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All tablets come with USB ports, so what exactly separates the best tablets with USB ports from the rest? Well, a lot of tablets in the past took use of either micro-USB or the lightning connector in the case of Apple. Things have certainly changed since then, as even Apple now uses a Type-C port.
Many tablets these days work with external accessories such as card readers, keyboards, mice, and other peripherals. The benefit is obvious, as professionals and people who need more devices for an efficient workflow can feel at home with a tablet.
A few choices from Apple and Samsung are great in particular, as we’ll explore later on. However, Windows tablets are much better in this regard, so we’ll be focusing on them as well.
After extensive trialing and testing, here are some of our favorite options from various manufacturers.
01
The best Tablet with USB ports
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
02
A great tablet for designers
iPad Pro 11
03
The best Windows tablet wiht USB ports
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Best tablet with USB port: things to consider
We end up re-stating this one quite a bit in some of our tablet guides, but it’s important to remind you. If you care about connectivity, then the sole reasoning behind that is that you want to get work done as efficiently as possible.
As such, the software for your tablet should reflect that idea as well. As intuitive as tablets are these days, sometimes the OS can hold them back.
iPad OS
There is little debate to be had here. iPads tend to have the best software out of any tablets. The latest iteration of iPad OS is fast, reliable, and the support for excellent apps such as Procreate set it apart from the crowd. There is a reason why so many people gravitate towards the Apple ecosystem as well.
However, keep in mind that currently, iPads are still not near full-fledged desktop computers. This is because Apple still has a gigantic product line in the form of Macbooks, mostly thanks to macOS. Stuff like multi-window support and file management is still finicky here.
Android
Android will always be known for its customization options and versatility. That does not change when it comes to Android tablets. These days, when we talk about Android tablets, the name Samsung is sure to pop up. There are few companies remaining that still make great Android tablets, and Samsung is leagues ahead.
Samsung’s DeX interface on select tablets allows you to convert the OS into an almost tablet-like experience. This changes the game quite a bit and makes up for the lack of ports on their tablets, as we’ll explore later on.
Windows
Windows is the desktop OS of choice for many people out there. All of that is for good reason, Windows tablets are by far leagues ahead in terms of versatility and overall flexibility than any other tablets on the market. While they may not come close to the intuition of an iPad, the pros may outweigh the cons for a lot of people.
For example, you get access to a familiar selection of desktop apps, support for programming workspaces, and more. Sometimes, traditional Windows machines are just hard to beat.
The loss of the headphone jack
It feels like ages ago when we were all mourning the loss of a beloved friend: the headphone jack. However, that issue is even grimmer when it comes to tablets. Many people like to use high-quality headphones from the likes of Sennheiser, AKG, and more with their tablets.
You can’t exactly do that when your tablet lacks a headphone jack. Of course, you can still adopt the dongle lifestyle, but nobody likes that. This may be less of an issue since so many people are used to wireless headphones nowadays. Still, it’s a sad thing to accept for us, audio nerds.
Fortunately, many Windows tablets are yet to ditch the headphone jack. Naturally, you’ll want to go that route if you care much.
Not all type-C ports are the same
For many of the best tablets with USB ports out there, you more than likely will not have access to traditional Type-A ports. Furthermore, video ports are not feasible in this small factor either. Fortunately, the beauty of Type-C ports is that they can be used for various purposes.
Just one of these ports on your tablet can power/charge it, provide video out, and even help with transferring files. With that said, not all Type-C ports are the same. Some are faster and others are slower.
A lot of Windows tablets might have Thunderbolt 4 ports and they support data transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s. Thunderbolt 4 also supports up to two 4K displays. Again, this will vary from tablet to tablet.
Stylus or no stylus?
For designers, avid note-takers, and students, a stylus is highly important. Some of the best tablets with USB ports also come with excellent digital pens out of the box. However, that’s not the case for every tablet. For example, the Apple Pencil is sold separately from the iPads.
If you need a stylus, you might appreciate one that comes out of the box. If the tablet you are going for does not come with one, know that buying one separately will significantly change the cost of the device.
Best tablet with USB ports: in-depth review
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
12.4-inch, 2800 x 1752 pixels, 120Hz
Pros
- Highly impressive screen
- Desktop like interface with DeX
- Great as a laptop replacement
- Includes S-Pen in the box
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is easily the best tablet with a USB port. Out of the entire Tab S8 lineup, the Ultra version might be the most impressive, but the S8+ is the one that turns out to be the most practical. It’s the perfect tool for professional designers, students, and creatives alike.
Unlike some of the Windows tablets out there, the Tab S8+ is a bit limited in terms of hardware connectivity. However, the implementation of Samsung’s DeX interfaces severely changes the situation for the better. This turns Android into a ChromeOS-like interface, giving you a desktop-like feel.
This means that you will feel more at home while working thanks to file management and floating windows. While the single Type-C port is limited, you can wirelessly connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and use the port for charging. If you need to connect more devices, you can always get a USB-C hub.
The Tab S8+ also comes with a microSD slot for storage or transferring files. Apart from that, it’s an excellent tablet on its own. It features all-day battery life, a bright and vivid screen, great performance, and even comes with an S-pen out of the box.
