A tablet can make a great addition to your tech toolkit. It can replace an e-reader, serve as a more portable laptop replacement or simply be a shared device for watching movies or checking social media at home. However, with four different families of iPad<\/a>, a plethora of Android<\/a> options and Windows-based alternatives like the Surface Pro, it can be difficult to figure out which will serve you best. We at Engadget have tested and reviewed dozens of tablets over the years, and we continue to try out the latest models asa they hit the market. Below, we’ve solidified our current top picks, plus all of the information you should know before picking up the best tablet for you.<\/p>\n Editor’s Note (April 2024):<\/strong> For anyone thinking about buying a new tablet, you may want to hold off for another few months. Interesting Android options like the TCL NXTPAPER 14 Pro which we saw back at CES<\/a> have yet to go on sale. Meanwhile, we\u2019re still waiting for Apple to release a new generation of iPads after not updating or refreshing any of its tablets in 2023. This is really unusual as this is the first time Apple hasn\u2019t released a new iPad in a calendar year since the original came out back in 2010. There isn\u2019t an exact timetable for when new models may appear, but rumors suggest we should learn more between now and WWDC in June. Finally, while Microsoft did recently update the Surface family with a new Surface Pro 10 model<\/a>, that device is specially targeted at enterprise buyers and it won\u2019t be available from traditional retailers. So if you\u2019re hoping to avoid buyer\u2019s remorse after purchasing a new tablet that might get replaced real soon, you\u2019ll want to exercise patience until new products get announced later this spring and summer.<\/p>\n Before you even start looking at specific devices, consider how your new tablet will fit in with the gadgets you already own, and how you plan to use it. For example, if everyone in your house uses Macs and iPhones, it probably doesn\u2019t make a lot of sense to buy an Android tablet, even if you\u2019ve been tempted by the massive 14.6-inch screen on the new Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.<\/a> This goes double for anyone with an extensive library of purchased videos and music that might be harder to access after switching platforms.<\/p>\n Another consideration is the kind of work you\u2019ll be doing. That\u2019s because while most modern tablets are adept at browsing websites or playing games, some operating systems like iPadOS and Windows 11 are better designed to support multitasking and productivity than Android or even Chrome OS. It\u2019s a similar situation for software, because while most popular apps and games are available on both Apple\u2019s App Store and Google\u2019s Play Store, more specialized software may only have proper support on desktop platforms like Windows or macOS.<\/p>\n Figuring out the best screen size for you will also be related to the kind of work (or play) you intend to do. Larger displays make it much easier to view two apps side by side, and big screens also deliver a more immersive movie viewing experience. But at the same time, the larger the tablet, the less likely you\u2019re going to want to move it around. That means you\u2019re not only going to want to take stock of your workspace (i.e., if you have a desk or instead plan to work from a couch or even your bed), you\u2019re also going to want to think about how the device will fit into your everyday routine or commute (if you have one).<\/p>\n Finally, you\u2019ll want to consider any add-ons or accessories you\u2019re planning to use, which can range from detachable keyboards to things like external mics or a stylus. The good news is that many of the best tablets nowadays offer some kind of keyboard accessory, which allows the device to function more like a 2-in-1 instead of simply being a content consumption device. Some tablets also feature things like microSD card slots that support expandable storage, or optional 4G or 5G connectivity, which can be a real boon to frequent travelers. And if you\u2019re planning to use the tablet mainly for work, you might want to grab a USB hub for connecting all your favorite peripherals.<\/p>\n When evaluating different tablets, there are a few important things we look for above all else: solid performance, a good screen and long battery life. For performance, we run a handful of synthetic tests like Geekbench 6, while also performing a number of real-world use cases such as editing photos and playing games. And with tablets often serving as hybrid devices, we also consider how easy it is to multitask and switch quickly between various apps. The more responsive a device feels, the better.<\/p>\n Because a tablet\u2019s display is such a critical component, we also view a wide range of content to gauge things like brightness, color gamut and dynamic range. It\u2019s important to take into account the difference between various panel types like OLED, which typically produce richer colors and excellent contrast but may not be as bright as a mini LED display. Recently, refresh rate has become an increasingly important spec as 90Hz and 120Hz screens can make scrolling smoother and graphics appear sharper in games.<\/p>\n We also consider a tablet\u2019s design (including things like size, weight and water resistance), its connectivity (WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, 5G, et cetera) and special features like stylus support or the ability to serve as a secondary display. That\u2019s because, while tablets were often viewed as content consumption devices in the past, higher-end devices like the Surface Pro and iPad Pro are more than capable of replacing a laptop<\/a> for a lot of people.<\/p>\n Finally, we test battery life by running our standard local video rundown test, which involves playing a single video on a loop from 100 percent until it runs out of juice. Ideally, a tablet should be able to last an entire working day, but longer runtimes are always welcome.<\/p>\nWhich OS is right for me?<\/h2>\n
What size screen should I get?<\/h2>\n
Potential accessories<\/h2>\n
How we test<\/h2>\n