You’re standing in the middle of a Best Buy or scrolling through Amazon, looking at a shiny new iPad Pro or a Samsung Galaxy Tab. A thought hits you. It’s a big screen. It’s basically a giant phone, right? So, do tablets make phone calls, or are you just buying an oversized e-reader that’s tethered to your home Wi-Fi?
The short answer is yes. But honestly, the "how" is where things get a little messy.
If you expect to just pop a SIM card in and dial a number like it’s 2005, you might be disappointed. Most tablets aren't designed to be held up to your face—unless you want to look like you're talking into a dinner plate. Manufacturers like Apple and Samsung have spent years intentionally blurring the lines between "computer" and "phone," yet they still keep some walls up to protect their smartphone sales.
The hardware hurdle: LTE vs. Wi-Fi
Not every tablet is born equal. When you buy one, you usually see two price points. One is cheaper and says "Wi-Fi Only." The other is pricier and says "Wi-Fi + Cellular."
If you have a Wi-Fi-only tablet, it has no "phone" hardware inside. No modem. No SIM slot. It’s a local device. To make a call, you’re strictly using the internet. On the flip side, cellular tablets have the guts to connect to towers, but even then, your carrier might treat the data plan differently than a phone plan. Verizon or AT&T might give you 50GB of data for Netflix, but they won't necessarily give you a "line" for traditional voice calls.
It's a weird distinction. You’ve got the radio waves, but the software is often locked down.
VoIP is the great equalizer
This is how most people actually do it. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) sounds technical, but it’s just the stuff you already use. WhatsApp. Skype. Messenger. Zoom.
Since these apps use data rather than traditional cellular voice channels, they don't care if you're on a tablet or a toaster. If you have an internet connection, you have a phone. I’ve seen people run entire businesses off an iPad using Google Voice. It gives you a "real" number that people can call from landlines, but it rings on your tablet. It’s seamless. It’s free (mostly). And it completely bypasses the question of whether the tablet "technically" supports cellular calls.
How Apple handles the "Do tablets make phone calls" question
Apple has a very specific way of doing things. It’s called Continuity. If you have an iPhone and an iPad, they’re basically joined at the hip.
When your iPhone rings in the kitchen, your iPad rings in the bedroom. You can answer it right there on the tablet. It’s using your iPhone as a bridge. This is great for when you’re deep into an article or an illustration and don't want to hunt for your phone. But—and this is the kicker—if your iPhone is dead or off, your iPad (unless it’s using a third-party app) usually won't be able to make that traditional call.
Apple wants you in the ecosystem. They want you owning both.
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap Phone.
- Look for Calls on Other Devices.
- Toggle it on for your iPad.
Suddenly, the answer to "do tablets make phone calls" becomes a resounding yes, provided your phone is nearby. For FaceTime, it’s even easier. FaceTime Audio is crystal clear and works on any iPad with an Apple ID, no phone required. It’s probably the best-sounding "call" you can make, but it only works if the person on the other end is also using an Apple device.
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The Android side of the fence
Samsung is the big player here. Their Galaxy Tab S9 and S10 series actually have a feature called "Call & Text on Other Devices." It’s very similar to Apple’s version. You link your Galaxy phone to your Galaxy tablet.
But what if you want the tablet to be your only device?
Some international versions of Android tablets—specifically those sold in Asia or Europe—actually come with a dialer app pre-installed. You put in a SIM card, and it works exactly like a giant phone. In the US, carriers usually block this. They want you to pay for a separate phone line. It’s annoying. It’s a corporate gatekeeping move, but there are workarounds if you’re tech-savvy enough to flash different firmware, though I wouldn't recommend that for the average user.
Google Voice: The ultimate workaround
If you really want your tablet to act like a phone without owning an actual phone, Google Voice is the gold standard.
- You get a real US phone number.
- It handles SMS and voicemail.
- It works over Wi-Fi or cellular data.
- It's free for almost all US-based calls.
I know several digital nomads who have ditched traditional phone plans entirely. They carry a cellular tablet, use a data-only SIM, and run everything through Google Voice. It’s a bit "hacker-ish," but it works.
Why you might (or might not) want to do this
Let's talk ergonomics. Using a 12.9-inch iPad Pro as a phone is ridiculous. Your arm will get tired in three minutes.
If you’re serious about making calls on a tablet, you need a pair of Bluetooth earbuds. Period. Holding a tablet to your ear is a great way to get stared at in a coffee shop, and it’s also just impractical. The microphones on tablets are usually optimized for video conferencing, meaning they pick up a lot of room noise. A dedicated headset makes you sound like a professional instead of someone shouting into a piece of glass.
Then there's the battery. Making calls over Wi-Fi or LTE consumes a decent chunk of power. Tablets have huge batteries, so they handle it better than phones, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning a four-hour marathon call.
The reality of emergency services
Here is a serious point: 911.
Traditional phones are required by law to be able to call emergency services, even if they don't have a SIM card. Tablets are in a legal gray area. If you are using a VoIP app like Skype or Google Voice, they often cannot connect you to 911 accurately. They might not be able to transmit your GPS location to dispatchers.
Never rely on a tablet as your sole communication device for emergencies. It’s a supplement, not a replacement for a device with a dedicated cellular voice chip.
Practical steps for setting up your tablet as a phone
If you've decided that you want to move your calling habits over to your tablet, don't just wing it. You need a setup that actually functions reliably so you aren't missing important pings from your boss or your mom.
First, check your hardware. If you haven't bought a tablet yet and you want to make calls away from home, you must buy the cellular model. You can't add that later. If you already have a Wi-Fi-only model, you'll need to be comfortable with the fact that your "phone" only works where there's a hotspot.
Next, choose your platform.
- For the Apple crowd: Ensure your Apple ID is the same on both devices. Enable "Allow Calls on Other Devices" in your iPhone settings and "Calls from iPhone" in your iPad's FaceTime settings.
- For the Android crew: If you have a Samsung, use the "Call & Text on Other Devices" feature. If you have a different brand (like a Pixel Tablet or OnePlus), download Google Voice or TextNow.
Invest in a "bridge" number. Don't give out your tablet's internal SIM number (if it has one) because those numbers are often restricted to data and won't accept incoming calls. Use a service like Google Voice or even a paid VoIP provider like Line2 or Burner. This gives you a consistent identity across all your devices.
Finally, get the right gear. A tablet stand and a solid pair of noise-canceling headphones will change the experience from "awkward experiment" to "functional workstation."
Do tablets make phone calls? Yes, they do. They just do it with a little more flair and a few more steps than the device in your pocket. Whether you're using it to bridge your existing phone or as a standalone communication hub, the technology is finally at a point where the "phone" part of the smartphone is becoming optional.