While iPads have practically cornered the market, Android tablets do have their appeal, with advanced tweaking options, the ability to sideload apps, better displays for media consumption, and seamless compatibility with Google Play Store and other Google services. Here are the best Android tablets you can buy right now.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is an easy selection for the best Android tablet overall. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (same as the S23 Ultra) and offers excellent performance for gaming, multitasking, and other demanding applications. Coupled with up to 16GB of RAM, the Tab S9 Ultra is built to deliver a seamless experience without any stutters, skips, or lag. It is the largest option in the Tab S9 series but comes in the slimmest frame.
The display is a sleek, 14.6-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz max refresh rate. The thin frame houses four speakers with support for Dolby Atmos surround sound and four cameras, two at the rear and two at the front, for dynamic, detailed photos.
The Tab S9 Ultra features an 11,200mAh battery, which offers up to 16 hours of video playback time. Additionally, it is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, making it a durable choice for on-the-go use.
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
As the hefty price tag might suggest, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a bit of a beast. With a huge 14.6-inch touchscreen displaying dazzling visuals and an S-Pen stylus that keeps the competition at bay, this tablet is an excellent choice for users who need a versatile device that can replace a laptop for both work and entertainment.
- Most powerful and feature-packed Android tablet overall
- Features a stunning AMOLED display
- Lots of storage
- Comes with an S Pen
- Can be quite unwieldy to use due to its size
- Expensive
Best Budget Android Tablet: OnePlus Pad
The OnePlus Plus Pad is a mid-range Android tablet that offers premium features at a budget price. While the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor isn’t best-in-class, it has sufficient processing power for most tasks. With up to 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, the OnePlus Pad can handle almost anything. The 11.61-inch screen has a unique 7:5 aspect ratio and provides a smooth, fluid user experience with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz.
The 9,510mAh battery offers a standby time of 1 month and charges fully in just over an hour. The OnePlus Pad doesn’t have a SIM card slot, but it supports a cellular data-sharing option that allows you to share your mobile data with your tablet without creating a hotspot.
Best Budget
OnePlus Pad
$400 $480 Save $80
The One Plus Pad is a mid-range Android tablet that offers excellent value for the price. It integrates a high refresh rate display, a powerful processor, impressive battery life, and fast charging capabilities, all for an affordable price.
- Offers excellent value for money
- Unique aspect ratio
- 144Hz refresh rate enables smooth display quality
- No SIM card slot
- No microSD card slot for storage expansion
The Lenovo Legion Y700 is an affordable, 8.8-inch gaming tablet with a processor powerful enough for most high-end games. Its form factor is comfortable to carry for long periods without strain.
There are two versions of the Legion Y700, one released in 2022 and the other in 2023. The recent model lacks cellular connectivity and a headphone jack, but it is smaller, has a more powerful processor, and has one more USB 3.1 Gen 2 port. It comes with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage and is only slightly more expensive than the 2022 model.
The device supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 (can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes or less) and can also be powered directly to preserve battery health. Unfortunately, the Legion Y700 is not widely available, and it offers fewer years of software updates compared to other tablets on this list. However, it is still one of the best gaming tablets available currently.
Best for Gaming
Lenovo Legion Y700
Lenovo’s Legion Y700 tablet is portable and suitable for extended gaming sessions. It features a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 octa-core processor, a headphone jack, up to 16 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of internal storage.
- Offers great value for money
- Comes in a size and form factor that is suitable for gaming
- Bundled software and out-of-the-box experience could be better
- No SIM card slot in the 2023 version
The Samsung Tab S9 FE+ is a mid-priced version of the Samsung Tab S9 tablet. It replaces the AMOLED display with a 12.9-inch IPS LCD that still offers vivid colors and adequate brightness.
The included S Pen offers a pen-on-paper feel that is superior to the competition. It is incredibly accurate and low latency, and it snaps onto the back of the device when not used. However, it is not Bluetooth-enabled and does not support Samsung’s Air commands.
It does support the best drawing apps available for Android, such as ibis Paint X, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Infinite Painter, and Sketchbook. While smaller and less powerful than the Tab S9 Ultra, the Tab S9 FE+ is still a premium device in its own right. It is a budget Samsung tablet that you should consider buying.
Best for Drawing
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
$380 $450 Save $70
The Samsung Tab S9 FE+ is an affordable Android tablet with a premium build and a bright display. The processor isn’t the most powerful, but it is capable of handling most drawing applications.
- S Pen comes in the box and provides a quick response with low latency
- Dust and water-resistant
- Long-lasting battery
- No cellular connectivity
- No AMOLED display
There are several great kids’ tablets on the market, but the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet stands out in affordability and feature set. It is a fully functional Android tablet for your kids and supports parental controls that can help ensure their digital well-being.
It sports a 10.1-inch high-definition display wrapped in a slim, durable case. There is plenty of space to store your kids’ favorite games, movies, and songs with 32GB of storage (expandable to 1TB). Parental controls allow you to set screen time limits, restrict certain websites, and approve app store requests. A purchase of the HD 10 Kids Pro tablet also gets you a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ and a two-year warranty.
Best for Kids
Amazon Fire HD 10 Pro (2023)
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Pro Kids tablet is designed specifically for children, with a kid-friendly interface, parental controls, and a free one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+. It features a long-lasting battery, is affordable, and comes with a kid-proof case.
- Parental controls work as they should
- Up to 13-hour battery life
- Lock screen ads that require a $15 payment to remove
- Geared towards Amazon?s offerings
FAQ
Q: Can an Android tablet replace a laptop?
Android tablets are great for web browsing, entertainment, and media consumption, but they can’t match the multitasking, customization, expansion and processing features offered by laptops. It is definitely possible to replace a laptop with a tablet or even a smartphone, but it would be challenging and tricky for most users.
Q: Can my Android tablet sync with my Android phone?
There are different ways to sync an Android tablet with your Android phone without using a cable. Emails, photos, folders, passwords and SMS messages can be synced using Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. Also, the Samsung Flow app can be used to link your devices if you own a Samsung tablet and smartphone.
Q: What is the difference between an Android tablet and an iPad?
Android tablets run the same operating system as smartphones, while iPads (from 2019 onward) run a specialized operating system called iPadOS. While most Android tablets offer what is essentially a scaled-up version of the Android phone, iPads are, or at least try to be, their own thing.
Q: Can a foldable phone replace an Android tablet?
Foldables have improved in a short span of time and gained a lot of ground for a relatively recent innovation. However, they usually come with smaller batteries, smaller displays, and are less durable in general, making them poor replacements for tablets. The technology is still nascent, and it’s likely that foldable phones will completely replace tablets in the near future.
