The 3 Best Tablets for Excel Spreadsheets

Written by co-founder Kasper Langmann, Microsoft Office Specialist.

Sometimes, you need to bring your work with you.

A laptop might suffice, but often you want something lighter and more compact (but bigger than a phone).

The solution? A tablet!

My favorite tablet for Excel spreadsheets is definitely the iPad Pro!

But Microsoft and Samsung also bring something unique to the table.

In this article, we have narrowed the best tablet you should use for spreadsheet work into three.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

Let’s get started!

This list was last updated on January 4th, 2022.

Take note that for you to be able to use Excel on a tablet, you must have a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9

You must have seen this already but yes, the iPad Pro still sits at the top of the tablet world.

In fact, not only is this tablet good for Excel, it’s good for almost anything else that could be done on a tablet.

With the looks alone, it’s hard not to like the iPad Pro especially with its 12.9” edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display with ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color.

Once you’re done working with your spreadsheet, using this tablet to watch some videos is such a great idea.

2020 Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB)

Not only is this tablet good for its looks, but it also got the power as well.

With a 12Z Bionic chip with Neural Engine, you will never have to worry about Excel freezing up.

Actually, this chip is even faster than many regular PCs today.

Add the fact that there is an Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard you can use, you might not want to use a laptop ever again as this brings you a great typing experience.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto
Typing and trackpad. Designed for iPad.

Suffice to say, the Apple iPad Pro is the best tablet out there for any needs.

The only issue here is the cost as this is also the most expensive tablet out there.

However, looking at how much this tablet would be able to give you, you’ll see that it will all be worth it.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

The next on this list is Microsoft’s very own premium tablet, the new Microsoft Surface Pro 7.

Some people call this tablet a next-gen laptop, which it could really well be with all its features.

This tablet runs on the 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with an 8 GB memory RAM.

That’s even faster than more than 50% of the laptops out there.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3"

As a “next-gen laptop”, this tablet has three modes — laptop, studio, and tablet mode.

The only downside here is that the accessories are sold separately, so the base model only includes the tab itself.

But what’s awesome is that you can choose to buy the bundle that includes a Microsoft Office 365 Home 12-month subscription.

You would be able to save more this way especially if you haven’t subscribed to any Microsoft 365 plans yet.

Three different device modes for Microsoft Surface Pro 7

If you’re used to Microsoft products, this tablet is perfect for you as this runs on the familiar Windows 10 operating system.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

Naturally, this list wouldn’t be complete without Apple’s ultimate rival, Samsung.

This Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is another premium tablet perfect for your Excel needs.

This tablet, like the iPad Pro, has a beautiful display due to its Super AMOLED Display with 2560 x 1600 resolution. It’s also fast with its octa-core processor with a PC-caliber internal RAM.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 10.5

In addition, this tab also has a desktop mode called “Samsung Dex”.

Dex makes the tablet look and function like a Windows device, transforming this device into a powerful workstation.

Couple it with a keyboard (sold separately) and a mouse, you would be able to multitask and even work on multiple documents or spreadsheets at once.

What is Samsung Dex

One of the best features of this Samsung tab is its powerful 7,040mAH battery that lasts for up to 15 hours of video playback. That’s long! This will enable you to power through periods of work, without having to recharge.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

Wrapping things up…

This selection only includes 3 of the best tablets for Excel.

There are other alternatives that are cheaper (like each of the tablet’s earlier models) – but they are so much worse.

If you buy any of the 3 tablets listed, they will be able to stand through the changes in technology for +5 years.

If you’ve got the budget for it, go for the iPad Pro or the Samsung Galaxy Tab. If you’re coming from a Microsoft device, then the Surface Pro 7 is the best choice. Whatever you choose, we’re confident that you will certainly get the value of your money.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

Alright, so you got the tablet… now what?

If it’s time to upgrade your laptop, check out our review!

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