We Tested Today’s Best Tablets to Help Find the Best One for Your Needs

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Tablets have come a long way from being a bigger-screen alternative to your smartphone for web browsing, streaming video, and gaming. Thanks to frequent improvements in processing power and screen quality, tablets have become consumer favorites not just for entertainment but also for cranking out serious work. Believe it or not, today's best tablets are rightfully considered to be sufficient laptop replacements.

But with increasing popoularity comes an oversaturated market. There are a ton of high-quality tablets to choose from, varying greatly in terms of size, hardware, available features, and the quality of their mobile platform — making it difficult to find the one to best suit your needs. To help you find the best tablet worth investing in, we compared and tested the top products from today's leading tech brands: Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Amazon, and Lenovo.

The Best Tablets Out Today

• Best Overall: Apple iPad Air

• Best Budget: Amazon Fire HD 10
  

• Best Android Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

• Most Versatile Tablet: Google Pixel Tablet

• Best Value: Apple iPad (9th Generation)

What to Consider

When shopping for a new tablet, there are several things to consider in order to find the best tablet for you. What hardware specs would best suit your needs? How about the platform it runs on, like iPadOS, Android, or Microsoft Windows? Do you want a tablet that offers a large ecosystem of apps and games, or is a basic model the right option for you? These specs might seem overwhelming — but don't worry. We're here to break it all down for you.

Platform

Choosing the right OS platform for your next tablet is all about understanding the advantages that each one offers. For example, Apple's iPadOS — a centerpiece of every iPad out there — has an unrivaled selection of apps and games that look great on a big screen and have robust multitasking capabilities. At the same time, Microsoft Windows offers a full-on PC experience on a super portable device. Translation? Windows tablets are built to feel more like an actual computer, while iPads give you a true tablet experience that can feel limiting at times.

Android tablets offer excellent integration of Google content and services. That said, Amazon's ultra-popular Fire tablets run the same platform but without official access to Google apps and services. But don't worry — you can still access your Gmail account out of the box, and there are plenty of apps to choose from via the Amazon app store.

When shopping for one (or more) Amazon Fire products, you should also keep in mind that their most affordable iterations come with dreaded lock screen ads. Unless you are hellbent on spending as little as possible on your next tablet, we highly recommend plunking down the extra $10-15 to skip this feature.

Hardware Specs

Remember this golden rule when it comes to hardware specs: The more you spend, the more futureproof the product will be. This ultimately means that your device will have a longer lifespan as technology continues to advance. A great tablet must have a powerful chip, a sharp and vibrant display whose resolution is Full HD or higher, ample onboard storage, as well as high-quality cameras and speakers. The last couple of features are particularly important for remote work and teleconferencing.

Stylus pen support (bundled or optional) is also worth keeping an eye out for, which is great for taking notes and keeping your screen sanitary. Up-to-date wired and wireless connectivity features like Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 (and up), and USB-C are also essential features to consider.

How We Tested

I spent weeks with every tablet on this list, carefully evaluating its design, ergonomics, and everyday performance. I used the devices to browse the web, navigate social media, and play video games locally or via a cloud service like NVIDIA GeForce Now. When equipped with optional keyboard accessories, I also used the tablet for work, cranking out hundreds of emails and Slack messages and creating tech reviews, to name a couple of tasks.

Find the perfect tablet for your lifestyle and budget, or give someone a gift they'll enjoy every day by choosing one of the thoroughly vetted offerings below.

iPad Air (5th Generation)

Almost two years after it hit the shelves, the iPad Air is hands down the best big-screen tablet for most consumers. Featuring the same Apple M1 chip that powers the entry-level MacBook Air, the slate offers the most graphics and processing power in its price range, a gorgeous Retina display, a timelessly elegant design, exceptional craftsmanship, and a peerless ecosystem of protective cases and accessories, all at an agreeable price.

Thanks to iPadOS, the product comes with the best selection of tablet-friendly apps and games in the business — giving it a massive advantage over rivals that utilize other mobile platforms. What’s more, the Air, and every other iPad, comes with many years’ worth of timely OS updates, ensuring you’ll get new features long after you order one.

The M1 chip of the iPad Air is more powerful than the silicon of most laptops in its price range and beyond. And when equipped with the Apple Magic Keyboard, the slate is a bona fide mini laptop replacement. I frequently relied on the Air and the last-mentioned to replace a laptop during vacations and weekend getaways.

Of course, the iPad Air is also compatible with the Apple Pencil — one of the best accessories of its kind and a capable tool for productive and creative tasks.

