Best Tablets for Musicians to Buy in 2025 (iPad, Android & Windows)
Whether you’re reading charts on forScore/MobileSheets, running synths and samplers, recording demos, or controlling a DAW on stage, the right tablet makes a huge difference. In 2025, iPadOS, Android, and Windows tablets all offer viable paths — the trade‑offs are latency, app ecosystem, I/O, and screen size. This guide highlights real, widely available models that consistently deliver for working musicians.
What matters most to musicians
- Audio & MIDI latency: Low round‑trip latency and stable drivers (or class‑compliant USB).
- Apps & ecosystem: Notation/readers (forScore, MobileSheets), synths (KORG Gadget, Moog apps), DAWs (Logic Pro for iPad, GarageBand, Cubasis, FL Studio Mobile, BandLab), control (Logic Remote, TouchOSC, Lemur, Metronome apps).
- I/O & expandability: USB‑C/Thunderbolt, class‑compliant audio interfaces, MIDI over USB/BLE, pedals for page‑turning (AirTurn/PageFlip).
- Display & brightness: 11–13″ sweet spot for charts; anti‑glare; 500–1000 nits for outdoor pits.
- Battery & thermals: Long set lists without throttling; cool under lights.
- Mounting & durability: Solid stands, strong magnets/cases, reliable Wi‑Fi/BLE on stage.
Quick Picks (TL;DR)
- Best overall for musicians: iPad Pro (M4, 13”/11”) – lowest latency feel, best music app ecosystem, Pencil Pro, superb display.
- Best value iPad: iPad Air (M2, 11”) – near‑Pro speed, Pencil Pro, lighter price; ideal for charts + soft synths.
- Best portable iPad for gigs: iPad (11‑inch, A16) – great battery and performance in a compact body.
- Best Android for stage & charts: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ (12.4”) – big AMOLED, S Pen, solid music apps, excellent file handling.
- Biggest Android canvas for scores: Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (14.6”) – two‑up lead sheets and wide view.
- Best Windows tablet for full DAWs: Surface Pro 11 (Copilot+, OLED) – runs full Ableton Live, Cubase, Pro Tools, Reaper with ASIO.
- Best budget sheet‑music tablet: Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 (11.5”) – 2K 120Hz screen, good battery, reliable with MobileSheets.
The Best Tablets for Musicians in 2025
iPad Pro (M4, 13” or 11”) — Best Overall
Why it’s great: Class‑leading latency feel, huge library of pro music apps, and the Ultra Retina XDR display that stays uniform under bright stage lights. Pencil Pro is perfect for fast chart annotations. USB‑C/Thunderbolt opens up multichannel audio and MIDI with class‑compliant interfaces.
Best for: Touring pros, MDs, pit musicians, and creators who want the smoothest real‑time instruments and the deepest app pool.
Highlights: 11″/13″ OLED XDR · Apple M4 · Pencil Pro · Thunderbolt/USB‑C · top music apps (Logic Pro for iPad, Cubasis, KORG, Moog) · long battery.
iPad Air (M2, 11”) — Best Value iPad
Why it’s great: Nearly Pro‑level performance for soft synths, multitrack sketches, and forScore. Supports Pencil Pro; bright, color‑accurate screen; superb standby for week‑to‑week rehearsals.
Best for: Gigging players who need iPadOS music apps and charting without Pro pricing.
Highlights: 11″ Liquid Retina · M2 · Pencil Pro · USB‑C · massive iPadOS music ecosystem.
iPad (11‑inch, A16) — Best Portable iPad for Gigs
Why it’s great: Light, powerful, and battery‑friendly for set lists, click tracks, and quick stems playback. Handles GarageBand/Cubasis comfortably; pairs great with BLE MIDI controllers and AirTurn/PageFlip pedals.
Best for: Solo/duo acts and worship teams that want a dependable all‑day iPad for charts + playback.
Highlights: 11″ Liquid Retina · A16 · Pencil support · Wi‑Fi 6 · long battery · USB‑C.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ (12.4”) — Best Android for Stage & Charts
Why it’s great: Big AMOLED helps visibility on dim stages; S Pen is in‑box for annotations. Strong app coverage (MobileSheets, FL Studio Mobile, n‑Track, BandLab, Audio Evolution Mobile Studio, TouchOSC). Great file handling, DeX for keyboard/mouse at rehearsals, and easy USB audio.
Best for: Players who prefer Android, need a large canvas, and want solid battery and mounting options.
Highlights: 12.4″ AMOLED · Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 · S Pen included · DeX · USB‑C audio/MIDI · IP68.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (14.6”) — Biggest Canvas for Scores
Why it’s great: The 14.6″ panel is phenomenal for reading two‑up charts (lead sheets side by side) and large scores. S Pen feels great for markings, and DeX makes it a rehearsal workstation.
