Tablets: Buying Advice, Tips, and News
From lab benchmarks to everyday use, our tested-and-trusted tablet reviews give you the clear, unbiased answers you need to choose with confidence, whether you need a tablet for work, play, or both.
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Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Find the Right TabletWhether you're looking for an Amazon, Android, or Apple slate, here's what to consider, along with recommendations for the top tablets we've tested.
By Iyaz Akhtar
Our Current Top Tested Picks
Apple iPad (11th Gen, 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Apple's 11th-generation iPad is the best tablet for most people.
Full Apple iPad (11th Gen, 2025) ReviewPros
- Most affordable iPad
- Good everyday performance
- High-quality hardware
- Improved storage options
Cons
- No Apple Intelligence
- Hardly anything new
Pros
- Most affordable iPad
- Good everyday performance
- High-quality hardware
- Improved storage options
Cons
- No Apple Intelligence
- Hardly anything new
Amazon Fire HD 10
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Fire HD 10 offers the best blend of performance, price, and size in the Fire lineup, making it the best cheap tablet for most people as long as you don't mind being locked into Amazon's ecosystem.
Full Amazon Fire HD 10 ReviewPros
- Affordable
- Good build quality
- Decent display
- Alexa Echo Show mode
Cons
- Limited app selection
- Amazon-focused content
Pros
- Affordable
- Good build quality
- Decent display
- Alexa Echo Show mode
Cons
- Limited app selection
- Amazon-focused content
Lenovo Idea Tab Pro
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro blends strong multimedia support with productivity-tuned software and a stylus to create a relatively affordable Android tablet that can work as hard as it plays.
Full Lenovo Idea Tab Pro ReviewPros
- Large, sharp screen
- Useful multitasking modes
- Stylus and fast charger included
- Supports microSD cards
Cons
- Display could be brighter
- No IP rating
Pros
- Large, sharp screen
- Useful multitasking modes
- Stylus and fast charger included
- Supports microSD cards
Cons
- Display could be brighter
- No IP rating
Apple iPad Air (M4, 2026)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The 2026 iPad Air offers almost as much power as the iPad Pro for hundreds of dollars less.
Full Apple iPad Air (M4, 2026) ReviewPros
- Swift performance
- Vibrant screen
- Excellent radios
- Good cameras
Cons
- No Face ID
- Not waterproof
Pros
- Swift performance
- Vibrant screen
- Excellent radios
- Good cameras
Cons
- No Face ID
- Not waterproof
Apple iPad Pro (M5, 2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Apple's M5-powered iPad Pro offers more power than most people probably need, but its unmatched performance and premium features make it the tablet to beat for creative professionals.
Full Apple iPad Pro (M5, 2025) ReviewPros
- Lightning-fast performance
- A graphics powerhouse
- Excellent screen
- Quick 5G and Wi-Fi speeds
- Capable cameras
Cons
- Battery life could be longer
- No IP rating
- Little is new
Pros
- Lightning-fast performance
- A graphics powerhouse
- Excellent screen
- Quick 5G and Wi-Fi speeds
- Capable cameras
Cons
- Battery life could be longer
- No IP rating
- Little is new
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
With a big and bright screen, long battery life, and swift performance, the Tab S10 FE+ offers most of Samsung's flagship Galaxy tablet experience for hundreds of dollars less.
Full Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ ReviewPros
- Large, sharp display
- Thin and light design
- Impressive performance
- Includes S Pen stylus
- Powerful productivity software
Cons
- No Galaxy AI
- 5G limited to smaller model
Pros
- Large, sharp display
- Thin and light design
- Impressive performance
- Includes S Pen stylus
- Powerful productivity software
Cons
- No Galaxy AI
- 5G limited to smaller model
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra combines a laptop-sized display, powerful performance for demanding apps, a versatile S Pen stylus, and productivity-focused software—all packed into a sleek, if sizable, Android tablet.
