Best Android tablet: quick menu
Choosing one of the best Android tablets is an interesting quandary given these tablets offer a good degree of versatility at a variety of price points. However, not a great deal has changed in terms of new models to choose from this year.
So in the list below, you’ll find a selection of very capable Android tablets from the last year or so. But don’t let that put you off, as these are among some of the best tablets you can buy right now, and offer suitable alternatives to the best iPads.
You’ll find models from Samsung, OnePlus and Amazon rule the roost here, with Google sadly absent due to the lack of a compelling tablet; as you’ll see in our Google Pixel Tablet review its a decent slate but doesn’t quite cut it for this list.
With that in mind, read on for our picks of the best Android tablets to buy today, as well as get an insight into our testing procedures and help choosing your ideal tablet.
Quick List
OnePlus came out swinging with the OnePlus Pad. It has a great price; a brilliant, sharp display; a slick design in that signature green color; plus great battery life. You don’t need a OnePlus phone to enjoy this one, but it doesn’t hurt.
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2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus
This is the best premium Android tablet, with a water resistant design, great performance, and of course Samsung’s signature S Pen features. You can even do serious work with an extra monitor, mouse and keyboard attached.
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The Amazon Fire HD 10 isn’t the most impressive tablet until you realize it costs less than $100, and Amazon has put this tablet on sale for 25% off a half dozen times since it launched. For that low price it makes a great screen to offer the kids on a long car ride.
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4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus gives you a bigger display more features than Apple’s svelte iPad Air. You also get better battery life than almost any other tablet we’ve tested. If you need a long-haul device this one lasts almost twice as long as some of the others.
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5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra may be a bit too big for some, but it’s a great pick for artists and folks who need the largest canvas. With an S Pen included, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra uses Wacom technology for drawing, just like the best graphic design tablets.
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The Galaxy Tab S9 helps you multitask and get things done in any situation. It has the best multi-window software on any tablet, and you can add a mouse and keyboard to make this a real desktop replacement.
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You’ll have to contend with Amazon’s software and App Market instead of Google Play, but all of your favorite streaming services and most big productivity apps are available, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting things done with the Fire HD 8 Plus.
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The best Android tablets 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
We’ve reviewed every tablet on this list, so you can trust our recommendations and know that each entry has earned its place. Check out our full summary below, with a link to our deeper impressions and review scores.
The best Android tablet for most people
From our testing and experience with the OnePlus Pad, we can confidently say it is the best Android tablet for pretty much everyone who wants a great tablet but does not want an iPad. And even better, it’s priced competitively, undercutting rival tablets from the likes of Samsung.
So what makes the OnePlus Pad special? Well first off it sports a very impressive display that’s even sharper than the screens you’ll find on an iPad Pro. But not only is the 2800 x 2000 resolution great on this 11.61-inch display, it also refreshes at a speedy 144Hz. So that makes the OnePlus Pad a great device for viewing everything from movies and games to web pages and documents on.
Class-leading charging speeds and a 9,510mAh battery sweetens the deal for the OnePlus Pad. The only minor let down is the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chip can’t quite keep up with very demanding tasks like photo editing in Lightroom. So even though there’s the option to use the OnePlus Pad with a keyboard cover, it’s not likely to stand up to being a laptop replacement.
However, that’s by-the-by as at the sweet price of $479 / £449, the OnePlus Pad’s minor shortcomings can be overlooked as it serves up a great Android tablet that’s worth consideration by most people.
Read our full OnePlus Pad review
The best premium Android tablet
With the Galaxy Tab S9 series, Samsung has taken its tablets to a new level of quality and durability, and the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus has the best combination of size, power, and price to be our pick for the best premium Android tablet you can buy. With a superfast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (same as the Galaxy S23 Ultra), a sleek design, and tons of multitasking features, you can’t find a more capable Android tablet.
While you get more screen real estate with the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, you don’t get more performance or features, and its larger 14.6-inch size is amazing for artists (making it our best drawing tablet), but it may be a too large and unwieldy for some folks, so we think the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is the better pick for a premium Android tablet. It’s just as fast, and it’s smaller screen is a bit more sharp than the larger Ultra display.
At 12.4-inches, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is just a bit slimmer and more portable than Apple’s biggest iPad Pro 12.9. It comes with an S Pen in the box, unlike Apple’s iPad, which doesn’t include a stylus. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is faster than the Tab S9 Plus, and Apple’s Magic Keyboard accessory is much nicer than any keyboard cover that Samsung offers, if you’re looking for a real laptop replacement.
However, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 Plus costs hundreds less than Apple’s iPad Pro 12.9, and it gives you many more software features, including great multitasking if you like to keep multiple windows open, and a real DeX desktop environment to connect your Tab S9 Plus to a second display, mouse and keyboard, for a truly productive experience.
Read our hands-on Galaxy Tab S9 Plus review
The best budget tablet
The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) is not a great tablet, but it is certainly a cheap tablet, and for the price it gives you plenty to like. While it starts at $139.99 / £149.99 (roughly AU$220) for the 32GB version (with a microSD card slot, nice!), Amazon regularly drops the price on this tablet, and we’ve seen it cut lower than $80 in the US in the past year. For that price it’s not just a great budget tablet, it’s a real no-brainer if you need a tablet cheap and now.
The Fire HD 10 (2023) has a nice, big screen at 10.1-inches. It’s not as big as an iPad or Galaxy Tab, but it will be large enough to watch your favorite shows and streaming movies, or for browsing the web. You’ll be restricted to Amazon’s App Market instead of the Google Play Store, but all of your favorite streamers and most of the biggest productivity apps are there. You may miss your favorite games, if your favorite game isn’t Fortnite.
