Best Tablets for Photo Editing to Buy in 2025 (iPad, Android & Windows)
Photo editing on tablets has matured—between color‑accurate displays, low‑latency pens, and desktop‑class apps, you can cull, edit, and deliver pro work without opening a laptop. This guide focuses on real, globally available models that deliver the best mix of display accuracy, performance, stylus experience, and app ecosystem for 2025.
Key criteria we used
- Display quality: panel type, brightness, P3/Adobe RGB coverage, uniformity.
- Stylus experience: latency, tilt/pressure, palm rejection; Pencil/S Pen compatibility.
- Performance: SoC/CPU-GPU for heavy RAW edits and masks; RAM/storage.
- Apps & workflow: Lightroom/Photoshop, Affinity Photo, Capture One for iPad/Windows, file management, external storage.
- Battery & thermals: sustained performance in long editing sessions.
Quick Picks (TL;DR)
- Best overall for photographers: iPad Pro (M4, 11″/13″) – ultra‑accurate tandem‑OLED XDR, Pencil Pro, desktop‑level speed.
- Best value for iPadOS: iPad Air (M2, 11″) – near‑Pro performance, great color, Pencil Pro support.
- Best Android editor: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ – 12.4″ AMOLED, S Pen in box, robust Adobe/Lightroom apps.
- Best big canvas on Android: Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra – 14.6″ AMOLED for split‑view edits and reference.
- Best mid‑budget Android: Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ – 12.4″ LCD 90Hz, S Pen, reliable color for the price.
- Best Windows tablet for full desktop apps: Surface Pro 11 (Copilot+, OLED) – runs full Lightroom Classic/Photoshop, wide color OLED.
- Portable travel pick: iPad (11‑inch, A16) – light, color‑true Liquid Retina with Pencil support.
We prioritize new or manufacturer‑refurbished units only. Accessories like pens/keyboards may be optional.
The Best Tablets for Photo Editing in 2025
iPad Pro (M4, 11″/13″) — Best Overall
Why it’s great: The tandem‑OLED Ultra Retina XDR panel offers exceptional uniformity, deep blacks, and high peak brightness for HDR previews. M4 delivers effortless RAW batch edits and complex AI masks. Apple Pencil Pro adds hover, squeeze, tilt, and near‑zero latency.
Best for: Professionals who demand the most accurate mobile display and fastest performance.
Highlights: Tandem OLED (XDR) · ProMotion 120Hz · M4 · Pencil Pro support · P3 wide color · top-tier HDR · USB‑C/Thunderbolt · 11″ or 13″ sizes.
iPad Air (M2, 11″) — Best Value iPad
Why it’s great: Delivers ~Pro‑level performance on an LCD that’s still very color‑accurate and bright. Supports Apple Pencil Pro, handles multi‑layer edits smoothly, and stays cooler than older iPads in long sessions.
Best for: Enthusiasts and working photographers who want 90% of Pro power for notably less.
Highlights: Liquid Retina 11″ · 60/120Hz region‑dependent (check SKU) · M2 · Pencil Pro · P3 color · fast USB‑C · long battery.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ — Best Android Editor
Why it’s great: The 12.4″ Dynamic AMOLED with excellent contrast and P3‑class coverage makes color work pleasant; S Pen is included and feels superb for masking and healing. Strong app support (Lightroom, Photoshop, Clip Studio, LumaFusion) and desktop‑style DeX for file workflows.
Best for: Photographers preferring Android who want a large, accurate canvas and in‑box stylus.
Highlights: 12.4″ AMOLED · high refresh · S Pen included · IP68 · fast SoC · microSD (region/model dependent) · great speakers.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra — Best Big Canvas
Why it’s great: A gigantic 14.6″ AMOLED turns culling and dual‑panel reference edits into a joy. Plenty of RAM for big panoramas; S Pen included; excellent file management with DeX and external drives.
Best for: Studio and tether‑style editors who want laptop‑like screen real estate in a tablet.
Highlights: 14.6″ AMOLED · S Pen included · high refresh · multi‑window · strong battery · slim for its size.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ — Best Mid‑Budget Android
Why it’s great: Color‑consistent 12.4″ LCD 90Hz, S Pen in box, and solid thermals. While it’s not AMOLED, it calibrates reliably and is excellent for Lightroom Mobile and retouching.
Best for: Students and hobbyists who want a large canvas, pen included, at a lower price.
Highlights: 12.4″ LCD 90Hz · S Pen included · IP68 · long battery · DeX · dependable SoC.
