z4 offers a large battery that can provide up to 16 hours of power. The Sony tablet also features a 10.1-inch screen size with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, offering vivid colors and sharp details.
The device is powered by an excellent octa-core Snapdragon 815 processor that runs music apps, gaming apps, and productivity apps with ease. The Xperia is also water and dust resistant, making it even more durable and portable for traveling musicians.
FAQ
Can I use a regular tablet for notation and sheet music?
Yes, you can use a regular tablet for notation and sheet music. There are many apps for both iOS and Android that allow you to view, annotate, and play sheet music.
These notation apps offer features like custom notation, transposition, metronome, and playback options. The tablet’s touchscreen interface makes it easy to write, edit, and highlight sheet music.
How do I connect my tablet to my instrument?
There are two main ways to connect your tablet to your instrument. The first is to use an audio interface. An audio interface converts analog audio signals into digital data and ensures high-quality audio during the connection.
The second way to connect your tablet to your guitar, keyboard, computer, or other device is to use a direct USB connection.
Some tablets support a direct USB connection, which can be especially convenient if you have a tablet with a USB-C or micro USB port.
Which method you choose will depend on your needs. While an audio interface offers more flexibility, a direct USB connection can be faster and simpler.
Is an iPad Better for Musicians than an Android Tablet?
The iPad often takes the lead in tablet preference among professional musicians. One of the main reasons for this is the extensive app ecosystem available on Apple’s App Store.
Musicians can find a wide range of high-quality music apps, including virtual instruments, digital audio workstations, effects processors, and sheet music software. This wide selection provides musicians with ample tools to create, record, and perform music.
However, Android tablets have also made significant strides in recent years, offering solid, affordable options. Choosing between an iPad and an Android tablet often comes down to your specific needs, familiarity with the operating system, and budget considerations. It’s a good idea to explore both options to see which one best suits your musical goals.
What’s the Best Tablet for Music Production?
The best tablets for music production use powerful processors and lots of RAM to deliver a smooth, uninterrupted experience. Music production apps like FL Studios can be resource-intensive, so having a powerful tablet is the best option.
Which iPad do musicians use?
Musicians mostly use the iPad version that suits their individual needs and use case scenarios. However, the iPad Pro is considered one of the best options for creative applications like music production and sheet music reading due to its excellent display and large screen size.
Can I record music on my tablet?
Yes, you can record music on your tablet. However, you won’t get the best audio quality using the built-in microphone on your tablet. If you plan on recording music on your tablet, it’s a good idea to buy a tablet that has an audio jack that you can use to connect an external microphone.
What’s the best tablet for your daily life?
It may seem like a vague answer, but the best tablet for your daily life is the one that meets all your individual needs and preferences. Look for a tablet that gives you enough screen real estate for your needs, whether you’re watching movies or reading sheet music. You’ll want to buy one that has enough power to run all your apps with ease.
Conclusion
Overall, choosing a tablet depends on what you need it for, how much storage you need, and how much you’re willing to spend.
Tablets have different uses. In this case, you’re looking for a tool that helps you play music. Some are better suited for deep work, while others are best for taking notes.