The Best Tablets for Work and Play
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The best tablet can be a portable TV screen around the house and a way to get light work done away from your desk. They're not essential but are nice to have around. With a wealth of apps for drawing, painting, and making music, they’re also a great outlet for creative impulses.
The iPad’s ease of use and best-in-breed software make it the obvious choice for most people, but if you don’t want an iPad, there are other options. Android tablets have made a comeback in the last couple of years. Amazon’s Fire tablets are also an affordable way to watch movies and browse the web, as long as you don’t mind their limitations. There are even great E Ink slates for jotting down notes or sketching. We've tested dozens of tablets over the years, and these are the best right now.
Check out our other tablet guides, including the Best iPads, Best Digital Notebooks, Best Drawing Tablets, Best Kids' Tablets, Best iPad Accessories, and Best Fire Tablets.
Updated November 2024: We’ve added the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 series, iPad Mini, ReMarkable Paper Pro, Honor Magic Pad 2, Poco Pad, and Amazon Fire HD 8.
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Do You Actually Need a Tablet?
It depends! If you already have a laptop and a smartphone, it could feel redundant. But if your family member or loved one is hogging the TV, it's nice to be able to hold a big screen in your lap and catch up on your favorite shows, and even bring it along to every room in the house. Some tablets with accessories like keyboard covers and styli are also capable of handling some light work and might make great travel computers, and while some people may be able to fully replace their laptop with them, it's not for everyone.
Things to Consider When Shopping for a Tablet
Display size: The biggest factor to consider when shopping is size. Tablets usually range between 8- and 14-inch screens, with common sizes falling somewhere in the middle. A 14-inch screen might sound great until you start carrying it everywhere. It's big, and using the touchscreen can be unwieldy. I prefer tablets around 10 inches because the screen is large enough to feel distinct from my phone and it's not painful to operate.
Kid-friendly tablets: Is this tablet for a kid? You may want to take a look at Amazon's Fire HD Kids tablets as they come with a thick case and Amazon offers a worry-free two-year warranty—if they break the tablet in that time, Amazon will send you a new one no questions asked. However, if you want to stick with an iPad or Android tablet instead, there are settings you can dig into to set up parental controls and limit what they can access. We have a parental controls and screen time guide for Apple, Google, and Microsoft accounts.
Cellular connectivity: Do you need your tablet constantly connected to the internet, even when you're out and about? Typically only midrange and high-end tablets have the option of cellular connectivity (you'll have to pay for a data plan through your carrier). If you're planning on using it for work, then it might be a good idea, but you can always try and rely on the coffee shop's Wi-Fi network (just make sure it's secure). If you're only away from Wi-Fi a few moments while using the tablet, consider turning your smartphone into a hotspot. It might not be as fast, but it's cheaper and does the job.
Accessories: Some tablets have a much bigger accessory ecosystem than others. iPads have so many cool accessories that enhance the tablet experience, some of which are universal, but you won't find as many purpose-built accessories for Android or Windows tablets. Keep an eye on what the tablet manufacturer offers—likely a folio case, keyboard cover, or stylus—as it might be your best bet.
Software support: A tablet is like a laptop—you're not upgrading it every year, more so once every four to five years. That's why software updates matter. Apple supports its iPads the longest, though some features may not be available to certain models. Still, it helps maintain the device's security and keeps it bug-free. Samsung and Google have lengthy update cycles too, though not nearly as long as Apple. Keep a look out for this as you shop.
iPadOS vs. Android
The two prevailing tablet operating systems are Apple's iPadOS and Android. iPads are much more common in this space because Apple has been iterating on the software for more than a decade. Google, on the other hand, has had a spotty relationship with tablets—it came out the gate strong and then all-but abandoned development for bigger screens until very recently. There's renewed interest in Android tablets as the software experience is much better and optimized for bigger displays. Some Android tablet makers even have desktop modes that try to simulate a laptop experience, like Samsung's DeX mode.
If you're already in Apple's ecosystem and own an iPhone, MacBook, or Apple Watch, an iPad is a no-brainer. Apple's hardware complement each other—like how you can even use an iPad as an external monitor with a MacBook. And even if you use an Android phone or Windows desktop, an iPad still offers the best tablet experience. However, if you hate iPadOS (or Apple), or just want to stick with the same Android app ecosystem as your smartphone, the multitasking experience has improved and there are a few great Android tablets to consider.
