4 Best 5G Tablets in 2023 [Unlocked Cellular Models]

Having a 5G tablet by your side can make a crucial difference if you seek high-speed internet and don’t want to rely on WiFi-only tablets. A solid tablet with 5G data capability is also your best bet to future-proof your purchase, and you can expect better internet accessibility while traveling. But how do you find a good 5G LTE tablet?

Well, a robust processing unit is imperative to handle higher internet speeds. Do you want to work with your files offline? The expandable storage might come in handy. Evidently, mobile data drains the battery faster than WiFi, so it would help if you keep the battery capacity in mind. A quality display and stereo sound will ensure you don’t miss out on quality entertainment.

To ensure you don’t miss out on such critical features that enable seamless productivity and entertainment, I have compiled a list of my top picks along with a dedicated buying guide. The latest wireless connectivity, robust processing unit, quality display, and flexible operating mode take precedence with features like a long battery and a good selfie camera.

Best 5G Tablets in 2023

As you might be aware, there are a limited amount of 5G compatible tablets on the market. Being at the premium end of the market space, I have picked the top 4 devices owing to their features, utility, and value for their price. Note that I have only included models that support ample 5G bands and work with multiple cellular networks in the US.

Apple iPads take the top spot with an impressive combination of the latest standards and a top-shelf user experience. The latest offering from Samsung is amongst the toughest competitor for the iPad, which brings it to my list of top recommendations.

1. Best Overall: Apple iPad Pro

A jump in performance of the iPad Pro comes with upgrades to its chipset, RAM, and extended storage over its previous version. The Apple iPad Pro Brings exceptional display quality, the latest wireless connectivity, a higher body to screen ratio, and a premium design, which makes it the best 5G tablet on the market.

Display

The wide color gamut and a 600 nits brightness bring more elegance and richness to the visuals of an 11-inch liquid retina display. The larger surface area, FHD quality display, and resolution of 2388 x 1688 pixels translate to a great visual experience.

Hardware & Performance

The 5nm, Octacore processor, seems to be the engine behind the high-performing 5G capable iPad. An Octa-core GPU complements the CPU with performance boosts during heavy processing. Design applications, creativity software, and high graphics gaming in iPadOS 16.6.0 come under the purview of this beast of a processing unit.

The multitasking ability of 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is worth mentioning. Everything runs smoothly and as expected.

Design & Build 

The metallic grey chassis comes with an oleophobic coating, making it resistant to scratches. Apple packs the power within 1.03 pounds and 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 inches in dimensions. Thin bezels on all four sides give a larger viewing area. You’ll find the volume buttons, sim slots on the sides, USB-C thunderbolt port, and display port on the bottom.

Cameras & Speakers

A rear camera combination of 12MP and 10MP UltraWide cameras comes with a LED dual-tone flash. The ability to record videos at 1080 & 4K makes this an excellent companion for your vacations. The 12MP ultra-wide camera adds the requisite visual quality to business meetings and virtual conferences.

Apple throws in a four-speaker setup that can pack some bass punch while listening to music. Excellent sound clarity at higher volumes makes this a better choice than its previous version.

Battery & Charging

The 7538 mAh battery can last up to 10 hours of mixed usage, ranging from productivity, media consumption, or music. It can last up to 9 hours of web surfing with cellular data networks. With a fast-charging (USB Type C-4) port, the iPad gets fully recharged in 4-5 hours.

Should you buy it?

The 11-inch version of the iPad Pro is compatible with 2^nd gen Apple Pencil. Combined with a keyboard, the iPad Pro turns into a processing beast. The wider range of bands and its robust processing capacity puts it above the Samsung counterpart.

2. Best 5G Android Tablet: Samsung Tab S7

Upgrades to the processor, memory, and battery life of its preceding unit make this a far better choice for the 5G Android tablet. The latest wireless standards, more extended battery backup, and expandable SD slot bring the Samsung Tab S7 closer to the top of our list.

Display

The 11-inch TFT display and a high body screen are crucial to its exhilarating visual experience. Complemented by higher refresh rates and a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels takes you on a seamless detail-rich, entertaining journey.

Hardware & Performance

The powerful Octa-core processor in the Snapdragon 865+ 7nm-based chipset clocks at a higher frequency of 3GHz. In synergy with Adreno 650 GPU, the Samsung 5G tablet eases you through graphics-oriented games and HD videos. Take the device into a work machine, edit documents, create designs and listen to music.

A 6GB RAM and 128GB storage is part of the core setup that fuels the performance of the Galaxy S7. A MicroSD slot translates to an extensive collection of offline music and a video library of 1TB. If you’re looking for a completely overhauled chipset and cranked-up features, you can go for the improved latest edition from Samsung, the S8 series.