Full Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra ReviewPros
- Large, gorgeous display
- Fantastic performance
- Long battery life
- Productivity-focused software
- Included S Pen stylus
Cons
- Big and heavy
- Expensive
Pros
- Large, gorgeous display
- Fantastic performance
- Long battery life
- Productivity-focused software
- Included S Pen stylus
Cons
- Big and heavy
- Expensive
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Samsung's Android-powered Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet proficiently handles advanced productivity tasks as well as entertainment such as streaming and gaming at a low price with few drawbacks.
Full Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ ReviewPros
- Affordable
- Large screen
- Good performance
- Expandable storage
- Software aids productivity
Cons
- No fingerprint sensor
- Low base storage
Pros
- Affordable
- Large screen
- Good performance
- Expandable storage
- Software aids productivity
Cons
- No fingerprint sensor
- Low base storage
Apple iPad mini (2024)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The smallest iPad of the bunch is perfect for portability.
Full Apple iPad mini (2024) ReviewPros
- Compact and portable
- High-quality hardware
- Solid performance
- Supports Apple Intelligence
- Works with Apple Pencil Pro
Cons
- Dated design
- Few real upgrades
Pros
- Compact and portable
- High-quality hardware
- Solid performance
- Supports Apple Intelligence
- Works with Apple Pencil Pro
Cons
- Dated design
- Few real upgrades
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
It's hard to beat a well-made tablet for less than $100, and that's why we love the Fire HD 8.
Full Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024) ReviewPros
- Affordable
- Good battery life
- Lightweight
Cons
- So-so display
- Limited app support
- Poor cameras
Pros
- Affordable
- Good battery life
- Lightweight
Cons
- So-so display
- Limited app support
- Poor cameras
Latest Tablet Stories
Work, play, or multitask for less with these early Big Deal Days tablet discounts before Amazon’s seasonal sale officially kicks off on Oct. 6.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids is a fantastic first tablets option for children and now you can grab one for $75 less thanks to Amazon's Deal of the Day.
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If your current tablet takes approximately three business days to open an app, it might be time for an upgrade. These Labor Day tablet deals are still active to help you get there for way less.
Lenovo has massive discounts on some of their best-reviewed products this Labor Day, but the sale ends tonight
If your current tablet takes approximately three business days to open an app, it might be time for an upgrade. These Labor Day tablet deals can help you get there for way less.
You can save a ton of money—as much as 49% off—some of our favorite Lenovo products this weekend, but these deals won't last.
If your current tablet takes approximately three business days to open an app, it might be time for an upgrade. These Labor Day Weekend tablet deals can help you get there for way less.
Grab a top-notch new PC for work or school from one of our favorite brands at a deep price cut thanks to the upcoming holiday weekend sales.
If your current tablet takes approximately three business days to open an app, it might be time for an upgrade. These early Labor Day tablet deals can help you get there for way less.
We've found the year's best prices on affordable Amazon Fire tablets, potent creative iPads, Lenovo gaming machines, and more.
Kids love tablets, but which one is right for them? Check out the top tablets we've tested for education and entertainment—and keep your kid from stealing your iPad.
Apple offers a surprisingly diverse lineup of tablets, so there's likely one that fits both your budget and your needs. We've tested every model to help you choose the right iPad for you.
Don't waste time gaming on your phone's small screen. Instead, play with panache on one of the top gaming tablets we've tested.
This refurbished, portable 2-in-1 combines a 10th Gen Core i5, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and Windows 11 into a sleek tablet. For 70% off, it's a productivity cheat code.
Android is a capable modern OS for slates that's often enhanced by the tablet maker. Here's what to look for in an Android tablet, along with our top-tested choices.
This refurbished 2021 iPad Pro pairs Apple's M1 chip with a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and is currently marked down nearly 30% from its original price.
BTS shopping time! Whether you're taking notes in class, reading textbooks, streaming lectures, or just unwinding after homework, these tablet deals are worth a look.
The TCL Tab A1 Plus boasts a fluid 120Hz refresh rate on its 12.1-inch 2.4K display, and it's the perfect all-in-one tablet for before, during, and after class!
Even if the memory situation improves, the research firm IDC wonders if new foldable phones will help drive an eventual phase out of the tablet.