- Photograph: Apple
Best for Most People
Apple iPad (2022, 10th Gen)The 10th-gen iPad (7/10, WIRED Recommends) got an official price drop from Apple after the company phased out the 9th-gen model. This price is much more reasonable for what you get. The iPad has a uniform, slim bezel around the 10.9-inch LCD screen. There's no home button like on older iPads—instead, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is embedded into the power button at the top edge of the slate; the headphone jack is also gone. It has a USB-C port, which means you can use the same cable as your MacBook or iPhone 16 to recharge it. There's also 5G support on the cellular model, and the 12-MP selfie camera now sits at the center when you hold the tablet horizontally—no need to awkwardly look to the side during video calls.
At $349 (frequently on sale for less than $300), the iPad does everything you'd want it to. It has plenty of power to play top-end games, thanks to the A14 Bionic chipset, the screen is sharp and bright enough to watch hours of movies and shows, and it's just large enough to use for some light work if you connect it to a keyboard. (It supports the Magic Keyboard Folio and the Smart Folio case, but I suggest saving your cash and sticking with a third-party keyboard) You can use it with a first-gen Apple Pencil or Apple Pencil USB-C for a decent drawing experience. But there is an air gap between the screen and the glass, so it's not a top choice for sketching as it won't feel as responsive as on other iPads.
Specs Display: 10.9 inch, LCD, 60 Hz Processor and RAM: Apple A14 Bionic with 4 GB of RAM Storage: 64- or 256-GB options Updates (from date of manufacture): Around 5 to 6 years Connectivity: Cellular and Wi-Fi models available Extras: Compatible with first-gen Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard Folio, Smart Folio | Touch ID fingerprint authentication | - Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Best Android Tablet
OnePlus Pad 2OnePlus' first tablet, the OnePlus Pad (8/10, WIRED Recommends), was a phenomenal value when it debuted in 2023. Its successor is the OnePlus Pad 2, and it has nice spec updates across the board, like a slightly larger 12.1-inch LCD screen that's a touch brighter and sharper. It's now powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the flagship processor in most 2024 Android phones, with double the RAM and internal storage. The only downgrade? It no longer comes in green, but a fairly boring “Nimbus Gray.” There's also still no biometric authentication, so you manually enter your passcode or pattern to get into the home screen. Naturally, there's a price bump.
This is a smooth-performing Android tablet that does an excellent job on the entertainment side of things, but also a brilliant job when you need to do some light work. I've taken the OnePlus Pad 2 to several meetings and had no trouble typing on it in my lap with the detachable Smart Keyboard (sold separately). You can also snag the Stylo 2 if you like using styli, and this one supports more levels of pressure sensitivity and can even double as a laser pointer on the screen.
But what makes the OnePlus Pad 2 stand out is Open Canvas. This is the multitasking technology the company ported over from its OnePlus Fold folding phone. It lets you have three apps up on the screen side by side, and you can scroll horizontally between them, which is an excellent way to juggle multiple tasks and conversations without having to exit an app. My favorite approach is to put two apps side by side, then drop a third at the bottom—you can scroll up or down to move between them. If you want a tablet for catching up on Baby Reindeer before bed but also a machine that can help you fly through emails in the morning, this is the best Android tablet for the task.
Specs Display: 12.1 inch, LCD, 144 Hz Processor and RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12 GB of RAM Storage: 256 GB Updates (from date of manufacture): 3 Android OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates Connectivity: Wi-Fi only Extras: Compatible with OnePlus Stylo 2 and Smart Keyboard
- Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Tablet and Smart Display Combo
Google Pixel TabletGoogle's Pixel Tablet (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is part tablet, part smart display. This 11-inch slate is like a big Pixel phone, with a sharp LCD screen, good speakers, and slick software. It's powerful too, thanks to the Tensor G2 processor inside. However, it comes with a hub, so when you're done using it as a tablet, you can magnetically dock it to automatically start recharging. This hub doubles as a speaker, and since the Pixel Tablet is the first tablet to natively support Google's Cast technology, you can cast music or shows to it from your phone or laptop and get beefier sound out of the system. When you're not using it, you can have the display show a clock or friends and family from your Google Photos library like a digital picture frame. A recent update also lets you turn the static display into a screensaver of the Google Home Hub panel, allowing you to see and control your smart home devices at any moment.
