Android tablets might not have the same level of recognition as iPads, but that doesn't mean there aren't some gems. The software for Android tablets isn't always optimized for the bigger screen, and the best iPad games may have more appeal on Apple's powerful hardware. But, a few Android tablets still manage to get things right.
Both Amazon and Samsung have shown ongoing interest in making solid Android tablets. Amazon sticks to affordability, giving you a bigger screen to enjoy content on without having to pay what amounts to the price of a second smartphone. Samsung's tablets deliver on premiums, offering extra features like active stylus support and higher-performance internals that can let the tablet handle some light work tasks. Some 2-in-1 Chromebooks even serve as capable Android tablets thanks to their inclusion of the Google Play app store.
With many Android tablet options, it can reasonably be hard to choose one. That's why we've rounded up quality picks, so you'll be able to find a tablet on a variety of budgets knowing it's a good value.
TL;DR – These are the Best Android Tablets
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
- Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
- Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
- Asus Chromebook CM3
- Microsoft Surface Duo 2
- Lenovo Tab P12 Pro
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Best Android Tablet
When it comes to Android, no one makes a better tablet than Samsung and the Galaxy Tab S8 is another shining example of of why. This device comes powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset that zooms through tasks and games alike. It comes fitted with 8GB of RAM to keep it snappy even when you're multitasking on several apps. Packing in an 8,000 mAh battery that provides about 12 hours of juice means it’ll be perfect for long travel days or working outside the office. And that’s just what’s on the inside.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8’s LCD display is also a big perk, as it features a sharp 2,560 x 1,600 resolution touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. With the S Pen, you can get productive marking-up documents or get creative drawing digital works of art with fine pressure sensitivity and virtually no lag. Plus, the cameras have even gotten a slight upgrade, so they're pretty decent at least by tablet standards. And it all comes in slim, lightweight chassis weighing just over one pound, making it perfect to take with you anywhere.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
Best Budget Android Tablet
Samsung offers a huge range of Android tablets coming in at different price points. One of the more affordable options in their lineup is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE. This tablet may have slightly less power than the Galaxy Tab S7, but it still has all the features you could possibly want in a tablet to get work done from anywhere. And, most importantly, this tablet has staying power thanks to Samsung's great software update policy. Plus, it already comes with the latest OS, Android 11.
With the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE, you get a bright 12.4” LCD screen with 60Hz refresh rate. This isn’t the best if you’re going to be doing huge amounts of gaming on the device, but it should suffice for just about everything else. And, with an included S pen, it's perfect if you plan on using it for taking notes and sketching. Inside, there is a Qualcomm SM7225 Octa-core processor and solid memory, so this device should be able to chug along even with multiple apps open. Plus, the battery should last you an entire workday.
3. Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
Best Ultra Cheap Android Tablet
The Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 brings a lot to like at an affordable price just a bit over $300. You won’t be settling for some dated quad-core processor with a low-res, dim TFT display and an old operating system. The Yoga Tab 11 runs Android 11 on a MediaTek Helio G90T octa-core processor with 4GB of RAM, which should see it run fairly smoothly in most use cases.
Lenovo has also delivered on a quality media experience with a high-resolution 11-inch display. There’s a colorful IPS panel on deck here that can reach up to 400 nits for easy visibility, and it even supports Dolby Vision HDR. Audio also gets a boost from quad speakers around the tablet, not only making it louder but also easier to hear if you accidentally cover up a speaker or two with your hands. The tablet includes a kickstand to hold it up, so it can double as a smart speaker with an integrated display, and the DSP for far-field voice recognition will help it serve that role even more.
4. Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
Best Android Tablet for Families
Amazon makes some of the most compelling budget tablets around, and the Fire HD 10 Plus takes what was already a winner and makes it even better. When you consider the price, this new model offers up a surprisingly sharp and bright 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display. That should be perfect for running apps, playing games, and streaming your favorite content. Unfortunately, the Fire lineup is on its own special fork of Android, which limits you to the Amazon App Store, but you'll still find many popular apps, games, and streaming services available.
