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Best tablets of 2026

Updated February 2026
How We Tested

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
September 24, 2021
51
Models
considered
22
Hours
researched
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Buying guide for best tablets

Jmar Gambol
Written by Jmar Gambol

Updated February 2026

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Every year, new tablets arrive on the market, getting bigger, faster and more powerful. But the best tablets aren’t necessarily the ones with the most powerful specs or biggest sizes. Instead, the best tablets are the ones that are the best at the jobs they’re intended for, whether that’s high-end movie production or everyday couch browsing.

The BestReviews Testing Lab recently examined several tablets at different price points, from low-cost, kid-friendly models to high-end, high-priced powerhouses. The tablet testing team, myself included, looked at each tablet’s setup, display, OS, processor, performance and battery life, as well as noting any rough edges or drawbacks we encountered.

Our top pick overall is the versatile Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+. Still, different people need different things from their tablets, and we’re confident something on our short list will be right for you.

Editors' picks

Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M3 chip

Editors’ Favorite 

Operating system: iPadOS | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 2360 x 1640 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 9.74” L x 7.02” W x 0.24” D, 1.01 lb | Storage: 128 GB| Battery Life: 10 hr

For shoppers who want their tablet to be a primary device, or who want a tablet that can handle serious gaming and work without being thick or heavy, we recommend the 2025 model Apple iPad Air 11-inch with the M3 processor. It's thin, light, and packed with the same computing power as a laptop.

The 2025 iPad Air 11-inch is 6.1 millimeters thick, 9 millimeters thinner than the plain iPad (A16), and it's 17 grams lighter as well. It's got a bright 500-nit LCD screen that's capable of P3 color, with an antireflective coating and no lamination, so a stylus, like the Apple Pencil Pro, feels like it's directly touching the image.

Inside, the M3 processor is as powerful as those found in Apple's 2024 MacBook Air models, with eight cores, nine graphics cores with accelerated ray tracing for smoother animation and games, and 8GB of RAM to run Apple Intelligence. The iPad Air is available in several understated colors and supports the Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro.

Amazon Fire 10 HD

Amazon Fire 10 HD
If your headphones are wired, the Amazon Fire 10 HD offers a physical headphone jack.

Great Value 

Operating system: FireOS | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 1920 x 1200 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 9.69” L x 6.49” W x 0.34” D, 0.95 lb | Storage: 32 or 64GB plus microSD slot | Battery Life: 13 hr

The Amazon Fire 10 HD occupies a sweet spot in the retail giant’s tablet lineup, offering a screen that is spacious enough for enjoyment while retaining the affordability and approachability that the Fire line offers. It’s a solid midsize device for an entertainment-focused tablet.

The Fire 10 HD runs on an eight-core ARM processor clocked at 2.0 GHz. While it only comes with 3GB of memory, our tester experienced no lags or buffering, with webpages loading quickly and video streaming without incident. 

The 10-inch, 1080p (FHD) screen was bright and vibrant with bright whites and deep blacks during our testing.

Battery life expectancy is 13 hours, and it lasted over a week on a single charge when used for a couple of hours a day in our testing period. Our tester appreciated its size and form factor above all, noting that it was perfect for use as an e-reader or for watching videos. 

We also note that it still comes with a physical headphone jack. Overall, the Fire 10 HD is a good low-cost tablet for reading, viewing and browsing, earning it a score of 3.5 out of 5

Apple iPad (A16)

Best for Everyday Use 

Operating system: iPadOS | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 2360 x 1640 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 9.79” L x 7.07” W x 0.28” D, 1.05 lb | Storage: 128 GB | Battery Life: 10 hr

It works fine, so make it faster. That should be the motto of the 11th-generation iPad, now known as the iPad (A16). Its updated internals make it a better value than ever before, providing excellent everyday performance at an approachable price.

