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Top 15: Best Tablets With 4G LTE & SIM Card Slot | 2021 Edition

Which are the best tablets with 4G LTE and SIM card support? I’m reviewing almost every tablet and here are the best with cellular options.

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Which are the best tablets with 4G LTE and SIM card slots? Most manufacturers offer Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi plus cellular options. However, not all do and sometimes it can be a bit confusing to see which is the correct one unless you’re reading about tech all day. If you want to use your tablet on the go, you should make sure that a SIM card slot is built-in.

In this list, you’ll find tablets with 4G LTE support and room for at least one SIM card. These are the best tablets with 4G LTE you can find right now and some even offer 5G. I’ve been reviewing tablets since 2008 and these are my current recommendation.

In the beginning, I’m giving you a quick overview with a more detailed look below. If you want more information, you can always check out my full reviews which are linked underneath each device.

Best Tablets With 4G & 5G: A Quick Overview

Let’s check out the best tablets with a SIM card slot and 4G or 5G support.

• Best tablet with 4G: Apple iPad Pro 2020 (on Amazon*). I think the Apple iPad Pro is the best tablet overall. And since you can get a version with integrated LTE, it also is the best cellular tablet out there. With its Apple A12Z Bionic processor, it is faster than all Android tablets. We also get lots of premium features like great speakers, optional pens and keyboards, and a high-end design. You can get 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions which both support 120Hz.
• Best Android tablet with LTE and 5G: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 & Galaxy Tab S7+ (on Amazon*). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7+ are the best Android tablets out there. While you can get the 11-inch Tab S7 with LTE, the 12.4-inch Tab S7+ with its Super AMOLED screen can be bought with 5G support. Both screens support 120Hz and with their Snapdragon 865+ processor, they’re faster than their competitors.
• Fantastic upper-mid-range value: Apple iPad Air 4 (on Amazon*). The Apple iPad Air 4 can be a fantastic alternative to the iPad Pro if you don’t need a big screen or 120Hz. Apple is selling a cellular version as well and the A14 Bionic processor has a similar performance. We’re getting a pretty 10.9-inch screen and you can use an active pen and buy official keyboard covers as well.
• Best 8-inch tablet with LTE: Apple iPad Mini (on Amazon*). The Apple iPad Mini is the best 8-inch tablet in general which you can also get with 4G. It’s faster than all its similar-sized competitors, has a pretty 7.9-inch screen with stylus support, as well as a fast Apple A12 processor. We get lots of good features like a premium built, nice speakers, and a fingerprint scanner.
• Cheaper Galaxy Tab S7 alternative: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 (on Amazon*). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is the predecessor of the Galaxy Tab S7. It continues to be a great choice if you can find a good deal. Even though it’s slower, the Snapdragon 855 is fast enough for high-end gaming too and we’re getting a great 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen. The S Pen is included.
• Great mid-range Android tablets with LTE: Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e (on Amazon*). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is a fantastic mid-range Android tablet. It’s not as fast as the S6 or S7 but it has a great 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen too, a premium-feeling design, great speakers, and it’s running up to date software. You can get it with LTE but it has no pen support.
• Cheapest iPad with cellular: Apple iPad 8 (on Amazon*). The Apple iPad 8 is the cheapest current iPad 8 and you can get a cellular version. I think this is one of the best values if you also need lots of performance because the Apple A12 SoC is faster than all its competitors in this price range. Sadly, the 10.2-inch screen is not laminated but it does support the Apple Pencil and an official keyboard.
• Best 8-inch Android tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3 (on Amazon*). Even though it has a rugged and not so pretty-looking design, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is the best 8-inch Android tablet you can buy right now. It has a good screen, fast processor, and comes with the S Pen. There’s a 4G version and you can use it to make phone calls.
• Mid-range Android tablet with a stylus: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (on Amazon*). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a great mid-range Android tablet if you need an active pen. It’s slower than the Tab S5e but the S Pen is included and you can get it with 4G. Samsung is shipping it with a 10.4-inch screen, a premium-feeling metal body, and up to date software.
• Great 8-inch Android tablet with 4G: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-P205 (on Amazon*). The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-P205 is one of my favorite 8-inch Android tablets ever. Even though it’s quite affordable, it has a good 8-inch screen and comes with an S Pen. Its performance is not great for gaming but fine for standard tasks. You can get it with 4G and I used it as my phone for a while and that worked great. Sadly, it’s available in a few selected countries only.
• Inexpensive 10-inch tablet with LTE: Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (on Amazon*). The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is the cheapest 10-inch Android tablet with LTE that I can currently recommend. You’ll have to live without any premium features but it has a decent 10.4-inch screen, a good enough performance, and good software. But it’s lacking a pen option, there’s no fingerprint scanner, and so on.
• Cheap 8-inch tablet: Lenovo Tab M8 HD (on Amazon*). The Lenovo Tab M8 HD is the cheapest 8-inch tablet with optional 4G that I can recommend. It’s much slower than the iPad Mini but it has a good built quality and the screen is good for its price. There’s no pen support and all other premium features are missing.
• Best 10-inch Windows tablet with LTE: Microsoft Surface Go 2 (on Amazon*). The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is one of few Windows tablets with optional LTE support. It’s the best 10-inch Windows tablet you can buy because it has a premium design, a good screen, supports the Surface Pen, and you can get it with a fantastic keyboard. It’s not as powerful as a premium laptop but good enough for office work.
• Cheaper 10-inch Windows tablet: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3i (on Amazon*). The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3i is an interesting alternative to the Surface Go 2. Its design is similar but since the keyboard seems to always be included, it can be quite a bit cheaper. The internal hardware is not as powerful but it’s fine for office work too.
• Interesting 13-inch Windows tablet with 4G: Microsoft Surface Pro X (on Amazon*). The Microsoft Surface Pro X is a very exciting choice if you’re looking for a big Windows tablet with 4G. But you’ve got to be very careful here. While the 13-inch screen, the design, pen, and keyboard seem amazing, it’s shipping with an ARM processor and it’s running Windows on ARM. That means many traditional desktop apps won’t work at all or won’t work great.

