The best tablets are capable enough to be laptop replacements for everyday tasks, productivity, and demanding creative work. The iPad (10th Generation), our number one pick, is a shining example of how great these sleek slates can be. Beyond that, we’ve included various tablets in this guide for specific use cases, ensuring everyone can find the best device for their needs and budgets.
TL;DR – These are the best tablets
- iPad (10th Generation)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus
- iPad Pro 12.9
- iPad Air (5th Generation)
- iPad 10.2
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
- Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2
- iPad Mini
- Kindle Scribe
A combination of power, versatility, and portability has helped cement tablets place in the portables market. So, no matter your need, whether you just want a device to entertain you at the end of a busy workday or require something more robust for video editing on-the-go, there’s a tablet out there for you. To help you with your search, we’ve gathered the best tablets on the market. Check them out below.
Looking for discounts? Take a look at our guide to the best iPad deals right now.
1. iPad (10th Generation)
Best Tablet
Pros:
- Speedy A14 Bionic processor
- Stunning Liquid Retina display
Cons:
- Only supports 1st gen Apple Pencil and needs an adapter to charge
It’s hard to argue against the tried and true original Apple iPad, and its colorful 10th gen iteration brings a new design with a faster chip to make it as powerful as ever. You finally lose the home button with Apple opting to put Touch ID on the power button, giving you more Liquid Retina—though still not fully laminated—screen space to play around with. And there’s a good deal of oomph behind that display to handle multitasking and some light gaming with ease thanks to the A14 Bionic chip, though we question why Apple decided against using the newer A15 chip.
Now, the 10th gen Apple iPad continues to remain affordable, coming in well under $500, but that does mean it has some tradeoffs. This device only works with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, not the more affordable Smart Keyboard. You also don’t get support for the feature-full 2nd gen Apple Pencil, only the first gen, and you’ll need to grab a $9 adapter just to charge it.
See our guide to the best iPad models for more options.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus
Best Android Tablet
Pros:
- Big and bright AMOLED display
- Great sounding speakers
Cons:
- Expensive
The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus continues Samsung’s tradition of creating the best Android tablets with its stunning display, powerful performance, and sleek design. A big and bright 12.4-inch AMOLED display features a buttery 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gaming, while S-Pen support is ideal for creatives. Behind that screen are some booming, great-sounding speakers, making for a media consumption maven that lets you forgo the best wireless earbuds when using it at home.
Ensuring the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus keeps up with all your daily tasks and beyond is a top-tier mobile processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy; the same chip found in one of last year's best Android phones, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. That’s paired with 12GB of RAM and a 10,090mAh battery for a snappy, responsive device ready to last all day. Somehow, all that greatness is packed into a slim, lightweight, and durable chassis featuring an IP68 rating.
3. iPad Pro 12.9
Best Tablet for Creative Work
Pros:
- Powerful M2 chip ready for video editing and 3D rendering
- Bright XDR display with P3 wide color, True Tone, Pro Motion
Cons:
- Expensive
The 2022 iPad Pro 12.9 may be the priciest iPad out there, but it’s also incontestably the most powerful option. This laptop replacement tablet can handle video editing and 3D design workflows with ease thanks to the M2 chip under the hood, making it a creative pro’s dream tool. Meanwhile, its stunning XDR display—which boasts P3 wide color, True Tone, Pro Motion, and an insanely high peak brightness—ensures your work is color accurate and up to the highest quality.
Apple was sure to include plenty of other handy features, like the duo of pro cameras in the rear that can record in 4K at 30fps along with a powerful camera ISP and highly effective image stabilization—just the ticket for those action sequences. You even get Wi-Fi 6E for the speediest connection and lowest latency possible if you have the tech that supports it. Beyond that, you might want to grab the feature-rich 2nd gen Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard to unlock the iPad Pro's full potential.
4. iPad Air (5th Generation)
Best Thin and Light Tablet
Pros:
- Compact, lightweight build
- Impressive performance
Cons:
- Limited storage on lower cost model
The iPad Air is the one to get if you’re looking for the thinnest and lightest tablet that will see you through your whole day’s work. This Apple tablet is compact enough to be travel-friendly yet it’s got the screen real estate for productivity and certainly a lot of power as well for some creative tasks – including 4K video editing.
However, it’s most ideal for writers, bloggers, and digital nomads who need a reliable laptop alternative that’s so light you probably won’t even notice that it’s there. Especially when you attach it to a Magic Keyboard, which comes with a surprisingly accurate trackpad. As a bonus, it comes in five attractive colors (including pink, blue, purple, starlight, and space gray) so you can get one that matches your aesthetic.
5. iPad 10.2
Best Budget iPadOS Tablet
Pros:
- Ultra affordable price tag
- Upgraded front-facing camera
Cons:
- Processor isn’t as fast as other iPad models
The original iPad is back and better than ever, with much snappier performance, an upgraded front-facing camera for all your FaceTime needs, and a display that now touts Apple’s True Tone technology. In the shadow of the M1 and A15 Bionic chips, the A13 Bionic on this 2021 iPad might seem a tad late to the party.
However, it’s plenty powerful for the rest of the tablet users who mostly rely on their devices for casual, everyday tasks like doing video calls with friends and family, streaming shows and movies, gaming, and sending the occasional email. Luckily, it’s also cheaper than the rest of Apple’s tablet offerings, which means it’s the best value for most people.