The best part is multi-user support. The Pixel Tablet supports up to eight profiles, so every family member can switch to a personalized profile, securely locked via fingerprint. Each profile can be configured with specific widgets, apps, and layouts, so it's easy to make it feel like your own slate even if it's a shared device.
Google sells the Pixel Tablet as a standalone tablet in case you don't care much for the speaker dock—a nice way to save some cash. Whichever way you go, I highly recommend getting the official Pixel Tablet Case, as it adds a much-needed kickstand and doesn't interrupt the hub attachment point.
Specs Display: 10.95 inch, LCD, 60 Hz Processor and RAM: Google Tensor G2 with 8 GB of RAM Storage: 128- and 256-GB options Updates (from date of manufacture): 3 Android OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates Connectivity: Wi-Fi only Extras: Compatible with Pixel Tablet Case and comes with Charging Speaker Dock | Fingerprint sensor - Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Best Upgrade
Apple iPad Air (2024, M2)The best iPad to buy, if you don't mind splurging, is not the iPad Pro, but the iPad Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends). This 2024 model looks like the previous iPad Air, but you now have two screen size options: 11 or 13 inches. It's powered by the M2 processor, the same chipset found in some of Apple's MacBooks, and despite the “Air” moniker, it's not the lightest iPad in the lineup anymore. Go figure. But the blend of a large, bright screen at a reasonable price, powerful performance, Apple Pencil Pro support, a fully laminated screen for more responsive sketching, and solid battery life make it a machine you'll want to tote from room to room. There's no Face ID, but Touch ID is integrated into the power button.
Specs Display: 11-inch or 13-inch sizes, LCD, 60 Hz Processor and RAM: Apple M2 with 8 GB of RAM Storage: 128-, 256-, 512-GB and 1-TB options Updates (from date of manufacture): Around 5 to 6 years Connectivity: Cellular and Wi-Fi models available Extras: Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro, Smart Folio, and Magic Keyboard | Touch ID | Apple Intelligence
- Photograph: Amazon
Best Under $200
Amazon Fire Max 11Amazon's Fire tablets aren't for everyone. They really push Amazon Prime services and apps, but they're great for leisurely tasks, like playing games and watching movies. There's no Google Play Store (though there's a workaround), and not every Android app is readily available. Still, for under $200, they're hard to beat.
I used to recommend the Fire HD 10 here, but the Fire Max 11 (5/10, WIRED Review) is now often on sale enough and so similarly priced that it's worth springing for (don't buy it at its $230 MSRP!). It has a nicer build quality (metal and not plastic), a higher-resolution and bigger screen, a fingerprint sensor, plus enough power for most tasks—even light work if you pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard. (I don't recommend Amazon's Productivity Bundle as you can get nicer peripherals for the same amount of cash.) There's a USB-C port so you can charge it with the same cable as your laptop or phone, and it has hands-free Alexa support, meaning it can double as an Echo Show. Remember, Amazon steeply discounts its Fire tablets on Prime Day, Black Friday, and for shopping holidays like back-to-school season, so try to avoid paying full price.
Specs Display: 11 inch, LCD, 60 Hz Processor and RAM: MediaTek MT8188J with 4 GB of RAM Storage: 64- and 128-GB options (with microSD support) Updates (from date of manufacture): 4 years Connectivity: Wi-Fi only Extras: Compatible with Keyboard Case and Stylus Pen | Fingerprint sensor - Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Digital Notebook With Color
ReMarkable Paper ProI've used the ReMarkable 2 for several years as a never-ending notebook. It writes exceptionally well and physically jotting things down helps me remember things better. The new ReMarkable Paper Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) steps things up with a color display, allowing you to highlight or use different font colors as you write. It feels even more like paper and pen, with incredibly low latency (the delay between the stylus and display when they touch). You can add tags and make folders or notebooks, and the slate does a decent job of converting handwriting to text. You can send files to your email in a few different formats too. You don't need to subscribe to ReMarkable's Connect service ($3 per month), but it gives you unlimited cloud storage and the ability to access and make notes on desktop and mobile.