You can order the iPad Air with up to 256 GB of storage in five colors: blue, purple, pink, starlight, and space gray. Versions with 5G network connectivity cost an extra $150.

Reviewed: iPad Air (5th Generation)

Fire HD 10 Tablet

The Amazon Fire HD 10 is the best tablet for thrifty upgraders. Starting below $150, the Android-based slate offers a large and crisp touchscreen, a capable chip that provides solid everyday performance, and superb integration with Alexa — its maker’s excellent virtual assistant. It's perfect for web browsing, social networking, and streaming Amazon’s vast library of content, which is best enjoyed with a Prime subscription.

When paired with a Bluetooth keyboard case and a stylus pen, the Fire HD 10 becomes a surprisingly capable tool for students and remote workers. Both optional accessories are incredibly affordable — the keyboard costs $49.99, while the stylus pen costs $34.99. Its duo of cameras have Full HD sensors, making it great for video conferencing.

You can order the Amazon Fire HD 10 with up to 64 GB of expandable storage in three colors — black, ocean, and lilac. Removing the lock screen ads costs only $15 extra, and I highly recommend it. A kid-friendly variant of the product with a bundled protective case, an extended warranty, and a slightly higher price tag is also available.

It's important to note that Amazon also offers a slightly pricier but still budget-friendly Fire Max 11 tablet with a bigger screen, more memory, and more immersive speakers with Dolby Atmos support. Its optional keyboard case has an integrated trackpad.

Galaxy Tab S9 FE Android Tablet

Believe it or not, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE makes an appealing case for choosing it over an iPad Air, so long as you are not deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem. The value-packed Android slate offers a water- and dustproof build with an official rating, a bundled S Pen stylus, more onboard memory that’s easily expandable via a microSD card slot, and a high-resolution display with a higher maximum refresh rate at a similar price point as its Apple rivals.

The above standout features should place the Tab S9 FE on your radar, even though Android is yet to catch up to iPadOS in terms of app availability. The slate is an excellent option if you’re rocking an Android phone, especially one of Samsung’s excellent Galaxy offerings.

While nowhere near as powerful as the Apple M1 chip inside the iPad Air, the 5-nanometer Exynos chipset of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE did a solid job in switching between multiple open apps, light productivity work, and the occasional gaming session. Thanks to the 90 Hz refresh rate of the screen, the last-mentioned activity consistently brought smooth visuals. When paired with a magnetic keyboard cover, the slate is great for students or for staying productive and connected away from your desktop.

Samsung offers two versions of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE — a standard one with a 10.9-inch display and a plus model with a larger 12.4-inch panel. The Galaxy Tab S9+ FE (pictured here) also features a dual rear camera and more RAM in an entry-level guise, as it's more suitable for multitasking and gaming.

Pixel Tablet with Charging Speaker Dock

The Pixel Tablet by Google, like the excellent smartphones with the same name, delivers the best Android experience in its product category — hardly a surprise considering it’s designed and developed by the tech giant behind the platform it runs. What’s more, the slate will get timely updates for years after you buy it, guaranteeing consistently up-to-date, clutter-free Android interactions.

Beyond offering the most advanced and futureproof Android experience in the business, the Pixel Tablet sets itself apart from all rivals by featuring a bundled charging dock with a built-in loudspeaker. The nifty accessory allows the slate to transform from a mobile device to a Google Assistant-powered smart display, much like the excellent Nest Hub Max, in a snap.

The above setup takes the Pixel Tablet’s at-home usability to a whole new level that even the iPad Air can’t match out of the box. While testing the product, I controlled smart lights and power outlets, streamed music and video, set timers and alarms, and got answers to random questions via Google Assistant voice commands.

When not in use, the docked slate doubled as a fantastic digital photo frame that showcased photos of my choosing or various patterns and iconic artworks provided by Google. Its pleasantly understated design and fabric-covered dock will ensure it easily blends into any decor.

With the same chip as the Google Pixel 7a on board, the Pixel Tablet delivered zippy performance and reliable multitasking during my testing. Google offers the product with up to 256GB of storage in porcelain, rose, and slate color options, each bundled with a matching charging dock.

Reviewed: Google Pixel Tablet

iPad (9th Generation)

The entry-level Apple iPad offers everything you’d expect from a top-tier tablet — sleek design, stellar hardware specs, top-tier performance, and a robust selection of apps and accessories — at a great price. Starting around $300 before additional deals and discounts, the slate is better than any rival for the money.