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Best Budget Android Tablet
Pros:
- Excellent software update policy
- S-Pen is included
Cons:
- Lackluster cameras
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the best budget tablet running on Android OS. Sure, it might not have as much power as the Tab S9 Plus, but the Samsung Exynos 1380 processor and 6GB of RAM are ready to blaze through your everyday tasks. Just don’t expect to do too much gaming on the device. Plus, you’ll still enjoy Samsung’s excellent software update policy providing four years of updates, so this slate has major staying power.
From the compact and sturdy build to the excellent 10.9-inch LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate, there’s even more to love about this affordable Samsung offering. An S-Pen is also included for sketching or note-taking on the bright, colorful 1440p display. Similar to its more premium sibling, the Galaxy Tab S9 features solid AKG-tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos support and a long battery life to top it off. However, the two cameras suffice when in a pinch but are nothing to write home about.
7. Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2
Best Tablet for Media Consumption
Pros:
- Gorgeous 11.2-inch OLED display
- Solid battery life
Cons:
- No headphone jack
If you’re just looking for an affordable and portable option to stream your favorite shows and movies or browse the web, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 is the perfect option for consuming media. It's rocking a vivid and colorful 11.2-inch 2.5K OLED display touting Dolby Vision and HDR10+. That screen even offers a 120Hz refresh rate and full DCI-P3 color gamut, something you don’t usually see in such a budget-friendly tablet.
There’s plenty more good under the hood of the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2, as it’s running on a MediaTek Kompanio 1300T processor and 4GB RAM, so it’ll blaze through everyday tasks, streaming, and even some light gaming. Though thin and compact, the tablet packs in an impressive set of 4-channel JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos for pleasant listening when you’re not in a public space—otherwise, grab a pair of wireless headphones. You also get a decent battery life, making it a perfect on-the-go companion.
8. iPad mini
Best Tablet for Portability
Pros:
- Snappy processor
- Extremely portable
Cons:
- Small, 8.3-inch display
Great things come in small packages, as the 2021 model of the legendary iPad mini proves. In fact, it might be giving the iPad Air 4 a good run for its money, especially with the newer A15 Bionic chip, which boasts a 21% CPU gain over the A14, and the same amount of RAM. This tiny tablet, therefore, packs a punch, and it’s even capable of handling some of your creative tasks – especially with that updated screen.
The only thing that really holds it back is its small, 8.3-inch display, which isn’t very ideal for productivity. Still, there’s a lot of power packed in its premium package, and it’s just the ticket if you’re looking for something extremely portable that you can count on if you need to tackle the occasional work tasks while traveling.
9. Kindle Scribe
Best Tablet for Reading
Pros:
- Large, bright 300ppi display perfect for reading
- Premium pen included
Cons:
- Small, 8.3-inch display
Amazon’s Kindle lineup have been some of the best reading tablets for the past decade, and the Scribe continues this tradition. With it comes a large noncolor 10.2-inch screen, putting it around the same size as a hardcover book. However, it’s significantly thinner and lighter, at less than a quarter inch thick and weighing under one pound.
The Kindle Scribe’s 300ppi display is crisp with excellent contrast for an enjoyable reading and writing experience, while a 35 LED backlight lets you see the screen in the dark. Our favorite version of this tablet comes with a decent 64GB of storage and a premium pen ideal for annotating books and doodling. And with a battery life of up to 12 weeks, depending on usage, you’ll rarely need to worry about charging.
How to Choose the Best Tablet
The first step when deciding on a tablet is setting a budget. Looking to just stream shows and scroll socials? A cheap slate should suffice. However, you'll need to up your spending if you’re after a productivity tool that performs similarly to a laptop. You can even slap a keyboard onto some tablets, essentially turning them into the best detachable laptops.
Next, design should be taken into consideration. You want an option that’s lightweight but still durable for on-the-go use. A sizable, crisp, and responsive display ensures the best user experience, while OLED panels are a more premium option with deep blacks and richer colors over their LCD counterparts.
Of course, the internal components are just as important, as you don’t want a sluggish device that leads to you reaching for one of the best smartphones or laptops instead. To prevent that from happening, a solid processor and at least 4GB of RAM is a must. For gaming or creative work, upgrading those specs can make a world of difference. Beyond that, you’ll want to ensure your software is up to date. Android OS is in its 14th generation while iPadOS 17 is Apple’s latest.
Other features like long battery life, great-sounding speakers, crisp cameras, and stylus support can help improve your experience on a tablet. You may even want to consider getting a 5G tablet that can connect to your cellular network when you’re not on Wi-Fi.
Tablets FAQ
Are iPads better than Android tablets?
No. Both types of tablets have plenty of solid models to choose from; it’s more a matter of personal preference. If you already have the best iPhone and MacBook, it makes sense to grab an iPad for seamless integration into your Apple Ecosystem. iPads are known for their smooth, enjoyable user experience along with their wealth of apps and games, but the pricing is more restrictive.
Tablets running on Android OS come from various manufacturers, meaning performance is all over the place. But there’s a wider selection of slates, from ultra-cheap to high-end. It’s just important to do your research, as there are some duds—iPads’ performance is a bit more consistent. The selection of apps optimized for an Android Tablet is also more limited. Still, almost all Android apps should function, just not as well as on your phone.
Should you buy a tablet with cellular network support?
Most will find that a tablet with cellular network support is unnecessary unless you’re constantly on the go with no way to connect via Wi-Fi. Adding that extra line to your cellular plan can be expensive, and your smartphone can usually work as a Wi-Fi hotspot for your tablet when you’re in a pinch. However, should you decide you’d like cellular network support, many of our picks come in 5G versions.
Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