Best Tablets With 4G & SIM Card: An In-Depth Look

Now, let’s take a closer more in-depth look at all the options I mentioned above.

Apple iPad Pro 2020: Best Tablet With LTE

The Apple iPad Pro is the best pure tablet you can buy right now. With that being said, especially if you get the cellular options, it also is one of the priciest tablets out there. You can’t use it for phone calls but you can insert a 4G SIM card and access the internet wherever you are.

Apple is selling the iPad Pro with an 11-inch and a 12.9-inch screen. They’re super bright with 600 nits and work great outside. A major advantage over most tablets on this list is that they support 120Hz. You can use an active pen called the Apple Pencil 2 and Apple is selling two different kinds of official keyboards called the Apple Magic Keyboard and Apple Smart Keyboard Folio which both are great for what they are.

Due to their Apple A12Z Bionic processor and 6GB of RAM, they’re faster than every Android tablet. You can get 128GB up to 1TB of storage. The iPad Pro has all the premium features you can think of like a premium-feeling metal body, four good speakers, and Face ID facial recognition.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 & S7+: Best Android Tablets With 4G & 5G

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7+ are the best Android tablets out there. In most regards, the two are almost identical. But the 11-inch Tab S7 has a standard LCD screen and you can get it with 4G. The Tab S7+, on the other hand, can be bought with 5G support and it has a fantastic 12.4-inch Super AMOLED screen. I think that is the best display of any tablet right now.

With their Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor, they’re faster than all other Android tablets. You can get versions with 6GB and 8GB of RAM, as well as 128GB up to 512GB of storage. Both are running Android 10 out of the box and Samsung promises to update them for at least three years. The Samsung DeX desktop mode is supported on both.

You can get each of them with an official keyboard cover which is great. I also love that the S Pen is included at no additional charge and is well supported on the software side. We get four good speakers, a fingerprint scanner on each, as well as a premium metal body.

If you get the 4G or 5G versions and if you’ve got a corresponding cellular contract, you can use both tablets to make phone calls. But you’ll have to use a headset, of course, since they don’t have an earpiece as your phone has.

Apple iPad Air 4: Fantastic Pro-Alternative

The Apple iPad Air 4 is an outstanding alternative to the 11-inch iPad Pro if you’re looking for a premium tablet with optional 4G but don’t want to spend too much money. Both devices are quite similar but the Air 4 has a standard 60Hz screen, you can’t get a version with a 12.9-inch display, and it does not have Face ID or a LiDAR sensor.

Besides that, they’re almost indistinguishable from each other. The iPad Air 4 has a pretty 10.9-inch Liquid Retina screen which is 500 nits bright and supports the Apple Pencil 2. Inside runs an Apple A14 Bionic processor with 4GB of RAM which is as powerful as the A12Z and in some benchmarks, it’s even faster. You can get it with 64GB and 256GB of internal storage.

The iPadOS software is the same of course. You can also use it with the Apple Magic Keyboard and the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio. That’s because the basic design is the same. We get good speakers, a Touch ID fingerprint scanner that’s built into the power button, as well as a USB C port.

