10 Best Tablets to Buy in 2023, According to Tech Experts

While there are more feature-rich iPads, this is a sleek, versatile device priced right for most users. This 10.9-inch tablet is nicely sized and well-powered for a variety of tasks, like browsing, editing documents and video, gaming, streaming and making video calls. The A14 Bionic chip adeptly delivers the capacity for multiple tasks if needed.

When evaluating the iPad 10th Gen, our pros were impressed by the display's sharp resolution and responsive interface. Unlike its predecessor, we like that this latest model supports 4K video for the highest quality streaming and even features an improved front camera for snapping quick photos. As a bonus, it's offered in three fun pastel shades plus silver, but it does lack the audio jack that's been present on previous models — that means you'll only be able to connect Bluetooth headphones.

Like other Apple tablets, the App Store gives you access to loads of apps, so you can add games or productivity apps, depending on how you want to use the tablet. If you want to draw, jot or type, this iPad supports the Apple Pencil (1st generation) as well as the Magic Keyboard Folio.

With more than 100k positive reviews on Amazon, this well-rounded tablet is a great choice for most people. Our pros love that the Fire HD 10 can readily handle work on Microsoft Office apps as well as read Kindle books or stream Prime video and Netflix. It comes with Amazon Alexa built-in, so it can easily control your smart home devices.

The 10.1-inch 1080p full HD display should suffice for on-the-go entertainment (just keep in mind you won't be able to stream in 4K), and there's an optional 32 GB or 64GB of storage to suit your needs. Our experts noted the long battery life between charges and appreciate the headphone jack. Pro tip: There are frequently fire sales on Fire tablets, so keep an eye out for potentially deep cuts in price.

Android users will find easy compatibility across devices with this 11-inch tablet. Our experts loved the quality of the LCD display and its solid construction. We like that the tablet comes with the S Pen, which should deliver a more natural feeling when writing. This impressive tablet has 128 GB or 256 GB of storage and the option for 5G if you want to pay for cellular capability.

While we haven't tested this feature out yet, our pros like that you can work across your PC and tablet by setting up a mirror display (i.e. multiple windows). Multi-taskers, students and working professionals will also appreciate integration with Microsoft 365 so you can create and edit Excel spreadsheets and Word docs directly on your tablet.

The 2-in-1 design of the Surface Pro 9 gives professionals the ability to convert their tablet to a laptop with a full keyboard with the addition of a Signature Keyboard (sold separately). The tablet has an integrated kickstand that can stay closed to use the 13-inch touchscreen in tablet mode or be opened to prop the screen up for easy viewing, typing in laptop mode or angling for writing and drawing with the optional smart pen (or fingers). The tablet alone is much lighter than a standard laptop, coming in at 1.94 pounds. Just keep in mind that it doesn't feature an incredible number of ports for a computer, though you can always purchase a dock with extra ports or connect your tablet to an external display or computer monitor.

Need a tablet that's light enough to bring on your next vacation? Our pros love the Apple iPad Air, which features a high-quality 10.9" Retina display and a powerful M1 chip that delivers fast performance. Should you opt for the cellular model, the Air can connect to 5G networks so you can get the fastest streaming and FaceTime friends when Wi-Fi isn't available. Compatible with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard Folio, this iPad is just as useful for everyday use like studying and checking your inbox.

Thanks to the built-in Google Assistant, this 64 GB Android tablet doubles nicely as a smart display that’s good for media consumption and controlling your smart home. The rounded-edge design means it can be held comfortably for browsing and checking email, and the built-in kickstand lets you tilt, stand or hang the tablet for streaming, listening to music or checking a recipe. Our experts got 10 hours of battery life with typical use, and the dual-facing cameras made it easy to record video and make video calls.

Made for busy students on-the-go, this tablet boats great portability and a 2-in-1 design that lets you use the touchscreen as a standalone tablet or attached to a full-size keyboard to type as you would on a laptop. The 10.5-inch touchscreen is both intuitive and responsive, and with the addition of a Surface Pen jotting down notes and drawing sketches is a breeze. Similar models of this tablet impressed our analysts with their performance capabilities, though we wish more ports were available and that accessories were included in the price.

This tablet is a bookworm’s best bud: It’s easy to access Kindle for ebooks, and it can play Kindle and Audible books over Bluetooth. It’s designed to be waterproof so you can read your beach reads by the ocean (or in the tub) without concern. Our analysts were impressed with the sharp screen contrast: You can read outside on a sunny day without issue as well as in the middle of the night. It has 8 (or 16) GB of storage and a long battery life of up to 10 weeks, according to Amazon, so you can get through page-turners without frequent charges. But if you want a Kindle that allows you to take notes in addition to reading, consider the Kindle Scribe.

Designed for kids ages 6 to 12, this Pro tablet gives parents excellent control and kids great content. You can set time limits on activities (say, 30 minutes for games but two hours for ebooks) and view usage history; you can even allow only specific episodes of approved content. The 10-inch Fire HD Kids Pro comes with a slim durable case with a built-in stand and a two-year guarantee. Fire tablets make it simple to access the content on Amazon Kids+, which starts at $4.99 per month, but is free for one year with the tablet purchase. The Pro also lets you customize the home screen. It offers 32 GB of storage, and upwards of 10 hours of battery life in our tests.

Aimed at children ages 3 to 7, this 32 GB tablet backs up its kid-friendly claims with a rugged case and a built-in kickstand, plus a two-year full-replacement guarantee. It comes with a free one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, which provides kid-friendly, pre-vetted access to ebooks and audiobooks, movies and shows, music, apps and games, including content in Spanish. You can let the subscription continue starting at $4.99 per month or cancel it in the Amazon Parents Dashboard, which also gives you strong parental controls over the content your child consumes and lets you set time limits. Amazon says the battery can last up to 13 hours, though in our heavy multimedia tests we often got a few hours less (though still ample for successful car rides!).