The best Android tablets you can buy right now

Those looking for a high-end Android tablet won’t be disappointed with the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, the middle child of the 2023 range. At 12.4in, it’s certainly not small, but significantly more manageable than the 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra.

But it’s still wafer thin at just 5.7mm and features full IP68 dust and waterproofing – a rare find in the tablet world.  

There are plenty of premium specs elsewhere, including an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and no less than 12GB of RAM. Furthermore, there’s a high-quality OLED screen with dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. It means the Tab S9 Plus is more high-end than some laptops.

Samsung also includes the S Pen stylus and there’s decent sound by AKG, long software support and lots more to like. Price is the only real thing that counts against it.

If you’re on a strict budget, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9. It starts at just £169 in the UK (currently unavailable in the US), yet offers everything most people are looking for in a cheap tablet.

That includes the fundamentals of a great tablet: solid performance, a decent 8.7-inch display and impressive battery life. You also get Samsung’s slick One UI software, all within a compact yet premium design.

However, it’s not all great news. Charging is annoyingly slow and the cameras are very basic, while scrolling pages and menus can leave a blurry ‘ghosting’ effect.

But none of those should be dealbreakers, especially at this price. The Tab A9 is simply superb value for money – if you need a device for the basics, you won’t regret buying one.

If you’re looking for something bigger (and slightly more expensive), consider the 11-inch Galaxy Tab A9+.

The original OnePlus Pad was an excellent tablet, but its successor is even better.

Moving to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers a nice performance boost, and means it’s almost as good as the best Android phones around. Alongside a high-quality 144Hz display and premium design that closely resembles flagship tablets and OnePlus is on to a winner.

Other highlights include strong battery life and impressive audio from no fewer than six speakers. The software feels generally optimised for the big screen, and OnePlus is offering support for four years.

Inevitable compromises come in the form of disappointing cameras, but that’s hardly a priority for most tablet users.

Overall, the OnePlus Pad 2 represents excellent value for money, and offers everything most people are looking for in an Android tablet.

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If your budget is a little higher but you still don’t want to pay premium prices, look no further than the Xiaomi Pad 6.

Despite only costing £369, it looks and performs like a much more expensive tablet. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 was a flagship chipset not long ago, and it shows – expect great performance, including while gaming.

A silky-smooth 144Hz refresh rate makes the 11-inch LCD display feel much more premium, while quad speakers deliver an immersive audio experience. Build quality is also good, and Xiaomi’s version of MIUI for tablets is much more intuitive than the smartphone version.

Battery life is the big compromise, and it’s weird to see no fingerprint sensor. It’s also not clear how long the Pad 6 will continue receiving updates for, with no specific commitment from Xiaomi.

But those are small negatives for an otherwise excellent tablet.

The Tab S9 Ultra represents the absolute pinnacle of Android tablets. It’s too big (14.6in display) and expensive (from £1,199/$1,199) for most people to consider, and even with the keyboard cover it probably won’t replace your laptop.

But if money and size are no objects, it’s a stunning device. The 1848×2960 OLED screen is a joy to use, especially with a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. Performance from an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is almost as good as it gets, and an IP68 rating ensures adequate protection from water and dust.

The included S Pen is also very good, though it doesn’t dock into the tablet like on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. But that’s hardly surprising, given it’s just 234g and 8.9mm thick.

Aside from price, the lack of Android apps designed for such a big screen remains its biggest limitations. And there’s no 5G support in the US, though it is available in the UK.

Google’s latest Android tablet is a bit of an odd one in various ways, so it might either be perfect for you or not really make much sense. 

The tablet itself is very good, albeit not outstanding in any particular way, though you can now buy it on its own. The device can be bough with the Charging Speaker Dock for £100/$100 extra, which turns it into a smart display that’s similar to the Nest Hub Max. 

However, it runs full Android and magnets mean you can take it on and off the stand easily, plus it’s the first ever tablet with Chromecast built in. The smart home software isn’t as good as the Nest Hubs and additional docking stations are expensive but it’s an attractive hybrid option if that’s what you’re looking for.

The Pad 6S Pro 12.4 is a more premium tablet than we’ve come to expect from Xiaomi, but it doesn’t disappoint.

Highlights include strong performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, an excellent 144Hz display (12.4 inches, in case the name didn’t give it away) and solid battery life. You also get a slick, premium design and punchy audio via six speakers.

Xiaomi’s own stylus is also fun to use, though it’s sold separately and the tablet doesn’t work with third-party options. And only two years of OS updates and three years of security updates is a little disappointing.

However, it feels like a high-end tablet yet doesn’t have the price tag to match, making the Pad 6S Pro 12.4 a real contender.

For less than £300, the Honor Pad 9 is superb value for money. If you can live with its compromises – namely a disappointing combination of sub-par battery life and charging – it could be the Android tablet for you.

Because there’s a lot to like here. Despite only having a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, performance is a key strength, particularly coming to the fore while gaming. That’s where you’ll also make use of the excellent 12.1-inch display, which combines a high resolution with 120Hz refresh rate.

Elsewhere, quad speakers deliver punchy audio, while the cameras are fine for video calls or the occasional photo. Honor’s take on Android leaves something to be desired though, especially with no specific commitment to software updates.

The Honor Pad 9 has a few key weaknesses, but lots of major strengths too.

If your top priority is watching movies and TV shows, look no further than the Lenovo Tab Plus. It has an audiovisual experience that’s up there with the very best, despite starting at under £300.

That starts with the 11.5-inch, 90Hz LCD display, which offers excellent clarity and accurate colours. An incredible eight JBL-tuned speakers offer immersive sound, while a built-in kickstand allows you to easily watch hands-free.

Elsewhere, the excellent battery life means you’ll be able to watch for many hours without needing to reach for the charger.

However, while performance is fine for loading up videos, it becomes more of an issue for productivity tasks and gaming. Lenovo is also only supporting the device with two years of OS updates, despite four years of security patches.

Overall, the Lenovo Tab Plus is a very good tablet, but only worth buying if you plan on watching lots of movies or TV shows.

Samsung has long been the go-to company for premium Android tablets, but the Tab P12 Pro is a worthy alternative.

The 12.6-inch display is its main selling point, as an attractive OLED with 120Hz refresh rate. The included stylus is one of the best around, and charges while magnetically attached to the side of the tablet. With good speakers and some nice Lenovo-specific tweaks to Android, it’s a great choice for media consumption.

However, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 delivers only middling performance, while battery life could be better for the price. The Tab P12 Pro is certainly a good tablet, but it’s not quite best in class.

If you’re looking for something more affordable, consider the regular Tab P12 instead.