Android tablets don’t get much love, but nowadays, an Android tablet can be a great experience. Start with these if you’re looking for an alternative to the iPads and convertible laptops on the market today.

What to Look for in an Android Tablet in 2024

Tablet computers are as diverse as any other major class of computing device. There are a wide variety of tablets out there, and each person’s needs will be different. That being said, a few key considerations apply to everyone.

First, the screen is perhaps the most important factor. Tablets are known for their large screen sizes, ranging from around seven to thirteen inches. Considering that the largest smartphones (once known as “phablets”) almost overlap with the low end of the tablet range, you’ll have to decide whether you want a small tablet or a large phone. Most Android tablets are in the 10-inch to 13-inch range and are usually used as laptop alternatives or media consumption devices.

As for screen technology itself, virtually all Android tablets use LCDs, as OLED technology isn’t as widespread in the market. It is also worth looking for a tablet with a laminated display. Such a display eliminates the air gap between LCD and glass and positively affects brightness, crispness, and how attractive the image looks.

Storage capacity is less problematic on Android tablets than on Apple tablets. While iPads have a fixed amount of storage, most Android tablets support SD or microSD card expansion for photos, video, music, and apps. That means saving money on storage in the short term isn’t a decision you’ll regret down the line.

Finally, core specifications such as processing power (CPU) or memory (RAM) are no longer major pitfalls. Android tablets, even budget ones, have reached the threshold where everyday tasks are handled without issue. You may have to wait a second longer for an app to open or a web page to load on a cheaper Android tablet, but the gap between budget and premium performance for these types of tasks isn’t something to worry about.

If you want a tablet for creative work such as video editing or high-performance uses such as 3D video gaming, you should aim for higher-end hardware. For an Android tablet, that means a flagship Snapdragon processor or an equivalent from another system-on-a-chip maker.

Now, let’s get into our recommendations.

Best Android Tablet Overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+

With a faster processor, more RAM, a large screen, and a lighter build, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is undoubtedly the new baseline. Despite its overall better performance than the Tab S9+, the Tab S10+ is the same price as the Tab S9+ when it was first released. That alone makes it an easy recommendation for general use, entertainment, or even work.

Although the screen size is identical to the Tab S9+—12.4 inches and a 16:10 ratio—it’ll be a nice upgrade if you’re coming from an S6 Lite or even the S9 FE. That means more screen real estate for drawing, movies, gaming, browsing, and even work. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ even doubles a laptop with the S10+ Book Cover Keyboard attached.

Instead of a Snapdragon processor, Samsung utilizes a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 processor. Not only is it notably better than something like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in every regard, the processor has a much higher memory bandwidth. In practice, that means faster rendering, data processing, better gaming performance, and will feel snappier overall.

Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is just as durable as the Tab S9+, especially against water and dust, thanks to its IP68 rating. However, it’s slightly lighter, even if you were to opt for the 5G model. Together those features really come in handy if you plan on traveling with the Tab S10+.

Best Android Tablet Overall

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is a MediaTek-powered tablet with a 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and enhanced processing capabilities. It also has an S Pen and supports various AI features, making it ideal for both productivity and creativity.

$1150 at Samsung$989 at AmazonSee at Best Buy

Best Budget Android Tablet: Amazon Fire HD10

When it comes to Android tablets, there’s budget-friendly and truly affordable. Spending between $100 and $200 on a tablet usually comes with serious compromises in at least one key area. That is unless you’re Amazon, in which case it’s possible to put a tablet with decent specifications and build quality on the market for relatively little money.

Thanks to advertising subsidies, Amazon sells tablets like the Fire HD10 for just $140. If you pay the lower price, you’ll see advertising on the tablet’s lock screen. Whether that’s an acceptable tradeoff is entirely up to you, but the lock screen adverts are easy to ignore and never interfere with the tablet while in use.

More importantly, you can disable ads permanently later for an additional fee, so you can purchase the lower-priced Fire HD 10 and decide for yourself with no regrets.

As for the tablet itself, this 10-inch Fire HD series model looks great on paper. It has an eight-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, a 1080p display, and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. It’s perfectly balanced for its intended use, which boils down to consuming streaming video, ebooks, comics, music, and light gaming. You should also have no trouble running mainstream applications such as the mobile Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, and social media.

The real elephant in the room is that Amazon uses a customized version of Android that doesn’t come with the Google Play Store. If you need access to the Play Store, we’ve got a great guide on installing Google Play on Amazon tablets that should sort that issue out in a few minutes. Apart from this small issue, there isn’t a better budget tablet for the money.

Best Budget Android Tablet

Amazon Fire HD 10

Not every cheap Android tablet is bad, and the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a good, cheap tablet. It’s perfect for Zoom calls, watching videos, and basic productivity tasks.

$150 at AmazonSee at Best Buy

Best Android Gaming Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus

Gaming on a tablet now means much more than just having a larger screen to play Angry Birds. The best gaming tablets must be powerful, adaptable, and just as usable as a portable gaming monitor or a stand-alone handheld console. As just such a tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is very easy to recommend.

Inside the sleek aluminum body is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and up to 512GB of storage—a great start if you’re looking for peak performance. Then you have the 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a feast for the eyes with snappy response times, bright colors, and deep blacks. The 120Hz refresh rate is another welcome feature and can really make a difference in fast-paced games.

Sound, an often overlooked gaming essential, is provided by quad speakers featuring Dolby Atmos and tuned by audio expert AKG. Just like the Tab S8, the S9 can take advantage of the connection speeds and stability provided by Wi-Fi 6E for smooth online gameplay.

