The best Android tablets, reviewed and ranked by our experts

OnePlus hit the ground running when it launched the original OnePlus Pad several years back, showing that it had what it takes to make a great Android tablet that could compete with established players like Samsung. Flash forward to the present day and the OnePlus Pad 3 is easily one of the best Android tablets money can buy.

There are several reasons why this tablet is so beloved but at the heart of it, it’s OnePlus’ phenomenal multitasking software that makes the Pad 3 such a great device for productivity. Known as ‘Open Canvas’, this bit of tech allows you to have up to three apps open at a time on the screen, although you can add even more windowed apps such as WhatsApp or Disney+.

Inside is the super-powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which never buckled under any of the multitasking stress that we placed on it. What ties it all together, though, is the gorgeous 13.2-inch LCD panel which isn’t just bright in everyday use, it’s also suited to give every app plenty of space thanks to a 7:5 aspect ratio.

The battery life is also stellar, with the 12,140mAh cell able to run for a full day without issue (we got through seven hours of work and still had 53% left in the tank). It’s a shame then that OnePlus is only bestowing the tablet with three years of software updates, but it’s a small blemish on what is otherwise an outstanding package overall.

Who should buy the OnePlus Pad 3?

Productivity users who need a powerful tablet for multitasking.

OnePlus Pad 3: Further considerations

Only three years of software updates pale in comparison to what Samsung provides.

Xiaomi’s affordable Android tablet has been excellent for a long time and the Pad 7 is another smash hit. 

In so many ways, it looks, feel and performs like a flagship tablet yet with a distinctly mid-range price, which you might find even lower if you buy from the official store where you are likely to get freebies and discounts on accessories. 

Those accessories are part of what make the Pad 7 an attractive and versatile tablet. The Focus Pen and two different keyboard cases mean it can handle anything from emails to writing a novel and creative tasks, too. 

Even if you shun those and just use it as a tablet on its own, Xiaomi has got just about everything right here. Performance is speedy and the display is one of the best LCD panels you’ll find at this price, balancing real-estate without the device being too big while including a 144Hz refresh rate. 

There are downsides but only minor such as the lack of a fingerprint scanner and mediocre AI (Google Gemini aside). You can also find longer software support elsewhere but these things don’t stop the Pad 7 being the best value Android tablet you can buy. 

Who should buy the Xiaomi Pad 7?

Anyone looking for the best value Android tablet you can buy for under £300/$300 after a discount.

Xiaomi Pad 7: Further considerations

Xiaomi’s approach to AI needs a fair bit of work.

Read our full
Xiaomi Pad 7 review

When it comes to Android tablets that can truly go head-to-head with Apple’s iPad Pro, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is really your only option. On pure specs alone, the S11 Ultra destroys the competition in the Android space, but the reason why it doesn’t rank higher than the OnePlus Pad 3 is that you have to part with a small fortune for the privilege of owning one.

With a starting price of £1,199/$1,199, the Tab S11 Ultra is a serious investment that should only be considered if you’re going to make use of all of its features. For instance, with the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset inside, the tablet has all the grunt you’d need to turn it into a substantial productivity device for editing videos, typing up documents and more.

The 14.6-inch AMOLED display feels almost otherworldly for a tablet and really needs to be seen to be believed, but it paves the way for an unparalleled viewing experience, one that might be preferable to some TVs when you want to catch up on your favourite shows and movies. All that space also makes it easy to multitask with various apps, giving them the room required to spread out.

It’s all wonderfully high-end, but the pricing (as well as the size of it) ends up working against the S11 Ultra. The fact that you can get a new MacBook Air for less will probably give you a moment of pause before deciding to commit, but if you do then one thing is for certain – you won’t be enduring any sense of FOMO with the Tab S11 Ultra in hand.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra?

Tablet enthusiasts who use their device for work and entertainment alike.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra: Further considerations

The OnePlus Pad 3 is just as competent for productivity and a great deal cheaper.