The new naming scheme of this 11th-generation iPad showcases its biggest upgrade, the A16 Bionic processor. Found in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15, this chip is around 20% faster than that of the 10th-gen iPad, and increases RAM from 4GB to 6GB. The new processor makes the iPad (A16) nimbler and more responsive than its predecessor in everyday tasks from web browsing to casual gaming.

The iPad's solid aluminum case remains the same, available in four bright colors. Its 500-nit LCD screen is sharp and vivid, but lacks the antireflective coating of other iPads. The front camera has moved to landscape orientation for better video chatting. And though it’s compatible with the original Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil (USB-C), it’s not with the Apple Pencil 2 or Pro. It's the one iPad that can't run Apple Intelligence, but it can access ChatGPT or Copilot just fine.

Apple iPad Air 13-inch with M3 chip

Best Big-Screen iPad

Operating system: iPadOS | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 2732 x 2048 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 11.04” L x 8.46” W x 0.24” D, 1.36 lb | Storage: 128 GB | Battery Life: 10 hr

If you're looking for the best big-screen tablet for most people, consider the iPad Air 13-inch with the M3 processor. From the same model year and family as the 11-inch iPad Air, the 13-inch Air has all the benefits and features of its sibling, paired with a bigger, brighter screen.

The big draw, if you'll pardon the pun, of the 13-inch Air is of course its 13-inch super-sharp LCD screen. It's about 30% larger in area, giving you the ability to work on two documents side-by-side and deeply immerse yourself in a full-powered game, art project or video. The 13-inch Air's screen also gets brighter, up to 600 nits, than the 11-inch.

Like the 11-inch model, the 13-inch Air is powered by Apple's M3 processor for full-powered computing, gaming and Apple Intelligence. It comes in the same subtle color options and supports the Apple Pencil 2, Pro and USB-C. Its storage options start at 128GB and go all the way up to 1TB.

Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro)

Best Small iPad

Operating system: iPadOS | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 2266 x 1488 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 7.69” L x 5.3” W x 0.25” D, 10.4 oz | Storage: 128 GB| Battery Life: 10 hr

Updated in late 2024, the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is the seventh generation of Apple's smallest iPad. With its new A17 Pro processor, the iPad mini packs enough power to speed through productivity, games and videos, and is capable enough to run Apple Intelligence features as well.

The iPad mini features an 8.3-inch LCD screen with a top brightness of 500 nits and a pixel density of 326 ppi, meaning images are smaller but sharper. This screen has the same wide color gamut, lack of lamination and added antireflective coating of the iPad Air family, making it fantastic for note-taking or sketching with the Apple Pencil 2, Pro or USB-C.

The iPad mini's A17 Pro processor, introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro, is faster than the A16 used in the iPad (A16), making the iPad mini a little powerhouse. In portability and convenience, the iPad mini is top among iPads, although its smaller screen can make some text hard to read.

Apple iPad Pro 13-inch with M4

Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
The Apple iPad Pro 13-inch with the M4 processor impressed the testing team with its power and speed.

Powerful & Sleek Design

Operating system: iPadOS | Screen Type: OLED | Screen Size: 2752 x 2064 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 11.09” L x 8.48” W x 0.2” D, 1.28 lb | Storage: 256GB to 2TB | Battery Life: 10 hr

The 13-inch Apple iPad Pro with the M4 processor is almost ridiculously powerful. It’s not just the fastest and most powerful tablet we tested, but one of the fastest and most powerful computing devices, including desktops and laptops, that I personally have ever encountered – with a price tag to match.

In the testing I conducted, I couldn’t find anything that could faze the iPad Pro: not gaming, not graphics or video editing, not music creation or all the browser tabs I could open. 

Its OLED screen was also the most dazzling display I’d ever seen, not just on a tablet but on anything smaller than a TV, with an adaptive refresh rate as high as 120 Hz for silky-smooth response. It’s also thinner than the iPad Air.

Its rear camera boasts ProRes (4K video at 30 fps) capability, while its front camera offers 12 MP quality that could power a professional vlog. In fact, its power, storage, four-way speakers, high-grade microphones and camera capabilities make the iPad Pro an all-in-one media workstation in a tablet form. 

