Our list of best tablets to buy right now incorporates the top models from the best iPads and the best Android tablets lists to provide you a one-stop-shop for the getting a tablet that suits your needs.
Able to act as everything from a portable screen for movies and shows, to gaming devices, a digital canvas, notepads and more, tablets are great bits of tech for everyday use or to accessorise a smart home. And with the option to support keyboards and other accessories, they can become true productivity devices.
Apple‘s iPads are generally considered to be the go-to tablets, thanks to their slick design, powerful performance and the refinement of iPadOS. But Android tablets have come a long way, and are now better than ever, especially tablets from the likes of Samsung.
We’ve tested all of the tablets below and regularly use them in our everyday life, so we can help you find the right tablet for you. Read on for the best tablets you can buy today.
The best tablet 2024
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The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is – as of 2023 – Apple’s ultimate tablet, and one which packs laptop-class power, thanks to an M2 chipset. Arguably this is overkill, since almost nothing you’d do on a tablet can even tax the M1 from the previous generation, but it certainly makes this future-proof.
In most other ways this is much like the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), including having a massive 12.9-inch screen that uses mini-LED to create a superior picture than you’ll find on smaller iPads.
It’s also remarkably thin and light for all the tech on offer, and has handy features like Face ID, capable cameras, and of course support for accessories like Apple’s Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil 2 – the latter of which is better than ever here, thanks to hover-detection, which makes this even better for drawing on than other iPads.
Yes, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is very expensive, and it’s probably overkill for most users, but if you want a superpowered slate, this is it.
Read the full iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) review
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is a spectacular tablet, with its headline feature arguably being the M1 chipset that powers it. This chipset was lifted straight from Apple’s top-end 2021 Macs, so you’re truly getting desktop power in a tablet here.
We were blown away when we tested the tablet – the chip was great for tasks like photo and video editing, as well as gaming. But that’s not all this tablet has going for it. For the first time in an iPad, it also has a mini-LED screen, with a remarkably high 1,600-nit peak brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 2048 x 2732 resolution. It’s crisp, bright, vibrant, and all-round impressive.
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) also has a long-lasting battery, a decent camera, a premium aluminum design, and support for the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2 – these are sold separately, but turn it into a real productivity machine, and we used them non-stop in our testing period.
So, if you want to get some proper work or creation done on a tablet, or you’re just a big tablet gamer, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) will be the perfect device. If your needs are lighter then you might find this too expensive and too big, if you somehow need more oomph, the M2 Pro is there, ready and waiting.
Read the full iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) review
Much like its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is the ultimate Android tablet. Its 14.6-inch display takes full advantage of the new OneUI operating system that plays nicely the included S Pen stylus and optional keyboard. So it should make for a great device when it comes to artwork, editing documents, taking notes, and other productivity tasks.
With a 1848 x 2960 resolution and smooth at a 120Hz refresh rate, that display is also big and beautiful, as well as being rather slick. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage means under the hood the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra makes a worthy argument as a laptop replacement.
In our review, we were very impressed with both the performance and the slick software. Samsung’s OneUI software makes this feel like a real laptop with enhanced multitasking capabilities that you simply won’t find on Google or Apple tablets. And Qualcomm’s powerful chip keeps everything feeling smooth. The only issue os this is a double-edged sword in that the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra feels like a laptop without quite doing everything a true laptop can. Yet as a big, powerful tablet, the S9 Ultra is unmatched.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra review
Apple’s latest iPad Air has a lot more in common with the iPad Pro than with the company’s entry-level slates. And, when we tested the thing, we had to keep checking which tablet it actually was.
There’s an all-body display, M1 chipset, Apple Pencil compatibility and long-lasting battery. Oh, and of course it runs on Apple’s iPadOS which is a supremely useful tablet operating system. On test, its performance is very close to the iPad Pro range, which is impressive when you consider its list price.
This is one of the best tablets we’ve tested, and the iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra only beat it in a few ways, like with their bigger screens, extra storage space and high-res displays. But if you don’t have the money to stretch for those two premium tabs, this mid-range alternative could be great for you.
Read the full iPad Air (2022) review
The iPad Pro 11 (2021) is a superb tablet, but one that’s just ever so slightly underwhelming in the face of the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) with its Mini LED display. This instead has to settle for LCD like its predecessor, but it still has a great 11-inch 1668 x 2388 screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it has the same overpowered Apple M1 chipset as its larger sibling, so nothing should slow this down.
The iPad Pro 11 (2021) also has a smaller, lighter build than the 12.9-inch model, making it more portable – as a result of its smaller size and inferior screen it’s also more affordable, though certainly far from cheap. If you do have extra cash to spend though, you can always shell out on a Magic Keyboard or an Apple Pencil, both of which are supported. All of which means this is a very powerful, versatile slate – albeit one that’s slightly let down by its restrictive software.
Read the full iPad Pro 11 (2021) review
The Google Pixel Tablet comes with Google’s tablet-optimized take on Android that debuted in Android 12L and later reached maturity in Android 13. The Pixel Tablet is a genuine pleasure to use as the company has built out a suite of apps that now work well with large-screen devices and tablets, including the Google Suite of apps, its entertainment apps like YouTube, Google Play apps, and more.