The One UI is a trademark design catered to users who prefer to operate the tablet closer to the desktop.

Design & Build

The intelligent design packs a solid punch within 1.1 pounds while measuring 9.99 x 6.51 x .25 inches in dimensions. Samsung accommodates a USB port on the bottom, the volume keys, Sim slot on the side with the speaker. The S-Pen fits in the rear close to the rear-end camera unit.

Cameras & Speakers

A solid rear-camera combination of 13MP wide & 5MP ultra-wide camera lets your record visuals at 4K quality. The selfie camera is an 8MP wide-angle camera for an ideal video calling experience.

A quad-core stereo setup tuned by AKG with support from Dolby Atmos keeps your video calling sessions qualitative. Listening to music, watching Netflix and offline movies hands-free without compromising the audio experience is a treat to your ears.

Battery & Charging 

Samsung claims 15 hours of video playback from its 8000 mAh battery. While the data connectivity can drain the batteries much sooner, it can last you for an entire work day. A fast-charging USB 3 Port comes in handy for quicker recharges, with complete recharge taking a little over 3 hours.

Should you buy it?

If you are looking for a 5G tablet that works with Verizon, you couldn’t go wrong with Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. The excellent array of features, unique desktop mode, and attached stylus make this an outstanding choice for students and professionals alike. The advantage in price keeps it above the iPad Mini.

3. Best with Compact Design: Apple iPad Mini

The A15 Bionic chip gives its performance a much-required boost, making it a better option than its predecessor. The Apple iPad Mini packs a punch as a 5G LTE tablet with an excellent display and a brilliant camera quality put together in a lightweight design.

Display

The strength of true tone technology and a wide color gamut makes the best use of 500 brightness, bringing more life and punch to media and entertainment. The 8.3-inch liquid retina display boasts a higher resolution of 2266 x 1688 pixels bringing vibrance and excellent detail to videos, game visuals, etc.

Hardware & Performance

The 5nm, hexacore processor forms the backbone of the 5G tablet with a SIM slot. A 5-core GPU plays its part during the demands of heavy processing. The device eases through high graphics games, heavy data set processing, and video conferences without breaking a sweat. The duo of 4GB RAM and 256GB storage is paramount to its processing ability and multitasking applications.

Design & Build 

Mini has a metallic rear body and a glass front that sports a scratch-resistant glass with an oleophobic coating, making it viable for digital pen usage. One of the best 5G supported tablets in iPad mini comes in a lightweight package of 0.64 pounds and 7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 inches in dimensions, owing to the ingenuity in design.

Thin bezels on the front leave more room for operations. Apple accommodates the speakers, charging port on the bottom, volume buttons on the side, and a camera on its rear end.

Cameras & Speakers

The rear camera unit boasts of 12MP wide aperture unit with HDR recording ability. It can capture visuals in FHD and 4K quality. Put them to use during your vacations and log your memories. The 12 MP front ultra-wide selfie camera captures visuals at 1080p quality, adding the requisite visual experience for Zoom meetings and video calls.

The iPad Mini gets a quad-core speaker setup which packs a quality sound experience for a budget 5G tablet, compared to the other pricey offerings from Apple.

Battery & Charging

iPad mini gets a 5124mAh battery. It has a good battery life that can last you a long work day with optimal, balanced usage. In WiFi mode, it lasts up to 10 hours of usage, while it brings the capacity to last 9 hours of light usage with cellular networks. With the fast charging facility with a USB-C 3.1 port, the iPad mini gets fully charged in 3-4 hours.

Should you buy it?

If you are looking 5G ready tablet that works with T-Mobile and AT&T, the iPad mini is an excellent choice. Despite being a higher price than the Galaxy S7 Android counterpart, the iPad mini brings the advantage of superior cameras and great processing ability.

4. Best with Big Display: Samsung Tab S7 FE

Modifications to the core processing unit and memory components make it more powerful and valuable than its predecessor. Aggressive pricing of the Samsung S7 FE with including its  5G capability warrants inclusion in the top recommendations.

Display

The larger 16:10 aspect ratio of the 12.4-inch TFT display keeps the visual vibrance and rich in color and detail. The 2560 x 1600 pixels high resolution translates to a visual treat for media consumption and education. Despite being a TFT panel, it produces vivid colors that qualify it as one of the best tablets with a large screen.

Hardware & Performance

The Octa-core snapdragon 778G processor and the Adreno 619 GPU engine work in tandem to power the 5G enabled tablet. Creative, design-friendly applications, office productivity tools, and graphics-oriented games fall within the purview of the beast of a processing unit.

The processing unit transforms into a multitasker with the help of 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, which gives plenty of room to operate a wide range of applications. With a microSD slot, carry your work files and music library up to 1TB. The S7 FE is also available in the 8GB + 256GB variant.

