September 2023

Tablets: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of tablets rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2023.

Summary

On 3 Sep 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 98 tablet endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

40 tablets were endorsed in total, only 19 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)

As of 3 Sep 2023, Apple iPad Air (2022) takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed tablet with 9 expert endorsements. 7 experts out of 9 recommended it as the '#1 tablet' this month.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking tablets start at $34.08 (Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)) and go up to $1919 (Google Pixel Fold). Median tablet costs $478 (OnePlus Pad).
$34.08
$1919

At a glance - September Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Tablet
TechRadar
T3
Tom's Guide
Laptop Mag
Digital Trends
PCMag
WIRED
What Hi-Fi
Wirecutter
techadvisor
1
- $559
Apple iPad Air (2022)
The Apple iPad Air (2022) receives positive reviews for its display, performance, and connectivity options, making it a versatile and powerful tablet for various use cases.
4
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
-
1
2
- $270
Apple iPad 9th Gen (2021)
The Apple iPad 9th Gen (2021) has received positive reviews for its display quality, performance, and storage options, making it a versatile tablet for various use cases.
10
2
-
2
3
-
1
5
1
3
3
- $469
Apple iPad Mini 6 2021
The Apple iPad Mini 6 2021 has received positive reviews for its display, performance, battery life, audio quality, storage options, and connectivity, making it a versatile and powerful tablet.
-
5
9
9
5
3
11
6
-
4
4
- $399
Apple iPad 10th Gen (2022)
The Apple iPad 10th Gen (2022) has received positive reviews for its display, performance, audio quality, and connectivity options, making it a versatile device for various use cases.
8
7
7
5
-
2
2
4
-
-
5
- $478
OnePlus Pad
The OnePlus Pad has received positive reviews for its impressive display, performance, battery life, audio quality, and connectivity options, making it a versatile tablet for various tasks.
7
6
2
3
-
-
3
-
-
9
6
- $499
Google Pixel Tablet
The Google Pixel Tablet offers a good display, fast performance, excellent battery life, impressive audio quality, and sufficient storage options, making it a great choice for casual users.
6
4
8
4
-
10
6
-
-
-
7
+1 $850
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is praised for its high-quality display, solid performance for everyday tasks, good battery life, clear audio quality, storage options, and comprehensive connectivity options, making it a versatile and portable device suitable for multimedia consumption and light productivity work.
-
10
6
-
10
-
12
-
-
7
8
+1 $1049
iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is praised for its outstanding display, performance, battery life, audio quality, storage options, and connectivity, making it a versatile and powerful tablet for various use cases.
1
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
9
+1 $120
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)
The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) is a well-received tablet with a vibrant display, strong performance, impressive battery life, and flexible storage options, making it a solid choice for entertainment-focused users.
-
-
-
-
-
4
4
3
-
-
10
+1 Check price
Apple iPad Pro 5 (2021)
The Apple iPad Pro 5 (2021) is highly praised for its exceptional display quality, powerful performance, and impressive audio capabilities, making it an ideal choice for professionals and enthusiasts who prioritize visual excellence and a luxurious media experience.
-
-
5
-
6
-
-
-
2
-
11
+2 $100
Amazon Fire HD 8 2022
The Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 tablet offers decent display quality, good performance, impressive audio, and ample storage options, making it a budget-friendly option for general multimedia consumption.
-
-
-
-
-
9
7
-
4
-
12
+2 $50
Amazon Fire 7
The Amazon Fire 7 tablet has a basic display and average audio quality, but its performance, battery life, and storage options make it suitable for casual media consumption and reading e-books.
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
13
-6 $616
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 has received positive reviews for its impressive display, performance, battery life, audio quality, storage options, and connectivity features, making it a reliable choice for entertainment, productivity, and immersive audio experiences.
-
-
-
7
-
-
-
-
3
-
14
-2 $1250
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a highly praised tablet that offers exceptional display quality, impressive performance, good battery life, excellent audio capabilities, and flexible storage options, making it a top choice for users who prioritize these features in a tablet.
3
9
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
15
- Check price
Lenovo Tab P11 Pro
The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is a high-end Android tablet with a stunning display, powerful performance, impressive audio quality, ample storage, and a comprehensive range of connectivity options, making it ideal for media consumption and everyday tasks.
-
-
-
-
4
-
8
-
-
-
16
New * $1780
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a highly praised tablet with a stunning display, powerful performance, impressive audio capabilities, and versatile connectivity options, making it suitable for a wide range of tasks and activities.
-
-
4
-
-
-
10
-
-
-
17
-1 Check price
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)
The Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021) has received highly positive reviews for its vibrant display, exceptional performance, impressive battery life, and comprehensive features, making it suitable for power users and professionals.
5
-
10
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
18
-1 Check price
Fire HD 8 Kids Edition
The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet is well-received by experts, offering a good display, performance, battery life, audio quality, storage, and connectivity for children's use.
-
-
-
-
9
-
9
-
-
-
19
- Check price
reMarkable 2
The reMarkable 2 tablet is praised for its paper-like display and realistic writing experience, but lacks features such as backlighting and strong connectivity.
-
-
11
-
-
-
-
-
-
10