This tablet isn’t meant for productivity, though. With many people opting to use their tablets as productivity enhancers – and with the iPad and Tab S-series playing to those strengths, the Pixel Tablet doesn’t quite reach the top-end on this list, but it more than earns its place here. As Google would explain it, you’re meant to see it as an entertainment device, whether you lean into the company’s positioning of this as a smart home device, or you use it simply as a tablet. With a lovely screen, a powerful speaker dock, and quick updates, the Pixel Tablet certainly lives up to the hype.
Read our full Google Pixel Tablet review
OnePlus’s first tablet was impressive with some of the perks we expect from OnePlus phones. It integrates with both OnePlus and Oppo phones, ships with Android 13, has a sharp and bright LCD display with a 144Hz refresh rate, a large battery with 67W super-fast charging, and very loud speakers. Certainly, the iPad can seem better at being a tablet due to its large variety of tablet-optimised apps, but OnePlus just about matches it in day-to-day use.
To be fair, we found it was held back by the performance that wasn’t quite as speedy as what you could get on the best phones. It uses a MediaTek Dimensity 9000, a chip that’s a step down from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that most of the top Android phones – the OnePlus 11 included – are equipped with. This meant that for some heavy tasks like using Adobe Lightroom, there was enough lag that it would be annoying. On the other hand, if you’re using it mostly for entertainment, you would be fine.
Due to the weak Android tablet market, the OnePlus also didn’t offer separate storage offerings. It did however come with a lovely green shade that we praised in our review.
The OnePlus Pad’s few flaws are covered by its $479 price. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S tablets and Google’s Pixel Tablet are the only real competition for Android fans, and they cost more.
Read our full OnePlus Pad review
The iPad 10.9 (2022) is a substantial upgrade for Apple’s most basic tablet line. It has a new, iPad Pro-like design, a big 10.9-inch screen, strong battery life, and improved cameras, with the front-facing camera now being on the long edge, which is an infinitely better position for video calls.
Add to that a selection of vibrant colors that you can buy the slate in, and support for various accessories such as the Apple Pencil, and you’re left with an excellent slate – and one which is remarkably close to matching Apple’s iPad Air line, just at a lower price.
That said, the iPad 10.9 (2022) only supports the original Apple Pencil rather than the Apple Pencil 2, and in our review we found the screen more reflective than we’d have liked, so there are still some compromises here.
Read the full iPad 10.9 (2022) review
The Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 is a really interesting tablet – one that goes well beyond just being a smartphone with a bigger screen. That starts with its design, as it has a built-in stand that lets you angle it on surfaces without any sort of case, or even hang it off things – hence the Yoga name. We found this incredibly useful, as we could easily position the Tab on different surfaces when streaming music or movies.
The Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 also has a large speaker housed in the stand section at the bottom. This is bigger and more powerful than most tablet speakers, so it’s a treat for watching movies and playing games on, even without headphones.
Plus, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 has a micro HDMI port, which is an unusual find on a tablet. This allows you to connect it to other devices so you can easily output the display on a larger screen or use it as a second screen for a computer, and we found the Tab a great device to use as a portable second screen.
On top of all that it also has the tablet basics down, including a large 13-inch screen, a powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset, and a big 10,200mAh battery – complete with speedy 30W charging support. It lacks a camera on the back, but that’s the only real omission here.
Read the full Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 review
How to choose the best tablet for you
When choosing a tablet, the first thing you’ll need to decide is how much you want to do with it. Will it be an extra device for entertainment and productivity, or will it replace a laptop as a main computing device? Today’s tablets can certainly handle all of the tasks of a basic laptop. Then you’ll need to decide on your price range, because tablets can range from cheap budget devices to very expensive cutting edge portables, far more expensive than the laptops they replace. Finally, it would be helpful to choose between an Apple iPadOS tablet and an Android device, based on the services and software you prefer.
How we test tablets
Every tablet on this list has been thoroughly tested and put through a comprehensive review, so we know exactly what makes them tick and how they compare. From there, we’ve ranked them based on our findings, factoring in their price and value too.
What is the best brand for tablets
Different brands make devices aimed at different buyers, so there’s no ‘best’ brand, there’s just a brand that’s best for you.
Amazon’s slates are great for low-budget entertainment, but aren’t as good for work or creativity. Samsung has some like that too, though its top-end slates are better for workers.
Apple’s iPads hit all beats, though they cost a lot, so aren’t great for everybody. Lenovo’s tabs are great for working, especially for students, and its Yoga devices bring features that are great for entertainment too.
Other, smaller tablet makers generally focus on entertainment tools, though some are good for work and a select few are also useful for creatives.
What should I look for when buying a tablet?
The main things to consider are how much you want to spend, and what operating system you want – with Apple’s iPadOS and Android being the two main options. Then think about what else matters to you in a tablet – be it size, power, camera or battery – and choose accordingly.
What tablet can replace a laptop?
If you’re hoping to get serious work done on a tablet then an iPad Pro, such as the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022), would be a good option. This has a big screen, lots of power, and supports a keyboard accessory. For an Android alternative, consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, which has similar selling points.