I love the company's Type Folio keyboard accessory, which turns the ReMarkable Paper Pro into a lovely distraction-free typing experience. Oh, and I rarely worry about battery life. It needs a recharge roughly once every two weeks, much nicer than most gadgets that require daily charging. It's just so dang expensive.
If you don't think having a color screen is all that important, then go for the ReMarkable 2, which the company still offers at a more reasonable price. Read our Best Digital Notebooks guide for more options.
Specs Display: 11.8 inch, Canvas Color Display Storage: 64 GB Connectivity: Wi-Fi only Battery life: Around 2 weeks Extras: Comes with Marker stylus, compatible with Marker Plus and Type Folio
- Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Best Small Tablet
Apple iPad Mini (2024, 7th Gen)It's weirdly hard to find a good-performing tiny tablet, but Apple has your back. The new iPad Mini with the A17 Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn't a dramatic upgrade over its predecessor, but the performance bump enables you to take advantage of Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of artificial intelligence features. It's also compatible with the flagship Apple Pencil Pro, making it an excellent slate for artists who enjoy sketching in the great outdoors. It's just a handy dandy travel-friendly small tablet that can handle practically anything you throw at it.
Specs Display: 8.3 inch, LCD, 60 Hz Processor and RAM: Apple A17 Pro with 8 GB of RAM Storage: 128-, 256-, and 512-GB options Updates (from date of manufacture): Around 5 to 6 years Connectivity: Cellular and Wi-Fi models available Extras: Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro, Smart Folio | Touch ID | Apple Intelligence - Photograph: Amazon
Best Tablet Under $100
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024)The 2024 Fire HD 8 doesn't add much over the 2022 model. This smaller Amazon tablet has more RAM (3 GB) and a better 5-megapixel rear camera … and that's about it. You can bump the RAM further to 4 GB with the 64-GB storage model. For the money, you get decent performance, a USB-C charging port, stereo sound, and hands-free access to Alexa—all in a travel-friendly 8-inch size. The screen isn't as nice as the Fire Max 11, and it can be a little tough to see images and text clearly if you're outside, but this is the best tablet you can get for around $100 (and it usually dips to $55 during big sale events). There's no Google Play Store, but a workaround can net you access to more apps.
Specs Display: 8 inch, LCD, 60 Hz Processor and RAM: MediaTek MT8169A with 3 or 4 GB of RAM Storage: 32- and 64-GB options (with microSD support) Updates (from date of manufacture): 4 years Connectivity: Wi-Fi only Extras: Compatible with Tablet Cover
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- Photograph: Amazon
Best Kids Tablet
Fire HD 8 Kids Edition (2024)When giving a tablet to a kid, you want something durable and cheap so that it's unlikely to break and, if does, a replacement won't be too costly. Amazon offers kid-friendly versions of all its Fire tablets, and the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition sits in the sweet spot of having a kid-friendly size and a wallet-friendly price. It's the same as the Fire HD 8 above, but the extra money you spend adds a bulky case to protect the tablet and a two-year worry-free damage plan. That means if your kid breaks it, you can return it and Amazon will send you a replacement for free. You also get a year of Amazon's Kids+ service, which provides access to kid-friendly books, movies, games, and apps, all with parental controls. It's $8 per month after the first year ($6 for Prime members).
There's also the larger Fire HD 8 Kids Pro, which has a slimmer case and comes with preset age filters for kids aged 6 through 12, however, if your kid is within that age range, it might be better to get them the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Edition. It has a bigger screen, which is a big plus. Read our Best Kids Tablets guide for more ideas.
Specs Display: 8 inch, LCD, 60 Hz Processor and RAM: MediaTek MT8169A with 3 or 4 GB of RAM Storage: 32- and 64-GB options (with microSD support) Updates (from date of manufacture): 4 years Connectivity: Wi-Fi only Extras: Comes with Kid-Friendly Case - Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
If Money Is No Object
Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024, 11-Inch and 13-Inch )Do I think Apple's most expensive iPads are worth their insanely high cost? No. Do people buy and love them anyway? Yes. There's no denying how fantastic the iPad Pro tablets are, which now come in 11- or 13-inch size options (6/10, WIRED Review). Both are insanely thin and light, enhanced by brilliantly bright OLED displays with 120-Hz refresh rates. They're the only iPads with Face ID for authentication, and the only ones with the nano-texture glass add-on to reduce glare—a must-have for anyone frequently using an iPad outside or near a window.