; ; ;
#12 $49.99 Amazon Fire 7
#11 $99.99 Amazon Fire HD 8 2022
#9 $119.99 Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)
#2 $269.99 Apple iPad 9th Gen (2021)
#4 $399 Apple iPad 10th Gen (2022)
#3 $469 Apple iPad Mini 6 2021
#5 $478 OnePlus Pad
#6 $499 Google Pixel Tablet
#1 $559 Apple iPad Air (2022)
#13 $616.35 Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
#7 $849.99 Microsoft Surface Pro 9
#8 $1049 iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)
#14 $1249.99 Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
#16 $1780 Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

We ranked Apple iPad Air (2022) #1 in September 2023 because:

  • 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
  • Out of those, 7 experts ranked Apple iPad Air (2022) as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

A more affordable version of the iPad Pro

Speedy performance
Great design

Limited storage
Quite pricey

Go to ranking

T3

The best tablet for most people

Astounding M1 chip is superfast
Great 10.9-inch screen
A wealth of tablet-optimised apps

iPadOS can limit creative work
60Hz screen refresh rate

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best tablet for everyone

Thin and elegant design
Sharp, colorful display
Speedy M1-powered performance
Long battery life
Solid 12MP cameras

Peripherals are expensive

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

The best overall tablet

Sleek design with thin bezels
A14 Bionic chip delivers excellent performance
Good battery life
Loud, clear speakers

Accessories are expensive add-ons
No Face ID or headphone jack

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best tablet overall

High-performance M1 processor
Slim and light
Software suitable for work or play
Large, colorful, and sharp screen
Wide array of quality accessories
Center Stage works well

64GB storage isn't enough
Battery life disappoints

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best iPad for Creators and Students Editors' Choice

Excellent performance
Works with second-gen Apple Pencil
Fits existing iPad cases and keyboards
Light and easy to carry

Battery life could be longer
No millimeter-wave 5G support

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Upgrade

Go to ranking

What Hi-Fi

An astonishingly powerful Air and the best iPad for most people

Still a lovely design
Extraordinarily powerful
The same great picture and sound

Poor placement of front camera
Nearly no change to AV performance

Go to ranking

techadvisor

Best overall

Great design
Large display
Compatible with Pro accessories

Awkward Touch ID placement
A little pricey
Thick bezels

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple iPad 9th Gen (2021) #2 in September 2023 because:

  • 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Apple iPad 9th Gen (2021) as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

A great basic iPad

Excellent value
Upgraded selfie camera

Only iPad without Face ID
Doesn’t support newer accessories

Go to ranking

T3

The best budget tablet is exceptional value for money

It's the best value iPad
Apple Pencil support
With the latest iPadOS software

No landscape stereo speakers
Apple Pencil is the more awkward first version
Aging design

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

The best cheap tablet

Outstanding performance at this price
Excellent battery life
Bright, vivid 10.2-inch display

Recycled design
Not compatible with Magic Keyboard/Pencil Gen 2
Lacks Wi-Fi 6 or 5G support

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best value tablet

Great battery life
Powerful internals
Big upgrade to the front-facing camera
Amazing software support
Base storage more acceptable at 64GB

