Article updated on October 16, 2024 at 12:33 PM PDT
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Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
- More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
Scott Stein Editor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Expertise VR and AR | Gaming | Metaverse technologies | Wearable tech | Tablets Credentials
- Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
When your phone screen is just too small but your laptop is just too bulky, tablets are just right. Binge-watching Rings of Power in bed, savoring some guilty pleasure crossover fanfiction award-winning literature, or playing Stardew Valley until both you and your character pass out at 2 a.m., nothing beats a top-quality tablet with a crisp screen, sweet speakers, and solid specs.
Read more: Best Laptops and Tablets to Give for the Holidays 2024
These days, your tablet can even replace your laptop -- in fact, the Surface Pro 11 and Lenovo Chromebook Duet are detachable laptops -- if you're willing to spend the money. Most of us don't need to go overboard like that, though, as the best tablets balance portable power with a practical price tag.
What's the best tablet?
The 10th-gen iPad is an affordable tablet that still has many of the latest features. The front camera is better positioned for video chat in landscape mode, and it (finally) charges with the same USB-C as your phone and laptop. Although Pencil-charging is awkward, it's still worth considering a step-up 11-inch iPad Air with its new M2 chip and support for the improved Pencil Pro at the right price. The 2024 Pro models, while lovely, are likely not worth it for most (if you have the budget and want an OLED HDR screen, though, go for it).
Not interested in an iPad? Our other top picks for the best tablets 2024 has to offer right now are below. All offer ways to get popular apps, but you'll want to check that your must-have apps are available on the device before buying (don't look for Fortnite on the iPad through the App Store, for instance). We included budget tablet and premium tablet options, as well as laptop-replacement devices at prices in between, including Android tablet and Apple iPad options. We even threw in tablet PC and Chromebook options. All of these products (or previous versions thereof) have been fully reviewed or anecdotally tested by CNET editors.
Read more: How We Test CNET Products and Services
For most people, the most affordable iPad is the best iPad. Apple's entry-level model, released in 2022, recently got a price drop that makes it the go-to recommendation over the aging (and discontinued) ninth-gen model. The larger display, USB-C port, better-positioned front-facing camera, and faster processor make it a great choice for most. The only thing that's a letdown is its lack of Pencil 2 support. The entry-level config has only 64GB of storage; we suggest the 256GB model, which is less likely to suddenly run out of storage space.
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The newest iPad Pro has a fantastic OLED display and M4 processor inside, but we're impressed with the value on the less-expensive iPad Air line. The M2 chip, plus support for the new Pencil Pro with its squeeze and rotational controls, makes this feel just like an iPad Pro in nearly every way except price. The only downside is that the still-good display lacks the extra vividness and faster screen refresh rates of the Pro line's OLED screens. There's also a 13-inch model Air for the first time, which considerably less expensive than the Pro 13. (The Magic Keyboard case and Apple Pencil Pro are sold separately.)
Google's versatile, dockable Pixel Tablet doubles as a home hub and a speaker dock-enabled assistant, and its multitasking features work great. You'll have to find your own stylus and keyboard options, but Google has otherwise served up a pretty great family iPad alternative for anyone in the Android ecosystem. A fast Google Tensor G2 processor, a good front camera for video chats and a crisp display, plus a clean Google Android software experience, make this one of our favorite Android options. Google's offering the tablet for $100 less without the dock now, but that dock is one of our favorite parts of the tablet.
Read our Google Pixel Tablet review
The OnePlus Pad boasts a great display, an excellent optional keyboard case, and most of the performance and features you'd expect from a premium Android tablet but at a sub-$500 price. The OnePlus Pad versus Google Pixel Tablet decision is a tough one (we prefer the Pixel Tablet overall), but the OnePlus Pad feels like a sleeker personal mini-laptop with its keyboard case and stylus, which we loved.
Read our OnePlus Pad review
Samsung's S9 series improves on previous models with IP68 water and dust resistance, a newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and AMOLED displays across the board in all sizes. This is essentially the Android equivalent to Apple's iPad Pro, available in three different sizes and prices. Our favorite is probably this Plus model, which has a big screen that's not too massive. Samsung's DeX interface gives it an edge for productivity if you're looking for a more laptop-like feel from the tablet. It's built around a beautiful 12.4-inch, 2,800x1,752-pixel Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother-looking visuals. Samsung also includes one of its great S Pens, so you're ready to start sketching and taking notes right out of the box. The tablet can also double as a wireless display, so you can extend your Windows laptop's screen space on the go.
First impressions of the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus
The iPad Mini got a big redesign a couple of years ago, and it's still a great pick for anyone who wants a small tablet. Its A15 processor is still capable, and this model supports Pencil 2 and a more bezel-free display, but it's tough to swallow the fact that this smaller 8.3-inch model has a relatively high price for its size. Some folks love this model as a smaller, lighter mobile device option that's well-sized as an upscale ebook reader.
