5G is still relatively new in Australia but it’s growing. The appetite for the super fast network is ramping up and the availability of 5G ready products is helping satiate the desires. Right now 5G tablets are few and far between, but so were 5G phones at this time last year.
Samsung and Apple are the only two manufacturers with 5G ready tablets available in Australia. We wouldn’t be surprised to see smaller manufacturers start to push out similar products, but for now your choices are somewhat limited to the two big boys
5G tablets available in Australia
The following tablets are available to purchase in Australia and come with 5G connectivity.
5G coverage in Australia
5G networks are still very much in their infancy in Australia, and while they’re further along now than they ever have been it is still worth checking to see if your area is covered before committing to a device.
Vodafone, Optus and Telstra all have 5G networks but Telstra’s is the farthest reaching thus far. Optus comes in after Big T, with Vodafone offering just a speckling of what the other two provide. Use our 5G coverage checker to see if your area has 5G and take a look at average 5G speeds according to WhistleOut testing.
Why you might want a 5G tablet
You’d want a 5G tablet for the same reason you’d want a 4G one, to stay connected while you’re on the go.
Although 5G networks are still small across the country, a 5G tablet is still worth considering. Generally speaking, tablets have a longer life than mobile phones do. Where we usually switch out phones every two to three years, tablets tend to hang around for a lot longer.
Apple’s iPads for example offer seven years of security updates, if you were to opt in for the latest iPad with 5G connectivity then you’re going to feel vindicated by the time 5G expands across the country. Otherwise, you may find yourself annoyed at the comparatively slow speeds of our 4G networks.
So while right now a 5G tablet may seem like a choice for early adopters only, in the next three years it’s likely that you’ll be wishing your device had the latest connectivity.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
As the newest addition to the Samsung Galaxy Tab family, the S7 series is the first Tab to come with 5G connectivity.
This tablet is the entry level tab of the pair and comes with an 11-inch display, dual rear cameras, up to 1TB of external memory support, and 8,000mAh battery capacity. It is also compatible with both the S Pen, and the keyboard cover which is available as an additional accessory.
The S7, and its sister the S7+ are great options for people who want a tablet to subsidise or substitute a laptop on the go. Here are how the two stack up side by side.
| Galaxy Tab S7 | Galaxy Tab S7+ | |
| Display Size | 11-inch | 12.4-inch |
| S Pen support | Yes | Yes |
| Camera specs | 13MP (wide) + 5MP (ultra-wide) rear, 8MP front | 13MP (wide) + 5MP (ultra-wide) rear, 8MP front |
| Internal memory | 128GB or 256GB | 128GB or 256GB |
| External memory support | Up to 1TB | Up to 1TB |
| Battery capacity | 8,000mAh | 10,090mAh |
| Connectivity | 5G + WiFi | 5G + WiFi |
| Price | From $1,049 | From $1,449 |
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is available on a plan from each of the three major telcos.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
Both the Tab S7 and Tab S7+ have pretty similar specs, except you’ll get a larger screen and battery capacity on the S7+.
The 12.9-inch display is generous enough to work and play while on the go, and the larger 10,090mAh battery capacity should power that extra screen space. According to Samsung you can expect up to 15 hours of use on the S7+ which is perfect for long days travelling.
Here are how the S7 and the S7+ compare side to side.
| Galaxy Tab S7 | Galaxy Tab S7+ | |
| Display Size | 11-inch | 12.4-inch |
| S Pen support | Yes | Yes |
| Camera specs | 13MP (wide) + 5MP (ultra-wide) rear, 8MP front | 13MP (wide) + 5MP (ultra-wide) rear, 8MP front |
| Internal memory | 128GB or 256GB | 128GB or 256GB |
| External memory support | Up to 1TB | Up to 1TB |
| Battery capacity | 8,000mAh | 10,090mAh |
| Connectivity | 5G + WiFi | 5G + WiFi |
| Price | From $1,049 | From $1,449 |
iPad Pro (2021)
Apple fans rejoice because the manufacturer’s first 5G-enabled tablet is here. The latest iPad Pro comes with 5G, and a both display and storage size to choose from.
Available in the 11 and 12.9-inch variant each device comes with Apple’s M1 chip, the Pro camera system consisting of a wide and ultra-wide lens, and LiDAR Both devices will get you around ten hours of usage per charge, and are compatible with the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard as well.
Opting for the 12.9 inch display however will get you a fancier Liquid Retina XDR display. This display type uses mini LED which is the closest LED can get to an OLED display. Mini LED allows for greater peak brightness, deeper blacks, and greater contrast, and makes the 12.9-inch iPad Pro HDR-ready.
| iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd Gen) | iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Gen) | |
| Display Size | 11-inch | 12.9-inch |
| Apple pencil support | Yes (2nd gen) | Yes (2nd gen) |
| Camera specs | 12MP (wide) + 10MP (ultra-wide) + 12MP (front) |
12MP (wide) + 10MP (ultra-wide) + 12MP (front) |
| Internal memory | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB |
| External memory support | No | No |
| Battery capacity | Up to 10 hours of use | Up to 10 hours of use |
| Connectivity | 5G + WiFi | 5G + WiFi |
| Price | From $1,449 | From $1,899 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G
Look this one isn’t technically a tablet, but it sort of is. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 comes with 5G, and even though it is a phone it can fold out to create a larger, squared off display.
Foldables represent the idea of combining a phone and tablet into one, and although the Fold Z 2 is significantly better than the original fold device, at this point it’s hard to recommend opting for one of these over a normal tablet. The internal displays are not yet flush, and they're a little bit smaller than what you'd expect from a more conventional device. They're also damn expensive.
In saying that, if you want to kill two birds with one device then the Galaxy Fold Z 2 can serve as a tablet with 5G. Unfolded you’ll get a 7.6-inch display, a triple rear-camera set up 12MP (wide) + 12MP (telephoto) + 12MP (ultra-wide), 4,500mAh battery capacity, and of course 5G connectivity.
Here is how the device looks on paper.
| Galaxy Fold Z 2 5G | |
| Display size (folded) | 6.2-inch |
| Display size (unfolded) | 7.6-inch |
| S Pen support | No |
| Camera specs | 12MP (wide) + 12MP (telephoto) + 12MP (ultra-wide) + 10MP (selfie) |
| Internal memory | 256GB |
| External memory support | No |
| Battery capacity | 4,500mAh |
| Connectivity | 5G |
| Price | From $2,499 |
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