There are also plenty of accessories available, including a fancy Amazon Stylus Pen, a ton of cases, and more. If you need to step up to a keyboard, you might also check out the Amazon Fire Max 11, Amazon’s recent step into more-premium Android tablets.
Read our full review of the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023).
The best battery life
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus arrived with the rest of the recent FE clan, including a Galaxy S23 FE phone and new FE buds. The ‘FE’ tag no longer stands for ‘Fan Edition,’ now it just means … nothing. That’s fine, because the Tab S9 FE Plus managed to impress in our full review no matter what it’s called. It costs the same as an Apple iPad Air, but it manages to beat Apple’s tablet in many ways, especially in battery life, making it our pick for longevity in a tablet.
Of course, the Tab S9 FE Plus lasts a long time because it’s processor is a bit underpowered, especially compared to Apple’s tablet. While the iPad Air gives you a full desktop processor inside, Samsung opts for a much more conservative Exynos 1380 processor, the same chipset found in its bargain Galaxy A54 phone from 2023.
So, it won’t be editing 8K video in real time, but you’ll have fun watching videos for up to 18 hours, almost twice as long as many other tablets on this list, which typically last between 9 to 11 hours with basic usage. The Tab S9 FE Plus lasts well over a day of use even with the screen on, so if you need a tablet that lasts, this is your first stop.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus review
The best drawing tablet
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra was our previous pick for the best overall Android tablet, and if you can afford this premium, 14.6-inch monster, you should absolutely buy it. You may need to find a larger bag, and it’s probably bigger than most people need, which is why the Tab S9 Plus is our new premium Android favorite. If you need a serious tablet, with a seriously huge display made for drawing and artwork, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is the best you can buy.
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra probably gives you more than you need, but if you want to draw in the bathtub or by the pool, its water resistant frame will keep away moisture, even if it takes a dunk. The included S Pen uses the same Wacom technology you trust in professional graphic design tablets, so you can rely on its pressure and tilt sensitivity. You can even use your favorite Wacom pen with the Tab S9 Ultra, it will work the same.
We weren’t huge fans of the keyboard Samsung offers for the Tab S9 Ultra, and it’s really better as a massive canvas than a productivity took. This belongs on a huge drafting desk with great lighting, not stuffed onto a tray table on a plane. The Tab S9 Ultra is an ultimate tablet, but only if you have the space for it, and artists will appreciate what this huge display adds to the studio.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra review
The best tablet for work
With the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, you get the best productivity software on any tablet, especially if you want to do a lot at one time. Samsung’s software shines on the larger tablet display, with great multi-window support, and excellent tools that keep you up-to-date all the time.
Samsung goes even further with DeX, a feature that turns the Galaxy Tab S9 into a real desktop with a task bar and floating windows. Just connect a mouse and keyboard, and maybe even a second display, and you’re ready to get more done. It’s an incredibly useful tool that makes it easy to access your work email and business documents in a comfortable way on the go, using a larger tablet screen instead of a smaller phone.
The Galaxy Tab S9 is even water resistant, so you could work from the beach safely near the waves, we won’t tell. That durability, plus Samsung’s great service and support, makes the Galaxy Tab S9 our favorite tablet for getting work done.
Read our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 review
The best compact Android tablet
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is our favorite small Android tablet for a few reasons. First of all, it’s inexpensive and packed with apps for streaming your favorite movies and shows, connecting to your social networks, or getting some work done.
Second, most Android tablet makers have backed away from small tablets, so there isn’t a professional-strength Apple iPad mini competitor from Samsung or OnePlus, unless you buy an expensive foldable phone with a mini tablet inside. Instead, you can spend less than a hundred bucks on the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus and get most of what you need from a simple, small tablet.
Don’t expect much power, because the Fire HD 8 Plus is made for media, not business. You’ll still find plenty of tools from Microsoft and your favorite productivity apps on Amazon’s App Market. You just won’t have access to Google Play or any Google services, since this is an Amazon-only affair.
This tablet goes on sale often, making it an even better deal if you’re shopping at the right time.
Read our full Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus review
How to choose the best Android tablet for you
When you’re buying an Android tablet, the first thing to consider is not the tablet, but which phone you carry. Samsung tablets have features that only work with Samsung phones, and the OnePlus Pad also has features that work exclusively with OnePlus devices. Before other considerations, you might want to match your phone to your tablet to get the most out of both.
The next thing to consider is how much you want to spend. If you can spend on an Android tablet what you might spend on an iPad, you can get our favorite Android tablets from OnePlus and Samsung, with robust features, a great display, and plenty of extras like an included stylus.
If you only have a hundred bucks or so, you’ll be looking at Amazon Fire tablets, which don’t run Android with Google Play but instead rely on Amazon’s own App Market. You still get plenty of your favorite apps and streaming services, so hopefully, you won’t have to miss much to save money.
Is mobile data important?
No, if you buy an Android tablet that matches the brand of your phone, your tablet will probably be able to use your phone’s network connection without much trouble. Even if you buy a different brand, it isn’t hard to connect an Android tablet to your phone’s network signal.
Of course, buying a tablet from a mobile carrier often means you can get a discount or a deal that lets you buy a more expensive device, but this usually comes with a multi-year commitment to stay a customer until you’ve paid off the price of the tablet.
How we test
Every tablet included in this guide has been reviewed in full or in a long hands-on session, so we’ve spent plenty of time with each working out what’s good, what’s bad, and how they compare.
We’ve made sure to fully test tablet performance with apps and games, productivity software and social networks, and especially our favorite streaming services. We compare how content looks on each screen, whether their interface is intuitive, how long the battery lasts, and all of the extra features each offers, as well as assessing design and build quality.
We only consider tablets that are available to buy new, directly from the manufacturer or at major retailers. Tablets that are older may still be available, but we are looking for tablets with the longest support.
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