Apple iPad Mini (2021) review
Amazon continues to make the best inexpensive tablets for media consumption. The Fire HD 8 is the middle of the lineup, hitting a sweet spot for price and performance. The 2022 model sports a thinner, lighter design, a faster processor and an hour more battery life (13 hours versus 12) than its predecessor. It's a good low-cost option for streaming video, reading ebooks and web browsing, but we still recommend waiting to pick it up when it's discounted, which Amazon regularly does. We also recommend spending an additional $20 for the Plus version, which adds 1GB of RAM, wireless charging and a 9-watt power adapter.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus (2022) review
The 10-inch Amazon Fire HD tablet is faster and better than the 7- or 8-inch Fire tablet, and it's still a pretty low $150 (or less). For the Amazon Fire HD 10, there are two storage options, 32 and 64GB. The Amazon Fire HD tablet also charges its battery via USB-C now. A Plus version of the tablet adds wireless charging, 4GB of RAM and a soft-touch finish.
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) review
Two items help make the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 our favorite 2-in-1 detachable tablet: Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Elite X processor and an excellent OLED display. The Arm-based CPU delivers competitive performance and far fewer compatibility issues for mainstream use than previous Windows-on-Arm efforts. And it helps the Surface Pro 11 deliver a long runtime. The 13-inch OLED display supplies a crisp, 2.8K resolution along with P3 calibration and real HDR capability. It's the best Surface Pro we’ve seen in a while, but you still have to pay extra for a keyboard and stylus.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is an awesome little 11-inch ChromeOS tablet with a detachable keyboard and touchpad. It's a good pick if you're looking for an affordable ultraportable device to get some work done on the go, sketch or jot down notes in class, or do simple stuff like email, web browsing, gaming, reading and streaming video.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review
Tablets are, effectively, computers. We benchmark tablets against common performance and graphics metrics and run battery life tests for video playback. But we also look at what tablets can do that make them personal or fun. Playing games, trying out art apps, having video chats, watching movies and exploring how well multitasking works all factor in. Benchmarks are only one small part of the review story.
CNET also looks at our deep collective history and experience with tablets and computers in general. Our editors have decades of knowledge across Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon ecosystems, and we look at the value and performance of tablets against what laptops and other PCs can provide too.
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Tablets are portable computers that have great usability while being less complicated than a traditional computer. The best tablet is the one that's versatile enough for all kinds of use cases from home, school or work. While finding the best tablet for you isn't hard, knowing where to start can be overwhelming, and that's where CNET's testing and reviews can help. We've picked out the best of the best, and these tablets can do it all, including checking email, managing finances, testing your art skills or casually browsing YouTube and watching videos. Best of all, with the upcoming Amazon Prime Big Deal Days and Black Friday sales, you can save hundreds more.
Price, in that regard, is a huge factor. Most people we know consider tablets a secondary computer purchase or as a device for kids. Value matters for tablets more than maybe any other product category for that reason. Some tablets are more premium, which may be worth it if you value a more future-proof device, better OLED displays or faster chips.
You can't discuss tablets without talking about Apple. The iPad Pro and Air models just got big hardware upgrades, with the expensive Pro introducing OLED displays and a new M4 chip for the first time, along with an improved Pencil Pro. But keep in mind that Apple devices have their own app ecosystem and lean on Apple services. iPads are more versatile than ever, but they're still not the same, app or OS-wise, as Macs.
While the iPad is the king of the segment, Android tablets have made a comeback over the last year or two. The Google Pixel Tablet and OnePlus Pad are excellent and affordable options that are good for family or home use (Pixel Tablet) or as a personal mini laptop (OnePlus Pad), and the slates in Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 series, while expensive, all have excellent AMOLED displays.
In the value segment, Amazon's Fire tablets are still the best tablet option for cheap and kid-friendly models. If you're looking for something good for productivity and entertainment, an affordable Chromebook blurs the line between a laptop and a tablet.
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For the most part, Apple's iPads differ in terms of price, display quality and chip performance. Higher-end models also work with different Apple Pencil Pro styluses. All iPads run iPadOS similarly, and they all are capable of multitasking. All current models have USB-C ports too. The entry-level iPad is our versatile top pick, but the Air and Pro models add M-series chips that can add more multitasking with connected monitors and work with a few pro-level Apple apps. The new Pro iPads add even faster M4 chips, step-up OLED displays with better brightness and contrast and refresh rates, and are a bit thinner and lighter. If you care about Apple's Pencil stylus, the Air and Pro work with a new Pencil Pro that adds rotational and squeeze gestures. However, they're not compatible with the older Pencil 2.
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Unlike phones, tablets can arrive at random times of the year. Apple releases iPads erratically, although entry-level models tend to come in the fall. Samsung usually has new tablets in August. But sales on tablets are ongoing. Holiday sales and Prime Day sales are always worth waiting for, but remember that many sales tend to spring up again and again.
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