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Today, the tablet market comprises the budget-friendly Fire lineup from Amazon, premium iPads from Apple, and Android slates from a plethora of other hardware makers. (Windows tablets are an entirely different category). The range of choices might seem overwhelming, but PCMag is here to help. We've been covering tablets since the original iPad back in 2010, so you can trust our analysis and advice. The good news is that you can find a quality slate no matter how much you want to spend. The list below includes several of our Editors' Choice winners, such as the affordable Amazon Fire HD 10, the midrange Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, and the incredibly powerful Apple iPad Pro so you really can't go wrong. Be sure to click through to our full reviews of each to get all the details, and scroll to the bottom for some helpful buying advice.
Our Top Tested Picks
Apple iPad (10th Generation)
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+
Apple iPad Air (2024)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
Apple iPad mini (2021)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Google Pixel Tablet
Best Early Black Friday Tablet Deals This Week*
- Apple iPad 10.2" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2021 Release) — $199.99 (List Price $329)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet — $169.99 (List Price $219.99)
- Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE 128GB Wi-Fi 10.9" Tablet (Gray) — $307.49 (List Price $449.99)
- Apple iPad Mini 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2021 Release) — $349.99 (List Price $499)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Best iPad for Most People
Apple iPad (10th Generation)
- Appealing iPad Pro-like design
- USB-C port
- High-quality cameras
- Good speakers
- Fast performance
- No traditional Touch ID button
- No Face ID
You can't go wrong with Apple's entry-level iPad. Thanks to a price drop in 2024, it costs significantly less than the iPad Air and the iPad Pro, but still offers a 10.9-inch display that's sufficiently large for multitasking and productivity. It runs the latest version of Apple's tablet OS and works with tons of accessories.
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.
Best Amazon Tablet Overall
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)
- Affordable
- Good build quality
- Decent display
- Alexa Echo Show mode
- Limited app selection
- Amazon-focused content
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.
Best Midrange Android Tablet
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+
- Good performance
- Long battery life
- High-quality, waterproof build
- Includes S Pen stylus
- Occasional performance stutters
- Finicky fingerprint sensor
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 an excellent Android tablet that doesn't cost too much and is durable enough to use in your backyard or near a pool.
Best iPad for Creators and Students
Apple iPad Air (2024)
- Powerful performance
- Nice screen
- Excellent cameras for a tablet
- Plenty of connectivity options
- Supports Apple Pencil Pro
- Pricey accessories
- iPadOS could be smoother
The iPad Air is available in 11-inch and 13-inch models, comes with a pro-level M2 processor, shifts the front-facing camera to the center for better video calls, and includes support for the latest Apple Pencil Pro. It offers more storage options than older Air models, is available with 5G, and comes in several different colors.
People who need more power than the entry-level iPad but don't need the professional-level power of the iPad Pro will find the iPad Air to be the perfect happy medium.
Best iPad for Power Users
Apple iPad Pro (2024)
- Premium design
- Brilliant OLED display
- Unparalleled performance
- Flexible connectivity options
- Top cameras for a tablet
- Expensive
- Pricey accessories
- iPadOS can be clunky
The iPad Pro is a seriously powerful machine for creators and professionals who need a tablet that works hard. With the latest M4 processor, an OLED display, a flexible Thunderbolt port, less weight and better battery life than the previous model, and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, it's a phenomenal slate for professionals.
Those who need the most performance from a tablet (and can afford it) should consider the iPad Pro, which runs circles around much of the competition.
Best Affordable Android Tablet
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
- Affordable
- Large screen
- Good performance
- Expandable storage
- Software aids productivity
- No fingerprint sensor
- Low base storage
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is our favorite low-cost Android tablet because it doesn't have any glaring flaws. Most aspects, including the refined design, 11-inch screen, reliable hardware, and helpful software enhancements are better than expected for the price. Moreover, a microSD card slot helps you get around the limiting 64GB of standard storage, while the face unlock option mitigates the lack of a fingerprint sensor. If you need 5G connectivity for travel, you can add a cellular radio for $50 more.
If you want unfettered access to the Google Play Store and the full Android experience on the cheap, the Galaxy Tab A9+ is a capable choice. It's fast enough for most tasks and can handle all your entertainment needs.
Best Small iPad
Apple iPad mini (2021)
- Excellent performance
- Long battery life
- Works with second-generation Apple Pencil
- No multi-user option in iPadOS
- Pricier than previous model
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.
Best Android Tablet for Power Users
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
- Gorgeous screen
- Fast performance
- Tight Samsung integration
- Good productivity software
- IP68 rating
- S Pen stylus included
- Pricey
- Size makes it awkward to handle
- Android on tablets is still limiting
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 a 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.
Best Tablet Under $100
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022 Release)
- Vibrant screen
- Good battery life
- Lightweight
- Sluggish performance
- $10 more than the previous model
- Limited app selection
The Amazon Fire HD 8 has a bright screen with a decent 1,280-by-720-pixel resolution. It's a more reasonable platform for medium consumption than the smaller Fire Tablet 7, while still offering as much battery life. It comes in under $100, too.
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.
Best for Doubling as Smart Display
Google Pixel Tablet
- Solid Android tablet
- Flawless audio hand-off
- Good sound from Speaker Dock
- Expensive
- Speaker Dock has limited functionality
- Hub Mode could do more
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 can be a home-helping bonus.
Is Android, Fire OS, or iPadOS Better?
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: it's intuitive, and the numerous apps that you can buy right on your tablet work fairly uniformly. The downside of iPadOS is that it 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 four different Apple Pencils.
Google's Android OS lets you choose from a wider range of hardware 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 older versions 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.
Which Tablet Has the Best 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. For more, see the best iPad apps and the best Apple Arcade Games.
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.
What Size Tablet Do You Need?
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 various Android 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 can easily double as small tablets if you're willing to pay a hefty premium.
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 approximately 1,920 by 1,080 pixels or higher.
Recommended by Our Editors
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. Holding one in your hand likely won't be comfortable after a while. 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 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 that some apps won't work from those external cards.
Should You Buy a Wi-Fi-Only or Cellular Tablet?
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 traveler, you're probably better off using your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot and saving the extra money you would spend on a 4G or 5G tablet (not to mention the service plan). 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 Top Tablets (for Now)
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.