Of course, all the Tab S9 models have the same processor and display, audio, and Wi-Fi technology. The main differences are the dimensions of the devices, and it’s this that makes the Plus the best choice for gaming. The Tab S9 Plus hits the sweet spot between being large enough to use as a monitor with a linked controller while being small and light enough to be comfortably held in your hands for long gaming sessions.

It certainly isn’t the cheapest option out there, but if you are serious about gaming on your tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus should be at the top of the list.

Best Android Gaming Tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus

$879 $1000 Save $121

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus hits that sweet spot between having a large and vibrant screen and not being too heavy to hold in your hands for long gaming sessions. And when you have finished playing, the device is also perfect for browsing, reading, or watching a movie in bed.

$879 at AmazonSee at Best Buy

Best Android Tablet for Drawing: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

Unlike just a few years ago, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a specialist device like the Wacom MobileStudio to experience great drawing on a tablet. Touchscreen sensitivity and stylus technology advances mean that even mass-market tablets can become art studios.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE, a more affordable version of Samsung’s flagship tablet range, is just such a device. Although this tablet is around half the price of the cheapest Tab S9, you still get a high-resolution screen, a capable octa-core CPU backed up by 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and up to 18 hours of use on a single charge.

The Tab 9 FE is built to work with the excellent S-Pen stylus, which comes in the box and means you don’t have to spend extra time and money to find a compatible drawing tool. Combined with Samsung’s premium drawing apps, or even a free tool like Krita, the S-Pen is a precise and intuitive way to sketch on a digital display. As styluses go, it’s pretty hard to beat.

Unfortunately, the 10.9-inch display doesn’t make for a huge drawing area. The OnePlus Tab, a device with similar internal specs but perhaps a more art-friendly 7:5 ratio display, almost made it onto this list. It’s a viable alternative, but the FE edged ahead due to the lack of a supplied stylus and the tablet pedigree Samsung has built over the last ten years.

Best Android Tablet for Drawing

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

$327 $450 Save $123

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE offers a stunning display, a powerful processor, a stylus, and optional 5G connectivity for a lower price than the standard Tab S9.

See at Best Buy$327 at AmazonSee at Samsung

Best Android Tablet for Kids: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

I’d be the last parent to recommend an expensive tablet for their kids, especially if they aren’t even double digits yet. For that reason, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet rises to the top for being both very affordable and performing well enough for all forms of entertainment.

The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is 25% faster than the previous generation, which isn’t exactly saying much when the last generation had 2GB of RAM and a hexacore processor. However, with 3GB of RAM and an octa-core processor, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is far better at running games like Roblox, which can get demanding at times, depending on the experience.

The battery life is still excellent, but not surprising given that the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet’s lower-end processor isn’t sapping the battery. Your kids will get up to 13 hours on a single change, which is way more than they’d ever need.

More importantly, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet comes with a dense, EVA foam case to protect from drops. Even the edges around the screen are raised to prevent the screen from meeting the ground first.

Best Android Tablet for Kids

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

$110 $190 Save $80

With built-in parental controls, a durable foam case, and solid specs for all forms of entertainment, the Amazon HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet is the perfect go-to for kids, especially for its price.

$110 at Amazon

Best Laptop Replacement: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra begs to be a dual laptop and tablet device. At 14.6 inches, the Tab S10 Ultra’s display competes pretty easily with laptops, like the MacBook Air’s 13-inch and 15-inch models. And with DeX Mode, which looks similar to Windows, working and editing is quite a comfortable experience.

While Samsung does have its own Ultra Book Cover Keyboard for sale, the Tab S10 Ultra has Bluetooth, so you’re welcome to connect your favorite Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. If you’d prefer to just write your notes though, you’ll be happy to hear an S-Pen is included with the tablet. There’s even an anti-reflective screen coating to drastically cut down on glare.

As for performance, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra leaves the Tab S9 Ultra in the dust. Its GPU, for example, performs 28% better than the Tab S9 Ultra. Additionally, rather than opt for another Snapdragon processor, the tablet utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 9300+, which you can pair with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM.

In practice, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra is better overall at, well, everything than the last-gen Ultra model. Even the Wi-Fi chipset has been upgraded from Wi-Fi 6E to Wi-Fi 7, giving you more bandwidth and less latency. Move over, Tab S9 Ultra; there’s a new king in town!

Best Laptop Replacement

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a cutting-edge tablet featuring a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and significant AI processing enhancements. It offers a premium user experience with its powerful performance, intuitive S Pen functionality, and seamless integration with the Galaxy ecosystem.

$1200 at SamsungSee at Best Buy

FAQ

How do I reset an Android tablet?

If you want to restart your tablet because it isn’t working correctly, press and hold the power button for two seconds. If you want to fully reset your tablet, we have a full guide to factory resetting your phone or tablet.

How do I take a screenshot on an Android tablet?

On most Android tablets, including Google and Amazon Kindle Fire models, press the power and volume down buttons at the same time. On Samsung tablets, the process is similar, but you need to briefly hold both buttons. If this doesn’t work on your tablet, check the manufacturer website.

How do I delete apps on my Android tablet?

To delete an app, long-press the app’s icon until its shortcut popup appears. Here you’ll either see an “i” icon or the text App Info. Tap either one of those, then select Uninstall.

Can I make phone calls from my Android tablet?

You can’t make traditional phone calls from most tablets. That said, you can use voice-over-IP (VoIP) or voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) using apps like Google Voice or Signal.

Can I install Windows on my Android tablet?

While it’s technically possible to install Windows on some Android tablets, it’s not supported by either Microsoft or the tablet manufacturers, and it could cause issues with your tablet.