Design & Build 

The aluminum alloy body gives the 5G cellular capable tablet a premium feel. Weighing 1.34 lbs, intelligent design packs it within 11.21 x 7.28 x .25-inches in dimensions. The Stylus slot on the magnetic holder on the rear side is just below the camera unit. The sim slot, speakers, and charging port can be found on the sides and the bottom.

Cameras & Speakers

Samsung comes with an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. Both can record visuals at 1080p quality. A slight compromise to accommodate its aggressive pricing, nonetheless, gets the job done. Quality is sufficient for good video calls and virtual conferences.

The Samsung FE gets a pair of stereo speakers. While it misses out on the speakers in its predecessor, the AKG tuned speaker, with Dolby Atmos support, fills your hands-free experience with quality.

Battery & Charging

Samsung claims the 10800 mAh battery can give you a backup of 13 hours of usage. It is contingent on balanced usage distributed with idle, surfing, and media consumption. The fast-charging USB 3.2 ports keep the charging time close to 3 hours for a full recharge.

Should you buy it?

The Stylus and DeX mode gives creatives and business professionals a unique advantage. Overall, S7 FE is one of the best Samsung tablets with cellular capability. It offers excellent value for its price and gives tough competition to superior and premium-priced iPad Mini.

Buying Guide for a 5G Capable Tablet

If you’re not able to pick a suitable computing device from the list above, use the below guide as a reference to look out for the suitable device. Focusing on factors ensures the tablet with 5G data capability meets your requirements and budget.

5G Compatibility

The support of operating bands determines the quality and availability of the 5G network. For 5G compatible tablets, it is paramount to look into the range of bands and frequencies it supports. The band and frequencies that the network carrier operates vary based on licenses.

Look out for the operating 5G bands of the prominent network carrier, irrespective of T-Mobile or AT&T, and check if the device supports similar frequencies. This ensures you make the most of the network availability and high data transfer speeds.

Display Panel

A quality display is imperative to a 5G compatible tablet. It brings a premium visual experience for a device with premium capabilities. LED/TFT screens supporting FHD & UHD resolution will take your experience to the next level. Be it media consumption or high graphics gaming, display resolution plays a key role.

If you’re prone to using digital pens for designing and other editing works, ensure the display comes with an oleophobic /protective coating. It’s essential to extend the life of the screen and sustain the touch experience. Display associated features like adjusting sensitivity and brightness make your 5G supported tablets work ideally indoors and outdoors.

Hardware & Performance

A 5G tablet without a robust hardware unit cannot live up to its potential. Look for a multi-core high-frequency processing unit complemented by adequate RAM and storage memory. It will ensure your device has multi-tasking capability.

Listening to songs while working on documents, creating or sharing presentations, creating designs, editing photos or videos, or gaming, you can rely on the strength of the processing unit.

The OS determines the range of activities, applications, user security, and the whole UI experience. Choose between iPadOS or Android based on your preference and liking.

Design & Connectivity

Lightweight, the compact design goes a long way in making it easy for you to carry the tablet with 5G data capability. Put it on a sleeve and slide it into your backpack. A quality speaker, different operating modes, and a mic that captures quality audio make your video calls and meetings hands-free and convenient.

When you have W-iFi connectivity, the latest wireless standards can help you extend the battery backup of your 5G-ready tablet. Fast USB ports, expandable SD card slots, and the latest Bluetooth connectivity ensure the seamless data transfer to/fro of external drive and faster response times for keyboards & other devices.

Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is a critical factor when looking for cellular enabled tablets. The higher the battery capacity, the longer it will hold loads of heavy data processing out of the 5G connectivity. If you ‌use the device for entertainment and media consumption, the battery takes higher precedence.

The longer your battery backup, the less time you’ll spend looking out for charging ports. Even if you need one, the fast charging capacity will allow getting the job as quickly as possible. The fast charging support will make a lot of difference to keep you moving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

When you’re stuck between choosing a good 5G tablet and a cheap 5G tablet, use the value for money as a thumb rule for selecting a product. Settling down on a cheaper version might reduce its future potential. Also, note that unlocked 5G tablets offer more flexibility over preferred carrier-specific locked devices, which also plays an essential part in your decision-making.

Please find my suggestions for the most common preferences:

• The Samsung Tab S7 FE is the best value for money option with a slight compromise in the storage and camera unit.
• The iPad Pro and iPad Mini are amongst the best 5G tablets that offer great features and wide 5G bands, making them viable to use with multiple network carriers.
• Prefer the Android ecosystem over Apple? the Galaxy Tab S7 comes with excellent features, a quality display, and the flexibility of DeX mode.

I hope this article helps you make a strong buying decision. If you have any queries, please drop them in the comment section below. Also, let me know which one are you getting?