The Best Tablets (2025) To Buy Now

Best Tablets 2025

Ready to upgrade your digital life? In 2025, tablets are more powerful and versatile than ever, blurring the lines between a simple entertainment device and a genuine laptop replacement. Whether you’re a student who needs a stellar note-taker, a digital artist looking for a gorgeous screen, or just someone who wants a super-portable way to binge-watch a new series, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. That’s where we come in. We’ve waded through the latest and greatest from Apple, Samsung, and more to bring you a friendly, no-fluff guide to the best tablets (2025) to buy now. We want to assure you that with what we have found, you will find the perfect tablet that fits your budget and, most importantly, your life. 

The Best Tablets (2025) Quick List

In a hurry to check out the best tablets? Here’s a brief overview of them on this list below, along with quick links that will let you jump straight down to a short review of whichever tablet caches your eye.

The Best Tablets (2025) to Buy Now

9. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+

Best for Battery Life

★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5

If you’re looking for the absolute best value tablet of 2025, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is the one to beat. It’s essentially the “student special” perfected—you get a massive 13.1-inch canvas that is water-resistant (IP68), which is something even the expensive iPads don’t offer, and it comes with the excellent S Pen right in the box so you don’t have to shell out extra cash just to take notes. It’s fantastic for anyone who wants that premium, large-screen experience for drawing or watching movies without paying the scary flagship prices, plus Samsung’s DeX mode turns it into a surprisingly capable laptop replacement for getting actual work done.

But, to keep it real with you, it’s definitely not the “best” if you care about raw specs. The screen is a standard LCD rather than the stunning, deep-black AMOLED panels you find on the more expensive Tab S10+ or Ultra, and it tops out at a 90Hz refresh rate, so it doesn’t feel quite as fluid as the 120Hz screens on flagship rivals. Also, the Exynos processor inside is decent for everyday stuff, but if you try to run heavy games like Genshin Impact at max settings, you’re definitely going to feel it struggle compared to an iPad Air or the regular Tab S10.

8. Apple iPad (2025)

Best iPad for Most People

★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5

If you just want a reliable tablet that “just works” without draining your bank account, the iPad 11th Gen (2025) is hands down the best value pick of the year. Apple finally listened and bumped the base storage to 128GB, so you aren’t constantly deleting apps to make room for updates, and the A16 Bionic chip (the same one from the iPhone 15) is plenty snappy for streaming, schoolwork, and casual gaming. It’s the perfect “everyman” tablet—great battery life, that modern all-screen design, and a price tag that is actually reasonable for the quality you get.

However, it is definitely not the “best” if you want to future-proof your gear; the biggest letdown is that it does not support Apple Intelligence, so you miss out on all the cool new AI writing and Siri features that the iPad Air and Mini 7 have. Plus, the screen is still unlaminated (there’s a tiny air gap between the glass and the display) and stuck at 60Hz, which looks a bit dated and “floaty” compared to the crisp, laminated screens on almost every other Apple device.

7. OnePlus Pad 2

Best Android Performer

★★★★⯪ 4.5 out of 5

Look, if you want the most bang for your buck in 2025, the OnePlus Pad 2 is arguably the best tablet you can grab. It’s running the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which is still an absolute beast for gaming and multitasking, especially with that 144Hz refresh rate that makes everything feel incredibly snappy. The real game-changer, though, is the “Open Canvas” feature—it handles split-screen multitasking way better than the iPad, letting you keep three apps open and “nudged” off-screen without shrinking them down to useless tiny windows.

That said, it’s not perfect. If you’re a screen snob, you might be bummed that it’s using an LCD panel instead of the rich, deep-black OLED screens you get on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S series. Also, the Android tablet app ecosystem still feels a bit like a blown-up phone interface compared to the polished, tablet-first apps on iPadOS, and the lack of a secure fingerprint scanner (it only uses face unlock) can be a minor annoyance for banking apps.

6. Apple iPad Mini

The Best Compact iPad

★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5

The iPad Mini (2024) is arguably the best tablet of the year if you prioritize pure portability and power—it’s basically the “Goldilocks” device that fits in a jacket pocket yet packs the serious punch of the A17 Pro chip (the same one in the iPhone 15 Pro), making it an absolute beast for handheld gaming and smooth multitasking with the new Apple Intelligence features. It’s fantastic for reading, taking notes with the new Apple Pencil Pro, or just lounging on the couch without the wrist fatigue you get from holding a massive 13-inch slate.

However, I wouldn’t call it the “best” if you’re a screen snob or a productivity power user; the display is still stuck at a 60Hz refresh rate (so you miss out on that buttery smooth ProMotion scrolling found on the Pro models), and the screen is just too cramped to be a true laptop replacement. Plus, the lack of an official Magic Keyboard case and the awkward portrait-oriented selfie camera make it a tough sell if you plan to use it for a lot of typing or Zoom calls.

5. Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2025)

Best 2-in-1 for Windows

★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition is the best 2-in-1 laptop yet, even though it includes some unfinished AI features and pricey accessories.  It’s got a sleek design and a super-fast Snapdragon X Elite chip that contributes to the excellent performance. No lag or freezing of apps on this one. And the new ‘Flex’ keyboard, although expensive, it’s a big upgrade from the last model.

The 13-inch OLED display looks bright and gorgeous too. Not as good as other OLED panels, yet better looking than the Surface Pro with IPS LCD screens. The battery life is not as impressive either as other iPads or MacBooks have created a new standard, yet on moderate use, you’re looking at a good day’s power to keep it going.  