It’s more expensive than even some Apple laptops, and it doesn’t come with a stylus, case or keyboard, but for creative and media professionals, the Apple iPad Pro with M4 processor, which scored a 5 out of 5 in our testing, is the top tablet around.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ boasts a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 processor.

Stellar Screen

Operating system: Android | Screen Type: AMOLED | Screen Size: 2960 x 1848 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 11.24” L x 7.3” W x 0.22” D, 1.6 lb | Storage: 256GB plus microSD slot | Battery Life: 10 hr

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ is a laptop-replacement tablet with the sharpest screen, as measured by pixel density, of all the models we’ve picked. It’s got the expected pluses and minuses of a Samsung Android device, but it can’t be faulted for its top-notch screen, excellent speakers and fantastic S-Pen.

The big, bright AMOLED screen shines when it comes to responsiveness and video playback and offers plenty of space for multitasking. 

Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 processor gives it laptop-replacement performance, and I experienced no lags, jitter or hangs when I tested it with games and productivity software. 

It also comes with Samsung’s S-Pen, whose soft tip and deep integration with Samsung’s OneUI make it one of the more useful stylus features I’ve used. Dual front and rear cameras offer up to 13 MP of picture resolution.

Getting a Samsung device means having to deal with Samsung’s versions of apps that already come with Android, but the interoperability between Samsung devices is a worthwhile advantage to keeping things consistent. It’s not a low-cost tablet, but as a laptop replacement, the Galaxy Tab S9+, which received a score of 4.5 out of 5, has few rivals.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Best Android Tablet for Professionals

Operating system: Android | Screen Type: TFT | Screen Size: 2000 x 1200 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 9.63” L x 6.07” W x 0.27” D, 1.03 lb | Storage: 64 GB| Battery Life: 14 hr

Among Samsung tablets there's a lot to choose from, including high-powered premium models and small everyday designs. Our favorite Samsung tablet just might be the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. This tablet, from a line that's defied the passage of time, is an excellent combination of features and portability that leads with its included S Pen.

In our experiences with Samsung tablets, the S Pen remains one of our favorite features. It's small, light and never runs out of power. Its flexible tip makes writing or drawing with it on a smooth glass screen pleasurable and natural. It's included with the price of the S6 Lite and makes the most of Samsung's stylus-integrated software.

The Galaxy S6 Lite has an Exynos 6 processor that can handle everyday tasks with little effort. Its 10.4-inch TFT screen isn't the best but works well for the price. It offers 64 to 128 GB of built-in storage, stereo speakers, and Samsung's desktop-like DeX mode. It handily beats iPads with its 14-hour battery life.

Amazon Fire HD 8

Bargain Pick

Operating system: FireOS | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 1280 x 800 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 7.94” L x 5.40” W x 0.37” D, 11.88 oz | Storage: 32 GB| Battery Life: 13 hr

Sometimes you don't want a tablet to make a feature-length movie, or play the latest cinematic games, or work on a report or memo. If all you want is a small, low-cost tablet to keep yourself or your kids entertained and connected, take a look at the Amazon Fire HD 8.

The FIre HD 8, most recently updated in 2024, is a small, light device that feels like a Kindle on steroids. It has a colorful, glossy 8-inch LCD display that looks good while browsing Facebook or streaming video. It's also a great device, unsurprisingly, for reading Kindle books. In fact, if you've got a Kindle account and an Amazon Prime Video subscription, the Fire HD could be your go-to device for personal entertainment.

One of the newer features of the Fire HD 8 is an AI-inspired suite that can summarize webpages, suggest writing enhancements and generate customized wallpaper. The Fire HD 8 has a plastic body available in three pleasant colors and, as an Amazon device, is tailor-made for Alexa.

Amazon Fire Max 11

Amazon Fire Max 11
The testing team found the budget-friendly Amazon Fire Max 11 looks and feels high end.

