We battery-tested the 9 best tablets on the market - and there was a clear winner

"In our Louisville-based lab, we tested each tablet using a dedicated PC with an NI USB-6001 DAQ, eight auxiliary inputs with adapters, and in-house LabVIEW software that analyzed audio outputs as voltage signals. We tested each tablet's battery life a total of 12 times: three times with maximum brightness/audio, three times with minimum brightness/audio, three times with maximum brightness/audio on Airplane Mode, and three times on minimum brightness/audio on Airplane Mode."

"We chose to measure screen brightness during video playback as the main parameter to test since it is one of the most impactful settings on a device when it comes to how battery life is affected. We also tested with Networking/Bluetooth on/off to measure the additional battery drain that regular communication via these connections can cause. However, since the test video was downloaded to the devices under test, this had only a small impact on the results."

"When buying a tablet, you'll typically consider its primary use case (entertainment, drawing, work, etc.), price point, display size, operating system, and more. At ZDNET, we considered all these factors when choosing the best tablets you can buy, but we also tested one important factor that can truly make or break your tablet experience: battery life. We ran nine tablets through the gauntlet in our lab in Kentucky, evaluating each tablet's battery life under different settings."

Testing occurred in a Louisville lab using a dedicated PC with an NI USB-6001 DAQ, eight auxiliary inputs, and LabVIEW software that analyzed audio outputs as voltage signals. Nine tablets underwent battery testing with 12 runs each: three with maximum brightness/audio, three with minimum brightness/audio, three with maximum brightness/audio on Airplane Mode, and three with minimum brightness/audio on Airplane Mode. Screen brightness during video playback served as the primary test parameter. Networking and Bluetooth were toggled to measure additional drain while test videos were downloaded to minimize streaming effects. One tablet stood out for longest battery life and received a Lab Awards badge; the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra was also a strong performer. Future testing should include streaming scenarios to measure live-network battery impact.

Read at ZDNET