Apple iPad Mini: Best 8-Inch LTE Tablet

The Apple iPad Mini is the best 8-inch tablet with LTE support that you can buy. But it also is the priciest and the only one that you can’t use as your phone. That’s because the tablet does not have phone capabilities. But you can get it with a SIM card slot and then you can go online while on the go, of course.

Here, we’re getting a great 7.9-inch IPS display that supports the first-generation Apple Pencil. With its Apple A12 Bionic processor, it is faster than all other 8-inch tablets. You can get it with 64GB and 256GB of storage and it has 3GB of RAM. The iPadOS software is the same as on all iPads.

A downside of the iPad Mini remains the older design with big screen bezels and a Touch ID fingerprint scanner that’s built into the home button. But it does have a premium-feeling metal body and good speakers.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6: A Cheaper Tab S7 Alternative

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is the predecessor of the Galaxy Tab S7. You can’t get it with 5G but Samsung is selling options with 4G. I think the Tab S6 continues to be a great tablet if you can find a good deal. It has to be cheaper than the S7 to be worth it, otherwise, it makes more sense to get the newer one.

Even though it’s a year older, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor is fast enough for high-end gaming with demanding titles like Fortnite. We’re getting a nice 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen that is very pretty. The S6 has four great speakers, a premium-feeling metal body, and a fingerprint scanner is hidden underneath the screen.

I like that the S Pen stylus is included without having to pay anything extra. Thanks to an update to Android 10, it has mostly the same software features as its newer sibling. Among these are the Samsung DeX desktop mode and the Air Commands for the S Pen.

The official keyboard cover has been a bit disappointing in my review. So, I can’t recommend that accessory in particular.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e: Mid-Range Android Tablet With LTE

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is one of the best mid-range tablets that you can get with a SIM card slot and LTE. Compared to the Galaxy Tab S7 and S6, you’ll have to make a couple of sacrifices. For instance, it does not come with the S Pen because it does not even support an active pen. And the performance of its Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor is weaker. Sure, it’s fine for most things, but not for high-end gaming.

I like that the Galaxy Tab S5e has the same 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen we get with the S6. The metal body is very slim and is premium-feeling. We get a fingerprint scanner, four great speakers, and thanks to an update it has Android 10 already. You can use the Samsung DeX desktop mode here too.

For many, the S5e can be a perfect tablet if you want a great entertainment device that can also be used to get some work done if you use a keyboard and want to go online while traveling using the optional cellular version.

Apple iPad 8: The Cheapest Cellular iPad

The Apple iPad 8 is the cheapest tablet Apple currently sells. And that means it also is the cheapest tablet with LTE support, for which you’ll have to pay a bit more, as is common with all manufacturers.

One major downside compared to all competitors on this list is that the screen is not laminated. So, you can see a small air gap below the touchscreen. That’s especially noticeable if you use the first-generation Apple Pencil which is supported on here. Besides that, the 10.2-inch screen is a good one.

The iPad 8 has the same Apple A12 Bionic processor found in the iPad Mini. Together with its 3GB of RAM, it’s more powerful than any Android tablet of its price class. You can get a version with 32GB and 128GB of internal storage.

Apple is giving us lots of great features like a metal body, the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, up to date iPadOS, and you can even get an official keyboard cover. But you’ll have to live with the older iPad design. That means it has thick black screen bezels and the old Lightning port.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3: Best 8-inch Android tablet with 4G

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3 is the only premium 8-inch tablet running Android that has been released recently. You can get a version with integrated LTE which is very interesting. That’s because the tablet has an earpiece above the screen. So, thanks to phone and text messaging support, you could actually fully replace your smartphone with this device.

We’re getting an 8-inch full HD screen that supports an active stylus. The S Pen is included and works just as it does on other Samsung tablets. Apps like Samsung Notes are preinstalled. Even though the performance is weaker than the iPad Mini, it’s fast enough for higher-end gaming including titles like Fortnite.

It’s running Samsung’s own Exynos chipset together with 4GB RAM and 64GB or 128GB internal storage.

A highlight but also a drawback is its rugged design. It’s meant to work in tough environments, is protected against water and dust, and that’s what it looks like. You can’t call the design pretty. It’s functional because that’s what it’s meant to be. So, I do think the Active 3 is a fantastic tablet, but you’ll have to be okay with its old-looking but sturdy design.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: Mid-range Android tablet with S Pen

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a fantastic alternative to the Galaxy Tab S5e if you’re looking for a mid-range Android tablet with active pen support. Here, the S Pen is included at no additional charge and the software features for the stylus are mostly the same as for the Galaxy Tab S7 and S6. If you want to get the 4G version, as usual, you’ll have to pay a bit more.

