7 Best Tablets in 2026

The Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) is the best overall pick. It pairs the M4 chip and 12GB of unified memory with an 11-inch Liquid Retina display, Wi-Fi 7, Touch ID and Apple Pencil Pro support, which covers work, study, drawing and entertainment without stepping up to iPad Pro hardware.

The rest of the list covers clear use cases: a premium iPad Pro, an Android flagship, a value iPad, a 13.1-inch Samsung for a bigger canvas, a budget note-taking tablet with an S Pen in the box and an affordable tablet built around streaming.

The best tablets right now

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) - Best overall

The iPad Air 11-inch (M4) is the best overall tablet here because it puts a laptop-class chip spec into a light, thin body. Apple lists the M4 with an 8-core CPU, a 9-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, backed by 12GB of unified memory, and it supports Apple Intelligence. The Wi-Fi model weighs 1.02 pounds and is 6.1 mm thick.

The 11-inch Liquid Retina display runs at 2360 by 1640 pixels with 500 nits brightness, True Tone, P3 wide color and an antireflective coating. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 come from Apple's N1 wireless chip, Touch ID sits in the top button, and Apple rates battery life at up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi or watching video. Storage is 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB depending on configuration; this listing is the 128GB Wi-Fi model in Space Gray.

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Who it is for: Students, remote workers and casual artists who want one iPad that handles work, drawing and entertainment.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) - Best premium

The iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) is the premium choice, built around the M5 chip and an Ultra Retina XDR display that uses tandem OLED technology. Apple lists 1000 nits full-screen brightness, 1600 nits peak for HDR content and ProMotion adaptive refresh rates from 10Hz to 120Hz.

The chip and memory vary by storage. The 256GB and 512GB models have a 9-core CPU and 12GB of unified memory, while the 1TB and 2TB models have a 10-core CPU and 16GB, and nano-texture display glass is only offered on the 1TB and 2TB models. Every version gets Face ID, a LiDAR Scanner, four speaker audio, a Thunderbolt / USB 4 port and Wi-Fi 7 through the N1 chip. The Wi-Fi model is 5.3 mm thick and weighs 0.98 pound, and Apple says it can reach up to 50 percent charge in around 30 minutes.

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Who it is for: Illustrators, photo and video editors and anyone who wants the best display and fastest chip in Apple's tablet range.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 - Best Android

The Galaxy Tab S11 is the best Android tablet here, with an 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and a 3nm MediaTek chipset. Samsung lists 12GB of memory, IP68-rated dust and water resistance and an S Pen in the box.

Storage is 128GB, 256GB or 512GB depending on configuration, with microSD expansion up to 2TB. Samsung rates the 8,400 mAh battery for up to 18 hours of video playback, puts the tablet at 5.5 mm thick and 1.03 pounds, and says the Tab S11 Series is eligible for up to 7 generations of Android OS upgrades and 7 years of security updates from global launch. Samsung DeX adds a desktop-style multitasking mode.

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Who it is for: Android users who want an AMOLED screen, a pen for notes and a water-resistant build in one tablet.

Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) - Best value iPad

The iPad 11-inch (A16) is the entry point to Apple's tablet range, with the A16 chip and 128GB of starting storage. Its 11-inch Liquid Retina display measures 10.86 inches diagonally, runs at 2360 by 1640 pixels and is rated for 500 nits, the same resolution and brightness Apple lists for the iPad Air 11-inch.

Touch ID sits in the top button, both cameras are 12MP with Center Stage on the front, and Apple rates battery life at up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi or watching video. It uses Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil (1st generation), and works with the Magic Keyboard Folio. Storage is 128GB, 256GB or 512GB depending on configuration.

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Who it is for: Families, students and first-time iPad buyers who want a capable everyday tablet for apps, video and schoolwork.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ 13.1-inch - Best big screen

The Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is the pick for buyers who want a large canvas without moving to a flagship. Samsung lists a 13.1-inch LCD with 2880 by 1800 resolution and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 90Hz, measured as 13.0 inches when the rounded corners are accounted for. It runs on an Exynos 1580 processor.

The FE series carries an IP68 rating, and Samsung says it can withstand full immersion in water. An S Pen is included, the FE+ is rated for up to 21 hours of video playback, and it has a 13MP rear camera with an ultra-wide front camera. Built-in storage goes up to 256GB depending on configuration, with microSD expansion up to 2TB.

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Who it is for: Readers, note-takers and video watchers who want a bigger Android screen with a pen included.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite - Best budget for note-taking

The Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is the budget pick for handwritten notes because Samsung includes an S Pen in the box. It has a 10.9-inch display with Vision Booster and blue light reduction, up to 90 Hz refresh rates and an Exynos 1380 chipset that Samsung pitches for split-screen multitasking.

Memory and storage vary by configuration: 6GB with 128GB or 8GB with 256GB, and this listing is the 6GB and 128GB version. microSD expansion goes up to 2TB, the 8,000 mAh battery is rated for up to 16 hours of video playback, and the body uses Samsung's Armor Aluminum design. Object Eraser can remove unwanted objects from photos.

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Who it is for: Students and note-takers who want a pen-ready Android tablet without buying a stylus separately.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ - Best for streaming on a budget

The Galaxy Tab A11+ is built around entertainment, with quad speakers powered by Dolby Atmos and an 11.0-inch display at 1920 by 1200 resolution with up to 90 Hz refresh rates. Samsung rates it for up to 15 hours of video playback from a 7,040 mAh battery, with 25W Super Fast Charging.

It runs on a MediaTek MT8775 chipset, with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage depending on configuration; this listing is the 6GB and 128GB version. A microSD slot adds up to 2TB of removable storage for downloaded shows and games. Samsung offers it in 5G and Wi-Fi-only versions.

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Who it is for: Households that want an affordable tablet mainly for streaming, games and browsing.

• Pick the platform first. iPads run iPadOS and work with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard accessories, while Galaxy tablets run Android with Samsung features such as DeX on the Tab S11.
• Check pen support by name. The iPad Air and iPad Pro support Apple Pencil Pro, the iPad 11-inch supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the 1st generation model, and the Tab S11, Tab S10 FE+ and Tab S10 Lite include an S Pen. The Tab A11+ does not support the S Pen.
• Match the screen to the room. The iPad Pro's tandem OLED is rated for 1000 nits full-screen, while the iPad Air and iPad 11-inch are rated for 500 nits. The iPad Pro and Tab S11 reach 120Hz, and the Samsung FE, Lite and A11+ models top out at 90Hz.
• Plan your storage up front. Apple lists fixed storage capacities for each iPad, so choose enough at purchase. The Samsung picks here accept microSD cards up to 2TB.
• Look for an IP rating if it travels. The Tab S11 and the Tab S10 FE series carry IP68 dust and water resistance ratings.
• Watch for specs that change by configuration. The iPad Pro's CPU, memory and nano-texture option depend on storage, and Samsung's Lite and A11+ pair more RAM with higher storage tiers.

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