Tablets were once purely thought of as windows for consuming content. But Apple and Microsoft have proven that these devices are more than just portable TVs by adding cursor support and keyboard attachments. We’ve compiled the best tablets for the money, from those posing as laptop replacements like the Surface Pro 7 and the iPad Pro 2020 to Android tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Amazon’s Kindle devices.
Apple’s iPads are some of the best tablets so be sure to check out our full iPadOS review to learn about all the tricks these tablets can do. If you’re not sold on any of these, one of the best 2-in-1 laptops might be the right choice. Or if you’re a student who wants a sleek laptop or tablet that can last through four years of abuse, check out our best college laptops page.
Other tablets to keep an eye on are the Microsoft Surface Neo — a foldable PC made with dual 9-inch tablets — and the new Surface Go 2. If you’re an Apple fan, check out our coverage of the new iPad and iPad Air. As previously mentioned, the Galaxy Tab S7 is our favorite Android tablet but for the best content viewing experience, go with the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus and its stunning OLED display.
What are the best tablets for the money?
Apple and Microsoft continue to dominate the best tablets rankings, which largely consists of Surface devices and iPads. The best tablet for the money is the iPad Air. It might not offer the same power as the iPad Pro, or the portability of the iPad mini, but its size and price are what will attract everyday consumers.
If you need extra power or want a tablet to replace your laptop, then the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the best option. Its speedy A12Z chip can keep up with most laptops and the Retina display continues to impress. And now that it has mouse and trackpad support, the larger iPad Pro is a genuine laptop replacement. Just behind the iPad Pro is Microsoft’s Surface Pro 6 (not the Surface Pro 7, which has worse battery life). It too has a gorgeous display and fast performance. We even prefer its keyboard accessory over anything Apple sells.
If Apple and Microsoft aren’t your cups of tea, give Amazon a shot with Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet. The company’s Fire tablets are still going strong, and are a good option if you’re primarily using the tablet for consuming entertainment. Also on this list is the excellent Samsung Galaxy Tab S6, an Android tablet with a DeX desktop interface, which can be used to double as your laptop.
The best tablets you can buy today
1. Apple iPad Air (2020)
2. Apple iPad (2019)
3. Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 2020)
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7 Plus
5. Amazon Fire HD 10
6. Apple iPad mini
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
8. Microsoft Surface Go 2
9. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
10. Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition
Apple’s latest iPad Air is the best non-Pro iPads ever, and the tablet we recommend to most people. Instead of being an upgraded version of the entry-level iPad, the new iPad Air is essentially an iPad Pro without the fancy, niche features. It has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with thin display bezels for a more modern design.
Under the hood is the A14 chip, making the iPad Air the first Apple product to flaunt the new six-core processor. So far, the performance numbers are impressive, with the Air outperforming some laptops. Battery life also remains excellent at 10 hours and 29 minutes, although competing slates endure for even longer.
But perhaps the best reason to buy the new $599 iPad Air is that it now supports the Apple Pencil Gen 2 (with magnetic wireless charging on the side) and the Magic Keyboard accessory, making the Air a potential laptop replacement.
Read our full iPad Air (2020) review.
Apple’s 10.2-inch iPad might seem a lot like its predecessor (and it is), but the company tweaked enough for us to still love this slate. Not only does the extra screen space (up from 9.7 inches) go a long way in iPadOS, but the added Smart Keyboard Cover support is a finally moment.
On top of that, we saw nearly 12 hours of battery life in our tests, and its colorful, super-bright display ties it all together for a solid experience. Priced at $329, the iPad is the cheapest tablet in Apple’s lineup, making it the best tablet for the money.
Read our full Apple iPad (2019) Review.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the best tablet for power users, by some distance. It might not be a major improvement over its predecessor, but the new A12Z Bionic chip still performs well against full-fledged laptops.
The biggest improvement has more to do with software. Added cursor and trackpad support mean the iPad Pro is finally a true laptop replacement. You can now connect any Bluetooth mouse or wireless trackpad (like the Magic Trackpad 2) and use a cursor to navigate iPadOS 13.2. The feature will feel complete when Apple releases the Magic keyboard attachment with trackpad later this year (although it’ll cost $349).
Another new feature is the lidar sensor, which accompanies two rear-facing cameras. Designed to improve AR apps, the potential of this sensor will be realized in the years to come. Apart from those features, the iPad Pro is exactly what we’ve come to expect; It has an excellent 12.9-inch display, awesome performance and long battery life.
Read our full 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro (2020) review.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is one of the best tablets due to its battery life. This tablet can offer over 13 hours of battery life. Wow!
