We’ve reviewed the best tablets in 2026 – including iPad and Android picks for every budget

It’s rare that technology circles back to old-school tools, but here we are using styluses to jot down notes on tablets. Of course, today’s versions swap ink and paper for pixels. If you’re shopping for a new tablet for work or leisure, this buying guide has you covered.

Tablets aren’t just oversized phones anymore. They’ve grown into versatile tools that can slot into almost any part of your life. You might use one to sketch out a design, check your bank account, catch up on a book, or even replace your laptop for occasional work.

The market now covers just about every need. There are slim, travel-friendly models you can slip into a bag without thinking, as well as heavyweight performers that handle demanding apps and multitasking with ease.

In our roundup, we’ve included both ends of the spectrum, from premium options built for serious productivity to budget-friendly picks that are great for streaming, browsing, and casual use.

Why you can trust Stuff: Our team of experts rigorously test each product and provide honest, unbiased reviews to help you make informed decisions. For more details, read how we test and rate products.

Quick list: what’s the best tablet?

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The best tablets you can buy today:

1. Apple iPad Air (M4)

The iPad Air (M4) sits in the middle of Apple’s tablet lineup, powered by the cutting-edge M4 chip and available in both 11in and 13in sizes. The 13in model measures just 6.1mm thick and weighs just 35g more than the 11in Pro, striking a perfect balance between roominess and portability.

The Liquid Retina display is capped at 60Hz rather than ProMotion, but includes Apple’s True Tone for comfortable extended use. It supports both the Pencil Pro (with tilt, pressure, and haptic feedback) and the cheaper USB-C Pencil, plus the Magic Keyboard with a function row, priced at $269/£269.

Cameras consist of a 12MP ultrawide front camera with Centre Stage and a 12MP rear camera capable of 4K video.

Notably absent are Face ID and a 120Hz display, features reserved for the Pro.

Why we chose it

For anyone wanting an iPad that feels every bit as capable as the Pro without the overkill or the price tag, real-world testing backs it up as the smart middle-ground choice.

Read more: Apple iPad Air (M4)

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2. Apple iPad Pro (M5)

The iPad Pro M5 is Apple’s flagship tablet, built around the new M5 chip – the same silicon family found in the latest MacBook Pro. It comes in 11in and 13in sizes, both sharing an identical spec sheet, with capacities running from 256GB up to 2TB and optional 5G cellular via Apple’s own C1X modem.

The design carries over from last year’s M4 model: astonishingly thin at 5.1mm (13in) or 5.3mm (11in), and lighter than ever.

The tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR display remains the standout feature, hitting 1600 nits peak brightness, with a nano-texture glass option available for $100 / £100 extra.

It supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and works with either Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C). iPadOS 26 brings a genuine windowing system for multitasking, plus Apple’s divisive Liquid Glass interface.

Why we chose it

Simply put, nothing else comes close to matching it for raw power in tablet form. Geekbench benchmarks showed its single-core score beating even the M4 Max, a genuinely surprising result for a tablet chip, and iPadOS 26 finally delivers proper windowed multitasking after years of half-measures with Stage Manager.

The display is still the best in the business, and the nano-texture option noticeably cuts down on fingerprints and glare. It’s also ridiculously thin and light without feeling fragile.

The catch is price: fully specced models run past $3000 / £3000, and the Magic Keyboard alone costs upwards of $300 / £300. Cheaper iPads, the M4 Air especially, deliver much of the same everyday experience for far less. But for anyone who genuinely needs the best available tablet, and can stomach the cost, the iPad Pro M5 earns its five-star rating and a spot among the top picks.

• Read more: Apple iPad Pro review (M5) review

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3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is Samsung’s flagship Android tablet, built around a 14.6in AMOLED display capable of around 1600 nits peak brightness. Under the hood sits a Dimensity 9400+ chip paired with 12GB of RAM, supporting Samsung’s DeX mode for desktop-style multitasking.

The design remains largely unchanged from previous generations – a slab of metal and glass just 5.1mm thick, though it’s lighter in hand than its size suggests. It ships with a redesigned S Pen, now featuring an octagonal shape and magnetic attachment to the top edge.

Battery life is rated for extended everyday use, and it supports fast charging via a 45W adapter. A front camera notch sits within the display.

Software runs on Android, with Samsung layering in productivity features aimed at closing the gap with iPad-style creative workflows, though some professional-grade apps remain absent from the platform.

Why we chose it

We tested the Tab S11 Ultra for over a week, and it lived up to expectations. The display measured true to spec at around 1600 nits, proving genuinely readable outdoors and outstanding for HDR content – Netflix looked cinematic largely thanks to sheer screen size.

Performance testing included 4K video editing and running three apps simultaneously in DeX mode, both handled without issue, while Genshin Impact ran at max settings with near-flawless results.

Battery life covered two full workdays of mixed use, and a 45W charger topped it up in just over 90 minutes.

The redesigned S Pen’s magnetic attachment proved more secure during our daily commute testing.

The trade-offs are real, though: Android still lacks some pro-grade creative apps, and the front camera notch feels unnecessary. It’s the most capable Android tablet available, but a niche choice for most buyers.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review

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4. OnePlus Pad Lite

The OnePlus Pad Lite is a budget Android tablet built around an 11in 90Hz display and an all-metal body. It’s powered by the MediaTek Helio G100 chip, a modest processor suited to everyday tasks rather than demanding workloads.

A huge 9340mAh battery sits at its centre, and it ships running OxygenOS, OnePlus’s software skin, which includes split-screen multitasking and a dedicated Kids Mode.

Cameras are basic – 5MP front and rear – aimed at functionality over quality.

