- The best Android tablet you can buy is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
- Xiaomi Pad 6 is the best bang for the buck, while the Galaxy Tab S9+ is the best for gaming users.
- The best affordable Android tablet at the moment is the Redmi Pad SE.
A few years ago, when it seemed like the Android tablet market was almost dead and unsalvageable, manufacturers figured out a way to rejuvenate it, by marketing their tablets as entertainment and home devices that fit the expanding ecosystems. While the market could benefit from having more options because Samsung majorly dominates it, there are still plenty of Android tablets you can pick. Here are some of the best Android tablets you can buy right now.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra – Best Overall Android Tablet
The first tablet on our list is Samsung’s latest flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Samsung markets its tablets as ultimate companion devices, flexing the ecosystem features that try to rival Apple’s. Although it’s a year old, the Tab S9 Ultra, like Samsung’s flagship phones, offers a complete experience thanks to its top-of-the-line specifications.
For starters, it features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and comes with a class-leading Samsung Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1848 x 2960 pixels resolution. The Tab S9 Ultra is IP68-rated, comes with 256GB of base UFS 4.0 storage, and features dual rear and front cameras (13 + 8 MP and 12 + 12 MP).
There are four excellent-sounding speakers and powering this device is a 11200 mAh battery that can charge at 45W. The free bundled S-Pen makes note-taking much easier. Overall, the Tab S9 Ultra, although a lot pricey, is easily one of the best if you’re looking for the ultimate tablet and are into the Samsung Ecosystem.
Pros Cons Exceptional display quality Expensive Great performance A year old at this point Excellent speakers Samsung’s Ecosystem is better than ever Comes with S-Pen in the box
OnePlus Pad – Best For Content Consumption
The OnePlus Pad marked OnePlus’ entry into the tablet business, and it did manage to make some ripples. The OnePlus Pad was marketed as a device that fits the OnePlus, and it does, for the most part. The specifications of the tablet include an 11.6-inch 2800 x 2000 7:5 144Hz LCD display with MediaTek Dimensity 9000, 8GB RAM, and 128GB UFS 3.1 storage.
Powering the tablet is a 9510 mAh battery that can juice up at a speed of 67W. The tablet’s great for multimedia consumption thanks to four stereo speakers. There’s a single rear 13 MP snapper and a single front 8 MP shooter for video calls. Overall, for an asking price of less than $500, it’s an excellent offering.
Pros Cons The aspect ratio and resolution make it a great media consumption device None Good performance Excellent speakers Integrates well with OnePlus ecosystem
Google Pixel Tablet – Best for Home Use
Unlike OnePlus, the Pixel Tablet was not Google’s first attempt. We all know about the beloved Nexus tablet series, but the Pixel Tablet is more of a replacement for smart home displays and devices. Google bundles a speaker dock, which further suggests that it’s not a tablet you’d carry every day for productivity. As for the specifications of the tablet, there’s nothing to write home about.
It features a 10.95-inch 2560 x 1600 pixels 60Hz display, Tensor G2, 8GB (LPDDR5) RAM and 128GB (UFS 3.1) base storage, and single 8 MP front and rear cameras. The tablet has a four-speaker stereo setup, which is powered by a decently large 7,020 mAh battery that can charge at a measly 15 watts.
The Pixel Tablet costs $489 with the dock as of writing this, which puts it in the same price range as the OnePlus Pad. However, they both serve different purposes. The OnePlus Tab is for those who need a strong productivity + multimedia consumption device. The Pixel Tablet is more of a laid-back home device for casual usage.
Pros Cons Makes up for a decent Home device Tensor G2 is old Speaker dock sounds good 60Hz display Decent Speakers Expensive for what it is
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ – Best Tablet for Gaming
The Galaxy Tab S9+ is a smaller S9 Ultra in a nutshell, with a smaller battery, display, and price. Another thing missing on the S9+ is an extra selfie camera, but besides that, all specifications are pretty much identical. You’ve got the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 120Hz 2X AMOLED panel, albeit in a smaller screen size of 12.4 inches.
