Want to take your films on the go, but find that your smartphone's screen just isn't cutting it? If you're serious about portable AV, then a tablet should be your next investment, especially if you're a frequent flyer or often find yourself on long road trips.
It seems like manufacturers are leaning into the AV capabilities of tablets more than ever, with Apple launching its first OLED iPad with Dolby Vision and Atmos support; it's practically a handheld TV if you think about it. Samsung also has an OLED-clad tablet with the Tab S9 Ultra which supports HDR10+; both of those tablets are on this list alongside other, more affordable options from Apple and Amazon.
While we judge primarily on picture and sound performance, we can't negate the fact that tablets are also becoming powerful tools for productivity tasks and digital art creation too. Some models on the market are truly living up to the "laptop replacement" challenge, which is something to consider when selecting your next (or first) tablet.
You'll notice a couple of tablets that are absent from this list; namely the Google Pixel Tablet and Apple iPad Air 6th Generation. The former makes our also consider list, while we're yet to review the latter – though we have high hopes based on the performance of its predecessor.
Speaking of reviews, its worth noting that each model on this list has been put through our rigorous testing process by our expert team of reviewers. Each iPad, Fire and Galaxy tablet on this list has been given a What Hi-Fi? seal of approval, and you can find out more about how we test tablets below.
With all of that out of the way, here are the best tablets available now:
The quick list
Best overall
The latest iPad is a well-rounded and versatile tablet that we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone.
Best cheap
In a range of great-value tablets, the Amazon Fire HD 8 currently offers the best value of them all.
Best premium
Apple's first OLED iPad is very expensive, but we can't argue with its picture and sound performance.
Best Android
It might not be the most subtle device on this list and it’s certainly not perfect, but the S9 Ultra is still a lot of fun.
Best small
Apple’s smallest iPad takes everything that makes its bigger tablets great and squeezes it into a more compact chassis.
Best cheap small
An entry-level tablet device with budget specs to match, but the wallet-friendly Amazon Fire 7 gets plenty right and is far better than the low price might suggest.
The best tablet overall
The iPad has officially hit double digits with its latest iteration. This 2022 model marks the biggest change the standard iPad has undergone since the first one was introduced way back in 2010. This is most evident in the design, this 10th-generation tablet having shed its predecessor's monochromatic shell in favour of bright hues and squared-off edges.
So has Apple brought its darling first tablet into the modern age? Or are we witnessing an iPad identity crisis?
In some ways, the iPad's 10th generation feels like a major overhaul, and in others, it feels like a simple refinement. The new design certainly makes this feel like a generational shift as we wave goodbye to the home button and Lightning connector; however, the minor (yet still appreciated) upgrades to picture and sound aren’t indicative of a next-generation product.
We commended the iPad that came before it thanks to its already winning performance, commenting that a design update was overdue. Now with an even better AV experience packed into a slick new design, the standard iPad has its time to shine again and is easier than ever to recommend – if you can stretch to its elevated price tag.
Read the full Apple iPad (2022) review
The best cheap tablet
When it comes to buying new tech there are a lot of false economies, but Amazon’s Fire range of tablets isn’t one of them. If you want the best performance-per-pound model, look no further than the latest Fire HD 8.
The Fire HD 8’s low price – we’ve seen it drop as low as £55 during one of Amazon’s many sales – means managing expectations when it comes to pretty much all areas of the tablet. There’s more plastic here than anything else, the processor can’t cope with top-tier games, and the screen can be quite reflective, but it has more than enough to deliver the basics.
The 8-inch screen is bright and punchy, and blacks are good considering it’s backlit. Colours look natural, and while the overall picture performance is a long way behind what you’ll get from an iPad, it’s still very good for this price.
The two speakers, which are on the top edge so you don’t block them with your hands, are nothing to write home about, but they’re engaging enough if you don’t have a pair of headphones to plug in. Doing so will reward you with a more balanced and composed performance, though.
If an iPad is out of your price range and you don’t need high-end specs, Amazon’s Fire HD 8 is excellent value for money.
Read our full Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) review
The best premium tablet
Apple delivered its thinnest and lightest iPad to date this year with the new Pro, and we deemed this OLED-embued marvel to be a new benchmark for portable cinema – which is no small claim. This ultra-powerful tablet is crammed with features while remaining remarkably slender, and its picture and sound performance are both in a league of their own.