If you love Windows and want a device that’s both a laptop and a tablet, the Surface Pro 11 is a top choice. But if you’re not a Windows fan, the iPad Pro with the M4 chip is a great, cheaper alternative. If you’re willing to splurge on the whole package, the Surface Pro is a powerful, long-lasting computer perfect for taking on the go.

4. Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 (Y700) 2025

Best Small Android Tablet for Gaming

★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5

Alright, if you’re a gamer who wants to dominate on the go, the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is hands-down the best tablet of 2025. This thing is an absolute beast for mobile gaming—it’s got the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a super-fast 165Hz LCD display that makes every frame look buttery smooth, and a dedicated vapor chamber cooling system that actually keeps the chip from throttling during intense sessions.

Plus, the built-in haptics are surprisingly good, making games feel more immersive, and its relatively compact size makes it perfect for tossing in a backpack and bringing to a friend’s house for some multiplayer action.

However, let’s be real, it’s definitely not the “best” tablet for everyone. While amazing for games, the software experience outside of gaming feels a bit… unpolished compared to an iPad or even a Samsung tablet.

The camera quality is pretty mediocre, so don’t expect to take great photos with it, and the battery life, while decent, will drain quickly if you’re constantly pushing that high refresh rate and powerful chip. It’s truly a gaming-first device, so if you’re looking for something for productivity, creative work, or just general browsing, you might find its priorities a little skewed.

3. Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)

Best iPad for Gaming

★★★★⯪ 4.5 out of 5

If you’re hunting for the tablet that hits the perfect balance of power and price in 2025, the iPad Air 11-inch (M3) is arguably the best tablet for 95% of people. It’s a huge win because it packs the insanely fast M3 chip—the same next-gen power that runs the newest MacBooks—meaning it absolutely flies through pro tasks like video editing and heavy multitasking, and crucially, it fully supports all the amazing new Apple Intelligence features.

Plus, it finally supports the awesome Apple Pencil Pro and comes in fun colors, all for a starting price that is hundreds less than the Pro model. 

However, it definitely cuts a few corners to keep that price down, which is why it’s not the ultimate “best.” The biggest miss is the display, which is a great laminated LCD (Liquid Retina), but it’s still stuck at a standard 60Hz refresh rate.

This means scrolling and animations just aren’t as silky smooth as the 120Hz ProMotion screen you get on the much more expensive iPad Pro. Also, you’re limited to the slower USB 3 port instead of the faster Thunderbolt port on the Pro, which can slow down things if you regularly work with massive external hard drives

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra

Best Large Display

★★★★⯪ 4.5 out of 5

Hey! If you think “bigger is better” and you need a serious hybrid workstation, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is definitely the best tablet of 2025. It’s a monster, rocking a gorgeous 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen that’s amazing for movies and multitasking, and it comes packed with the powerful Dimensity 9400+ chip, 16GB of RAM, and all the cool new Galaxy AI features.

Plus, the S Pen is still included for free, it’s super thin, and it’s even IP68 water-resistant—try taking your iPad Pro near the pool! With DeX mode, you get a real desktop experience that makes it a genuinely versatile laptop replacement.

That being said, it has some major downsides that stop it from being universally the “best.” First off, it’s absolutely gigantic—it’s too heavy and awkward to hold one-handed for long periods, making it more of a desk accessory than a casual couch companion.

While the chip is great, it’s not quite the raw powerhouse that the Apple M4 is, so the iPad Pro still holds the crown for ultimate benchmark performance. Lastly, you have to buy the keyboard separately, which is annoying for such an expensive tablet, and charging that massive 11,600 mAh battery is surprisingly slow, even with 45W charging

1. Apple iPad Pro 11 (M5) 2025

Best Overall Performance

★★★★★ 4.8 out of 5

Okay, if you’re asking for the absolute pinnacle of tablet technology in 2025, the Apple iPad Pro 11 (M5) is undeniably the best tablet you can get, hands down. It’s an absolute beast, running the ridiculously powerful M5 chip that leaves every other tablet (and most laptops!) in the dust, especially for video editing, 3D rendering, and intense creative work.

That stunning tandem OLED display is just gorgeous, with perfect blacks and incredible brightness for HDR content, and the new Apple Pencil Pro 2 (or whatever they call it) with even lower latency makes drawing feel like you’re working on real paper. Plus, with the advanced camera system and LiDAR scanner, it’s a dream for AR and professional photography workflows.

However, let’s be real—it’s definitely not the “best” for everyone. The price tag is absolutely insane, especially once you add the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, pushing it into serious laptop territory.

iPadOS, while fantastic, still has some frustrating limitations compared to a full desktop OS like macOS or Windows, so certain professional applications might feel a bit constrained. And honestly, for most everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, or even light gaming, the M5 chip is pure overkill; you’re paying a huge premium for power you might never fully utilize.

Final Recommendations

Ultimately, 2025 has been a fantastic year for tablets, but your final choice really boils down to your budget and what you plan to use your tablet for. If you need the absolute, no-compromise best for heavy-duty professional tasks like 4K editing and 3D work, the iPad Pro (M5) is the clear winner.

For those who prioritize a massive, immersive display for entertainment and flexible desktop multitasking with the included stylus, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the ultimate Android machine. However, for most people, the iPad Air 11-inch (2025) hits the sweet spot perfectly, offering the M3 chip power and full Apple Intelligence features without the Pro’s astronomical price tag.

Whichever one of these beasts you choose, you’ll be getting a phenomenal upgrade, so don’t wait—upgrade your digital life today and experience 2025’s tech revolution! We’ve given you our top picks, but we want to hear yours: Did we miss your favorite contender, or which one did you end up buying? Drop a comment below and let us know 😀