Sure, at 530g it’s on the chunkier side, and the LCD panel isn’t the brightest for outdoor use. Samsung backs it with four years of Android OS updates and six years of security patches, a notable commitment at this price point.

Why we chose it

In testing, we streamed two hours of Stranger Things on Netflix, played several rounds of Asphalt 9, and browsed the web without a single stutter – impressive smoothness for the price. The 9340mAh battery proved a genuine highlight: after a full weekend of YouTube, Spotify, light gaming, and emails, it still had charge to spare, and standby time comfortably stretched to a week.

Video calls came through clear, though indoor photos looked soft and noisy, as expected at this tier.

Heavier multitasking and 3D gaming did cause noticeable slowdown, but that’s within expectations for the Helio G100.

OxygenOS impressed us with clean, uncluttered multitasking, and Kids Mode worked well for safely handing the tablet to younger users. Combined with six years of promised security updates, it nails the fundamentals for anyone wanting a reliable family or everyday tablet.

• Read more: OnePlus Pad Lite review

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5. Apple iPad Mini (7th generation)

The revamped iPad Mini is styled like a shrunk-down iPad Air, weighing around 300g with a footprint smaller than A5 – easily pocketable in a jacket or satchel.

It features an 8.3in Liquid Retina display at 326ppi, the sharpest of any iPad, though it skips 120Hz ProMotion in favour of a standard refresh rate. Despite its compact size, it matches the iPad Air on key features: True Tone, Touch ID built into the power button, USB-C connectivity, and a 12MP front camera with Centre Stage for FaceTime framing.

It supports the second-gen Apple Pencil, making it capable for note-taking and PDF markup. The 14:9 aspect ratio means some apps display with slim black bars, but iPadOS is otherwise well-optimised for the smaller screen size.

Why we chose it

We carried the iPad Mini around for a week – on trains, planes, and café tables – and it never once felt awkward to hold or type on. In hand, it feels like a proper premium gadget rather than a cut-down compromise.

Watching The Bear on Disney+ showcased punchy colours and deep contrast, while reading comics and sketching felt natural with no lag or ghosting despite the lack of ProMotion.

The Centre Stage camera kept us neatly framed throughout testing on FaceTime calls. Battery testing returned almost 10 hours of mixed use – streaming, sketching, and everything in between – before needing a charge. F

or anyone wanting a capable, travel-friendly tablet without compromise, real-world use confirmed it’s a genuine pocket-sized alternative to the Air.

• Read more: Apple iPad Mini review

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6. Fire HD 10

The Amazon Fire HD 10 is the best Amazon Fire tablet around, featuring a 10.1-inch Full HD screen, paired with decent performance and long battery life.

It comes with built-in Alexa integration, allowing voice commands even when the screen is off, effectively functioning as a mini Echo Show with a display.

Speakers are punchy enough for media playback, though screen brightness is limited for outdoor use. Button placement is a minor design quirk, occasionally leading to accidental screen shut-offs during handling.

Why we chose it

While it won’t outshine premium models from Apple or Samsung, the Fire HD 10 holds its own for casual use, with a sharp display and solid speakers making it well-suited to media consumption. The Alexa integration proved genuinely useful, letting us issue voice commands without waking the screen.

It’s not perfect straight out of the box, especially missing the Google Play Store, but for the price, it delivers unbeatable value. For anyone after an affordable, casual-use tablet, it’s a strong contender in the budget space.

• Read more: Amazon Fire HD 10 review

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What to look for when buying the best tablet

When choosing a tablet, it helps to start by thinking about what you’ll actually use it for. If it’s mainly for casual stuff – browsing the web, streaming films, or a bit of gaming – you don’t need to go overboard. A solid mid-range model with a reliable processor, at least 4GB of RAM, and a Full HD screen should do the job nicely.

But if you’re planning to use it for work that’s more demanding, stuff like creating digital artwork, video editing, or juggling several heavy apps at once, you’ll want something more powerful. In that case, look for a tablet with a top-tier chip (such as Apple’s M2 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), at least 8GB of memory. Plenty of storage is important as well – 256GB or higher is a good baseline, and expandable storage is worth looking for.

The operating system is also a crucial factor, with iOS and Android being the primary options. The Apple iPad with iOS offers a smooth, integrated experience with a vast app ecosystem optimised for tablets. It’s perfect if you already have other Apple devices.

Android tablets, on the other hand, provide more flexibility and customisation, with a wide range of models to suit various budgets.

We’ve touched on it before, but the display quality really is a key feature for tablets. Consider the display size, resolution, brightness, and colour accuracy, especially if the tablet will be used for media consumption or creative work.

If you plan on using your tablet mainly for reading e-books, consider getting one of the best e-readers instead. These have matt, paper-like e-ink displays which are much easier on the eyes.

While a tablet’s battery life is important, it’s not quite as vital as a smartphone’s battery life. This is because a good tablet should last at least 8-10 hours on a single charge, but tablets are generally used at home or near a charging outlet (not out and about like phones).

If you’re looking for something a little more affordable, check out the best cheap tablets, and, if you’re only interested in Apple tech, then check out our guide to the best iPad.

Finally, you’ll also want to consider additional features such as stylus support, keyboard compatibility, and connectivity options (like USB-C, HDMI, or 5G capability), depending on how you plan to use your tablet.

Best tablets spec comparison table

Frequently asked questions

Recent updates

• 6th June 2026: Updated buying guide structure and removed outdated products.
• 22nd March 2026: Updated FAQ structure.
• 21st January 2025: Updated with 2026.
• 20th November 2025: Added information about tablet storage,
• 19th September 2025: We added the OnePlus Pad Lite as our best cheap tablet model.
• 9th October 2025: We replaced the iPad Air M2 with the newer iPad Air M3 as the best tablet overall.