Surface Pro 11 (Copilot+, OLED) — Best for Full Desktop Apps
Why it’s great: Runs Lightroom Classic and full Photoshop with plug‑ins, tethering, and your existing presets. The OLED panel delivers deep blacks and wide color; the Surface Slim Pen offers excellent tilt/pressure.
Best for: Photographers who need full desktop workflow (catalogs, plug‑ins, printer soft‑proofing) in a tablet form.
Highlights: 13″ OLED · Snapdragon X‑class · Windows 11 · Slim Pen support · full Adobe apps · USB‑C · long battery.
iPad (11‑inch, A16) — Best Portable Travel Pick
Why it’s great: Lighter than Pro/Air yet powerful for on‑the‑go culling and edits. The Liquid Retina panel is bright and consistent; paired with Pencil it’s great for local adjustments and quick exports.
Best for: Travelers who want a compact, color‑true iPad with long battery life.
Highlights: 11″ Liquid Retina · A16 · up to 512GB · Wi‑Fi 6 · Pencil support · all‑day battery.
Comparison Table (At a Glance)
| Model | Display & Size | Refresh | Color & Brightness (typ) | Stylus | OS / Apps | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro (M4, 11/13) | Tandem OLED (XDR) 11″/13″ | 120Hz | Wide P3, HDR, very high peak | Apple Pencil Pro | iPadOS (LR, PS, Affinity, Capture One) | Pros, print‑critical color |
| iPad Air (M2, 11) | LCD 11″ | 60–120Hz (region/SKU) | Wide P3, high brightness | Apple Pencil Pro | iPadOS | Best value iPad |
| Galaxy Tab S9+ | AMOLED 12.4″ | High refresh | Wide color, high contrast | S Pen (in box) | Android (LR, PS, LumaFusion) | Best Android editor |
| Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra | AMOLED 14.6″ | High refresh | Wide color, high contrast | S Pen (in box) | Android | Biggest canvas |
| Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ | LCD 12.4″ | 90Hz | Consistent color, bright | S Pen (in box) | Android | Mid‑budget large screen |
| Surface Pro 11 (OLED) | OLED 13″ | 120Hz | Wide gamut, deep blacks | Surface Slim Pen | Windows (LR Classic, PS) | Full desktop workflow |
| iPad (11‑inch, A16) | LCD 11″ | 60Hz | Wide color, bright | Apple Pencil | iPadOS | Portable travel edits |
Specs may vary by region/SKU. Always verify stylus inclusion and storage options.
How We Judge Display Accuracy (Fast Checklist)
- Target color space: Set to Display P3 (iPad/Android) or sRGB if you deliver for web only.
- Calibrate/adjust: Use built‑in True Tone/Night Shift OFF while editing; set brightness ~60–80%.
- Uniformity: Open a 50% gray test image; check corners for tint/brightness shifts.
- Gamma/contrast: Avoid ultra‑vivid modes; pick “Natural/Professional/Photograph” profiles where available.
App & Workflow Tips (Lightroom / Photoshop Mobile)
- RAW on tablet: Import from card via USB‑C, or sync from camera if supported.
- Culling speed: Build Smart Previews; use flags/stars first, develop later.
- Profiles first: Apply camera profiles and lens corrections before local adjustments.
- Masking order: Subject > Background > Sky; refine with Pencil/S Pen for edges.
- Noise & sharpening: Light NR at ISO 3200+; sharpen with masking to protect smooth areas.
- Export presets: Create exports for web sRGB and print (TIFF/PNG); keep a naming scheme.
- Storage hygiene: Use an external SSD for archives; keep the tablet’s internal storage for active projects.
Accessories That Matter
- Stylus: Apple Pencil Pro / S Pen / Slim Pen (buy the official pen for lowest latency).
- Stand & keyboard: A low‑angle stand improves masking accuracy; keyboard speeds culling.
- USB‑C card reader & hub: For SD/CFexpress, external SSDs, and displays.
- Matte screen protector (optional): Paper‑like feel for retouching; minor contrast hit.
- External SSD: NVMe USB‑C drives (1–2TB) for catalog/RAW libraries.
Want to check out some of the laptops: Best Budget Laptops for Photo Editing
Final Thoughts
If color accuracy and speed are your top priorities, the iPad Pro (M4) is the most complete photo‑editing tablet in 2025. For value, the iPad Air (M2) is hard to beat. Android editors should look to the Galaxy Tab S9+ (or Ultra if you want the biggest canvas), while the S9 FE+ delivers a credible mid‑budget option with the pen included. If you rely on Lightroom Classic/Photoshop plug‑ins, the Surface Pro 11 (OLED) is the only tablet here that runs the full desktop workflow.
