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Today’s tablet market spans from the budget-friendly Amazon Fire lineup to premium iPads from Apple, with dozens of Android slates from various hardware manufacturers in between. (Windows tablets are an entirely different category.) The range of choices might seem overwhelming, but we’ve been testing and rating tablets since the original iPad debuted in 2010, so you can trust our analysis and advice. The good news is that you can find a quality tablet regardless of your budget. The list below includes several of our Editors’ Choice winners, such as the affordable Amazon Fire HD 10, the midrange Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, and the powerful Apple iPad Pro. Be sure to click through to our full reviews of each to get all the details, and scroll down below our top picks for our comprehensive buying guide.
Best iPad – Apple iPad (11th Gen, 2025)
You can’t go wrong with Apple’s entry-level iPad. It received a significant update in 2025, but it still costs far less than the iPad Air and the iPad Pro. It now offers an 11-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, like the Apple Pencil.
Who It’s For
Most iPad users: The base iPad makes the most sense for the vast majority of buyers, thanks to its combination of functionality, power, and price. It’s the most affordable iPad and is a great platform for your browsing and entertainment needs.
Kids: If you’re going to get an iPad for your kids, this is the one to get. It’s fast enough to satisfy their needs, can run the games and apps they want to use, and isn’t too expensive to replace to repair if needed.
Best Android Tablet – Lenovo Idea Tab Pro
The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro stands out by providing a bevy of high-end features for less than $400. It combines a spacious screen, smooth performance, and productivity extras like a stylus without inflating the cost. We also like its expandable storage, quick Wi-Fi, and solid battery life.
Who It’s For
Android fans: The Idea Tab Pro is the best all-around tablet for Android lovers to pick. In addition to the powerful software from Google, Lenovo has its own range of multitasking features on board that help strike a balance between productivity and play.
Big-screen lovers: If you’re looking for an enormous display, the Idea Tab Pro’s 12.7-inch panel will impress you. It’s bright, sharp, and provides an expansive canvas for movies, games, and other visual content.
The cost-conscious: Those who want the best tablet for the least amount of money should look no further than this tablet, which delivers fast performance and a wealth of features at an affordable price.
Best iPad for Creators and Students – Apple iPad Air (M4, 2026)
The iPad Air is available in 11-inch and 13-inch models. It has a pro-level M4 processor, sharp cameras, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. It offers more storage options than older Air models, is available with 5G, and comes in several different colors.
Who It’s For
Students: High school and college students need a solid tablet with enough power to handle classroom apps—and the iPad Air is the ideal choice. This tablet offers the perfect blend of price and power, enabling students to excel in the classroom and beyond.
Creators: If you’re a creator who dabbles in photography, videography, podcasting, or social media, the iPad Air provides the platform you need to accomplish your creative goals. It’s compatible with nearly every media format and is as comfortable manipulating 4K footage as it is streaming 4K movies from Netflix.
Best iPad for Power Users – Apple iPad Pro (M5, 2025)
The iPad Pro is a remarkably powerful machine for creators and professionals who require a tablet that performs exceptionally well. With the latest M5 processor, an OLED display, a flexible Thunderbolt port, reduced weight, improved battery life compared with the previous model, and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, it’s a phenomenal slate.
Who It’s For
Power users: If you want the thinnest, lightest, most powerful Apple tablet money can buy, the iPad Pro is your top choice. It has the processor, graphics, and AI chops to handle the most intense workflows quickly.
Professional creators: No other tablet is as adept a platform for editing media as the iPad Pro. With its capacious memory and storage options, you have all the RAM and space you need to manipulate massive audio and video projects.
Best Android Tablet for Students and Creators – Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ offers a lot of great features for a reasonable price, including an Exynos 1580 processor, a 13.1-inch screen with a 2,880-by-1,800-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 appreciate that Samsung promises seven years of Android OS and security updates for the device as well.
Who It’s For
Students: The Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is comparable to the iPad Air, making it an ideal tablet for students who prefer Android phones over iPhones. Android users will appreciate the ability to seamlessly access their classroom assignments, apps, and content, as well as get their work done and find space for entertainment.
Creators: The Tab S10 FE+ also serves as a great platform for creators who need the power and screen real estate to manipulate photos, edit videos, or splice soundtracks. It’s an excellent tablet for both everyday needs and advanced functionality.
Klutzes: This tablet is dustproof and watertight, which means it can handle not only the occasional spill, but an accident dunk in the pool.
Best Android Tablet for Power Users – Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
With its 14.6-inch, 2,960-by-1,848-pixel screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra offers a massive desktop for productive workflows. Its MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chip and 12GB or 16GB of RAM provide plenty of power to handle basic apps and the most demanding tasks. 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, and Galaxy AI is impressive.
Who It’s For
Power users: The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is one of the most powerful Android tablets available, and it is purpose-built to help you get your work done. Its massive screen, powerful processor, and Galaxy AI all combine to make it the ideal portable partner for your professional needs.
Creators: With a stylus in the box, the Tab S11 Ultra is a no-brainer for digital artists seeking the largest display and best drawing experience available on an Android tablet. Samsung’s S Pen is a powerful tool, and the latest Galaxy AI features enable a new level of artistry.
People seeking a laptop alternative: If you’re looking for a device that’s more portable than a laptop, this is the Android tablet to get. Not only does it include the entire suite of Google apps, but it’s also fully capable of running Microsoft Office and other desktop-quality applications in a slim, sleek slate.
Best Affordable Android Tablet – Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
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 overcome the limitation of 64GB of standard storage, while the face unlock option mitigates the absence of a fingerprint sensor. If you need 5G connectivity for travel, you can add a cellular radio for an additional $50.
Who It’s For
Budget-conscious buyers: The Tab A9+ is one of the most affordable Android tablets worth buying. It covers all the basics—price, power, performance, and portability—and does it well.
Avid media consumers: This tablet is designed for casual users who prioritize entertainment above all else. Its screen is large enough to enjoy movies, its memory card support means you can load lots of media, and its good battery life means you can get from coast to coast on one charge.
Best Small iPad – Apple iPad mini (2024)
Apple’s 8.3-inch iPad mini has an A17 Pro chip that can run Apple Intelligence and power most of your tablet needs. It remains sized just right for those who value portability and doesn’t sacrifice any of the power, connectivity, or accessory support that makes iPads so popular.
Who It’s For
People who prioritize portability: The iPad mini packs most of the power of the iPad Air into a slate small enough to fit into a coat pocket. It’s small enough for a purse or sling and still provides all the power and performance you need to browse the web, stream media, and create on the go.
People with smaller hands: The iPad mini’s compact size makes it ideal for those who need devices that fit their lifestyle, rather than the other way around. The mini truly is mini and works well as an alternative to the massive 13-inch iPad Air and iPad Pro.
Travelers: The iPad mini is the best tablet to take on any trip. It lets you leave the laptop at home and still bring a powerful computing platform with you practically anywhere you need to go.
Best Tablet Under $100 – Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024)
The Amazon Fire HD 8 for 2024 has a bright screen with a decent 1,280-by-800-pixel resolution. It’s a more reasonable platform for media consumption than the smaller Fire Tablet 7, while still offering as much battery life. It comes in under $100, too.
Who It’s For
Travelers: Like the iPad mini, the Fire HD 8 is one of the most compact tablets on the market today. Its small form factor means it can go with you nearly anywhere and be available to keep you entertained without draining your phone’s battery.
Amazon Prime subscribers: The Fire HD provides access to Amazon’s huge library of streaming content, including Prime Video, Prime Music, and Audible. If you consume content, this is the most affordable way to access it from a mobile device.