The Fire HD 10 Plus is as affordable as it is portable, weighing in at slightly over a pound and boasting a 12-hour battery life. It should be great for entertaining your kids during a long road trip or tossing in your bag to get some work done on the go. Also, the new model will prove a bit faster than its predecessor, as it has increased the RAM, though it still offers the same 2.0GHz quad-core processor. This certainly isn’t the most powerful tablet out there, but it's highly capable and perfect for families looking to add an additional screen or two to their household.
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
Best Android Tablet for Streaming
Whether you plan on chilling on your couch to stream the latest series or need a screen for watching in-flight entertainment, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is the perfect device to do it on. This tablet offers a 10.5-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200. It may not be the most powerful tablet on the market, but it comes at such an affordable price point with still plenty of oomph to get streaming or even some light gaming done on it.
With a solid display and low price, the Galaxy Tab A8 still has more to offer. It includes a decent 7,040 mAh that should be able to last you through a good portion of the day, and there is a fast-charging USB-C port in case you need to quickly juice up. If you’re out in public and need more private listening, you'll be able to use either Bluetooth or 3.5mm wired headphones. Although the base model only comes with 32GB of storage, that’s still plenty of space to download a few movies for your trip, and there’s always to option to upgrade to 128GB or add a microSD card.
6. Asus Chromebook CM3
Best Chromebook Tablet for Android Apps
If you plan to use a lot of Android apps on your Chromebook, you’ll want a tablet-style model, and the Asus Chromebook CM3 fits the bill wonderfully. This 2-in-1 Chromebook tablet has a stylish design with a simple tablet section made with an aluminum unibody. It also includes a stain-repellent fabric cover that offers up protection and a kickstand to hold the tablet up. Asus even includes a keyboard cover with the Chromebook CM3, so you’re not paying extra just to get basic functionality.
The Asus Chromebook CM3 is very lightweight, making it easy to hold up and use like a traditional tablet while using Android apps. And, it supports a USI stylus, allowing you to be a bit more precise with your inputs. In fact, it has a built-in stylus that slots into the tablet’s chassis and can even fast charge inside, getting 45 minutes of battery life after just 15 seconds of charging. To top it off, the Chromebook CM3 offers a bright and sharp 10.5-inch display.
7. Microsoft Surface Duo 2
Best Dual Screen Android Tablet
Microsoft and Android collide with the Surface Duo 2. This foldable phone is a stunner, folding into a compact footprint to then unfold and reveal a pair of 5.8-inch displays that add up to 8.3 inches of total screen size. It makes for effective split-screen multitasking on a device that’s about as easy to carry with you as a phone is.
The displays are nice and sharp, plus they use bright OLED panels with a 90Hz refresh rate, giving you smooth visuals and easy visibility — something you’ll likely miss out on with most 8-inch Android tablets. The Surface Duo 2 comes running on the powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset for speedy performance in everyday tasks and even quite a bit of oomph for gaming. And, unlike a typical tablet, the Surface Duo 2 comes with its own modem and can connect to 5G networks — it’s actually a phone after all.
8. Lenovo Tab P12 Pro
Best OLED Android Tablet
When it comes to Android tablets, few companies are doing as impressive things as Samsung. But every now and then, Lenovo comes out of left field with a device that reminds us how good it is at hardware. That's just the case with the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro. It’s relatively power-packed with a Snapdragon 870 chipset, which offers a great balance of performance that won’t overheat or cause major battery issues. Its processors eight cores work in tandem with 6GB of memory, allowing the device to quickly cruise through apps and games.
The real star of the show, however, is the Tab P12 Pro’s display. It features a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution stretching across 12.6 inches. The bright AMOLED panel is ready to give you a phenomenal viewing experience with rich colors and extreme contrast, aided along by support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Lenovo makes it easier to get creative or mark-up documents, too, thanks to bundling in the Lenovo Precision Pen 3. Plus, it does all this while remaining compact and portable with a long-lasting battery, so it’s the perfect companion for on-the-go gaming or streaming.
Kevin Lee is IGN's SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
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