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Where once the best Android tablets served as more affordable iPad alternatives, these days they are devices onto themselves, in that they sport the power, specs, screens and even app ecosystem to challenge Apple’s tech slates.
Now, Android tablets range from simple devices to throw into a bag when going on holiday to have some entertainment while you sunbathe, to full powerhouses with ambitions to replace your laptop.
The Android tablets listed below have been thoroughly tested and reviewed by us, so we are in a good position to recommend the ones to go for, from best tablet for you to the best cheap tablets for people on a budget.
So read on for our picks of the best Android tablets to buy right now, as well as information on how we test them and the strengths and weaknesses of each tablet.
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra – The best Android tablet
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 732g
Dimensions: 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5mm
OS: Android 13
Screen size: 14.6-inch
Resolution: 1848 x 2960 pixels
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
microSD slot: Yes
Battery: 11,200mAh
Rear camera: 13MP (wide) + 8MP (ultrawide)
Front camera: 12MP + 12MP
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is the device for power users who want the very best Android can offer in tablet form. With a powerful chipset, a large 14.6-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 11,200mAh battery and up to 1TB of storage, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra makes a great stab at being a laptop replacement with an Android flavor.
It will tear through all manner of workloads thrown at it, and sports multitasking that’s better than rival Android tablets and iPads. And when the working day is over, its sharp and slick display is great for watching movies on and playing games, especially if you want to tap into streaming services like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
The steep asking price of $1,199.99 / £1,199 / AU$1,999 might make people baulk at first, given that’s the type of money that can get you one of our best laptops. But then again the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is priced to be an iPad Pro rival, which also commands a premium.
And ultimately, the fact that the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra can mostly fill the role of a laptop, as well as set a high point for an Android tablet, means it justifies its asking price; in short, this is the best Android tablet overall.
2. OnePlus Pad – Best Android tablet for most people
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 552g
Dimensions: 258 x 189.4 x 6.5 mm
OS: Android 13
Screen size: 11.6-inch
Resolution: 2000 x 2800 pixels
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 9000
Storage: 128GB
microSD slot: No
Battery: 9,510mAh
Rear camera: 13MP
Front camera: 8MP
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.
3. Google Pixel Tablet – The best Google tablet
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 493g
Dimensions: 258 x 169 x 8.1mm
OS: Android 13
Screen size: 10.95-inch
Resolution: 1600 x 2560 pixels
CPU: Tensor G2
Storage: 128GB/256GB
microSD slot: No
Battery: 7,020mAh
Rear camera: 8MP
Front camera: 8MP
At first glance, the Google Pixel Tablet is a fairly unremarkable Android tablet. Its simple design means it looks like a Nest Home Hub display minus the speaker base, and its specs sheet won’t blow anyone away: there’s a decent but far from impressive Tensor G2 chip, storage comes in 128GB and 256GB options, and the battery is a somewhat small 7.020mAh.
The 10.95-inch also seems small, with the bezels around the 60Hz panel looking a tad chunky by modern standards. The screen’s quality is good in most parts, but colors can look a bit too warm and the LCD panel won’t challenge the displays of many other tablets on this list.
So why is the Google Pixel Tablet great for students? Well it’s because it can pull double duties as a smart speaker and hub thanks to the dock it comes with. While the dock’s speaker can’t rival the audio punch of dedicated smart speakers, it’s still still impactful for its size. And the real-world performance of the Tensor G2 chip handled games and photos editing in a speedy fashion; there are also handy smart AI-powered features on offer too, like Google’s Magic Eraser to remove unwanted objects from photos.
The Pixel Tablet’s software can feel a little like the version of Android found on Pixel phones has simply been increased rather than optimized for tablet use, but it still works well. And as an overall tablet and smart hub package, the Pixel Tablet earns its place on this list and could be a great choice for students living away from home.
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 – The best budget Android tablet
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 508g
Dimensions: 246.8 x 161.9 x 6.9 mm
OS: Android 11
Screen size: 10.5-inch
Resolution: 1200 x 1920
CPU: Unisoc Tiger T618 (12 nm)
Storage: 32GB/64GB/128GB
Battery: 7040 mAh
Rear camera: 8MP
Front camera: 5MP
The Samsung Galaxy A8 is the tablet for people who love Samsung’s Android efforts but don’t want to pony up for its more expensive tablets.
We found that the design and display of the Tab A8 stood out as gorgeous and vibrant, especially compared to other devices in its price range. Samsung’s prowess shines in this regard.
Of course, it’s an inexpensive device, so there have been some sacrifices; in this case cuts have happen with the tablet’s performance and charging speeds. With either 3GB or 4GB of RAM to keep this chugging along, this tablet won’t replace your gaming phone or handle everything you can throw at it, but it will make a great Netflix machine or e-book reader.
When you get down to it, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a great option for those looking for a wallet-friendly tablet with a great display and long battery life. However, if you need a tablet for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, you’ll want to look further up this list at options from Samsung, OnePlus, and Google.
5. Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus – The best small Android tablet
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 355g
Dimensions: 202 x 137 x 9.7mm
OS: Fire OS
Screen size: 8-inch
Resolution: 880 x 1280
CPU: quad-core
Storage: 32GB/64GB
Battery: up to 12 hours
Rear camera: 2MP (wide)
Front camera: 2MP
With an 8-inch display, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is rather cheap and cheerful. But is still a tablet worth your attention, especially if you’re after a small device for taking on holiday and you don’t want to slash out on an iPad mini.
It won’t offer screaming performance and is somewhat locked down by Amazon’s Fire ecosystem. Yet at the same time it has neat extras like wireless charging and the ability to play a secondary role as a form of Echo Show when matched with an optional dock.
Anyone who’s used an Amazon Fire HD 8 will be familiar with the Plus model, as the two tablets are very similar, only the Plus gets more RAM and storage to play with.
Ultimately, Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus still isn’t the fastest or most feature packed of slates in our tests, but it does hold its own for what it costs. And if you want a small-sized tablet and smart display all in one, it’s a top choice.