Since the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a lot cheaper than Samsung’s higher-end devices, you’ll have to make a couple of compromises. Its Exynos processor together with 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage is fine for most tasks but certainly not for demanding games like Fortnite. And the 10.4-inch display is a standard LCD one with a Full HD resolution.

We do get a premium metal body, however, and the speakers are pretty good too. It’s shipping with Android 10 and it is supposed to get at least three major updates as well. While it does support the Air Commands for the S Pen, the Samsung DeX desktop mode is not supported.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-P205: Fantastic 8-Inch Android tablet

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-P205 is one of my most favorite tablets of the last couple of years. I like it because it’s quite affordable, comes with an S Pen, and you can use the LTE version as your phone. Yes, it even has a proper earpiece so that you can do that. I did replace my phone with it for a while and that worked great. Sadly, the tablet is available in a couple of mostly Asian countries only. You won’t be able to get it if you’re from the US or Europe.

Samsung is giving us a nice 8-inch Full HD screen here but the hardware is fine for lower-end gaming only. Standard tasks including office apps run fine, of course, and the Air Commands for the pen work great too. I think this can be a great choice if you need a pen for handwritten notes and want something a bit bigger than your average phone.

As I said, it is quite affordable. And that means the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-P205 has a plastic body. It does not feel cheap, but also not as high-end as the iPad Mini does. The S Pen is much smaller than the one for the Tab S7. It’s about the size of an S Pen made for a Galaxy Note smartphone. But you can buy bigger ones separately.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7: Cheapest Good 10-Inch LTE Tablet

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is the cheapest 10-inch tablet with 4G that I can comfortably recommend right now. Actually, it offers a fantastic value because it’s inexpensive but has what most people need. But that also means that we don’t get any premium features. It does not support an active pen, there’s no official keyboard cover, the speakers are okay only, and you’ll have to live without a fingerprint scanner.

Samsung is shipping the Galaxy Tab A7 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor which offers a similar performance as the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has. That means standard apps work great and you can play many games. But if you try to play demanding titles like Fortnite, you’ll have to live with stutters or even crashes.

While the 10.4-inch LCD screen is not super bright, it’s a fine one overall. It’s mostly metal body is fine too, we get a microSD card slot, as well as a standard headphone jack and a USB C 2.0 port. And if you get the 4G version, there’s a SIM card slot too, of course.

The Tab A7 ships with Android 10. But it does not support the Samsung DeX desktop mode and there are no Air Commands since the S Pen is not supported.

So, don’t expect a premium device. But it’s fine if you’re looking for something simple to surf the web or to watch movies with.

Lenovo Tab M8 HD: Great Inexpensive 8-Incher

The Lenovo Tab M8 HD is one of the cheapest Android tablets in general and one of the cheapest ones you can get with 4G LTE. You can’t expect a great gaming performance but simple games run fine. I think it’s mostly a tablet to surf the web while traveling or to read and answer E-Mails. If you use a headset, you can use it to make phone calls too.

Even though the Tab M8 HD is so affordable, it does have a premium-feeling metal body and the 8-inch HD screen is pretty good too. But you’ll have to live with the older micro USB port and the speakers are pretty bad. Still, it’s a fine and portable tablet that you can also get with a SIM card slot.

Microsoft Surface Go 2: Best 10-Inch Windows LTE Tablet

The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is one of few Windows tablets that you can get with integrated LTE. It can be a great choice if you’re looking for a small and portable second device that has a SIM card slot. The Surface Go 2 can be used for Office work or handwritten notes in combination with the Microsoft Surface Pen and OneNote.

You can get versions with an Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y processor or with an Intel Core m3. The latter one is more powerful and it seems to be the only option if you want to get 4G. You could use more demanding apps with that Core m3 too, like Photoshop, but it’s not ideal either. Other hardware options are 4GB and 8GB of RAM, as well as a 64GB eMMC storage or a 128GB SSD.

We get a 10.5-inch PixelSense display which is a pretty nice one. I also like that the Surface Go 2 has a premium magnesium body with an integrated kickstand that is as high-end as the Surface Pro 7. Together with the Microsoft Type Cover, which is a great keyboard, you can use it as a little laptop. You’ll have to buy all accessories separately unless you get a bundle.

