Sydney Butler
Elizabeth Henges
What to Look for in an Android Tablet in 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Android Tablet Overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Best Budget Android Tablet: Amazon Fire HD10
Best Android Gaming Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
Best Android Tablet for Drawing: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Best Android Tablet for Kids: Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro
Best 8-inch Android Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite LTE
Best Laptop Replacement: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Update, 01/17/2023: We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have updated our best for kids pick with the newest Amazon Kids Fire HD model.
What to Look for in an Android Tablet in 2023
Tablet computers are as diverse as any other major class of computing device. There are a wide variety of tablets out there, each person’s needs are going to be different. That being said, there are a few key considerations that apply to everyone.
First, the screen is perhaps the most important factor. Tablets are known for their large screen sizes, ranging from around 7-inches to 13-inches. Considering that the largest smartphones (once known as “phablets”) almost overlap with the low end of the tablet range, you’ll have to decide whether you want a small tablet or a large phone. Most Android tablets are in the 10-inch to 13-inch range and are usually used as laptop alternatives or media consumption devices.
As for screen technology itself, virtually all Android tablets use LCDs, as OLED technology isn’t as widespread in the market. It is also worth looking for a tablet with a laminated display. Such a display eliminates the air gap between LCD and glass and has a positive effect on brightness, crispness, and how attractive the image looks.
Storage capacity is less of a problem on Android tablets compared to the competition from Apple. While iPads all have a fixed amount of storage, most Android tablets support SD or microSD card expansion for photos, video, music, and apps. That means saving money on storage in the short term isn’t a decision you’ll regret down the line.
Finally, there are no longer major pitfalls in core specifications such as processing power (CPU) or memory (RAM). Android tablets, even budget ones, have reached the threshold where everyday tasks are handled without issue. You may have to wait for a second longer for an app to open or a web page to load on a cheaper Android tablet, but the gap between budget and premium performance for these types of tasks isn’t something to worry about.
If you want a tablet for creative work such as video editing or high-performance uses such as 3D video gaming, you should aim for higher-end hardware. For an Android tablet, that means an 800-series Snapdragon processor or an equivalent from another system-on-a-chip maker.
Now, let’s get into our recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Android Tablet Overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Pros
- ✓ More performance than most people need
- ✓ Premium hardware from top to bottom
- ✓ Perfect general-purpose screen size
- ✓ Included S-Pen
Cons
- ✗ The screen is LCD and not Super AMOLED
When considering a tablet to declare the “best overall” it’s tempting to simply point at the model with the highest specifications and the biggest price tag and call it a day. But, for us to consider a tablet the best overall, it has to be one we can recommend to anyone. No matter which way you look at it, that’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 fits that bill perfectly.
It has the same cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 hardware as the rest of its range but comes at a far more palatable price. What do you give up for spending less money? You get an 11-inch screen, which in our opinion is the most practical size for most people. Anything larger starts moving into fringe territory for typical tablet use.
You’re also giving up having an OLED display, which is probably where the biggest saving has occurred. The thing is, Samsung’s LCD displays are top-notch and while the LCD screen won’t have the black levels or vibrancy of an OLED, it’s still going to be an objectively gorgeous display.
So, for a very fair price, you’re getting a tablet with sweet-spot screen size and class-leading performance in the Android tablet market. Thanks to Samsung DeX, you can even use it as a laptop-like system, albeit with a mildly cramped screen for multitasking.
Samsung sells a 2-in-1 book cover keyboard with a trackpad for protection and functionality. Also, like the entire Tab S8 line, you get an S-Pen to use with the tablet for whatever you might need. When you’re done with the stylus, you can slot it into the back of the tablet easily.
The standard Tab S8 is really is the most feature-complete all-around Android tablet. We have no problem recommending it to everyone.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Samsung's mainstream flagship tablet ticks every box on most tablet user wishlists, with the exception of OLED screen technology. Given the big price saving LED brings to the table, it's a worthy tradeoff.
$599.99 
$699.99 Save 14%
Best Budget Android Tablet: Amazon Fire HD10
Pros
- ✓ The best tablet hardware for the money
- ✓ Great as a general entertainment device out of the box
Cons
- ✗ Has ads unless you pay extra
- ✗ Requires a little extra work to get Google Play working
There’s budget, and then there’s budget for Android tablets. Spending between $100 and $200 on a tablet usually comes with serious compromises in at least one key area. That is unless you’re Amazon, in which case it’s possible to put a tablet with decent specifications and build quality on the market for relatively little money.
