The Best Android Tablets for 2024 (2024)

If you think the iPad has won the tablet wars, think again. High-end Apple andWindows tabletsmight dominate the top of the category as impressive tools for productivity, but Android slates are still popular at the more affordable end of the market. Moreover, Android tablets sometimes show up with interesting and unusual features, such as E Ink screens and included styli.

We've gathered the best Android tablets we've tested here to accommodate a wide range of needs and budgets. Read on for our top picks, followed by what you need to know before choosing one.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Buying Guide: The Best Android Tablets for 2024

The State of Android Tablets

It's easy to find a budget-friendly Android tablet thanks to an endless array of no-name, plasticky sub-$100 slates at your local CVS, or through mysterious "Fulfilled by Amazon" drop shippers. Many of these off-label tabs are serviceable, but we recommend choosing a brand you can count on for software support and hardware quality control. For more details, see ourfavorite budget-friendly models.

Android tablet innovation was quite stagnant for a while, but even Google has reentered the space with the Pixel Tablet, while Lenovo and Samsung continue to try to blur the line between tablets and laptops. Amazon continues to own the affordable end of the market.

Is Android a Good Operating System for Tablets?

Although Android has improved as a tablet operating system over time, some of the best ideas still come from hardware manufacturers like Lenovo and Samsung. Both of those companies typically outfit their tablets with custom productivity software and other features that make them work more smoothly. As for third-party software, Android is home to manygreat apps, though there are fewer tablet-specific versions than on Apple's App Store.

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Google, Lenovo, and Samsung now publicly state how long their tablets will receive OS and security updates. In the past, you could pick up an Android tablet and have almost no information on when or if it would ever get an update. Those days are generally behind us and this is something you should make sure you know before choosing an Android tablet.

Amazon is a whole other kind of animal. Its Fire tablets run Fire OS, which is built on Android, but exists primarily to highlight Amazon's services and limited app store. You can add the Google Play Store to an Amazon Fire tablet with a bit of work, but it's not a great (or officially sanctioned) workaround. Amazon devices also tend to target people who want to consume media rather than create content.

Should You Buy a Cellular or Wi-Fi Android Tablet?

All of the major carriers offer a selection of cellular-capable tablets. It's easy to find them at a discount when you upgrade your plan or buy a new smartphone.

Frequent travelers and commuters are likely to find cellular connectivity invaluable, but if you primarily use your tablet for streaming at home, a Wi-Fi-only model is perfectly fine. If you ever do need to take a non-cellular tablet on the go, most carriers allow you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.

Of course, using your phone as a hotspot quickly depletes its battery, so you might also need to pick up a power bank.Just make sure to check out the details of your phone plan before making any decisions because some carriers limit the amount of data you can use with a mobile hotspot.

What Specs Do You Need in an Android Tablet?

At a minimum, you should look for an Android tablet with at least 4GB of RAM for smooth switching between media streaming and web surfing. A midrange MediaTek processor should be fine for most tasks, but a higher-end Qualcomm CPU like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy in Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 unlocks gaming potential. Note, however, that the Amazon models can get away with less RAM and slower chips because of their performance optimizations.

We also recommend at least 64GB of storage for midrange and higher-end tablets, and ideally a microSD card slot for additional storage. Basic models are generally fine with just 32GB because they can't run the advanced games and applications that take up a lot of space anyway. Stay away from tablets with only 16GB of storage.

Google Pixel Tablet (Credit: Eric Zeman)

Low-cost tablets tend to have dull 720p (or even lower-resolution) screens that look grainy. If you want a better viewing experience, opt for at least a 1080p or 2K display.

Rear cameras aren’t too important for tablets, but make sure your device has a respectable front-facing camera for video calls. Remember that 2MP is the minimum for 720p video, so use that as a cutoff in your searches.

Just as specs won't change over time, neither will the build quality. Think twice before buying a tablet with a flimsy plastic body and make sure whatever you choose feels comfortable to hold. Some tablet makers even go as far as to specify an IP rating for their devices, which can be important if you plan to use your slate on your porch or in your backyard.

Finally, if you want a top-notch phone to complement your tablet, head to our roundup of the best Android phones. Or, if you want to look beyond the realm of Android, check out our roundups of thebest tablets overall,which include our favorite Apple models.

Dave LeClair and Sascha Segan contributed to this story.