Affordable Choice 

Operating system: FireOS | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 2000 x 1200 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 10.2” L x 6.44” W x 0.3” D, 1.08 lb | Storage: 64 or 128GB plus microSD slot | Battery Life: 14 hr 

The Amazon Fire Max 11 is one of the most budget-friendly big tablets on the market. According to BestReviews tester Hannah Suh, it was powerful and versatile, with a vivid screen and solid performance, as long as you were prepared for the limitations of FireOS.

The Max 11 is the top tablet in Amazon’s Fire lineup, with an 8-core ARM-based processor running at 2.2 GHz and 4GB of memory, specs comparable to competitors like the iPad or Galaxy Tab. 

It has an estimated 14-hour battery life, one of the longest among our picks, and didn’t seem to lose much charge in between usage sessions during testing. She noted that its 11-inch screen was a treat as well — bright, vivid and sharp with “stunning clarity.”

Our tester also liked that the Max 11 looks and feels like a premium tablet, although she elected to get a case to give it more grip. 

As befits an Amazon product, the Max 11 excels at Prime Video and Kindle. All in all, for less than the price of entry-level competitors, the big and capable Fire Max 11, which received a score of 4 out of 5, is an excellent value.

Apple iPad (10th Generation)

Apple iPad (10th Generation)
The Apple iPad (10th Generation) comes in four vivid colors: blue, pink, silver and yellow.

Customer Favorite

Operating system: iPadOS | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 2360 x 1640 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 9.79” L x 7.07” W x 0.28” D, 1.05 lb | Storage: 64 or 256GB | Battery Life: 10 hr

The venerable Apple iPad is the tablet that jumpstarted the category. Now in its 10th generation, it’s still a capable all-around tablet for most people who don’t need or expect to replace their main machines.

Last updated in 2023, the 10th-generation iPad has adopted the curvy corners and USB-C port of the rest of the iPad line, and that port makes it able to connect to expansion docks or flash drives seamlessly. 

Its screen isn’t laminated, like that of the iPad Air, but in practical terms, you wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for a difference. It does lack an anti-glare coating, though, which made it harder to read in sunlight in my testing.

The 10th-generation iPad runs on an Apple A14 processor that still runs most apps and videos smoothly, although hard use can cause it to slow down and put background apps to sleep more than faster iPads. 

It comes in four bright colors that might especially appeal to younger users, and remains a convenient and capable device for browsing, video watching and general use. In general, the tenth-generation iPad, which received a score of 4 out of 5, remains a solid choice as an everyday tablet.

Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M2

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2)
The Apple iPad Air 11-inch with the M2 processor stands out for its stellar LCD screen.

 Feature-Packed

Operating system: iPadOS | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 2360 x 1640 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 9.74” L x 7.02” W x 0.24” D, 1.02 lb | Storage: 128GB to 1TB | Battery Life: 10 hr

The Apple iPad Air line would be considered flagship devices if not for the Pro line. A lot of that comes down to the M2 processor that powers both the 11-inch and 13-inch models. With the M2, the iPad Air is essentially as powerful as Apple’s MacBook Air laptops.

The screen on the iPad Air is one of the best LCDs I’ve seen and could be mistaken for an OLED with its high contrast and detail. It’s a laminated screen, which, for practical purposes, meant that I felt the interface more responsive and “closer” to my finger when I touched it. 

The M2 processor never struggled with anything I threw at it, including Call of Duty Mobile and Apple’s own iMovie and GarageBand media creation apps. I also used the iPad Air on a trip and, despite its thinness, it came through without a scratch.

I obtained 10 and a half hours of battery life from the iPad Air when using it as a primary device. For productivity, it’s a worthwhile laptop replacement, although ideally, you’d need an external keyboard. Overall, the iPad Air with M2, which received a near-perfect score of 4.5 out of 5, is almost an iPad Pro at a more reasonable price.  

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ has an advanced camera for an entry-level device.