Best for: Choir/orchestra pits, MDs, and keys players who live inside charts and want max screen space.
Highlights: 14.6″ AMOLED · S Pen included · huge battery · multi‑window · excellent speakers.
Surface Pro 11 (Copilot+, OLED) — Best for Full DAWs
Why it’s great: Runs Ableton, Cubase, Pro Tools, Reaper with your ASIO audio interface. The OLED panel is bright and color‑rich for editing waveforms/MIDI. Multitrack recording, VSTs, and complex routing — all possible on a single slate.
Best for: Producers/engineers who need desktop plug‑ins, full session templates, and multi‑I/O tracking.
Highlights: 13″ OLED 120Hz · Snapdragon X Elite/Plus · Windows 11 · Slim Pen support · full DAW ecosystem.
Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 (11.5”) — Best Budget Sheet‑Music Tablet
Why it’s great: A sharp 2K 120Hz screen with good brightness, smooth page turns, and reliable MobileSheetsperformance. Works well with Bluetooth page‑turn pedals and wired/wireless audio.
Best for: Students and budget‑minded players who want a dependable reader/annotator first, light synths second.
Highlights: 11.5″ 2000×1200 120Hz · Helio G99 · long battery · pen/keyboard options · USB‑C.
In case you want to check our some budget tablets: Best Tablets Under $300 to Buy in 2025 (Android/iPad/Fire)
Comparison Table (At a Glance)
| Model | Display | Pen | I/O & Audio | Notable Apps | Ideal Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro (M4, 11/13) | OLED XDR 120Hz | Apple Pencil Pro | Thunderbolt/USB‑C; class‑compliant audio/MIDI | Logic Pro iPad, Cubasis, KORG/Moog, forScore | Pro performance, live rigs, scores |
| iPad Air (M2, 11) | LCD 60–120Hz | Apple Pencil Pro | USB‑C; class‑compliant audio/MIDI | GarageBand, Cubasis, forScore | Best value iPad for gigs |
| iPad (11″, A16) | LCD 60Hz | Apple Pencil (USB‑C/1st gen) | USB‑C; BLE MIDI; class‑compliant audio | GarageBand, Cubasis, forScore | Portable set‑list & playback |
| Galaxy Tab S9+ | 12.4″ AMOLED (high refresh) | S Pen (in‑box) | USB‑C audio/MIDI; DeX | MobileSheets, FL Studio Mobile, AEMS, TouchOSC | Big Android stage tablet |
| Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra | 14.6″ AMOLED | S Pen (in‑box) | USB‑C audio/MIDI; DeX | MobileSheets, BandLab, TouchOSC | Two‑up charts, MDs, pits |
| Surface Pro 11 (OLED) | 13″ OLED 120Hz | Slim Pen | USB‑C/Thunderbolt; full ASIO | Ableton, Cubase, Pro Tools, Reaper | Full DAW workflows |
| Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 | 11.5″ 2K 120Hz | Lenovo Pen | USB‑C; BT MIDI; basic USB audio | MobileSheets, BandLab | Budget sheet‑music reader |
Specs and app availability vary by region/SKU; check pen inclusion and storage.
Stage & Studio Tips (Save Headaches)
- Use a sturdy mount (Hercules/IK/On‑Stage) and a locking case; test on the exact stand you’ll gig.
- Turn off auto‑brightness/True Tone/Night Shift before showtime; set brightness to a fixed level.
- Airplane Mode + Wi‑Fi/BLE on only if needed (for Remote/MIDI pedals); disable notifications.
- Powered USB‑C hub for interfaces that need phantom power; avoid drawing from the tablet.
- Page‑turn pedals: AirTurn BT‑105, PageFlip Firefly — pair and set in forScore/MobileSheets.
- Fail‑safes: Export PDF backups of charts; keep printed set list for emergencies.
- Latency hygiene: Prefer wired audio on stage; keep sample rates/buffer sizes consistent across apps.
- Backups: Sync set lists to cloud and carry a second device (phone/tablet) with critical charts.
Might want to check out best ones in the category: Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones to Buy in 2025
Final Thoughts
For sheer reliability, iPad Pro (M4) remains the reference for gigging and studio work. The iPad Air (M2) gets you 90% of the way for less, while iPad (11‑inch, A16) is the light grab‑and‑go option. On Android, Galaxy Tab S9+ and S9 Ultra are excellent for charts and production, and if you run full desktop DAWs, Surface Pro 11 is uniquely capable. Pair your pick with a class‑compliant interface, a page‑turn pedal, and a solid stand, and your live rig will be faster, safer, and more musical.
