Computer Music choice

As we explain in the Buyer’s

Advice section, you should choose a tablet on portability versus power – the music making functionality you can expect compared to the weight and size of the tablet. However there’s also the operating system the tablet uses to consider. This can be a divisive subject with many diehard advocates lauding each system, so we’ll divide our advice up accordingly.

The Windows systems – aka touchscreens that effectively double as PC laptops – have been dominated by Microsoft’s Surface Pro, which is certainly an expensive option if you just want to use a tablet. The latest Surface Pro 8 looks set to maintain that trend, with lovely design tweaks and new functionality. If you have the budget then you can spend a lot on the top-end version of this, or you could opt for the cheaper tablet-only option (minus the keyboard) and upgrade later.

For iOS devices, Apple’s iPad Pros really shook things up in the world of mobile music making when they were released a year ago. As ever, things change fast in the world of iPad releases but we’re still going to recommend the larger 12.9 Pro as our iPad of choice for music producers. It is not only ( joint equal) the most powerful iPad you can buy but also boasts the sharpest screen.

However rather than the equally powerful iPad Pro 11-inch getting second place, the new iPad Air is stealing its thunder. This has all the M1 power within a super-compact design, so is probably the best iPad for musicians in terms of portability versus power. It has a lovely, compact design with an M1 chip to deliver the music muscle you need.

That leaves Android devices, and they simply don’t come much better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Its massive 14-inch screen will wow you and is perfect for touch music making, if not portability. If you are an Android fan and have deep pockets to empty of cash and fill with one of the bigger tablets in our tests, then look no further.