In terms of sheer flexibility, this is by far the best tablet with a USB port.
iPad Pro 11
11-inch, 2388 x 1668 pixels, 120Hz
128GB/ 256GB/ 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
Pros
- Best in class software experience
- Desktop-grade performance
- Excellent display
- Battery life is quite good
Cons
- No headphone jack or SD card slot
Hardware-wise, the iPad Pro 11 is a great tablet on that merit alone. It’s obvious for this one to come up when we’re talking about some of the best tablets with a USB port. While the immensely powerful performance and hardware are impressive, it’s the experience of using it that makes it so good.
For starters, the bright and sharp ProMotion display is a joy to use in any situation. Secondly, the M1 chipset inside of this thing gives it performance that is close to or better than some laptops for the same price.
iPad OS is the star of the show here, it is easy to use, features slick animation, and has excellent apps such as Procreate. However, it does lack a microSD card slot and a headphone jack.
Fortunately, Apple devices tend to have support for the best third-party accessories, meaning you can find many USB-C hubs that work great with the iPad Pro 11. While there are some limitations, the iPad Pro 11 is a much more enjoyable experience than most Windows tablets.
Considering the excellent experience, it’s easy to see why this is one of the best tablets with a USB port.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
13-inch, 2280 x 1920 pixels, 120Hz
128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB SSD
2x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, Surface connect port, Headphone jack
Pros
- Phenomenal performance
- Excellent selection of ports
- High-resolution 120Hz display
- Plenty of storage configurations
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a definite improvement from its predecessors. The attention to detail here goes a long way in making this the best Windows tablet. On that merit alone, it deserves to be mentioned amongst the best tablets with USB ports.
In terms of hardware, the Surface Pro 8 is highly capable. It features an excellent high-resolution and high-refresh-rate display. You get excellent performance thanks to the Intel processor, and the SSD is quite fast. It’s an excellent tablet that can compete with full-fledged laptops.
This Windows tablet also features more ports than the tablets above. It features two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, enabling faster data transfer and better support for external displays. Most importantly, it also features a headphone jack. All of this goes a long way in terms of connectivity.
So, the Surface Pro 8 is certainly impressive. However, it is quite expensive alone. The fact that you need to buy the keyboard cover separately further adds to the cost. Something to keep in mind before buying.
All in All, this is by far the best Windows tablet out there with a USB port.
Dell Latitude 7000 7320 Detachable 13 2-in-1
13-inch, 1920 x 1280 pixels
Pros
- Vibrant and colorful display
- Ingenious detachable screen
- Comes with keyboard cover and stylus
Cons
- Quite overpriced
- Trackpad feels a bit uncomfortable
The Dell 7320 Detachable is the ultimate Dell tablet. While the Surface Pro 8 is the best Windows tablet out there, the Dell 7320 Detachable takes a lot of risks that many would not dare attempt. It is one of the best tablets with a USB port, mainly because of the flexibility of the design.
Unlike other tablets these days, this one is a no-nonsense purely business-focused machine. This is indicated by the industrial gray finish of the design. Out of the box, it comes with a keyboard cover featuring a tough fabric and a darker finish, beautifully contrasting the overall look.
The keyboard itself feels great to type on, and it feels comfortable in long sessions. Considering the performance, it’s not that heavy either. The integrated kickstand helps in providing a comfortable viewing angle. So, ergonomically, the experience is on point.
In terms of connectivity, you get access to two USB-C ports, both of which support Thunderbolt 4 ports. It also features a 3.5mm headphone jack. The only real downside here is the price and the fact that the trackpad is quite underwhelming in both feel and comfort.
Apart from that, for business users, this is the best tablet with a USB port.
ASUS VivoBook 13 Slate
2x USB-C, Headphone jack, microSD slot
Pros
- Fantastic OLED display
- Includes keyboard cover, pen, and stand
- Decent cameras
Cons
- Underwhelming performance
- Not the most portable
On paper, the ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate is not exactly the best tablet with a USB port. However, it is certainly a very interesting Windows machine. One that focuses on a fantastic user experience, rather than performance or the hardware.
That idea is apparent because of the spectacular OLED display on this thing. Many people will treat this device as a high-end machine to consume media, rather than to essentially get work done. It is quite impressive to see a good OLED display on such a cheap tablet.
If you do want to get work done on this tablet, it is certainly possible thanks to the connectivity. You get access to two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. Those USB-C ports also feature Displayport video output.
Unfortunately, performance is quite underwhelming here. If you can overlook that, this is one of the best tablets with a USB port in terms of the user experience.
Final word
That about wraps it up for our roundup of the best tablets with a USB port. All of them have their use cases and will appeal to different users. The Tab S8+ and iPad Pro 11 are excellent if you want a traditional tablet experience but still want to get work done.
The Windows tablets are great for people who spend a lot of time on traditional laptops or desktops. The Surface Pro 8 is the one that stands out, but the others are interesting as well.
Whenever there is a new tablet launch, the conversation of replacing your laptop with a tablet pops up again and again. We think connectivity is something that a lot of people tend to overlook.
A tablet that is supposed to get work done, should also be able to support your essential peripherals.
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