Simple Yet Solid

Operating system: Android | Screen Type: LCD | Screen Size: 1920 x 1200 pixels | Dimensions & Weight: 10.1” L x 6.6” W x 0.27” D, 1.06 lb | Storage: 256GB plus microSD slot | Battery Life: 8 hr

When I unboxed the Galaxy Tab A9+ I was prepared to be unimpressed. It’s one of the lower-cost models in Samsung’s tablet lineup, with specs that, to me, looked mediocre. I changed my tune, however, after testing. It’s not the greatest or fastest out there, but for its price and size, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is a solid little tablet.

At first glance, the LCD screen looked unappealing, but its 90-hertz refresh rate made it smooth and pleasant to scroll, even when its processor appeared to struggle. It ran Call of Duty Mobile at enjoyable speeds, albeit without the most detailed graphics, and I had no issues with watching HD video from Netflix or Hulu. 

I was also impressed with the camera, not because of any great specs but because of abilities like portrait mode and panorama I didn’t expect from an entry-level device.

The A9+ had about eight hours of battery life but took longer to charge than other tablets I tested, and I could tell when its processor and memory were struggling with browser windows. But if you’re in need of a secondary device or a tablet for kids (there’s a kids edition with colorful cases), it’s a solid buy. I give it a score of 3.5 out of 5.

How we tested the best tablets

In building this buying guide, we relied primarily on our own hands-on experience with the models we’ve picked, putting them through a series of tests to establish their effectiveness in real-world usage.

  • Setup: we noted the packaging and what was included with the tablet, then timed how long it took to set up the tablet and how easy or difficult it was.
  • Design: We evaluated each tablet’s size, shape, thinness and weight, noting how comfortable they were to hold, what positions they worked best in, and if we felt they needed stands, keyboards or other accessories. We also noted their portability and convenience on the go.
  • Display: We used measuring apps to get an idea of the color accuracy and brightness of the tablet displays and measured the brightness and dimness of the displays in a normal room, in direct sunlight and in a darkened room. We played graphics-intensive video games and 4K HDR video when possible to get a sense of the sharpness, accuracy and performance of the screens. We also noted how easy it was to clean the screens and how they looked with fingerprints or at angles.
  • Battery Life: We timed how long it took to fully drain the battery on each tested tablet, starting from 100% capacity, with mixed usage, including web browsing, watching videos, short gaming sessions, video conferencing and productivity. When possible, we repeated the test with only video playback. We also timed how long it took to recharge each tablet from empty to full.
  • Camera and speakers: We took photos and video using front and rear cameras in different lighting conditions. We also listened to varied media, including music, video and podcasts, to test speaker quality at different volumes.
  • Apps and OS: We used each tablet for a wide variety of activities, from web browsing and watching videos to performance-pushing apps like games and video editing. We noted the speed of each tablet’s system, the ease of use of their OSes, the availability of popular apps and the overall usefulness of each tablet for productivity, gaming, entertainment and other activities.

Display quality

A tablet is basically all display. It’s what you look at and what you interact with, so a great display goes a long way to making a great tablet.

Display type

Tablet displays are typically either LCD or OLED screens. LCD screens have come a long way from their beginnings, with the best ones, such as the LED-backlit “Super Retina” displays on Apple’s iPad and iPad Air, offering outstandingly sharp and vivid images. OLED screens, however, are widely recognized as the best you can get, with each pixel being individually illuminated for true blacks, infinite contrast, accurate color and fast response times. OLEDs are more expensive, though, and the difference, while real, may not be significant enough for average users.

Our top picks: Display type

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: An AMOLED 2X display makes this tablet one of the best for HD streaming.
  • Amazon Fire HD 8: It has an IPS display, which makes it suitable for casual everyday use, including light streaming and gaming.
  • Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M3 Chip, Apple iPad Air 13-inch with M3 chip & Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro): These iPads all feature a Liquid Retina display that delivers accurate colors and stunning visuals, making them ideal for streaming, editing and graphic design.

