1. The list in brief
2. Best for most people
3. Best premium tablet
4. Best budget
5. Best battery
6. Best for drawing
7. Best for work
8. Best compact
9. FAQs
10. How we test
The best Android tablets are versatile, fully customizable, and packed with features, just like the best Android phones. You can find Android tablets at every price range and every size, from the smallest eight-inch Amazon Fire tablet to the huge Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, with tons of great options in between.
If you already have an Android phone, you'll probably want to match your phone maker to your tablet. If you're carrying a Samsung Galaxy S phone or a OnePlus device, Samsung and OnePlus are adding special features to those tablets to synchronize across devices. But the best thing about Android is that there are no walled gardens, so go ahead and grab whatever Android tablet looks right for you, and it will work great with whatever phone you have.
We've spent quality time with all of the tablets below, and some of them are more than just our favorite Android tablets, they're also some of the best tablets you can buy overall.
So read on for our picks of the best Android tablets to buy right now, from the best tablets for everybody to the best for folks on a tight budget, as well as options if you need the longest battery or the biggest screen for drawing and design. Then keep reading for details on our testing procedures and help choosing your ideal tablet.
Quick List
OnePlus came out swinging with its first tablet, and the OnePlus Pad is a winner all around. It starts at a great price, around the same as a base model iPad 10.9 (2022), but you get double the storage, and the advantages don't stop there. The OnePlus Pad also has a brilliant, sharp display, a great design in that signature green color, plus great battery life. You can even get a matching keyboard from OnePlus if you need to be more productive. You don't need a OnePlus phone to enjoy this one, but the phones are also pretty great, so it doesn't hurt.
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The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is the best premium Android tablet, with a water resistant design, great performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and of course Samsung's signature S Pen features. Samsung makes a larger Tab S9 Ultra, but the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus gives you all the same power and features as Samsung's 14.6-inch behemoth, without being unwieldy. This tablet is great for multi-tasking, playing games, watching your favorite shows, or doing serious work with an extra monitor, mouse and keyboard attached.
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The Amazon Fire HD 10 was updated in 2023, and it isn't the most impressive tablet until you realize it costs less than $100 in the US, and Amazon has put this tablet on sale for 25% off a half dozen times since it launched. For that low price you'll have to suffer Amazon ads on your lockscreen and Amazon services asking you to subscribe, but Amazon's Fire HD 10 can run all of your favorite streamers, and it makes a great screen to offer the kids on a long car ride.
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Don't be confused by the 'FE' in Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus, this is Samsung's tablet in the iPad Air price range, and it gives you a much bigger display and even more features than Apple's svelte iPad mid-ranger. With a bigger screen, you also get a bigger battery inside, and Samsung has also given this tablet an efficient, if a bit underwhelming, Exynos 1380 processor, which means it gets better battery life than almost any other tablet we've tested. If you need a long-haul device, start with this one, it lasts almost twice as long as some of the others.
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The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a great tablet for every task, but it may be a bit too big for some folks, which is why we think this is the right pick for artists and folks who need the largest canvas to see fine details up close. With an S Pen included, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra uses Wacom technology for drawing, which means it's pressure-sensitive and can detect your pen tilting as you draw. Samsung also adds plenty of productivity features to go with that S Pen, including a Bluetooth remote that lets the S Pen advance a slide show with a click.
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A work tablet like the Galaxy Tab S9 needs to help you multitask and get things done, but it also needs to fit comfortably in a brief case, on an airplane tray table, and in any situation. The Galaxy Tab S9 can help you work with some of the best multi-window software on any tablet, and you can also connect it to a hotel TV while you're traveling, or add a mouse and keyboard to make this a real desktop replacement. The Tab S9 costs a bit less than an iPad Pro, too, even though it gives you more features and an S Pen in the box.
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The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus wins by default, because none of the other best Android tablet makers are making tablets to compete with Apple's iPad mini, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give Amazon's latest small tablet a look. 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 of the best 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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