Best Tablets for Video Calling Family in Australia: Simple Buying Guide
For a lot of older Australians, the real reason to own a tablet is sitting on the other side of the world, or just across town. Seeing the grandchildren’s faces, not only hearing them, is what makes a tablet worth having. The big screen does what a phone never quite can. It turns a quick call into something that feels like being in the room.
The good news is that nearly any current tablet can make a video call. What matters is choosing one that does it easily, with a clear screen, a good camera, and the app the rest of the family already uses. This guide explains what makes a tablet good for calls, and which models suit. We do not quote exact prices, since they change. We point you to where to check.
Quick answer
For most older Australians, the standard iPad is the best tablet for video calls. The recent models have the front camera along the long edge, so your face is centred when the iPad sits on a stand, and FaceTime could not be simpler if the family is on Apple. If the family uses Android, a Samsung Galaxy Tab does the same job well with WhatsApp, Zoom or Google Meet. Whatever you choose, get a stand so the tablet can sit hands-free. Buy from Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman or an Apple Store.
How the main options compare
| What they want | Better fit |
|---|---|
| The easiest calls, family on Apple | Standard iPad with FaceTime |
| Family on Android, or a lower price | Samsung Galaxy Tab with WhatsApp or Zoom |
| The biggest screen for failing eyesight | A 13-inch iPad Air or Galaxy Tab S10+ |
| A hands-free call from the armchair | Any tablet plus a stand |
What makes a tablet good for video calls
The app the family already uses
This matters more than the tablet itself. If everyone in the family has an iPhone or iPad, FaceTime is the simplest thing in the world, and that points to an iPad. If the family is spread across Android and Apple, WhatsApp works on everything and is the most common choice in Australia. Zoom and Google Meet are handy too. Pick the tablet that runs whatever the family already opens without thinking, and half the battle is won.
A large, clear screen
The whole point over a phone is the bigger picture. Around ten or eleven inches suits most people, with plenty of room to see faces clearly. For someone with real trouble seeing, a 13-inch tablet turns the call into a proper window onto the family, though it is heavier to hold and dearer to buy. If the tablet will live on a stand anyway, the extra size is no burden.
A good front camera, in the right place
Here is a small thing that makes a real difference. On the newer iPads, Apple moved the front camera to the long edge, so when the iPad sits on its side in a stand, your face appears centred rather than off to one side. It sounds minor, but it makes you look like you are facing the person, which feels far more natural. Most current tablets have a camera that is perfectly clear enough. It is the placement that is the nice touch.
A stand, so the hands are free
The most common mistake is holding the tablet up for the whole call. The arms tire, the picture wobbles, and a long chat becomes a chore. A simple stand fixes it entirely. Stand the tablet on the kitchen table or the arm of the chair, and the call becomes relaxed, hands free for a cup of tea. It is the cheapest upgrade you can make and the one people notice most.
The best tablets for video calling
Standard iPad, the easiest all-rounder
The everyday iPad is the one we recommend most. The screen is large and bright, the front camera sits on the long edge for natural framing on a stand, and FaceTime is built in and effortless if the family is on Apple. It also runs WhatsApp, Zoom and Messenger, so it covers every family. It costs far less than the dearer iPads and does this job just as well.
May suit someone who
Wants the simplest possible video calls, especially with family who use iPhones and iPads.
Things to check
The Wi-Fi version is right for home use. Add a stand, and set up FaceTime or WhatsApp before handing it over. Our guide on how to video call on an iPad walks through it.
Plain-English verdict
The best video-call tablet for most people. Clear, simple, and well priced.
Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Android choice
If the family lives on Android, or the budget points that way, a Samsung Galaxy Tab is a fine choice for calls. It has a large clear screen, Easy Mode to enlarge everything, and it runs WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet and Messenger happily. The Galaxy Tab A is the affordable option, and the Tab S10 FE a nicer step up. For someone whose children and grandchildren are all on Samsung phones, it fits in naturally.
May suit someone who
Has family on Android, or wants a capable tablet for calls without iPad prices.
Things to check
Turn on Easy Mode, enlarge the text, and put the calling app on the home screen. Add a stand for hands-free calls.
Plain-English verdict
A solid, well-supported choice for calls, especially for Android families.
A 13-inch tablet, for the biggest picture
For someone whose eyesight makes a smaller screen hard, a large 13-inch tablet such as the iPad Air 13-inch or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ turns a call into a generous, easy-to-see window. It costs more and weighs more, so it really wants to live on a stand. But for a person who mainly wants to see family clearly and is not carrying it around, the extra size is a genuine kindness to tired eyes.
May suit someone who
Struggles with smaller screens and wants the largest, clearest view of the family.
Things to check
It is heavy to hold, so plan to use it on a stand. Make sure the budget stretches, as these are the priciest tablets.
Plain-English verdict
Wonderful for failing eyesight on a stand. Overkill, and too heavy, for anyone else.
Video-call tablet checklist
- Runs the app the family already uses, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom or Messenger.
- A large, clear screen, around ten inches or more.
- A front camera that frames your face well, ideally on the long edge.
- A stand, so calls are hands-free and steady.
- Set up and the text enlarged before you hand it over.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
Best overall tablet for video calls
For most older Australians, the standard iPad is the best tablet for seeing the family. The screen is clear, the camera frames you well on a stand, and FaceTime is effortless if the family is on Apple. If the family is on Android, a Samsung Galaxy Tab does the same job with WhatsApp or Zoom. And if eyesight is the real problem, a 13-inch tablet on a stand gives the largest, kindest view of all. Whichever you choose, the stand is the part people thank you for.
Our recommendation
Start with the standard iPad, Wi-Fi version, plus a stand, from Officeworks, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi or an Apple Store. Choose a Samsung Galaxy Tab instead if the family is on Android. Step up to a 13-inch tablet only if eyesight makes the bigger screen genuinely necessary. Then set up the calling app and enlarge the text before handing it over. Ask about a Seniors Card or in-store discount before you pay.
Next steps
Once you have chosen, our guide on how to video call on an iPad shows you how to make that first call. For the full range of choices, see our best tablets for seniors guide and, if you are leaning Apple, our best iPads for seniors guide. Still deciding between Apple and Android? See tablet vs iPad for seniors. All of our tablet advice lives on the tablets and iPads hub.
FAQ: tablets for video calling
Which tablet is easiest for video calls?
The standard iPad, especially if the family uses iPhones and iPads, because FaceTime is built in and simple. If the family is on Android, a Samsung Galaxy Tab with WhatsApp does the job just as well.
What app should we use to call?
Whatever the family already uses. FaceTime for Apple families, WhatsApp for mixed families, and Zoom or Google Meet for group calls. Matching the family is more important than the app itself.
Do I need an expensive tablet for calls?
No. The standard iPad or a mid-range Samsung Galaxy Tab handles video calls beautifully. The dearer models add size and speed you do not need just to see the family.
Why does a stand matter so much?
Holding a tablet up for a whole call tires the arms and wobbles the picture. A stand lets the tablet sit steady on a table, so the call is relaxed and the hands are free.
Will Wi-Fi be enough, or do I need mobile data?
Home Wi-Fi is enough for video calls and costs less. A mobile data version is only worth it for someone who will make calls away from home often.