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ both have excellent cameras: a 13MP main camera and a 5MP secondary ultra-wide lens. On the front is an 8MP selfie camera. Both tablets are updates of the Galaxy Tab S6 and feature an improved S Pen that is included in the box. The Galaxy Sab S7 and Galaxy S7+ have faster processors and 5G connectivity.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is one of the best Samsung tablets, too, with its 12.4-inch, 2800 x 1752-pixel screen, but due to its magnificent AMOLED display, there is a dip in battery life (it lasts 8 hours and 51 minutes).
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus review.
Amazon has upgraded its best tablet with a port that not even Apple’s iPad offers: USB-C. On top of that, you get fantastic battery life with a bright, colorful 1920 x 1200-pixel screen that’s great for binge-watching.
We still wish Amazon would allow the Google Play store in by default — the Fire OS mail app is wanting and the real YouTube app is far better than the website.
Read our full Amazon Fire HD 10 review.
Apple’s updated one of its most beloved tablets with a set of specs that makes it more than worth buying. From its speedy A12 Bionic chip to its bright, beautiful display, this is both a slate that’s great to consume content on and get things done on as well. On top of that, you get lengthy battery life plus support for the Apple Pencil.
Read our full iPad mini (2019) review.
The Surface Pro 7 takes an excellent tablet in last year’s Surface Pro 6 and gives it a power boost. While battery life takes a hit, the new 10th Gen CPUs provide outstanding performance.
The design hasn’t changed at all, but the Surface Pro 7 now has a USB-C port for charging and connecting peripherals. Microsoft still sells the comfortable Alcantara-clad Type Cover and the super-responsive Surface Pen, which makes it easy to draw or take notes on this tablet’s vivid and bright 12.3-inch display.
See our full Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review.
Microsoft’s Surface Go 2 gives you a ton of the perks of the Surface Pro, but at a much more affordable price. Starting at $399, it offers a bright, colorful display, a comfy keyboard and a sturdy-feeling magnesium design. It also includes Windows Hello support for facial recognition login.
You shouldn’t expect the faster performance from its Core m3-8100Y CPU but it should provide enough power for everyday tasks. Compared with the previous version, the Surface Go 2 has thinner bezels, faster speeds and now delivers epic battery life of more than 11 hours.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Go 2 review.
You get a bright 10.4-inch display, an included S Pen stylus and amazing, all-day battery life all for just $350. That is what makes the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite such a compelling tablet for those in the market for an iPad alternative. Running Android 10, this slate is great for Droid owners, especially those with Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
While its performance can lag behind at times, the S6 Lite is a good choice if you just need to run basic everyday tasks, like web browsing or video streaming. In many ways, the S6 Lite fills the same role as the iPad but for those who aren’t in the Apple ecosystem.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite review.
The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is one of the best tablets to pass around the family. Not only does it feature the serious set of parental controls that help guard your kids from the wrong side of the internet, but it also packs a ton of free age-appropriate content.
Further, it beats the cheaper $99 Kindle Fire 7 Kids Edition with a brighter display, longer battery life and faster performance. We’re also ranking the best Amazon Fire tablets.
Read our full Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition review.
How to choose the best tablet for you
Choosing the right tablet requires the same thought process as buying a laptop. As with any product, the first thing you need to decide is your primary use for a tablet. If it’s to browse the web on the couch or watch Netflix in bed, then you don’t need to spend $1,000 on the iPad Pro. You’re probably better off with the $329 iPad or even the $400 Surface Go — both of which have excellent displays. You can even settle on the $80 Amazon Fire HD 8, a tablet made strictly for multimedia viewing.
If you need a tablet that can double as a laptop, then your best options are the iPad Pro or the Surface Pro 6 — tablets that can be paired with an attachable keyboard and support trackpad/mouse input. Both of these devices provide plenty of power for even the most demanding users.
The size of the tablet is another consideration. While it might not sound like it, a 12.9-inch tablet feels massive in the hand. If you want something less unwieldy, consider a tablet with a screen that is smaller than 10 inches. Almost all tablets are thin and lightweight but few have good connectivity options. The Surface tablet stands out in this regard, offering a USB-A input.
How we test the best tablets
Our tablets go through rigorous benchmark testing before they even land in the hands of our reviewers. Our test vary slightly based on which OS the tablet runs, but the overall performance and graphics of almost all tablet is measured by the Geekbench 5 benchmark.
We also use a fancy colorimeter to quantify display quality. The device can measure the sRGB color range a display captures and the average brightness across the panel.
Our battery test gives an accurate measure of everyday runtimes. To test the endurance of a tablet, we set the display to 150 nits then run a continuous loop consisting of web browsing and video playback until the device powers off.
