The best tablets are capable enough to be laptop replacements for everyday tasks, productivity, and demanding creative work. The iPad (10th Generation), our number one pick, is a shining example of how great these sleek slates can be. Beyond that, we’ve included various tablets in this guide for specific use cases, ensuring everyone can find the best device for their needs and budgets.
TL;DR – These are the best tablets:
A combination of power, versatility, and portability has helped cement tablets place in the portables market. So, no matter your need, whether you just want a device to entertain you at the end of a busy workday or require something more robust for video editing on-the-go, there’s a tablet out there for you. To help you with your search, we’ve gathered the best tablets on the market. Check them out below.
Contributions by Danielle Abraham and Michelle Rae Uy
1. iPad (10th Generation)
Best Tablet
It’s hard to argue against the tried and true original Apple iPad, and its colorful 10th gen iteration brings a new design with a faster chip to make it as powerful as ever. You finally lose the home button with Apple opting to put Touch ID on the power button, giving you more Liquid Retina—though still not fully laminated—screen space to play around with. And there’s a good deal of oomph behind that display to handle multitasking and some light gaming with ease thanks to the A14 Bionic chip, though we question why Apple decided against using the newer A15 chip.
Now, the 10th gen Apple iPad continues to remain affordable like previous generations of the tablet, coming in well under $500, but that does mean it has some tradeoffs. This device only works with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, not the more affordable Smart Keyboard. You also don’t get support for the feature-full 2nd gen Apple Pencil, only the first gen, and you’ll need to grab a $9 adapter just to charge it. Or you could just, you know, grab one of the dozens of Apple Pencil alternatives out there instead.
See our guide to the best iPad models for more options.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus
Best Android Tablet
The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus continues Samsung’s tradition of creating the best Android tablets with its stunning display, powerful performance, and sleek design. A big and bright 12.4-inch AMOLED display features a buttery 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gaming, while S-Pen support is ideal for creatives. Behind that screen are some booming, great-sounding speakers, making for a media consumption maven that lets you forgo the best wireless earbuds when using it at home.
Ensuring the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus keeps up with all your daily tasks and beyond is a top-tier mobile processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy; the same chip found in one of 2023's best Android phones, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. That’s paired with 12GB of RAM and a 10,090mAh battery for a snappy, responsive device ready to last all day. Somehow, all that greatness is packed into a slim, lightweight, and durable chassis featuring an IP68 rating.
3. iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
Best Tablet for Creative Work
When I first opened the iPad Pro, I wasn't sure what to make of it. Apple was branding it as a permanent workstation replacement, but it still wasn't running Finder or the desktop applications I would want in that kind of device. However, after a month of using the iPad Pro, it's become one of my go-to daily devices. The Tandem OLED display alone is enough to get most people hooked, even if the price tag makes you wince a bit.
The iPad Pro with an M4 is quite simply the most powerful tablet on the market right now. The M4 that powers the thing is packed with an 8-core CPU clocked at 3.49GHz, which is accompanied by a 10-core GPU that will make easy work of any game you throw at it. Just keep in mind, however, that the amount of RAM you get depends on the storage configuration you go with. As long as you get a 1TB model, you're getting a respectable 16GB of RAM, but the 512GB and 256GB models will have to make do with half the memory. If you're not planning to use the iPad Pro for heavy creative workloads, this is going to be a non-issue. After all, iPadOS isn't exactly known for being super memory-intensive. If you're doing a lot of work in Photoshop or Premiere, you're going to feel it, though.
Artists will also want to pair this tablet with the Apple Pencil Pro, or one of the myriad Apple Pencil alternatives out there. With a stylus in hand, the iPad Pro becomes an incredible creative powerhouse, even with the limits that come with working with what's essentially a souped-up version of iOS.