They offer MacBook-level performance thanks to the M4 chipset. However, all that power is for naught because the software still feels very constrained. Yes, it's a great tablet, but it's still not ready to completely replace most people's laptops.
Specs Display: 11- or 13-inch sizes, Tandem OLED, 120 Hz Processor and RAM: Apple M4 with 8 GB of RAM (16 GB RAM on models with 1- or 2-TB storage) Storage: 256-, 512-GB, 1-TB, and 2-TB options Updates (from date of manufacture): Around 5 to 6 years Connectivity: Cellular and Wi-Fi models available Extras: Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard, Smart Folio | Face ID | Nano-texture glass | Apple Intelligence
- Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Luxe Android Tablets
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 UltraSamsung's Galaxy Tab S10 series is the iPad Pro equivalent in the Android world. There are only two slates this time around, the Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra, and both are on the bigger end of tablet sizes. They're hard not to like—they perform exceptionally well, have multiday battery life, promise long software support, and the displays are vibrant, smooth, and sharp. I watched all of Dandadan on it, and the colors really popped. You even get Samsung's stylus included in the box, and it magnetically charges and sticks to the side of the slate. I was surprised at how much I liked using the stylus to write in search boxes and throughout the interface—the company has come a long way in its stylus technology.
They're a little tough to use without the help of accessories. The big sizes mean they're unwieldy to hold, so I highly recommend investing in a kickstand folio or the keyboard cover if you want to get some work done. Samsung's DeX system turns the Android tablet into a decent desktop operating system, and it certainly is possible to do some light work, but it can't replace my laptop. The big problem is that they're just so expensive, and it's worth considering a proper laptop (or iPad Pro) at this price.
Specs Display: 12.4- and 14.6-inch sizes, AMOLED, 120 Hz Processor and RAM: MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ with 12 GB of RAM | 16 GB of RAM on S10 Ultra with 1 TB of storage Storage: 256-, 512-GB, and 1-TB options Updates (from date of manufacture): 7 years Connectivity: Cellular and Wi-Fi models available for S10+ | Wi-Fi only for S10 Ultra Extras: Comes with S Pen stylus, compatible with Book Cover Keybooard, Smart Book Cover | IP68 | Fingerprint sensor | DeX - Photograph: Jaina Grey
A Great Drawing Tablet
Wacom One 13 TouchWant a tablet strictly for drawing? Get the Wacom One 13 Touch (8/10, WIRED Recommends). Former WIRED reviewer Jaina Grey used an iPad to draw for years, yet the Wacom's silky smooth touchscreen drew her in. It's easy to set up—plug the USB-C cable into your PC—and start sketching with your preferred drawing app; the stylus doesn't need recharging. That's important to note: the Wacom One 13 Touch is a monitor—it won't work if it's not plugged into a PC or laptop. That can be a downside for someone used to drawing on an iPad.
Check out our Best Drawing Apps guide for more recommendations.
Specs Display: 13.3 inch, IPS LCD touchscreen, 60 Hz Stylus: EMR stylus, compaible with third-party styli Extras: Comes with stylus | 2 USB-C ports
- Photograph: Christopher Null
Best Windows Tablet
Microsoft Surface Pro, Copilot+ PC (11th Edition, 2024)Who says tablets need to run operating systems originally designed for smartphones? Microsoft's Surface line employs Windows, making it suitable for heavy, desktop-grade workflows. The new Surface Pro 11th Edition (6/10, WIRED Review) has a great OLED display and excellent battery life, with pretty good performance. It's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus or Snapdragon X Elite chipsets (on the ARM architecture), so not every Windows app will work perfectly just yet. Microsoft has a translation layer called Prism that will allow nonnative ARM apps to work on these processors, but it's not all-encompassing. Skip this machine if you plan on doing a lot of graphics-intensive tasks.
The best parts are the built-in kickstand, which lets you plop it down on almost any surface, and the new Flex Keyboard ($450), which offers a brilliant trackpad and typing experience. It's not as polished as an iPad in tablet mode, but Windows 11 has larger touch targets that make it easier to use. The main problem? It's so expensive. Sure, you can get an absolute base model for $1,000, but you'll still need to add a keyboard, as it's not included. The upgrades and accessories, which are really what make this machine stand out, will push you closer to $2,000. Wait for a sale. (We recommend the OLED model with the Snapdragon X Elite, 16 GB of RAM, and 1 TB of storage.)
