Nov. 28, 2023
Consumer Electronics
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Keep in mind that Windows slates are different beasts entirely. If that's what you're looking for, head on over to our picks for the best Windows tablets , as well as the best 2-in-1s
There are countless tablets on the market, but which one is right for you? Whether you're eyeing an iPad or one of the many Android models available, we detail the key factors you need to consider when shopping, along with some of the top-rated tablets we've tested.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
4.5 Outstanding
The iPad Air offers many of the same features as the iPad Pro for much less money, including high-end performance and support for the latest Apple Pencil. It's also quite portable and has strong battery life.
We recommend the iPad Air for content creators and students. If you need a tablet that can handle advanced applications and/or editing, it's worth the premium over the base model.
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$499.99 Amazon
$599.99 Best Buy
$599.99 Apple.com
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Apple iPad Air (2022) Review
4.0 Excellent
You can't go wrong with the latest version of Apple's entry-level iPad. It retails for a reasonable price compared with the iPad Air and the iPad Pro, but still offers a 10.9-inch display that's sufficiently large for multitasking and productivity.
This is the best iPad for most people. It performs well, has plenty of features, and gets you into the Apple ecosystem for a relatively affordable price.
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$443.00 Amazon
$449.00 Best Buy
$399.00 Walmart
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Apple iPad (10th Generation, 2022) Review
4.0 Excellent
With a 10.1-inch, 1,920-by-1,200-pixel screen, a good-enough MediaTek processor, 3GB of RAM, and more than 10 hours of battery life, the Fire HD 10 is the most well-rounded Amazon tablet you can get. We're also fans of the device's modern design, microSD card slot for up to 1TB of extra space, and decent speakers. And it remains as exceptional a value as ever, with a price under $150.
If you want to watch movies and shows on the go without worrying about battery life or paying a lot, the Fire HD 10 is your best bet.
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$79.99 Amazon
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Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) Review
4.0 Excellent
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ offers a lot of great features for a reasonable price, including an Exynos 1380 processor, a 12.4-inch screen with a 2,560-by-1,600-pixel resolution, and excellent battery life. It uses top-notch materials and sports an IP68 rating that protects it from dust and water. It also includes Samsung's excellent productivity and multitasking software. We like that Samsung promises four Android OS updates and five years of security patches for the device, too.
Look no further if you want a premium Android tablet that doesn't cost too much and is durable enough to use in your backyard or near a pool.
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$549.00 Amazon
$549.00 Walmart
$569.99 Best Buy
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ Review
4.0 Excellent
Amazon finally ventures out of the ultra-cheap tablet segment with the Fire Max 11. It performed well in our benchmark tests and feels snappy to use in real-world scenarios. The 11-inch, 2,000-by-1,200-pixel display is plenty large and sharp enough for enjoying movies and large-format reading material, while the build quality is a step up over other offerings in the company's lineup.
If you like the simplicity of Amazon's Fire OS platform or want the largest screen for the price, the Fire Max 11 is the way to go.
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$149.99 Amazon
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Amazon Fire Max 11 Review
4.0 Excellent
The 8.3-inch iPad mini might not get as much attention as its larger siblings, but it's sized just right if you value portability. Importantly, it doesn't give up any of the power, connectivity, or accessory support that makes iPads so popular.
The iPad mini is ideal for anyone who wants the feature and performance of a larger iPad in as small a package as possible.
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See also:$399.99 Amazon
$499.99 Best Buy
$499.99 Target
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Apple iPad mini (2021) Review
4.0 Excellent
With its 14-inch, 2,960-by-1,848-pixel screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is ideal for getting work done, watching movies, playing games, and running multiple apps. It performed well in testing thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 12GB of RAM. Additionally, the tablet sports a durable IP68 rating, ships with the excellent S Pen stylus, and includes a microSD card slot. Samsung's productivity-focused tools make it a near laptop replacement.
If you want the biggest Android tablet for entertainment and cost isn't a concern, the Tab S9 Ultra is the one to get. Its giant screen and multitasking software make it viable tool for getting work done. Just keep in mind that if you plan to travel or commute with your tablet, the 12.4-inch, 5G-capable Galaxy Tab S9+ is a better choice with comparable specs.
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$1,319.99 Best Buy
$1,199.99 Samsung
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra Review
4.0 Excellent
The iPad Pro's M2 chip is incredibly powerful, and options for up to 2TB of storage and 16GB of RAM elevate Apple's tablet to new performance heights. It also has a fantastic display, offers reliable connectivity (including 5G and Wi-Fi 6E), and works with a full suite of quality accessories, including the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard for expanded productivity.
