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 Top 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 2023 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
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The top cheap tablets we've tested are ideal for reading books, watching videos, browsing the web, and more.
Whether 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.
From rugged, worry-free slates for the kids to AI-powered digital notebooks for yourself, Amazon's Big Spring Sale deals have arrived. Save big on tablets from Apple, Samsung, TCL, and more.
From rugged, worry-free slates for the kids to AI-powered digital notebooks for yourself, Amazon's Big Spring Sale deals have arrived. Save big on tablets from Apple, Samsung, TCL, and more.
From rugged, worry-free slates for the kids to AI-powered digital notebooks for yourself, Amazon's Big Spring Sale deals have arrived. Save big on tablets from Apple, Samsung, TCL, and more.
From rugged, worry-free slates for the kids to AI-powered digital notebooks for yourself, Amazon's early Big Spring Sale deals have arrived. Save big on tablets from Apple, Samsung, TCL, and more.