At £399.99, the Honor Pad V9 is a bit more expensive than the entry-level iPad A16, but it’s a great deal cheaper than the iPad Air, so if you’re someone who doesn’t want to spend too much but would ideally like a much better display than what Apple’s cheapest tablet can provide, then this V9 is a great option to consider.

Packing an 11.5-inch display, everything from Google Docs to Netflix looks great on the Honor Pad V9. There’s a high 2800×1840 resolution that helps to keep everything looking crisp, but it’s the 144Hz that’s a surprising addition that you don’t typically see at this end of the market, and it only serves to make the tablet an even better buy for gamers.

Powering the show is the Mediatek Dimensity 8350 Elite which is more than capable of getting through a session of Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile, and the peak brightness of 500 helped to elevate the colours of these titles. There’s an ample helping of 256GB internal storage too, so you’ll have plenty of room for all your favourite apps.

Strangely enough, you can’t expand the storage beyond that 256GB amount, so if you do want more than that for storing films and TV shows offline, then you’ll need to look elsewhere. The cameras are also a letdown, although if you’re the type of person who rarely ever uses the included camera on a tablet then this won’t be a problem for you.

Who should buy the Honor Pad V9?

Gamers who want a better display than the entry-level iPad but at a reasonable price.

Honor Pad V9: Further considerations

There are no additional storage options beyond the default 256GB model.

With a price tag of only £169, the Redmi Pad 2 is the perfect example of the value you can get at the sub-£200 level of Android tablets, with this crucially being an area that Apple is just unable to compete in unless you pick up a fairly outdated iPad second-hand. In fact, there’s enough here to even lure some folks away from Samsung’s similarly affordable A-series tablets.

Because this is a cheaper device, the expectation is that you’ll want to buy it to enjoy entertainment on a larger display than your smartphone, and in this area, the Redmi Pad 2 knocks it out of the park. The large 11-inch LCD screen is stunning to look at, with a peak brightness of 600 that really helps to elevate colours in everything from web pages to social media.

The 90Hz refresh rate is a welcome addition as it just makes everything feel that bit smoother in operation, and certainly makes the 60Hz panel on the iPad A16 feel more dated than ever. That 90Hz rate is also appreciated when it comes to a spot of light gaming, as the experience just feels more immersive.

While the reasonably large 9000mAh battery is perfect for getting through a day of use (we picked up a total of 10 hours and two minutes via PCMark), it does take a while to charge it back up, with the speed being capped at 18W. Still, for what you get with this tablet, having to occasionally deal with slow charging is a fair trade-off for everything that you get for the price.

Who should buy the Redmi Pad 2?

Bargain hunters who need a solid yet affordable tablet for entertainment.

Redmi Pad 2: Further considerations

You’ll want to pay a bit more to enjoy full 3D games with solid performance.

Given just how similar they are, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 isn’t an instant upgrade for those who currently own the Tab A9, but if you’re looking to buy your first budget tablet and you would like to have one with a bright future ahead of it, Samsung’s offering is the undeniable go-to pick.

The big feature working in the device’s favour is the promise of seven years of software updates from the time of launch, so you can enjoy a bit of web browsing and light entertainment on this thing for quite some time to come, content in knowing that it’ll receive whatever the next version of One UI has in store.

It’s not a complete retread over what came before, however, as there are two quality of life updates in the form of a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother everyday use, alongside a beefier 5Mp camera for when you want to take a quick video call with family or friends. These features aren’t groundbreaking, but they do offer something to point to for anyone weighing up whether to buy the Tab A11 or the A9.

With a 5100mAh battery inside, the Galaxy Tab A11 has the capacity to keep going all day. In our PCMark battery test, the tablet ran for 12 hours and 59 minutes, which is more than enough for most people. The downside is that with only 15W wired charging available, it can take an age to get the battery back up to 100%.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11?

Budget buyers who want a long-lasting tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A11: Further considerations

The Galaxy Tab A9 isn’t all that different and can be found for less.

Just like with its smartphones, Honor has become a force to be reckoned with in the tablet space, and its latest top-of-the-line offering – the MagicPad 3 – keeps that momentum going with a tablet that effortlessly combines value with features. If the OnePlus Pad 3 just isn’t to your liking, then the MagicPad 3 is the next best thing.

Thanks to the inclusion of the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the MagicPad 3 performs very well as a productivity tablet. There’s also 16GB RAM here, meaning we encountered no issues with having multiple apps open at the same time, which can be a big help for researching while writing up documents. Having 512GB storage as standard is a nice touch, too.

The aforementioned chipset even paves the way for a spot of high-end gaming once all your work is done. We booted up Call of Duty Mobile for a few rounds and found no issues whatsoever when it came to performance, and it’s made all the better thanks to the large 13.3-inch display that boasts a high-end 165Hz refresh rate.

As with most Honor products, it’s the use of MagicOS (the company’s Android overlay) that stops the MagicPad 3 from reaching greater heights, and it’s exactly why, in our estimation, the OnePlus Pad 3 is able to edge it out as the better option overall. Still, there’s plenty to like here, and with a massive 12,450mAh battery, you can rest assured that the MagicPad 3 will last all day and then some.

Who should buy the Honor MagicPad 3?

Those who value performance and battery life, but at a reasonable price.

Honor MagicPad 3: Further considerations

The OnePlus Pad 3 wins out when it comes to software.

After a year’s absence, the regular Galaxy Tab flagship returned in 2025.

To the surprise of very few people, it’s a very good 11-inch tablet. The AMOLED display is a real highlight, especially when combined with the quad speaker setup for a stunning movie-watching experience.

The Tab S11 is equally adept at note-taking and digital art, with the bundled S Pen stylus coming into its own. And the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset ensures there’s plenty of performance to keep things running smoothly.

With solid battery life, the best software you’ll find on any Android tablet (One UI 8) and seven years of updates, the Tab S11 has plenty going for it.

However, it’s also relatively expensive for what you’re getting, and not all of the specs are as premium as the price might suggest.

It’s still an excellent tablet, albeit not a particularly exciting one within the context of its predecessors.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11?

Anyone looking for a strong all-round tablet with a great display and top-tier speakers.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: Further considerations

Look elsewhere if you want a bigger screen, a more modern design or great value for money.

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 bought 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.

In January 2026, Google announced that it would be extending its software support for the Pixel Tablet until June 2028, far exceeding the initial three-year promise which would have seen support end this year.

Who should buy the Google Pixel Tablet?

Anyone who wants a tablet that turns into a smart display when docked.

Google Pixel Tablet: Further considerations

There are better options if you don’t make use of the dock.

In only a relatively short period of time, Redmagic has become one of the go-to brands in the world of mobile gaming, and the company’s prowess in the smartphone has thankfully carried over in the outstanding Redmagic Nova gaming tablet. Without going overboard on your budget, the Nova is easily the best gaming tablet that can be found for less than £500/$500.

The main reason why the tablet is so capable for gaming is the powerful 3.2GHz Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version chipset that can be found under the hood. This suped-up version of Snapdragon’s CPU was able to destroy similar tablets like the Honor MagicPad 2 and the OnePlus Pad 2 in our testing, ensuring that even high-end titles like Genshin Impact can run smoothly even during more chaotic moments of gameplay.

The large 10.9-inch IPS display is ideal – it’s big and bright enough to offer an immersive visual experience that draws you into each digital world, but not so big as to make holding the tablet feel uncomfortable over longer periods of time. There’s even a 144Hz refresh rate, which really comes in handy for fast-paced racing titles that benefit from the added speed.

It is a shame that the Nova only comes with two years of software updates, although this is unfortunately a regular theme with most of Redmagic’s devices. Still, given that it’ll only set you back £439/$499 and it provides a ton of top-shelf specs in return, it’s a decent trade-off that very few other tablets can match.

Who should buy the Redmagic Nova?

Mobile gamers who want a larger screen to enjoy triple-A titles.

Redmagic Nova: Further considerations

The lack of long-term software support means that Redmagic falls behind the likes of Samsung by quite a wide margin.