Thanks to advertising subsidies, Amazon manages to sell tablets like the Fire HD10 for just $150. You’ll see advertising on the tablet’s lock screen if you opt to pay the lower price. Whether that’s an acceptable tradeoff is entirely up to you, but the lock screen adverts are easy to ignore and never interfere with the tablet while in use.
More importantly, you can disable ads permanently at a later date for an additional fee, so you can purchase the lower-priced Fire HD 10 and make the decision yourself with no regrets.
As for the tablet itself, this latest 10-inch Fire HD series model looks great on paper. It has an eight-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, a 1080p display, and either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. It’s perfectly balanced for its intended use, which boils down to consuming streaming video, ebooks, comics, music, and light gaming. You should also have no trouble running mainstream applications such as the mobile Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, and social media.
The real elephant in the room is that Amazon uses a customized version of Android that doesn’t come with the Google Play Store. If you need access to the Play Store, we’ve got a great guide on installing Google Play on Amazon tablets that should sort that issue out in a few minutes. Apart from this small issue, there isn’t a better budget tablet for the money.
Fire HD 10
Not every cheap Android tablet is bad, and the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a good, cheap tablet. It's perfect for Zoom calls and basic productivity tasks.
$149.99
Best Android Gaming Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
Pros
- ✓ The latest high-performance CPUs and GPU
- ✓ Wi-Fi 6E and 5G for cloud gaming and multiplayer
- ✓ Gorgeous 12.4-inch AMOLED screen, perfect for gaming
Cons
- ✗ Costs significantly more than the 11-inch LCD S8 tablet
- ✗ Might be a little bulky for handheld play for some users
Gaming on a tablet can mean different things. There’s local gaming, where you’re running a game on the tablet’s own hardware. Then there’s cloud gaming, where you’re streaming a game over the network and simply using the tablet as a portable screen.
In either of these situations, we think the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is the best gaming tablet you can buy right now. All of the S8 tablets, including the base model we’ve named as our best overall tablet, share the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 hardware. Essentially, the S8 Plus doesn’t have a raw performance advantage over the smaller model.
It has a 12.4-inch Super AMOLED display, which means fast response times, perfect blacks, and rich colors in your games. The larger size is perfect for controller-based gaming where you’re setting the tablet down and even for handheld play you can more easily see what’s going on at typical usage distances.
The S8+ is also equipped with 5G and Wi-Fi 6E, which makes it ideal for cloud-based gaming on WiFi or mobile internet.
While the asking price of the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus may give you pause, we think this tablet offers the best Android gaming experience today.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
The Tab S8 Plus has the same high-end performance as the standard S8, but that large Super AMOLED screen makes it perfect for local gaming or cloud gaming over Wi-Fi and 5G
$879.00 $979.99 Save 10%
Best Android Tablet for Drawing: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Pros
- ✓ Very affordable
- ✓ Great laminated screen
- ✓ S-pen included attaches magnetically
- ✓ Low overall specifications and storage are not an issue if you only want to draw
Cons
- ✗ Mediocre as an all-around tablet
- ✗ If you want a drawing Android tablet that can do everything else, get an S7 or S7+
It wasn’t that long ago that owning a digital drawing tablet like a Wacom meant taking out a small loan and saying goodbye to a bag of cash. Now there are many excellent, affordable drawing tablets on the market that also can be used as general-purpose computers.
If you buy either of the two Galaxy Tab S7 models listed above, you’re also getting excellent drawing tablets, thanks to the included S-Pens. However, what if you weren’t interested in the other premium features those expensive tablets offer? What if you were only interested in drawing? In that case, we’d recommend the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite instead.
The S6 Lite is the budget model of Samsung’s previous flagship line of Android tablets. It offers mid-range processing power and won’t be of much use for gaming or video editing, but you get nearly the same drawing experience as tablets that cost hundreds more.
The battery is rated for 13 hours of use, the screen is laminated, and the included S-Pen attaches magnetically to the tablet. Since this is a last-generation device, prices have been dropping significantly, making it perfect for artists who don’t care for cutting-edge technology but need a quality drawing device.
Better yet, YouTuber Teoh Yi Chie has a wonderful artist’s perspective in this Tab S6 Lite review. In the video, you can see exactly how the S6 Lite performs in the hands of a talented individual and decide if the Tab S6 Lite is good enough for you.
Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
If drawing is your only concern when picking up an Android tablet, the Tab S6 Lite comes with the great S-Pen and is perfect for art and doodles, for an affordable price.
