The best Android tablets to go with your Galaxy and OnePlus phone
(Image credit: Samsung)
Android tablets are perfect for getting work done, playing games, unleashing your inner artist, or just zoning out and scrolling your feeds.
Android tablets are multitasking and gaming beasts, with stunning visuals and more customization options than Apple’s best. Plus, tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE give you more screen real estate and longer battery life than a similarly-priced iPad.
We’ve got even more tablets in Future Labs right now, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and the OnePlus Pad 2, but don’t wait if you find a great deal on an older version of both of those tablets. Check back soon to see if some new Android contenders make it onto our list of the best.
The best premium Android tablet
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus
Best premium Android tablet
Specifications
Weight: 571g Dimensions: 285.4 x 185.4 x 5.6mm OS: Android 14, OneUI 6.1
Screen size: 12.4-inch Resolution: 1752 x 2800 pixels CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ (4nm)
Storage: 256GB / 512GB microSD slot: Yes Battery: 10,090 mAh Rear camera: 13MP (wide); 8MP (ultra wide)
Front camera: 12MP
Reasons to buy
+Water and dust resistant
+Includes an S Pen in the box
+Excellent multi-tasking features
Reasons to avoid
-Performance isn’t as good as best iPads
-Software can be overcomplicated
-No ‘magic keyboard’ competitor from Samsung
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is a premium tablet that comes loaded with features, including many benefits you won’t find on any iPad or other Android tablets. It’s made for gaming, with a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor that excels at graphics performance, but Samsung’s software and the included S Pen also make it perfect for multi-tasking and getting things done.
Samsung has wisely continued to build IP68 certified tablets that are water resistant and durable. You can take the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus into the bath or wash it in the sink if it gets dirty. It’s still a very attractive tablet, it doesn’t look like a tank, but that durability makes it more versatile than an iPad Pro, if you carry your tablet around in the world with you.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus costs the same as an iPad Pro 11-inch tablet, but you get a much larger display, which also means a bigger battery inside, and Samsung happily gives you an S Pen, it’s not an expensive accessory like the Apple Pencil.
Samsung also makes the best tablet software around. It’s very easy to open multiple apps side-by-side, and you can even connect the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus to a monitor and keyboard to create a desktop-like experience. This is the best Android tablet you can buy, and easily one of the best tablets all around.
The best budget tablet
2. Amazon Fire HD 10
The best budget tablet
Specifications
Weight: 433g Dimensions: 246 x 164.8 x 8.6mm OS: Fire OS Screen size: 10.1-inch
Resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels CPU: Octa-core 2.05 GHz Storage: 32GB/64GB Battery: up to 13 hours
Rear camera: 5MP, 1080p HD video Front camera: 5MP, 1080p HD video
Reasons to buy
+Very inexpensive for a 10-inch tablet
+Seems quite durable and hardy
Reasons to avoid
-Only Amazon App Market, no Google Play
-Tons of bloatware and extra services
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 for the 32GB version (with a microSD card slot, nice!).
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.
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.
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The best Android tablet for most people
3. OnePlus Pad
Best Android tablet for most people
Specifications
Weight: 552g Dimensions: 258 x 189.4 x 6.5 mm OS: Android 14 with Oxygen OS Screen size: 11.6-inch
Resolution: 2000 x 2800 pixels CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Storage: 128GB microSD slot: No
Battery: 9,510mAh Rear camera: 13MPFront camera: 8MP
Reasons to buy
+Display is sharper than iPad Pro
+A flagship tablet priced like a cheaper model
+Big battery and faster charging
Reasons to avoid
-Performance doesn’t match best phones
-One option for storage, RAM, color
-Stylo pen is pricey, needs charging
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, the OnePlus Pad’s minor shortcomings can be overlooked as it serves up a great Android tablet that’s worth consideration by most people.
The best battery life
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus
Best battery life
Specifications
Weight: 627g Dimensions: 285.4 x 185.4 x 6.5mm OS: Android 14, OneUI 6
Screen size: 12.4-inches Resolution: 1600 x 2560 pixels CPU: Samsung Exynos 1380 (5nm)
RAM: 6GB / 8GB / 12GB Storage: 128GB / 256GB microSD slot: Yes
Battery: 10,090 mAh Rear camera: 8MP (wide); 8MP (ultra wide) Front camera: 12MP
Reasons to buy
+Water and dust resistant
+Great multi-tasking software
+Includes an S Pen in the box
Reasons to avoid
-Bulky and heavy compared to iPad Air
-Slower Exynos processor inside
-Still expensive considering performance
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.
The best drawing tablet
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
The best drawing tablet
Specifications
Weight: 732g Dimensions: 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5mm OS: Android 13 Screen size: 14.6-inch
Resolution: 1848 x 2960 pixels CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
microSD slot: Yes Battery: 11,200mAh Rear camera: 13MP (wide) + 8MP (ultrawide) Front camera: 12MP + 12MP
Reasons to buy
+Samsung multitasking is better than iPad and Pixel Tablet
+Gorgeous display and blazing performance
+Value is surprisingly good compared to iPad Pro
Reasons to avoid
-Same price as a Macbook Air (M2)
-Faster charging would have been nice
-Flimsy keyboard and no easy S Pen storage
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.
The best tablet for work
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
The best tablet for work
Specifications
Weight: 732g Dimensions: 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5mm OS: Android 14, OneUI 6.1 Screen size: 14.6-inch
Resolution: 1848 x 2960 pixels CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
microSD slot: Yes Battery: 11,200mAh Rear camera: 13MP (wide) + 8MP (ultrawide) Front camera: 12MP + 12MP
Reasons to buy
+Samsung multitasking is better than iPad and Pixel Tablet
+Gorgeous display and blazing performance
+Value is surprisingly good compared to iPad Pro
Reasons to avoid
-Same price as a Macbook Air (M2)
-Faster charging would have been nice
-Flimsy keyboard and no easy S Pen storage
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.
The best compact Android tablet
7. Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus
The best small Android tablet
Specifications
Weight: 355g Dimensions: 202 x 137 x 9.7mm OS: Fire OS Screen size: 8-inch
Resolution: 880 x 1280 CPU: quad-core Storage: 32GB/64GB
Battery: up to 12 hours Rear camera: 2MP (wide) Front camera: 2MP
Reasons to buy
+Wireless charging
+Can be used like an Echo Show
Reasons to avoid
-Poor screen quality
-Not swift, even with extra RAM
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.
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.