4. iPad Air (5th Generation)
Best Thin and Light Tablet
The iPad Air is the one to get if you’re looking for the thinnest and lightest tablet that will see you through your whole day’s work. This Apple tablet is compact enough to be travel-friendly yet it’s got the screen real estate for productivity and certainly a lot of power as well for some creative tasks – including 4K video editing.
However, it’s most ideal for writers, bloggers, and digital nomads who need a reliable laptop alternative that’s so light you probably won’t even notice that it’s there. Especially when you attach it to a Magic Keyboard, which comes with a surprisingly accurate trackpad. As a bonus, it comes in five attractive colors (including pink, blue, purple, starlight, and space gray) so you can get one that matches your aesthetic.
5. iPad (9th Generation)
Best Budget iPadOS Tablet
The original iPad is back and better than ever, with much snappier performance, an upgraded front-facing camera for all your FaceTime needs, and a display that now touts Apple’s True Tone technology. In the shadow of the M1 and A15 Bionic chips, the A13 Bionic on this 2021 iPad might seem a tad late to the party.
However, it’s plenty powerful for the rest of the tablet users who mostly rely on their devices for casual, everyday tasks like doing video calls with friends and family, streaming shows and movies, gaming, and sending the occasional email. Luckily, it’s also cheaper than the rest of Apple’s tablet offerings, which means it’s the best value for most people.
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Best Budget Android Tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the best budget tablet running on Android OS. Sure, it might not have as much power as the Tab S9 Plus, but the Samsung Exynos 1380 processor and 6GB of RAM are ready to blaze through your everyday tasks. Just don’t expect to do too much gaming on the device. Plus, you’ll still enjoy Samsung’s excellent software update policy providing four years of updates, so this slate has major staying power.
From the compact and sturdy build to the excellent 10.9-inch LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate, there’s even more to love about this affordable Samsung offering. An S-Pen is also included for sketching or note-taking on the bright, colorful 1440p display. Similar to its more premium sibling, the Galaxy Tab S9 features solid AKG-tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos support and a long battery life to top it off. However, the two cameras suffice when in a pinch but are nothing to write home about.
7. Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2
Best Tablet for Media Consumption
If you’re just looking for an affordable and portable option to stream your favorite shows and movies or browse the web, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 is the perfect option for consuming media. It's rocking a vivid and colorful 11.2-inch 2.5K OLED display touting Dolby Vision and HDR10+. That screen even offers a 120Hz refresh rate and full DCI-P3 color gamut, something you don’t usually see in such a budget-friendly tablet.
There’s plenty more good under the hood of the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2, as it’s running on a MediaTek Kompanio 1300T processor and 6GB RAM, so it’ll blaze through everyday tasks, streaming, and even some light gaming. Though thin and compact, the tablet packs in an impressive set of 4-channel JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos for pleasant listening when you’re not in a public space—otherwise, grab a pair of wireless headphones. You also get a decent battery life, making it a perfect on-the-go companion.
8. iPad mini (6th Generation)
Best Tablet for Portability
Great things come in small packages, as the 2021 model of the legendary iPad mini proves. In fact, it might be giving the iPad Air 4 a good run for its money, especially with the newer A15 Bionic chip, which boasts a 21% CPU gain over the A14, and the same amount of RAM. This tiny tablet, therefore, packs a punch, and it’s even capable of handling some of your creative tasks – especially with that updated screen.
The only thing that really holds it back is its small, 8.3-inch display, which isn’t very ideal for productivity, but makes it a great iPad for kids. Otherwise, there’s a lot of power packed in its premium package, and it’s just the ticket if you’re looking for something extremely portable that you can count on if you need to tackle the occasional work tasks while traveling.
9. Kindle Scribe
Best Tablet for Reading
The best Kindles have been some of the best reading tablets for the past decade, and the Scribe continues this tradition. With it comes a large noncolor 10.2-inch screen, putting it around the same size as a hardcover book. However, it’s significantly thinner and lighter, at less than a quarter inch thick and weighing under one pound.