Screen size

Screen size can be a tradeoff when it comes to tablets. A bigger screen lets you sink into whatever you’re looking at, especially movies, TV shows or games. It also gives you more space to work with for productivity or creativity. But a bigger screen means a bigger tablet, which can be more difficult to hold up. Small tablets are easy to hold and are ideal for reading in bed, and can slip into a bag or backpack but can be less optimal for productivity.

Our top picks: Screen size

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: The 12.4-inch display provides enough space for comfortable note-taking, editing and sketching.
  • Amazon Fire HD 8 & Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro): A smaller 8-inch display makes this tablet compact but a bit less practical for sketching and other activities.
  • Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M3 Chip: An 11-inch display makes this a midsize tablet, suitable for most users who want to stream, sketch and surf the web.
  • Apple iPad Air 13-inch with M3 chip: The large 13-inch screen is ideal for everything from sketching and gaming to streaming and spreadsheet-building.

Resolution

Resolution refers to how many pixels are on a given screen. As a rule of thumb, the higher the resolution, the sharper the images. There are several ways that tablets give their resolution, such as VGA, SVGA, UXGA, UHD and more, or pixel density (in ppi or pixels per inch). Note that it’s possible to have a small screen but a high resolution and vice versa.

Our top picks: Resolution

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: The 2800 x 1752 resolution is higher than full HD and among the best for streaming HD content.

  • Amazon Fire HD 8: A standard HD display with a 1280 x 800 resolution makes this tablet suitable for casual streaming.

  • Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M3 Chip: 2360 x 1640 is a standard resolution for many Apple flagship tablets, making this one an excellent option for streaming and editing.

  • Apple iPad Air 13-inch with M3 chip: A 2732 x 2048 resolution falls between 2K and 4K, which is highly impressive for a tablet and the best option for HD content streaming.

  • Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro): A 2266 x 1488 resolution makes this one of the best tablets for portable viewing of HD TV shows and movies.

Operating systems

Most tablets run one of four operating systems. Apple iPads run iPadOS, Microsoft Surface tablets run Windows and almost every other tablet runs either ChromeOS or a variety of Android, often with special user interfaces that differ by brand.

iPadOS

iPadOS is the operating system used by Apple’s iPads. It was spun off of iOS, Apple’s mobile operating system for iPhones, in 2019 to include features and optimizations for the bigger screens and hardware on iPads. Most notably, iPadOS supports multitasking, including multiple windows on iPad models with the right hardware. iPadOS is known for its smooth operation, consistent interface and wide variety of apps.

Android

Google’s Android, the world’s most popular mobile operating system, offers more customization and freedom than iPadOS. Many brands offer customized user interfaces or skins on top of Android to differentiate their products. Samsung tablets use OneUI on top of Android and have special features that work only with other Samsung devices.

Windows

Windows on tablets is found on Microsoft’s own Surface tablet PCs and on convertible devices. When Surface tablets were first introduced, they used a special version of Windows called Windows RT, but Windows tablets now run the same Windows 10 or 11 as other PCs do. However, some desktop or laptop Windows applications may not work with Windows in tablet mode.

ChromeOS

ChromeOS, also from Google and based on its Chrome browser, can be found as the OS of many two-in-one convertible Chromebooks.

Our top picks: Operating systems

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: Runs Android 14, the latest tablet Android OS, making it customizable and compatible with third-party apps.
  • Amazon Fire HD 8: Amazon’s proprietary OS is user-friendly and offers access to a wide range of apps.
  • Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M3 Chip, Apple iPad Air 13-inch with M3 chip and Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro): All three run Apple’s iPad OS, which offers a streamlined, user-friendly interface.

Performance

A tablet, like other computing devices, relies on its processor, memory and storage to perform. The faster the processor, the more memory, and the more storage, the more powerful the tablet.