$275.00 $349.99 Save 21%
Best Android Tablet for Kids: Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro
Pros
- ✓ 30 percent faster than the previous model
- ✓ Good specs for the price and use case
- ✓ Powerful parental controls
- ✓ 1 year of Amazon Kids+ included
- ✓ Excellent warranty
Cons
- ✗ Not good for ages below 6
- ✗ Limited onboard storage
Finding a tablet for kids is tough, as many manufacturers treat these devices as an afterthought. Amazon, on the other hands, has been delivering quality kids’ tablets for years, and it shows no signs of slowing down with the new Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro.
Its specs aren’t going to blow you away, but with 2GB RAM and a hexa-core processor that Amazon says is 30 percent faster than the previous model, it’s no slouch. For the games and content kids in the target age range of 6 to 12 will be playing, these specs are more than adequate.
The battery life is up to 13 hours, so kids have plenty of juice for books, videos, and games. It also charges via USB-C, so that’s one less micro-USB charging cable you’ll need to keep handy. WIth 32GB of built-in storage and support for expandable storage up to 1TB, there’s plenty of room to keep kids entertained.
Speaking of which, you won’t have to spend much to fill the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro with content, at least not for the first year. The tablet has a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, offering thousands of ad-free books, videos, games, and apps. After the first year, this service will cost you $4.99 per month.
There are plenty of features aimed at keeping your kids safe, too. The built-in web browser automatically blocks inappropriate sites, and you can choose specific sites to block.
There’s a final major feature: the two-year warranty. If the tablet breaks for any reason during those two years, Amazon will replace it free of charge. That’s one less thing to worry about.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro is available in Rainbow Universe, Cyber Blue, and Hello Teal color varieties.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro offers a combination of rugged build, decent specs, and valuable extra to make it the clear best option for a tablet for kids.
$139.99 $149.99 Save 7%
Best 8-inch Android Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite LTE
Pros
- ✓ Bigger than any phone screen, yet much more compact than a typical tablet
- ✓ Fair specifications for general purpose use
- ✓ The cellular model works with GSM providers in the US
- ✓ Excellent price, especially considering the cellular feature
Cons
- ✗ Very budget specs
With massive tablet-style phones being both common and available in every budget segment, is there still a place for small tablets in this world? We think the Galaxy Tab A7 confidently makes an argument for these smaller tablet products. At 8.7-inches, it’s still significantly more spacious than even the largest phones, but far more pocketable than devices 10-inches and up.
This particular model offers GSM cellular connectivity, which is a major selling point at this price. Its support for 4G LTE, coupled with the right data plan, can make the Tab A7 a potent mobile content consumption and web browsing device.
Low-end specifications will limit multi-tasking and applications such as 3D games, but for everything else, the CPU will go the distance—if perhaps a little slowly. Apart from that slight downside, the Tab A7 Lite LTE offers the same Samsung UI and general build quality we’ve come to expect, putting it above most of the tablets in this price range in that regard.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
If you need a smaller tablet that's easier to carry around, the Tab A7 Lite is a good choice. This model also allows the use for cellular data, so you can use it wherever you need to.
$152.00
Best Laptop Replacement: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Pros
- ✓ Its massive screen is perfect for multitasking
- ✓ The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is blazingly fast
- ✓ Dual front-facing webcams
- ✓ DeX mode feels like a laptop interface
Cons
- ✗ More expensive than the excellent M1 MacBook Air
- ✗ The keyboard and touchpad accessory is expensive
We’ve long held that the iPad Pro 11-inch or the 12.9-inch tablets are the best laptop-replacement devices for those that like and use Apple devices. However, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra 5G should have Apple sweating—the “Pro” tablet crown might be moving to a new head sooner rather than later.
The star of the show is that absolutely enormous 14.6-inch Super AMOLED screen. Given that the tablet comes with an S-Pen included in the price, the Ultra is a contender for the art tablet crown as well, were it not for the rather steep asking price.
For productivity use, the Tab S8 Ultra’s screen size makes the tablet significantly more comfortable to use for general multitasking. Samsung’s DeX software is also key here since it converts the touch-centric tablet into something similar to computer OSes such as Windows or macOS.
You can use virtually any keyboard and mouse combo with an Android tablet, but Samsung has a dedicated keyboard and touchpad cover to complete the laptop transformation—just be prepared for the $350 price tag.
If you’re happy with the total cost of ownership of this laptop-killing titan, then the S8 Ultra might be the only computer you need.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra 5G
This gargantuan tablet monster muscles in on laptop territory with top-class specifications and enough real estate for serious multitasking.
The Best Laptops of 2023 
Dell XPS 13
Lenovo Legion 7i
HP Envy 13
Lenovo - Yoga 9i 14 2.8K Touch 2-in-1 Laptop with Pen
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10
Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible Laptop
MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
Dell XPS 13 (With Ubuntu)
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