If price is no concern and you want the top-of-the-line iPad to push through professional workflows, you can't do better than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
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$1,099.00 Best Buy
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Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 2022) Review
3.5 Good
The portable Fire HD 8 has a bright screen and impressive battery life for an affordable price.
You should enjoy the Fire HD 8 if you want a budget-friendly device with a larger screen than your phone. It doesn't compete with high-end iPads or Android tablets on performance metrics, but it's more than fast enough for casual use.
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$59.99 Amazon
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Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022 Release) Review
3.5 Good
The Pixel Tablet provides a pure Android experience and feels snappy for everyday use. Its 10.95-inch, 2,560-by-1,600-pixel screen is enjoyable for media playback too, especially thanks to its 24-bit color support. The slate sounds good by itself, but the included speaker dock (which doubles as a charging stand and turns the device into a smart display) takes things up a notch with fuller, richer sound.
If you're committed to Google's version of Android, the Pixel Tablet is easy to recommend. It doesn't perform quite as well as some competitors or last as long per charge, but its audio chops are sure to attract music lovers and the smart display functionality is a nice bonus.
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$398.99 Amazon
$399.00 Best Buy
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Google Pixel Tablet ReviewBuying Guide: The Best Tablets for 2023
Broadly, Android tablets make great media players, ebook readers, and kids' devices (if you want a tablet specifically for children, check out the best kids' tablets) but they rarely compete with iPads when it comes to versatility and performance.
The greatest strengths of Apple's iPadOS are twofold: iPadOS is intuitive and the numerous apps that you can buy right on your tablet—more than one million iPad-specific titles are available at the time of this writing—work fairly uniformly. The downside of iPadOS is that it still can't handle multiple users per device and transferring files between apps is still awkward. iPads mostly remain a supplement to, not a full replacement for, MacBooks. iPads also support the best selection of accessories, including the outstanding second-generation Apple Pencil.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Google's Android OS gives you a choice of hardware from a wider range of manufacturers. That means you get maximum customization, a top-notch notification system, fast and smooth web browsing, and seamless integration with Google applications such as Gmail, Google Maps, and Meet for video chats. Android also includes support for multiple user profiles, so you can share your tablet with a friend or family member. (Apple's Family Sharing works the other way around, giving multiple people access to shared data and services.) Some Android tablets ship with an older version of the OS and seldom get updates, but Google and Samsung outline upgrade policies for their devices to give you peace of mind.
Amazon's Fire OS is a branch of Android with a distinct interface and set of default apps from Amazon. It's a simple gateway to Amazon content and for streaming videos from various services. We find it easier to use than standard Android if most of what you do is browse the web and access your Amazon library. It's less flexible, though, and doesn't support as many apps.
What's a tablet without quality apps? If you want third-party apps that work with a touch-screen interface, nothing beats the iPad's massive library of programs and games. The App Store is well-curated and offers a deep selection. Apple is your best bet if a wide range of compelling apps that look good and work well on your tablet is your main priority. For more, see the best iPad apps and the best Apple Arcade Games.
Android has made great strides in app selection, but it's still not home to as many as Apple offers. It's tough to say exactly how many tablet-optimized Android apps are available, but it's far fewer than on the iPad. You can use Android phone apps of course, which look decent on a 7-inch tablet, but less so on a 9- or 10-inch device. Check out the best Android apps for our top picks.
Amazon tablets don't have access to the Google Play store, so they work with considerably fewer apps. Plenty of people have hacked the Play Store onto Amazon tablets, but that violates both Amazon's and Google's terms of service and isn't a reliable solution. With these tablets, you should likely stick with the subset of apps that Amazon considers appropriate.
This consideration is a bit obvious, but size—both screen real estate and storage capacity—is important to consider. First things first: When you hear a term such as "10-inch tablet," this refers to the size of the screen, measured diagonally, and not the size of the tablet itself.
We consider 7- and 8-inch tablets as small-screen devices and 9-inch tablets as the start of the large-screen category. Apple's iPads, Amazon's Fire tablets, and Samsung's slates all come in small- and large-screen versions. And more than ever, big phones blur the distinction between what is and isn't a tablet. Folding phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 or OnePlus Open can easily do double duty as tablets if you're willing to pay a hefty premium.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Screen resolution is important, too, especially for reading and web surfing. A sharp, bright display is key. If you're in the market for a 10-inch tablet, look for a display with a resolution of at least 1,280 by 800 pixels.