Specs Display: 13 inch, LCD or OLED, 120 Hz Processor and RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite with 16, 32, or 64 GB of RAM Storage: 256-, 512-GB, and 1-TB options Updates (from date of manufacture): 7 years Connectivity: Cellular and Wi-Fi models available Extras: Compatible with Surface Pro Keyboard, Surface Pro Flex Keyboard, Surface Slim Pen | Copilot+ - Photograph: GrandPad
Best for Seniors
GrandPadIf you have a family member who has a hard time with technology and you want to maintain easy contact with them, the GrandPad (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is your best bet. It's a yearly subscription, so it's expensive, but you're getting LTE connectivity out of the box, meaning the device is always connected to the internet—no need to set up Wi-Fi. The slate has outdated specs (it's an Acer 8-inch tablet), but there's a large, optimized interface with big touch targets, speakers tuned to help those hard of hearing, ad-free music streaming and radio stations, unlimited photo and video storage, and games like Solitaire. If the device is ever damaged or lost, the company will send a replacement.
The GrandPad excels at one-to-one video calls, and it's portable, meaning Grandpa can take it with him and still receive your calls. It sits on a wireless charging cradle, so your loved one won't have to fuss with cables.
Specs Display: 8 inch, LCD, 60 Hz Processor and RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 with 2 GB of RAM Storage: 32 GB Updates (from date of manufacture): As long as service plan is active Connectivity: Requires service plan for 24/7 connectivity Extras: Comes with Charging Cradle and Stylus Pen | 24/7 customer care, emergency 911 calling
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Other Tablets to Consider
We test tons of tablets every year. Here are a few others we like, just not as much as our picks above.
OnePlus Pad for $300: The OnePlus Pad has a successor, but OnePlus says it will continue to sell the OnePlus Pad until stock runs out. It's great value at the frequently discounted price of $300 (8/10, WIRED Recommends). Multitasking is notably efficient, aided by the company's accessories: a Magnetic Keyboard case and a stylus. It was the first time I felt comfortable working for long stretches on an Android tablet. The 11.61-inch LCD 144-Hz display is sharp, fluid, and colorful, the battery can last nearly a full workday, and performance is smooth. It's a shame there's no microSD slot, headphone jack, or biometric authentication.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus for $500: The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the “Fan Edition” version of the flagship Tab S9 series, meaning it makes some sacrifices for a more palatable price. It comes in a Plus and standard variant—I tested the former—and both include a stylus. It performed much better than the older Tab S7 FE tablet I tested with fewer stutters. The 12.4-inch LCD screen is large and a rarity to find at this price in the world of Android tablets, but it's a bit tricky to comfortably hold, especially when browsing apps in bed. It has dipped as low as $400 before, so try to catch it on sale.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series for $600+: The 2023 Galaxy Tab S9 series (7/10, WIRED Recommends) consists of three tablets: the Tab S9 ($600), Tab S9+ ($950), and Tab S9 Ultra ($900). They're all expensive, though prices have come down since their release. The hardware is still excellent and, considering the new Tab S10 series isn't dramatically different, the Tab S9 series is still worth a look. They sport superbright 120-Hz screens and IP68 water resistance, and Samsung includes the S Pen stylus.
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Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) for $140: This Amazon tablet drops to $75 on sale, and that's a hard-to-beat price. The update over the 2021 model is largely just a processor bump, making it slightly faster. Its performance is decent (get the keyboard bundle if you plan to do some light typing tasks).
Barnes & Noble Nook 9-Inch Lenovo Tablet for $150: Want a cheap Android tablet with the Google Play Store (aka, not an Amazon Fire Tablet)? Check out the new Nook from Lenovo and Barnes & Noble (6/10, WIRED Review). It runs Android 13 and isn't a powerful machine, but it's adequate for browsing social media, reading, and catching up on some shows.
TCL Tab 10 Nxtpaper 5G for $240: You can only buy this TCL slate if you are a Verizon customer, which is disappointing, but it's an otherwise pretty nice Android tablet for the money. The star of the show here is TCL's Nxtpaper technology, which offers a matte, glare-free display that's easy on the eyes. It does have a backlight, unlike some previous versions, so you can use it in any lighting. Performance has been pretty solid overall, I haven't seen too much lag as I browse the web or scroll through Instagram, and it has excellent standby battery life. The 5G option is a nice touch if you want connectivity wherever you go.