To address the elephant in the room, yes, this is a very expensive tablet, and if you plan on using it purely for watching videos and listening to music, you might find that you've paid for features you're not using. That being said, if you're after a tablet that is a capable productivity machine, or perhaps a portable digital art studio, then the iPad Pro will certainly meet your needs.
A big part of its appeal is the M4 chip, a processor that is even more powerful than the current roster of MacBook laptops. It also features the first OLED display in the iPad lineup, with Apple leveraging Tandem OLED to enhance brightness. It results in a tablet that delivers supreme contrast, rich and balanced colours, and crisp details –making it easily the best-looking tablet on the market.
Sound is also a highlight, with speakers that deliver an open and spacious sound; although they don't differ greatly when compared to the previous generation iPad Pro in most ways. Headphone performance, on the other hand, is a step up with additional warmth, richness and weight compared to its predecessor, without infringing on its existing dynamic prowess.
Put simply, this is the best tablet that money can buy, but only for those with deep pockets. Some may find it overkill for just movies and music, but if picture and sound performance is paramount (which we believe is certainly the case) then the latest iPad Pro is your best bet.
The best Android tablet
The Ultra is the crown jewel in Samsung’s three-strong Galaxy Tab S9 range – and with its 14.6-inch screen it's even more of a whopper than the iPad Pro (above).
Despite those extra inches the S9 Ultra is only marginally heavier than the iPad Pro, thanks in no small part to its skinny but sturdy aluminium frame, but the headline feature here is obviously that massive AMOLED display. There’s no denying its picture is punchy and vibrant, with excellent depth to the blacks, but it lacks authenticity. Switching the colour profile to the ‘natural’ setting helps, but it still looks soft and lacking in detail compared to the iPad’s Mini LED screen. It’s adept when it comes to motion, though, which is just as well considering how noticeable any shortcomings on that front would be.
Despite the slim dimensions Samsung has found space inside the S9 Ultra for an AKG-tuned quad speaker array, which, thanks to the physical separation of the drivers, sounds nice and spacious. It’s fairly full-bodied, too, you just have to be careful not to block them with your hands when you’re holding the tablet. Unfortunately the same can’t be said once a pair of headphones are connected, whereupon things generally sound flatter and less enthusiastic.
The iPad Pro is better, but if you want a big screen and prefer Android to Apple, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a decent option.
Read the full Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra review
The best small tablet
This latest iPad Mini is a huge improvement on the last model and just the ticket if an 8-inch tablet is what you’re after. It's small enough to carry around in a jacket pocket while offering a viewing and listening experience that’s way beyond that of even a large mobile phone.
The bezel has shrunk right down meaning that, while the device remains the same size as the previous generation, the screen itself is actually bigger. The picture quality is better too. The 500-nit LCD panel is less leaky for light than before, making videos look punchy and exciting.
Its sound has moved on leaps and bounds too, with a vastly improved level of dynamic expression to now match Apple's trademark crisp sense of timing. There are also speakers on both ends of the tablet, for the first time, meaning that you get a sense of cinematic sound even without headphones.
Throw in a super-slick user experience, the rather handsome looks, USB-C recharging and the interesting addition of Apple Pencil support and you’ve got yourself a little winner. It's just a pity there's no 3.5mm headphone socket, of course.
Read the full Apple iPad Mini 6 review
The best cheap small tablet
The Amazon Fire 7 tablet is cheap. Really cheap. And let's face it, with the cost of living shooting through the roof, how many people have a wad of cash sitting around for an iPad? Maybe it's time to embrace the budget options, and Amazon’s plucky little starter tablet is here to try and ease you into the budget tab lifestyle.
It's important to remember, though, that cheap and good value are two very different things. The Fire 7 certainly ticks the first box, but how does it fare on the second?
The Amazon Fire 7 is the plucky underdog in the tablet world: it doesn’t have a gimmick, it doesn’t have class-leading specs and it won’t have you throwing out your iPad any time soon. But it doesn’t need any of those things because it occupies such a unique space, and that's being a functional and entertaining tablet for roughly the price of half a tank of petrol. And on that front, it's a winner.
