Best Tablet 2026: High-ranking tablets for work, entertainment and more

Whether you’re buying an iPad Pro or a budget Android tablet, there’s no denying that tablets can do more in 2026 than ever before. The flip side is that choosing the right one has become a little trickier – but that’s where we at Trusted Reviews come in with our hand-picked selection of the best tablets.

If you just want a safe recommendation, the latest iPads and Samsung tablets are easy go-to picks. They’re great for most people, but they won’t necessarily be the best choice for everyone. If you’re shopping for a kids’ tablet, a budget tablet or something a little more specific, brands like Amazon, Honor and Xiaomi are well worth considering too.

It’s also worth thinking about the ecosystem you already use, especially if you want a tablet for productivity or as a lightweight laptop alternative. If you have an iPhone, an iPad will make it easier to move photos, files and messages between devices. The same applies if you use a Samsung Galaxy phone and pair it with a Galaxy Tab.

Whatever the tablet is designed for, every model that comes through our offices goes through the same rigorous testing process. We run industry-standard benchmarks to measure performance, test battery drain during gaming and streaming, and spend enough time with each device to understand what it’s actually like to use day to day. All of that feeds into our full reviews, giving you a clear idea of what each tablet is like to own.

Only tablets that genuinely impress our tech experts make it onto this list, so whichever one you choose, you can be confident you’re getting a strong device. If you already know what you’re looking for, we also have dedicated guides to the best iPads and best Android tablets.

Best tablet at a glance

• The best overall tablet: Apple iPad Air M4 (2026)
• The best Android tablet: Honor MagicPad 4
• The best for productivity: Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra
• The best tablet for creatives: Apple iPad Pro M5 (2026)
• The best small tablet: iPad mini 7
• The best tablet for gaming: RedMagic Astra 2
• The best tablet for drawing: Huawei MatePad Pro Max
• The best tablet for note-taking: Remarkable Paper Pure
• The best value tablet: OnePlus Pad Go 2
• The best Amazon Fire tablet: Amazon Fire Max 11

How we test

Find out more about how we test tablets

Every tablet in this list has been properly tested and used for an extended period of time by one of our product experts. We categorically do not recommend a product unless it has been put through our lab tests and used by the reviewer as their main tablet for at least five days.

Lab testing includes colourimeter checks to gauge screen accuracy and max brightness levels, synthetic benchmarks to evaluate graphics and general performance, and battery drains to assess average discharge rates for basic office tasks, streaming video and gaming.

Our reviewer will then move on to consider the tablet’s performance for everyday use. This will see them use it as their primary tablet and enact common tasks such as movie streaming, gaming, web browsing and video calling. If the device is targeted at a specific market such as digital artists, they’ll also consider areas such as digital stylus support and whether it can effectively run relevant applications.

When a device is sent in for review with optional extras, such as a stylus and keyboard cover, we’ll assess its performance both as a standalone product as well as with any accompanying peripherals.

SQUIRREL_ANCHOR_LIST

Apple iPad Air M4

Honor MagicPad 4

Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra

Apple iPad Pro M5

Apple iPad Mini 7

RedMagic Astra 2

Huawei MatePad Pro Max

ReMarkable Paper Pure

OnePlus Pad Go 2

Amazon Fire Max 11

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How much should you spend on a tablet?

This depends on what you want to do with the tablet. If it’s for young children, you don’t want to spend lots on a device that will ultimately get broken or damaged down the line. If you just want to watch Netflix or play basic games, there are also plenty of great affordable tablets available for less than $400/£400. Based on our experience, it’s only worth spending lots if you are a power user or creative who needs extra computational power and top-end screen quality.

Do you need 5G on a tablet?

5G is a useful technology that lets you download huge files and entire film series in minutes, if you’re in an area with good coverage. But unless you’re a professional looking to use a tablet for work on the go, we don’t recommend investing in the tech for a tablet. 99% of the time, it’s easier to just tether the tablet to your phone’s connection in the odd instance you need internet on your tablet while away from a WiFi connection.

Are iPads better than Android tablets?

From a hardware perspective, this depends on the exact tablets you’re comparing. But, based on our experience testing both types of tablets, iPad software is better optimised for larger screens and offers pro-level apps not available on Android.

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