The Kindle Scribe’s 300ppi display is crisp with excellent contrast for an enjoyable reading and writing experience, while a 35 LED backlight lets you see the screen in the dark. Our favorite version of this tablet comes with a decent 64GB of storage and a premium pen ideal for annotating books and doodling. And with a battery life of up to 12 weeks, depending on usage, you’ll rarely need to worry about charging.
10. reMarkabale 2
Best Tablet for Writing and Note taking
The reMarkable 2 is designed for the person who loves taking handwritten notes, but still lives a digital life and doesn’t want to be restricted by the analog nature of traditional pen and paper. Like other E Ink readers, the reMarkable 2 has a monochrome display and relatively barebones UI that makes it useless as an iPad-like device. However, that means it’s distraction-free when you’re trying to write or take notes, which is where the reMarkable 2 really shines.
The device uses a proprietary CANVAS display, based on E Ink technology, which absolutely nails the feeling of writing with a pen and paper. There’s a variety of pen types that the included stylus can mimic, including ballpoint or fineliner pen, pencil (sharpened or mechanical), marker, or even a calligraphy pen, all of which have a distinct writing-feel that respond to pen movement and pressure just like the real thing. You can also mix and match typing with handwritten notes, especially if you grab the optional Type Folio keyboard case.
While its operating system is nothing compared to an iOS or Android tablet, it does have plenty of options for organizing your notes, including copy-pasting selections, employing a variety of note taking templates, and converting handwritten notes to digital text. It can also be used as an e-reader, just know that it’s limited to PDFs and DRM-free ePUB files, so you’re likely better off opting for one of the best Kindles if you’re primarily looking for a way to read digital books.
How to Choose the Best Tablet
The first step when deciding on a tablet is setting a budget. Looking to just stream shows and scroll socials? A cheap slate should suffice. However, you'll need to up your spending if you’re after a productivity tool that performs similarly to a laptop. You can even slap a keyboard onto some tablets, essentially turning them into the best detachable laptops.
Next, design should be taken into consideration. You want an option that’s lightweight but still durable for on-the-go use. A sizable, crisp, and responsive display ensures the best user experience, while OLED panels are a more premium option with deep blacks and richer colors over their LCD counterparts.
Of course, the internal components are just as important, as you don’t want a sluggish device that leads to you reaching for one of the best smartphones or laptops instead. To prevent that from happening, a solid processor and at least 4GB of RAM is a must. For gaming or creative work, upgrading those specs can make a world of difference. Beyond that, you’ll want to ensure your software is up to date. Android OS is in its 14th generation while iPadOS 17 is Apple’s latest.
Other features like long battery life, great-sounding speakers, crisp cameras, and stylus support can help improve your experience on a tablet. You may even want to consider getting a 5G tablet that can connect to your cellular network when you’re not on Wi-Fi.
Tablets FAQ
Are iPads better than Android tablets?
No. Both types of tablets have plenty of solid models to choose from; it’s more a matter of personal preference. If you already have the best iPhone and MacBook, it makes sense to grab an iPad for seamless integration into your Apple Ecosystem. iPads are known for their smooth, enjoyable user experience along with their wealth of apps and games, but the pricing is more restrictive.
Tablets running on Android OS come from various manufacturers, meaning performance is all over the place. But there’s a wider selection of slates, from ultra-cheap to high-end. It’s just important to do your research, as there are some duds—iPads’ performance is a bit more consistent. The selection of apps optimized for an Android Tablet is also more limited. Still, almost all Android apps should function, just not as well as on your phone.
Should you buy a tablet with cellular network support?
Most will find that a tablet with cellular network support is unnecessary unless you’re constantly on the go with no way to connect via Wi-Fi. Adding that extra line to your cellular plan can be expensive, and your smartphone can usually work as a Wi-Fi hotspot for your tablet when you’re in a pinch. However, should you decide you’d like cellular network support, many of our picks come in 5G versions.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra