The best Android tablets in 2024: the 7 best ones you can buy

Tablets may not be the hot new thing in 2024, but they're still excellent machines for streaming movies, playing games, or getting work done on the go. And while it seems like the best iPads dominate most of the tablet market, there are still plenty of excellent Android tablet options to consider if you don't want to be locked in Apple's walled garden.

Whether you want an ultra-premium and superpowerful option, or something more affordable and compact, the Android tablet market has something for everyone. No matter your budget or spec preferences, here are the best Android tablets you can buy in 2024.

Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

OnePlus Pad 2

The best Android tablet overall

Why should you buy this?: If you want a tablet that runs Android and provides a great value while also being quite powerful and efficient, this is the one to get.

Who's it for?: Anyone who wants some decent power in a compact Android tablet for a fair price.

Why we picked the OnePlus Pad 2:

The OnePlus Pad 2 is everything you could ever want in an Android tablet, with some holdovers from Apple's iPad devices. It has a 12.1-inch display with a sky high refresh rate of 144Hz and a 3000 x 2120 pixel resolution — all of which make for a fantastic display even by Android's standards. Despite the lack of premium glass protection, the display still holds up beautifully thanks to the performance provided by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip paired with 256GB onboard storage. If you have multiple apps running in the background while you're working, gaming, editing content, watching movies, or drawing with the Stylo Pen, you won't experience any stuttering or buffering. All we ask is you watch out for the battery life, as it can vary from day to day, depending on how much you have on its plate.

The rounded edges make the OnePlus Pad 2 easy to hold, and the texture of the faux leather finish on the OnePlus Smart Keyboard provides a smooth typing experience, even for people with sensory differences. The most interesting thing about the keyboard is you can either attach it to the tablet or use it as a standalone Bluetooth accessory so long as the tablet itself is propped up against something sturdy.

The OnePlus Pad 2 puts a spin on Apple's AirDrop feature with One-Touch Transmission. Bringing your Android phone close to the keyboard or on top of it will pair it with the tablet immediately, allowing you to transfer files in either direction, share calling communications, and mirror your phone's screen on the display.

At $550, the OnePlus Pad 2 is worth everything that comes with it. There is an inexpensive 128GB version in other markets, but the 256GB version is the only one you can find in the U.S. Even if American tech stores were also offering the cheap version of the OnePlus Pad 2, you're better off using the one with more memory storage regardless of your usage levels.

Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

The best big Android tablet

Why should you buy this?: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra houses significant display tech improvements to justify the 14.6-inch screen.

Who's it for?: Anyone who wants to carry around an Android tablet for media consumption away from home or as a second monitor.

Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra:

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra may have the same 14.6-inch display as its predecessor, but Samsung has made significant improvements to its display tech. Among those improvements are the anti-reflective coating, which allows you to use the tablet outdoors or at the kitchen table, a resolution of 1848 x 2960 pixels, and a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz.

Although the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has the best display thanks to the AMOLED 2X screen, it's most optimized for media consumption, especially watching movies on Netflix, playing video games, and fleshing out artwork with the help of Galaxy AI and the S Pen. The latter tool can now attach to the back of the tablet better because the magnetic port is now recessed to the point where the pen can properly nest in it.

Unless you are a full-time digital artist, this tablet is not suitable for work purposes. That's because the Android OS isn't optimized for large-screen tablets like Windows is, which means it won't support programs that make it easier for you to replace your laptop when you need to do work away from home — even if you use it in DeX mode.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is worth the $1,200 price tag if you use tablets for entertainment and gaming more than work — and if you're a streamer, it's even better. However, if you like to balance work and play and plan to use this tablet as a companion device for a Samsung desktop or laptop, it may your best option.

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Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3)

The best cheap Android tablet

Why should you buy this?: The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3) has a good design, pretty good battery life, and stable software at a price that pretty much everyone can afford.

Who's it for?: Those who are looking for a good Android tablet that can get the job done without breaking the bank.

Why we picked the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3):

This Android tablet has a simple and clean design that is geared for landscape orientation use. That means that the front-facing camera is along the longer edge of the 10.6-inch display, and the buttons are comfortably in the top left corner whenever you're holding the device horizontally in your lap or the like. And even if you don't usually use tablets horizontally, because this one is so geared for it, you may change your mind considering how it's so comfortable to use — with or without a dock or keyboard.

The 10.6-inch IPS display has a 2000 x 1200 2K resolution. So while it's not the sharpest, it's fantastic for the price, as it's actually better than the similarly priced competition. The screen on the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3) is great for reading, note-taking, streaming video, and looking at high-resolution photographs.

You get a MediaTek Helio G80 octa-core processor, which isn't the most advanced chipset out there, but it provides respectable power considering the price you're paying. This chip can handle basic tasks like video streaming, word processors and note-taking apps, email, and social media. But if you're going to do things like editing in Photoshop Express or other apps, then that's where performance will start to stutter a bit. This is not a tablet meant for professional use, but it's great for simple things.

Battery life on the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus is impressive, with a 7,700mAh cell that can last around 12 hours. Depending on your usage, you can easily get a few days' worth of use from a single charge. Of course, a large battery like that may take a while to fully charge back up to 100%.

The cameras on the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3) aren’t anything special, as it just has an 8MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear camera. They’re good for taking photos in a pinch, but nothing to write home about. You also get Android 12 out of the box, with an Android 13 update available.

All in all, the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3) is a fantastic tablet for $175. But if you need something that can do a little more, you’ll have to pay up.

Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C

The best e-ink Android tablet

Why you should buy this: It's one of the most unique offerings there is, as it combines a color e-ink display with Android.

Who's it for: Those who want a tablet that is actually less functional than a standard Android or iOS device but is also more than just a Kindle e-reader.

Why we picked the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C:

The Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C is pretty much identical to the Boox Tab Ultra that we've already mentioned earlier, except for the fact that this e-ink display is in color. That takes it a step further and makes the Boox Tab Ultra C one of the most unique Android tablets you'll find yet.

When you hold the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C in your hands, it has a super premium feel, like a monolithic slab of cold metal. It's a bit heavy at a little over a pound, so holding it can be a little much. However, there is an extra wide lip along one of the vertical edges that makes it easier to have a firm grip on the tablet as you use it.

The display is one of the most distinctive ones that we've seen. It has a 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 panel that uses e-ink, not unlike a Kindle. However, it's a color e-ink screen — meaning you get all of the eye-comfort benefits of e-ink on a color display. From reading comics or e-books, browsing the web, or even watching YouTube videos, you can do it all on the Boox Tab Ultra C. It's not our first recommendation if you watch a lot of movies or play a lot of games, but if you want one of the most visually striking e-ink screens on the market, this is it.

Another advantage of the e-ink screen is that it's matte, so there's no glare. It looks and feels like paper, and you can view content comfortably, even in direct daylight on the lowest brightness setting. And the best use of the color e-ink display is with colored content, like comics. It's important to keep in mind that this is still an e-ink display, so there will be issues with ghosting.

While you could use the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C for multimedia content and even games, you may not want to if it's more graphically intensive. But for simple and casual games, it's actually pretty good. It comes with Android 11, which is quite old, but it does have a set of opt-in convenient shortcuts that make navigating the tablet easier. And it uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset, so it's actually quite a powerful e-ink tablet.

Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus

The best midrange Android tablet

Why you should buy this: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus offers a large and roomy display and powerful features for a reasonable price.

Who's it for: Anyone who wants a large Android tablet without breaking the bank.

Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus:

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus (what a mouthful!) is a decent-sized 12.4-inch tablet with a beautiful WQXGA display. This is not an AMOLED display like on the standard Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, but it still looks good with a reasonable 2560 x 1600 resolution. However, that means you're sacrificing the 120Hz refresh rate you'll get on the more expensive tablet and phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24. It has a 90Hz refresh rate, which is still decent, but means it may not be as smooth while scrolling — but for the price, it can't be beat.

Samsung shipped the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus with Android 13 and Samsung One UI 5.1.1 out of the box. Of course, Android tablets experience issues with apps since most are not designed with large tablet screens in mind, but Samsung's DeX experience that mimics Windows and macOS helps out with that. You can place shortcuts anywhere on the desktop, access apps from a taskbar at the bottom, and more. You can also adjust the size of windows as you see fit.

There's a pretty large 10,090mAh battery inside the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus, so it can last for a few days with occasional usage and up to a full day with heavy usage. It also has fast charging so you can get a fully charged battery in about 90 minutes.

Since it uses a Samsung Exynos 1380 chip, it's not going to be the most powerful large tablet out there. It may struggle a bit with a lot of apps open and when you're constantly switching between them. But for the average user who just wants a large Android tablet without spending too much, this is a solid mid-range choice.

Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids

The best Android tablet for kids

Why should you buy this?: The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids has built-in parental controls and comes with a ton of great kid-friendly content.

Who's it for?: Anyone who wants a solid tablet for their kids that allows them to keep track of their activities on the device.

Why we picked the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids: 

This model is a superlative tablet for parents and guardians who want something to entertain and educate their kids. With 32GB of storage and up to 1TB of expandable storage through a microSD card, it's perfect for storing books, games, and other media, all of which look good on the 10.1-inch display.

Specifically designed for children between three years old to seven years old, the Fire HD 10 Kids comes with one year of free access to Amazon Kids+, a comprehensive two-year warranty, and a colorful kickstand case that even has a Disney Mickey Mouse option. Without access to the Google Play Store, the number of available games is limited, but there's still plenty to choose from on the Amazon App Store.

It's great for videos and apps as well as games, making this a strong choice if you're looking for a big-screen device. Kids can even make video and voice calls over Wi-Fi to preapproved contacts. This new model is also 25% faster than its predecessor, with increased battery life and a better 5MP front-facing camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Amazon Fire Max 11

The best value Android tablet

Why should you buy this?: Amazon took everything that is good about the Fire tablet range and added great accessory support so you can be more productive.

Who's it for?: Anyone who wants a decent tablet for productivity for a reasonable price.

Why we picked the Amazon Fire Max 11:

The Amazon Fire Max 11 is as simple as it gets in terms of design. It's flat and gray all over. It has two upward-firing speakers, a rocker switch for volume, and a small power key that also houses a fingerprint sensor. This is a tablet that does not make a statement, and it will blend in with the crowd super easily. But that's a good thing. It's also so superthin and lightweight that it's easy enough to carry everywhere.

It has an 11-inch screen with a 2000 x 1200 pixel resolution that looks great indoors. You get natural colors and strong, rich blacks, making it great for watching your favorite movies and shows. The speakers aren't particularly great, but you can always use your favorite pair of headphones. And the MediaTek MT8188 octa-core processor can handle casual games without a problem.

However, since the Fire Max 11 has Fire OS, it can be a little limited compared to other Android tablets. Fire OS is a variation of Android, but without the Google Play Store. Instead, you get Amazon's own curated app store, though there are ways to get the Google Play Store installed — it just won't come with it out of the box. Whether that's worth the extra time to get set up is up to you.

If you get the optional keyboard case accessory and stylus, it's possible to get some use out of the Fire Max 11 as a work machine. The keyboard feels good to type on, and the stylus uses a AAA battery cell, magnetically attaches to the Fire Max 11, and has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity.

It's not the best tablet, but for the price, it's a really decent value.