The low weight of a tablet is one definite advantage it has over a laptop—but with large-screen tablets typically weighing around a pound, they're not nearly as light as smartphones. After you hold one with a single hand while standing up for 20 minutes, your hand is likely to tire. Setting one flat in your lap, rather than propping it up on a stand, can also be a little awkward. And few tablets fit in your pocket (unless you're wearing a very large jacket).
Cloud (off-device) storage is an option for many tablets (Amazon Cloud Storage for Fire tablets, iCloud Drive for iPads, Google One for Android tablets), but when it comes to onboard storage, more is always better. All those apps; your local music, photo, and video libraries; and system updates can take up a lot of space. Some Android tablets feature a microSD slot for additional storage, but it's worth noting some apps won't work from those external cards.
Some tablets can connect only over Wi-Fi, but others can take advantage of always-on cellular service from a wireless provider. Unless you constantly use your tablet in an area without Wi-Fi or are a frequent international traveler, you're probably better off using your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot and saving the extra money you would spend on an LTE or 5G tablet. You can also buy a dedicated mobile hotspot, which won't kill your phone's battery life. Some even double as backup batteries to charge your tablet.
The tablets here represent the best options from Amazon, Android, and Apple across a variety of price levels. That said, plenty of other great tablets exist that might be better for you. For the latest lab-tested reviews, check out our tablet product guide. And if you're looking for a good deal, head over to our roundup of the best cheap tablets we've tested.
Dave LeClair and Sascha Segan contributed to this story.
Tablets often don't come with kickstands or enough ports, so it's a good idea to snag a few accessories to enhance your experience. These are some of our favorite tablet accessories, many of which you can also find in our Best iPad Accessories guide.
Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand for $45: This is my favorite tablet stand, so much so that I've taken it with me on trips. It packs down relatively well, and it is very stable—there's no wobbling around here. You can also adjust the angle quite a bit. It can handle huge sizes too—it worked perfectly with my 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Twelve South Compass Pro Stand for $50: This is made for iPads, but I've had no trouble using it for plenty of other tablets. It's more travel-friendly than the Satechi above and fairly stable, but when I lift the tablet off, the back leg tends to change positions. You can angle it pretty low for sketching or keep it upright for watching movies. Unlike the Satechi, it's not a great option for keeping the tablet upright on a mattress.
Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $60: This works with iPads and other tablets just fine. You can either plug it in and keep it flush with the edge of a slate or use the included cord to keep it extended. You get a USB-C port you can use for pass-through charging, a USB-A, an HDMI, and a headphone jack.
Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder for $26: I've used this on my bed frame to hold up various tablets for more than a year. The gooseneck requires a bit of finagling to get to the right position, and if you're constantly tapping the tablet, it will jiggle around. But it's a great hands-free way to watch movies. You can affix the clamp to any surface, like a desk or kitchen counter.
Twelve South HoverBar Duo Mount/Stand for $80: You can use this as a stand or as an arm mount, and Twelve South makes it really easy to switch between the two. That means you can easily affix your tablet to your bedside arm mount, and then put it on the stand in your home office in the morning. Both are sturdy, and the arm mount is decently adjustable. Best of all, it doesn't wiggle around as much as the Lamicall above when you tap the screen.
Keychron K3 Pro Mechanical Bluetooth Keyboard for $100: If you want to use a third-party Bluetooth keyboard with your tablet, a cheap one (like this Logitech) will do the job perfectly. But if you're a mechanical keyboard snob like me, this Keychron is an upgrade that's pretty easy to tote around. You can connect it to multiple devices and switch between them quickly; the keys light up in different, configurable colors; and best of all, it delivers the clickety-clackety experience you want with a mechanical keyboard. It needs to be recharged every three to four days, but you can also use it plugged in.
Anker Nano 3 30-Watt Charging Adapter for $20: Most tablets charge at around 18 watts, so this 30-watt charger from Anker is more than capable. The plugs fold up, and it's pretty compact. If your tablet does support faster charging, then I recommend Satechi's 108-watt three-port USB-C charger ($75). This will let you charge your phone, tablet, and laptop all off the same plug.
Einova Ultra Fast Power Bank for $47: This power bank is slim enough to store next to a tablet in your bag, and it has enough capacity (20,000 mAh) to recharge an 11-inch tablet twice. You can fast-charge with the USB-C port and use the two USB-A ports to recharge other devices.
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