Poco Pad for £430: This affordable tablet from Xiaomi’s fun budget sub-brand has a lovely big, sharp 12.1-inch display with a 120-Hz refresh rate and four stereo speakers around the sides. The Poco's build quality is impressive for the price, though it is quite bulky and heavy, and it’s ideal for watching movies or casual gaming in bed. Performance gets stretched if you play anything too demanding, and HyperOS on top of Android 14 can be clumsy and ugly. The battery life is pleasing, and you can expect several days from the Poco Pad with light use. Unfortunately, it's not currently available in the US. —Simon Hill
Honor MagicPad 2 for £417: This classy tablet is also not currently sold in the US. Quite similar to the OnePlus Pad 2 we recommend above, it boasts a truly gorgeous OLED display with impressive specs (3K resolution, 1,600 nits, 144-Hz refresh rate) that are generally unavailable at this price. Paired with the eight speakers, watching movies and gaming on this tablet is a pleasure. The stylus and keyboard are great (I love the handwriting and formula recognition), but they don’t seem to be available in the UK. I found Honor’s AI features, like Magic Portal, which gets good at predicting what you want to do, very useful, maybe more so on a tablet than a phone. Battery life is good, and charging is speedy (66 watts). The only real weakness here is the limited processing power, which can’t match something like an iPad (though you will pay a lot more for an equivalent Apple device). —Simon Hill
Tablet Accessories
Tablets often don't come with kickstands or enough ports, so it's a good idea to snag a few accessories to enhance your experience. These are some of our favorite tablet accessories, many of which you can also find in our Best iPad Accessories guide.
Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand for $45: This is my favorite tablet stand, so much so that I've taken it with me on trips. It packs down relatively well, and it is very stable—there's no wobbling around here. You can also adjust the angle quite a bit. It can handle huge sizes too—it worked perfectly with my 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Logitech K380 Pebble Bluetooth Keyboard for $40: Want a simple Bluetooth keyboard for your tablet instead of spending half the price of your tablet on a keyboard case? I've used Logitech's K380 for years and it's functioned perfectly. It takes two AA batteries that I've yet to replace (Logitech claims two years of use), and you can switch between three connected devices via Bluetooth.
Twelve South Compass Pro Stand for $51: This is made for iPads, but I've had no trouble using it for plenty of other tablets. It's more travel-friendly than the Satechi above and fairly stable, but when I lift the tablet off, the back leg tends to change positions. You can angle it pretty low for sketching or keep it upright for watching movies. Unlike the Satechi, it's not a great option for keeping the tablet upright on a mattress.
Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $60: This works with iPads and other tablets just fine. You can either plug it in and keep it flush with the edge of a slate or use the included cord to keep it extended. You get a USB-C port you can use for pass-through charging, a USB-A, an HDMI, and a headphone jack.
Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder for $22: I've used this on my bed frame to hold up various tablets for more than a year. The gooseneck requires a bit of finagling to get to the right position, and if you're constantly tapping the tablet, it will jiggle around. But it's a great hands-free way to watch movies. You can affix the clamp to any surface, like a desk or kitchen counter.
Twelve South HoverBar Duo Mount/Stand for $80: You can use this as a stand or as an arm mount, and Twelve South makes it really easy to switch between the two. That means you can easily affix your tablet to your bedside arm mount, and then put it on the stand in your home office in the morning. Both are sturdy, and the arm mount is decently adjustable. Best of all, it doesn't wiggle around as much as the Lamicall above when you tap the screen.
Anker Nano 3 30-Watt Charging Adapter for $20: Most tablets charge at around 18 watts, so this 30-watt charger from Anker is more than capable. The plugs fold up, and it's pretty compact. If your tablet does support faster charging, then I recommend Satechi's 108-watt three-port USB-C charger ($75). This will let you charge your phone, tablet, and laptop all off the same plug.
Einova Ultra Fast Power Bank for $47: This power bank is slim enough to store next to a tablet in your bag, and it has enough capacity (20,000 mAh) to recharge an 11-inch tablet twice. You can fast-charge with the USB-C port and use the two USB-A ports to recharge other devices.