The S9+ comes in both Cellular and Wi-Fi options, depending on the region you live in. The base storage remains the same, i.e., 256GB, and the Wi-Fi-only version is currently priced at $799. You could also consider the Tab S9 if you’re on a tighter budget. Overall, it’s one of the best sub-13-inch Android tablets you can buy for the money.
Pros Cons Exceptional display quality Expensive Great performance A year old at this point Excellent speakers Samsung’s Ecosystem is better than ever S-Pen in the box
Xiaomi Pad 6 – Best Value For Money
The Xiaomi Pad 6 carries the legacy of the Xiaomi Pad 5 forward, i.e., the best bang for the buck Android tablet. For starters, the Pad 6 features a 2880 x 1800 pixels, 11-inch LCD 144Hz display that can get as bright as 550 nits. Powering the screen is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC and a massive 8,840 mAh battery that can fast charge at 51W.
The storage variant on offer has 6 GB RAM and 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage. The tablet comes with MIUI 14 based on Android 13 and has been updated to HyperOS based on Android 14. Sure, the Snapdragon 870 is three years old at this point, but the tablet should be able to handle anything you throw at it, including heavy games. Overall, for an asking price of $285 at the time of writing this, you cannot ask for a better tablet in this price segment.
Pros Cons Great High-resolution display Only upgradeable till Android 15 Great performance A year old at this point Great speakers Value for money
Lenovo Tab P12 – Best Android Tablet for Drawing
The P12 Pro is a good offering from Lenovo for two reasons — the sharp 3K resolution 12.7-inch LCD display and the included Pen+Folio case in the box. At $345, it ticks almost all boxes. It’s got 8GB RAM, Android 13 (Upgradeable to 14), Quad JBL speakers, 128GB UFS 3.1 storage, and a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC.
The battery is a big 10,200 mAh unit that can charge at 30W. The front camera is a 13 MP snapper, whereas the rear is an 8 MP unit. Overall, the Lenovo Tab P12 is a fine offering and can be used for both entertainment and productivity tasks.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great display | Only upgradeable till Android 14 |
| Excellent JBL Speakers | Processor not meant for Gaming |
| Large battery | |
| Affordable | |
Redmi Pad SE – Best Affordable Android Tablet
The Redmi Pad SE is the latest budget offering from Xiaomi’s sub-brand. The Pad SE costs $154 and packs way above its price with features like an 11-inch FHD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate, quad speakers, and an 8,000 mAh battery that can charge at 18W with the included adapter. It features a Snapdragon 680 which is a capable chipset at this price point.
The base storage starts at 4GB + 128GB, but we recommend getting at least the 6GB + 128GB or 8GB + 128GB if your budget allows. The tablet comes with MIUI 14 based on Android 13 and Xiaomi promises only two major Android updates.
Pros Cons Inexpensive Only two major updates FHD+ 90Hz display Good speakers
Amazon Fire HD 10 – Cheapest Android Tablet
Next up, the cheapest 10-inch tablet you can find. The Amazon Fire HD 10 could be great if you’re planning to gift your kid their first tablet. For $75, it’s got a full HD display, 3 GB RAM, and 32 GB storage, which should be more than enough for content consumption and basic games. It’s worth noting that the price of $75 is for the version that shows ads on the lock screen.
The storage is expandable to 1TB via the microSD card slot. The tablet charges via the Type-C port at 15W. There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, dual speakers, and 5 MP front and rear snappers for video calls. Although there’s no mention of the exact SoC used, the architecture and specification point toward the possibility that it’s the MediaTek Helio G95.
Pros Cons Extremely inexpensive Ads on lock screen Helio G95 is decent Fire OS limits apps and functionality Decent FHD+ display
And these are some of the best Android tablets you can buy right now. The best premium tablet is, hands down, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, whereas the best bag for buck tablet is the Xiaomi Pad 6, followed by the OnePlus Pad and surprisingly, the Lenovo Tab P12 as well.
If you’re searching for the cheapest tablet, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a good offering, but we recommend spending a bit extra and getting the Redmi Pad SE for a better overall experience.
What are your thoughts on Android tablets? Do you know a tablet we missed that deserves to be on this list? Let us know in the comments.