Read the full Amazon Fire 7 review
Also consider
- Google Pixel Tablet: Google returned to the tablet scene with a bang, offering a hybrid device that delivers a solid picture performance and an engaging sound experience. The magnetic speaker dock is the icing on the cake, offering a room-filling sound that would be right at home in your living room or kitchen.
- Apple iPad Air (5th Generation): If you like the iPad Mini on this list but wish it was a bit bigger and more powerful, then the iPad Air is the one for you. Available in a handful of stylish colours and offering stellar picture and sound performance, this iPad also crams the M1 processor inside too, making it equally good for productivity.
How to choose the best tablet for you
There are lots of thing to consider when choosing the right tablet for you. What screen size do you want? Bigger-screened tablets make films, photos and TV shows look more impressive and are better suited to gaming, but they're heavier, less portable and usually more expensive.
Which operating system are you after? Android is more open than iOS, but it's not quite as slick or as simple an ecosystem. Or are you happy with Amazon's Fire OS? Members of Amazon Prime might well be, but if you rarely shop at the retail giant, you'll likely find it unsuitable and potentially even irritating.
How much storage do you need? Android devices usually come with slots for memory cards so you can add in extra capacity, which could be useful if you've an extensive library of films, music and photos. With an Apple tablet you're stuck with the internal storage. Bear in mind, though, that the rise of streaming means that most people need less storage than they used to.
The best tablet for you will come down to how you want to use it. If you're gaming, you'll want one with tons of power and long battery life, while if you're only sending the occasional email, you can save yourself some money and get yourself a cheaper model.
How we test the best tablets
Narrowing down the expansive tablet market into a small selection of tablets that we would recommend is harder than it sounds. Thankfully, here at What Hi-Fi? we have years of expertise and plenty of resources to ensure that we can rigorously test these options so we can recommend them to you with confidence.
Thanks to our dedicated testing rooms found in Bath and Reading, alongside our knowledgeable and experienced team, we can conduct thorough tests to explore what these devices can do. Our main area of focus is picture and sound, meaning that these tablets all must excel at delivering a quality AV experience; but features, cameras, battery life and software are all also key factors when it comes to testing these tablets.
In order to combat any personal preference or bias, each product we review is given a group consensus before any verdict is made. This step in the process also ensures that we haven't missed anything during the initial testing phase, as well as approaching the performance from different viewpoints to get a more holistic view of the device overall.
All of these tablets are also compared to others within their price ranges; this helps to contextualise the device within its category and enables us to consider if we would recommend it over its competition. It's important to remember that no product exists in a vacuum, so looking further than the device itself is crucial.
Our Best Buys are a collection of products that we believe provide the best experience at their price points, and ones that we would recommend you buy with peace of mind, knowing they have the What Hi-Fi? seal of approval.
You can check out our full range of Best Buys if you're looking of more approved tech recommendations.
F.A.Q
iPad OS, Android or Fire OS?
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Which operating system appeals to you will likely depend on your budget and your other devices. If you have an iPhone and AirPods, then we wouldn't blame you for opting for an iPad, as the iPad OS is very similar to the iOS system you'll find on your phone.
However, you don't have to be locked into an eco-system, for example, you can have a Samsung phone and still get a lot from an iPad. Fire OS is a touch trickier as it features on Amazon's cheaper tablets. It's built off Android, but it doesn't have the Google Play store, so be warned that not all apps are supported.
Ultimately, none of these operating systems have any detrimental flaws, so unless you have a preference or want device synergy, then don't let it influence your decision too much.
What are the options for watching and listening to content on your tablet?
You'll likely be relying on streaming services and video on demand services for watching and listening to content on tablets. Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Paramount Plus all have robust mobile apps for streaming content, or you can buy and install films through Apple, Google and Amazon's online storefronts.
Music is a similar affair, with Spottily, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer and more available on most app stores. You can, of course, download your films and music onto your devices if you have a digital content library, although you may need to download an app to play these files.
What screen size is best?
We've included tablets big and small on this list. Tablets like the iPad Mini and Amazon Fire 7 offer a more portable size that can transported with ease, while the iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra are bigger screen behemoths.
Ultimately it will depend on your preference, the smaller tabs will be easier to carry around, while the bigger ones will offer a more cinematic experience.
- Find out how to get the best picture and sound on your tablet
- Listen to the best headphones around