Best Android Tablet 2023: Top Android Slates

Those looking for a high-end Android tablet won’t be disappointed with the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, the middle child of the 2023 range. At 12.4in, it’s certainly not small, but significantly more manageable than the 14.6in Tab S9 Ultra.

But it’s still wafer thin at just 5.7mm and features full IP68 dust and waterproofing – a rare find in the tablet world.  

There are plenty of premium specs elsewhere, including an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and no less than 12GB of RAM. Furthermore, there’s a high-quality OLED screen with dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. It means the Tab S9 Plus is more high-end than some laptops.

Samsung also includes the S Pen stylus and there’s decent sound by AKG, long software support and lots more to like. Price is the only real thing that counts against it.

The Redmi Pad SE offers value for money that can’t be matched by any tablet – Android or otherwise. It costs just £199 at full price in the UK, yet delivers all the fundamentals of a great tablet.

That includes an attractive design, despite thick bezels around the display. It’s an 11in FHD+ LCD panel here, but the 90Hz refresh rate makes it feel much more premium. Alongside impressive quad speakers, it’s a great tablet for content consumption.

With two-day battery life for most people, this an excellent tablet for the price. But you will have to put up with slow charging, while the combination of bloatware and limited software support are frustrating.

The Tab S9 Ultra represents the absolute pinnacle of Android tablets. It’s too big (14.6in display) and expensive (from £1,199/$1,199) for most people to consider, and even with the keyboard cover it probably won’t replace your laptop.

But if money and size are no objects, it’s a stunning device. The 1848×2960 OLED screen is a joy to use, especially with a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. Performance from an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is almost as good as it gets, and an IP68 rating ensures adequate protection from water and dust.

The included S Pen is also very good, though it doesn’t dock into the tablet like on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. But that’s hardly surprising, given it’s just 234g and 8.9mm thick.

Aside from price, the lack of Android apps designed for such a big screen remains its biggest limitations. And there’s no 5G support in the US, though it is available in the UK.

It’s taken OnePlus a long time to launch a tablet but the firm’s first effort is a solid one and particularly impressive in some areas.

The display is one of the best features with a market-leading 144Hz refresh rate and the speakers are incredible. Combining these with long battery life means the OnePlus Pad is an excellent choice for all kinds of entertainment in a premium and affordable package.

It’s not perfect though, with only one storage option, no fingerprint scanner and the need to spend extra if you want the official fast charger.

Samsung has long been the go-to company for premium Android tablets, but the Tab P12 Pro is a worthy alternative.

The 12.6in display is its main selling point, as an attractive OLED with 120Hz refresh rate. The included stylus is one of the best around, and charges while magnetically attached to the side of the tablet. With good speakers and some nice Lenovo-specific tweaks to Android, it’s a great choice for media consumption.

However, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 delivers only middling performance, while battery life could be better for the price. The Tab P12 Pro is certainly a good tablet, but it’s not quite best in class.

Excellent budget tablets are hard to come by, but Oppo has done a great job of offering something well worth consideration with its first Western tablet. 

The Pad Air has a stylish and svelte all-metal design with quad speakers and its IPS display is better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. It also has strong battery life making it a reliable device for various tasks. 

Where it falls behind its main rival (shown below) is in the performance department where it’s mediocre and the Pad Air could also do with features like a fingerprint scanner to make it more attractive. 

Google’s latest Android tablet is a bit of an odd one in various ways meaning it might be perfect for you, or not really make much sense. 

The tablet itself is very good, albeit not outstanding in any particular way but you can’t buy it on its own. The device comes with the Charging Speaker Dock turning the slate into a smart display very similar to the Nest Hub Max. 

However, it runs full Android and magnets mean you can take it on and off the stand easily, plus it’s the first-ever tablet with Chromecast. The smart home software isn’t as good as the Nest Hubs and additional docking stations are expensive but it’s an attractive hybrid option if that’s what you’re looking for.

Read our full Google Pixel Tablet review

The regular Tab P12 is much more affordable than its Pro sibling above, but still offers the same core experience.

It means you’re getting a very good 12.7in LCD display for the price, especially when combined with impressive quad stereo speakers. Android still isn’t ideal for productivity, but Lenovo’s tweaks make it great for content consumption.

You can take notes using the included stylus, though the lack of brightness means it’s not a good option for outdoor use. Performance and battery life could also be improved, so there are other options worth considering around this price.

On the whole, Android tablets are relatively large. And while the 10.3in Nokia T21 isn’t quite iPad Mini level, it is one of the more compact devices around.

That display is a 2K IPS LCD panel, meaning it offers plenty of detail, albeit without enough brightness for comfortable outdoor viewing. But battery life is very good, and the software is refreshingly close to ‘stock’ Android.

With a sleek design that makes the Nokia T21 look like a more premium device, there’s a lot to like here. It’s just a shame about the lack of performance from the Unisoc T612 chipset and lack of charger in the box.

It’s a solid choice at this price, but not quite at the level of the Oppo Pad Air.

The Galaxy Tab A8 is well over a year old, but it’s still worth considering.

An attractive design and impressive audio are among its key strengths. The display and the limited internal storage are its biggest shortcomings, holding it back from being an instant affordable media player recommendation, but it still offers respectable battery life and offers an otherwise balanced all-round experience, especially for the price.

It can also be easily found at lower prices than its already low RRP.