Microsoft is shipping the Surface Go 2 with Windows 10 in S Mode. But don’t worry, you can switch to standard Windows 10 with just a couple of clicks. If you stay in S Mode, you can install apps from the Microsoft Store only.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3i: A Great 10-Inch Alternative

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3i is an interesting and often cheaper alternative to the Microsoft Surface Go 2. It has a pretty good 10.3-inch LCD screen and comes with an Intel Celeron or Intel Pentium processor. That means it’s a bit slower than the Surface Go 2. Office apps run fine though.

One reason why even the pricier LTE version usually is quite a bit cheaper is that the keyboard seems to always be included. It’s a similar one you can get for the Go 2 but there is one important difference. You can use the keyboard for the Duet 3i while it’s attached to the tablet but also when it’s separated. That’s because it has its own battery and Bluetooth is built-in.

Lenovo is shipping the IdeaPad Duet 3i with Windows 10 in S Mode as well. So, if you want to install traditional desktop apps, you’ll have to switch to standard Windows 10 Pro. That’s free and easy to do.

We get a similar design with an integrated kickstand. The tablet has two USB C ports and according to Lenovo it also supports an active pen. But I wasn’t able to try the stylus.

Microsoft Surface Pro X: An Experimental 13-Inch Windows LTE Tablet

The Microsoft Surface Pro X is one of very few bigger Windows tablets with integrated LTE. In fact, here you can’t even get a WiFi-only version. All variants of the Surface Pro X have 4G built-in. That’s because it houses an ARM processor that is more similar to the ones found in iPads or Android tablets. It’s not an Intel processor like we know from the Surface Go 2 or the Surface Pro 7. There’s no LTE version of the Pro 7.

Now, the ARM processor means that it is running Windows on ARM. And that means that while you can install Microsoft’s own Office apps and most programs from the Microsoft Store, you either can’t install most traditional desktop apps like Adobe Premiere Pro or they don’t run well. The performance of these traditional apps is worse than on Intel machines, at least as of right now.

I think most people looking for a Windows tablet want to install traditional Windows apps. That’s why I can’t recommend the Surface Pro X for most. But if you’re into experimenting or if you just want to use Microsoft’s Office apps, then it can be a great choice. It can be an amazing tablet for OneNote.

The Pro X has a pretty 13-inch screen, a very premium-feeling body, and fantastic accessories with the Surface Slim Pen and the new Type Cover. I like that you can replace the SSD yourself, and for this list, it’s great that a SIM card slot with LTE support is a standard.

What About Huawei & Amazon Tablets?

You might have noticed that tablets from some brands are missing on this list. Among them are mostly devices from Huawei and Amazon.

The reason why Amazon’s tablets are missing is simple: They’re just not offering any LTE versions of their Fire tablets.

Huawei makes lots of tablets that you can also get with 4G though. And in the past, I recommended lots of them on this list. But because of the trade war between the United States and China, everything made by Google is missing on their new devices now. That means you don’t get the Google Play Store, no Chrome, no YouTube, and no Gmail. And you can’t install them as easily as you can on Amazon’s tablets.

I think most people getting an Android tablet want to use Google’s services. But if you don’t, feel free to check out my reviews of the Huawei MatePad 10.4, Huawei MatePad T10s, and Huawei MatePad T8. They’re good devices running Android 10. But all of Google’s stuff is missing.

Your Questions & Answers

Here are a couple of questions I get frequently with my corresponding answers.

A normal WiFi tablet can be connected to the internet using WiFi only. But if your tablet supports LTE as well, you can connect it to the web using a cellular connection. Just like you do with your phone.

Yes. All 4G tablets can be connected to WiFi as well.

That depends on your tablet. Many but not all Android tablets can also be used as a phone. You’ll have to have a SIM card with a corresponding cellular contract that supports phone calls, of course. Usually, you can’t make phone calls with Windows tablets or iPads.

Yes, you can do that, of course, but you won’t be able to use LTE. If you don’t insert a SIM card, you’re limited to a WiFi connection.

Usually, that is possible, yes. I did that in many countries and it works fine. With that being said, I had a weird experience with the people working at carrier stores in the US who said it wouldn’t work. But it did. So… it probably will work for you too.

Most Android tablets with LTE can be used as a phone too. That’s often the case with 10-inch tablets as well. But unless it’s made to be one, it probably has no earpiece. So, you’ll have to use a headset to make phone calls.

No, certainly not easily. It might be possible to add 4G modules to Windows tablets if you’ve got some experience in modding laptops or so. But otherwise, it’s not possible.

Yes, it can. Most cellular providers sell data plans specifically tailored to tablets.

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