Processor

In general, the faster the processor, the better the experience. A fast processor doesn’t just make video and games enjoyable but also app opening, scrolling, photography and even typing smooth and enjoyable, while a slow processor can make just swiping through your app library a pain. You can tell a fast processor by its clock rate (in GHz), number of cores (four to eight is typical) and any discrete graphics cores (typically present).

The fastest tablet processors are Apple’s M-series and A-series chips and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors. Other processors include Samsung’s Exynos chips and processors from MediaTek. Microsoft Surface tablets use Intel chips.

Memory

Memory lets more apps stay open at once and allows for more complex apps to run, like drawing and painting software, photo and video editing apps, and intensive games. We’d say 8GB of memory is a good amount for a tablet to perform well. Most tablets have their memory integrated with their processors and can’t be upgraded.

Storage

A tablet needs storage for its apps and documents, even if you keep your documents in the cloud and stream music or video. The more storage you have, the more apps you can download, and when you don’t have a fast internet connection, you can rely on documents, videos and music stored on your tablet. Consider 32GB as a minimum for tablet storage. Many Android tablets let you use a MicroSD card to expand your storage beyond what’s built-in, while Apple iPads don’t.

Connectivity

Tablets connect to the Internet for setup, web browsing, streaming, installing apps and downloading books and other content. They also need to connect to accessories either wirelessly or via ports.

Wi-Fi

All tablets should have Wi-Fi. This lets you use them anywhere in your home or office, and anywhere there’s an accessible Wi-Fi network. A good tablet should be able to connect to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi channels, and the best tablets support Wi-Fi 6 or later for the fastest and most efficient connections.

Cellular

A tablet with a cellular radio lets you connect to the Internet even when there’s no Wi-Fi network around. Most tablets with cellular connectivity support 4G, 4G LTE and even 5G speeds, but you have to pay extra for a data plan. Using the cellular connection also uses up more battery power; battery life can shorten by an hour in general on cellular versus Wi-Fi.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth lets tablets connect wirelessly to other electronics and accessories. Bluetooth can help a tablet connect to a game controller, a mouse or an external keyboard, or interface with a TV, headphones or wireless speakers. Look for tablets that support Bluetooth 5.0 and later for the best performance.

Ports

Tablets don’t have as many ports as laptops do. Apple iPads are notorious for having a single port, although their current USB-C ports can connect to a wider variety of devices and docks than their old Lightning ports. Android and Windows tablets may have one or two USB-C ports, while older devices may have micro-USB ports for charging. Non-Apple tablets also usually have a slot for MicroSD cards that act as expanded storage. It’s rare to find a tablet with a headphone jack, although some still do, such as the Amazon Fire 10 HD.

Cameras and audio

Tablets use cameras for video calls as well as taking photos and videos. The best tablets also offer stereo sound (or better) for watching shows, listening to music, calls and gaming.

Front and rear cameras

Tablets generally come with both a front-facing and rear-facing camera. The rear camera is used like those on smartphones to take photos or shoot video, while the front camera is used like those on laptops for taking video of yourself or holding a video chat or Zoom call.

There are a lot of factors that go into camera quality, like sensor size, focal length and computational processing, but a quick way is to look at the megapixels a camera can take. A minimum to consider would be 4 MP for the front camera and 8 MP for the rear.

Our top picks: Camera quality

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: A 12 MP rear camera supports 4K recording.
  • Amazon Fire HD 8: The rear camera is 5 MP and supports 1080p FHD recording.
  • Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M3 Chip, Apple iPad Air 13-inch with M3 chip, and Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro): All three tablets boast 12 MP front and rear cameras that support 4K recording and Center Stage technology that keeps you in frame during video calls.

Speakers

Speakers on tablets range from the minimal to the impressive, especially considering the restrictions of thinness. Some top tablets offer four or more speakers arranged around the edge of the display for three-dimensional or surround audio effects.

Our top picks: Speakers

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: It features four Dolby Atmos speakers that are surprisingly loud given its slim profile.
  • Amazon Fire HD 8: With integrated stereo speakers, this tablet’s sound quality is adequate for most applications.
  • Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M3 Chip, Apple iPad Air 13-inch with M3 chip and Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro): These tablets have integrated stereo speakers that deliver clear sound for music, video and calls.

