Our tested picks for top tablets will help you choose the best one for your needs.Tablets have come a long way since the first iPad was released in 2010. Once a device that was designed simply for consuming content and playing games (anyone remember the days of Fruit Ninja?), has, for many, become a full-fledged computer replacement, allowing them to get real work done. That said, a good tablet should have a long battery life, a respectable selection of apps and services, and more functionality than just a screen to watch YouTube videos. ZDNET has tested tons of top tablets on the market, and asked experts for their favorite options. Our pick for the best tablet overall is the Apple iPad (10th generation), thanks to its versatility and lightweight form.
Read on to find the best tablet for your needs. (You can also check out our picks for the best cheap tablets and the best kids’ tablets.) The best tablets of 2023Apple iPad (10th generation)Best tablet overallApple iPad specs: Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone | Processor:
A14 Bionic chip with 16-core Neural Engine | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Silver, Pink, Blue, Yellow | Cameras : 12MP f/1.8 wide, 12MP Landscape f/2.4 front | Weight: 1.05 pounds | Dimensions: 9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches | Connections: USB-C, Smart Connector | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of video playback with USB -C chargingApple’s tried-and-true tablet, the base model iPad, is arguably the best value out of Apple’s tablet lineup — especially thanks to its versatility and compatibility. “There’s an endless array of accessories, there’s a lot of iPad-specific software, and you can use it for watching content, for browsing the internet, for games, for education, etc.,” said Avi Greengart, a consumer tech analyst at Techsponential. “For productivity, you can add a keyboard or pencil to it. It’s also powerful enough for light computing tasks that
consumers think of when they’re looking for a tablet.” When it comes to features, you essentially get the same suite as the more expensive iPad Pro and iPad Air models, but in a more lightweight form factor and a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina, True Tone display. Additionally, this model breaks out of iPad’s traditional space gray and silver color palette, adding pink, blue, and yellow in addition to sleek silver. In his hands-on testing, June Wan determined that if you’re shopping on a budget, last year’s iPad should “make the most sense,”
especially given the A14 Bionic processor, USB-C support, 5G support for on-the- go tasks, and a new 12MP ultra-wide camera. There’s also a Magic Keyboard Folio made specifically for this iPad. It includes an adjustable kickstand with a 14-key function row for shortcuts. A callout to note, however, is that this iPad doesn’t support the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, which means you’ll have to use a dongle in order to use it. Amazon Fire Max 11Best Amazon TabletAmazon Fire Max 11 specs: Display: 11-inch, 2000 x 1200, 410 nits brightness, 213 ppi | Processor: MediaTek MT8188J, 2.2Ghz Octacore processor | Storage: 64GB or 128GB | Memory: 4GB | Colors: Gray | Cameras: 8MP rear and 8MP front-facing camera | Weight: 490 grams |
Dimensions: 259.1 x 163.7 x 7.50 millimeters | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port | Battery life: 14 hoursThe Fire Max 11 is Amazon’s newest and best tablet yet. It still runs Fire OS, which means you’ll lose access to any of Google’s apps and services. However, Amazon’s own App Store has many of the same apps that regular Android devices have access to — including Netflix,
Facebook, and Spotify.With a starting price of $229, the Fire Max 11 brings an 11-inch display, 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage with support for 1TB of microSD card storage. If you’re looking for a tablet for work and play, the Fire Max 11 Productivity Bundle costs $329, but comes with a keyboard with touchpad, case and a stylus.It’s possible to get work done on the Fire Max 11, within limits. You can’t get apps like Slack via Amazon’s Appstore, and the Silk browser is hit or miss. That said, if you’re someone who just wants a high- quality tablet that’s affordably priced and can moonlight as a mediocre productivity tool, then the Fire Max 11 is for you. Samsung Galaxy
Tab S9 UltraBest Samsung TabletSamsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra specs: Display: 14.6-inch, 120Hz refresh rate, Super AMOLED 2,960×1,848 display | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, microSD up to 1TB | Memory: 8GB, 12GB, 16GB | Colors: Graphite | Cameras: 13MP and 6MP rear. 12MP and 12MP ultra-wide front camera | Weight: 1.6lb | Dimensions:
12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 inches | Connections: USB-C | Battery: 11,200mAhIf you’re looking for an Android tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab s8 Ultra is one of the best Android tablets. The Tab S8 Ultra features a 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display, runs on the Android 12 operating system, and Samsung’s S Pen stylus is included in the box. When ordering your Tab S8 Ultra, you can equip it with 512GB of storage and 16GB of memory for $1,399, however, it’s likely overkill.The base model comes with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage, and a microSD card for adding up to an extra 1TB of storage to the tablet, the combination of which should be enough for
most. ZDNET’s Matthew Miller reviewed the Galaxy Tab S8 and said, if you can get over the size of the tablet, people who sketch or draw will enjoy the S Pen and the large display. He also described the tablet as a “nice demonstration of Samsung’s technical innovation.”Dan Gookin, an author of technology books, said that Samsung’s lineup of tablets is the best option for Android users who want good hardware in a tablet: “I believe Samsung is the only major player left for the Android tablet market, which makes them a good choice if you want to stay on Planet Android,” he said. One thing to note: With an Android tablet of this size, you’re most likely looking at it as a laptop replacement.
That means you’ll want to pick up the $349 Book Cover Keyboard. Once connected, you’ll be able to use Samsung DeX on the S8 Ultra, effectively turning the tablet into an Android-powered 2-in-1 device with plenty of space for multitasking and using more than one app at a time.
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