Best of all, thanks to iPadOS, the starter iPad brings access to countless apps and games designed to look great on its large display. Also, unlike many non-Apple rivals, the slate comes with many years’ worth of timely OS updates, guaranteeing an up-to-date user experience until you upgrade.

Design-wise, the ninth-generation iPad is the tech equivalent of a favorite everyday item. The home button underneath its share Retina display dates back to the original iPad, making the device timelessly elegant and instantly recognizable. Its metal housing made me feel like I was using a more expensive product.

Featuring the A13 Bionic chip, the iPad will provide you with reliable performance for years. When I put it through its paces, the slate effortlessly switched between multiple active apps, including a browser with many open tabs, iMessage, Slack, and an email client, to name a few. In addition, the device’s support for the first-generation Apple Pencil allowed me to jot down notes during meetings.

You can order the iPad in silver or space gray. The entry-level version comes with ample 64GB of storage, which you can quadruple for $150 more. There’s also the option to order the device with cellular connectivity.

Reviewed: Apple iPad (9th Generation)

Surface Pro 9

The Surface Pro 9 by Microsoft is a top-shelf PC that poses as a thin and compact tablet. Featuring an adjustable viewing stand, the metal-clad slate can quickly transform from an ultra-portable workstation to an entertainment device and back. All you need for this trick is to spend extra on a Surface Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Signature keyboard.

Having the option to switch between a super capable touchscreen laptop and a high-end tablet that’s perfect for streaming video and cloud gaming are the two main reasons I’d recommend spending big on the Microsoft Surface Pro 9. The slate also served me well as a desktop workstation when I connected it to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Microsoft offers the Surface Pro 9 in graphite, platinum, sapphire, and forest color options. There are several hardware configurations to consider, each featuring a powerful Intel chip and a sharp PixelSense Flow touchscreen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. You’ll also get a duo of high-quality cameras (front- and rear-facing) and a futureproof set of wired and wireless connectivity options, including optional 5G.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a good option to consider if you want a cheaper and smaller Surface Pro 9 alternative that doesn’t skimp on versatility. However, the entry-level Surface is nowhere near the level of its larger sibling in terms of hardware capabilities.

Reviewed: Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Apple iPad mini (6th Generation)

More than two years after it hit the shelves, the iPad mini is still the best compact tablet money can buy, and by a huge margin. It has best-in-class hardware specs with a powerful chip, an excellent Retina display, a capable camera setup, and a vast array of connectivity features that include optional 5G, all packed into a sleek metal housing with outstanding build quality.

Design-wise, the iPad mini looks like a miniature version of the iPad Air. It has a Touch ID fingerprint sensor that’s integrated into its power button. Its volume buttons, on the other hand, are placed at its top left corner in portrait mode — a first for an iPad.

My favorite things about the iPad mini are its size and ergonomics. The device’s 8.3-inch Retina display is considerably larger than the screen of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, making it ideal for scrolling through emails and websites, keeping tabs on social media, reading, and taking notes with the second-generation Apple Pencil. Its compact build allows it to not only easily fit in a bag alongside a laptop but also in many jacket pockets.

The iPad mini is available in four cool colors — pink, purple, space gray, and starlight — with up to 256 GB of onboard storage. Adding 5G network connectivity to the slate costs $150 extra.

Reviewed: iPad mini (6th Generation)

iPad Pro with M2 chip

Available with an 11- and a 12.9-inch display, the Apple iPad Pro is, once again, the absolute best tablet available today. It's packed with cutting-edge tech, including the incredible Apple M2 chip that’s powering the MacBook Air, a captivating display, and a sophisticated camera setup. Overall, the Pro is totally worth maxing out your new tablet budget.

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro I tested is my pick for its next-level Liquid Retina XDR screen. Its mini-LED display panel is brighter and even more vibrant than one of the 11-inch versions. Having such a high peak brightness allowed me to enjoy many outdoor work sessions in Central Park during sunny days. There aren’t many tablet (and laptop) rivals that offer such luxury.

All iPad Pro screens have ProMotion tech and a high refresh rate for fast and smooth interactions. Like its predecessor and many iPhones, the iPad Pro features Face ID instead of a fingerprint sensor. You can customize the device by choosing from an amazing selection of accessories and cases.

In a manner befitting its Pro moniker and price category, the range-topping iPad features 128 GB of storage in an entry-level guise. The product is available with up to a whopping 2 TB of storage in silver or space gray. Getting 5G network connectivity — a must-have feature of road warriors — costs $200 extra.

Reviewed: iPad Pro (12.9-inch) with M2 Chip

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