Other considerations

Kid-friendliness

Tablets made for kids usually have brighter colors, more rounded corners and edges, and are made of lower-cost, more durable components. Some models are not much more than glorified toys, however, and are best suited for small children. Older kids would probably be better off with a lower-cost tablet that offers full functionality (with parental controls).

Stylus and keyboards

A good stylus allows you to draw, paint, sketch, handwrite and interact with tablet apps more precisely than you can with your fingers. Some tablets, notably Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S-series, come with a stylus, while others, such as the Apple iPad or many Microsoft Surface tablets, need to have a stylus purchased separately.

A physical keyboard is a huge improvement over the on-screen keyboard of any tablet. If you want to do any serious productivity on your tablet, you should look for a physical keyboard to go with it. Some tablets have cases that integrate keyboards, but all tablets with Bluetooth should be able to connect to any wireless keyboard, and keyboards with USB-C cables can also be plugged into tablets with a USB-C port.

Multitasking

Tablets used to focus literally on one app at a time, and most of them still do. They can have multiple apps active at once, but you can interact with only the one taking up the screen. Multitasking in tablets lets you interact with multiple apps at the same time.

We've found that tablets with dedicated multiple-window modes, like Samsung’s DeX or Apple’s Stage Manager, are better at productivity, such as writing documents while researching in a browser and viewing a video, than doing the same activities in apps that occupy the whole screen. An external keyboard and pointing device like a mouse or trackpad also greatly help with multitasking and can turn a powerful tablet into a laptop replacement. 

Tablet tips

  • Get a case or stand. We found in our testing that tablets, especially larger ones, can be hard to hold up over long periods of time, and laying them flat can make your neck hurt. A stand lifts them off your table or lap and gives better access to their front camera and speakers.
  • Think about how much memory and storage you need before you buy. Tablet memory isn’t usually upgradeable, and some tablets, like Apple iPads, don’t make it possible to upgrade storage. Get the maximum of each your budget allows.
  • People don’t upgrade their tablets often. Compared to smartphones, people replace their tablets less frequently. The best reason to replace an undamaged tablet is if it’s no longer capable of running the latest version of its operating system.

FAQ

Q. How long do tablet batteries usually last?

A. The best tablets offer around 10 hours on a single charge. How long you can use the tablet before needing to recharge depends on what you’re doing. In standby mode, most tablets can last a few days. Streaming content runs the battery down fairly quickly. Multitasking for work is likely to draw the most energy.

Q. Should I buy a screen protector for my tablet?

A. In the early days of tablets, screens were prone to scratches, which made screen protectors vital. Since then, the glass used in tablet screens has gotten stronger and more scratch-resistant, although it's definitely not scratch-proof. 

With some basic precautions and the right case, your screen will likely only face minimal scratches. If you’ll be frequently traveling with your tablet, though, you may want to invest in some extra protection.

Q. Can I send text messages from a tablet?

A. Tablets can be great for sending messages, but it depends on the type of message. Standard text messages (SMS) typically require a cellular data connection, which most tablets don't have. However, many popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Apple Messages send messages over the internet (like Wi-Fi) and work perfectly on tablets. So, you can chat with friends and family through these apps on your tablet, but sending traditional SMS messages might be limited.

Our expertise

Jmar Gambol has been writing for BestReviews since 2021. He personally tested six tablets for this buying guide and uses a tablet in daily life, mostly as a secondary device. His first tablet was either the original iPad, the HP PalmPilot or, depending on your definition, the Fisher-Price Speak ‘n’ Spell.

Tech reporter Charlie Fripp also contributed reporting to this story. He has focused on reviewing all kinds of tablets, from the smallest to the fastest and the most secure. He’s held, poked, prodded, touched and pushed buttons on tablets and mobile phones for the last 20 years and has pretty much seen it all.

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