Display doesn't get bright enough
Lightning port in 2021
Slow Touch ID sensor

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best for Most People

Go to ranking

What Hi-Fi

Can't afford the latest iPad? The previous model represents excellent value for money

Excellent picture quality
Refined sound for headphone listening
Sophisticated front camera

Short on meaningful upgrades
Design starting to look dated

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

The best tablet for most people

Go to ranking

techadvisor

Best Value

Affordable
Large display
Great performance

Dated design
Lacklustre cameras
Middling speakers

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend tablets.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of tablets, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for September 2023 ranking

We ranked Apple iPad Mini 6 2021 #3 in September 2023 because:

  • 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
T3

The best small tablet you can buy

So portable and light
Packed with power
Apple Pencil 2nd Gen support

Screen size limited for working
No Smart Connector for keyboards

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best tiny tablet

Super-portable, light design
Speedy A15 Bionic processor
Sharp and bright display

No Magic Keyboard or headphone jack
Pricey

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Our favorite small tablet

Compact size enables single-handed use
Fast performance from A15 Bionic
Sharp and bright display

Magic Keyboard isn't supported
Apple Pencil Gen 2 sold separately

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best small tablet

Big enough to perform most tasks
Compact enough to travel easily
Powerful performance
Loud speakers
USB-C

Screen is not bright enough
Too small for content creation
No headphone jack

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Small iPad

Excellent performance
Long battery life
Works with second-generation Apple Pencil

No multi-user option in iPadOS
Pricier than previous model

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Portable Tablet

Go to ranking

What Hi-Fi

The littlest, 8-inch-screen iPad is small but mighty

Much improved build
Engaging audio
Punchy picture

No headphones socket
Some compromised tonal detail

Go to ranking

techadvisor

Best Small Tablet

Compact design
Apple Pencil support
Superb performance

A little pricey
No Magic Keyboard support

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple iPad 10th Gen (2022) #4 in September 2023 because:

  • 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best all-around iPad

Beautiful mini-LED screen
Future-proof M2 chip

128GB is small for the price
Battery life isn't huge

Go to ranking

T3

Banish the bezel with this great entry-level iPad

All-new design ups the entry-level iPad
Bigger screen than predecessor
Finally, USB charging!

Other iPads have better screens (brighter, faster refresh)
The 9th Gen model is much cheaper

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best regular iPad in years

Sleeker design with slimmer bezels
Fast A14 Bionic processor
Long battery life
Comfy Magic Keyboard with touchpad
Cellular upgraded to 5G

More expensive that previous model
Apple Pencil awkward to charge
Just 64GB of storage
Doesn’t support Stage Manager in iPadOS 16

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

The best mid-range iPad

Powerful performance
Solid display
Killer speakers
Great Apple Pencil

Subpar battery life
Magic Folio is ugly
Expensive accessories

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best iPad for Most People / Editors' Choice

Appealing iPad Pro-like design
USB-C port
Relocated webcam
Higher-quality cameras
Improved speakers
Faster performance

Higher price than previous model
Loses traditional Touch ID button
No Face ID

Go to ranking

WIRED

A More Modern iPad

Go to ranking

What Hi-Fi

A great tablet for multi-tasking and watching movies, packed into a slick new design

Sharp and detailed display
Excellent sound
Lovely design

More expensive than predecessor
No 3.5mm headphone socket
No HDR

Go to ranking

We ranked OnePlus Pad #5 in September 2023 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

Best flagship Android tablet

Display is sharper than iPad Pro
A flagship tablet priced like a cheaper model
Big battery and faster charging

Performance doesn’t match best phones
One option for storage, RAM, color
Stylo pen is pricey, needs charging

Go to ranking

T3

The best premium Android tablet

Smooth and bright display
Powerful internals
Fast charging

Very weak cameras
Android tablets don't have the best OS

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best Android tablet overall

Incredible battery life
Comfortable curved edges
Sharp front and rear cameras
Fast performance

Mediocre speaker quality

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

The best Android tablet for most people

Excellent design and build quality
Powerful, smooth performance
Gorgeous display
Excellent audio
Great magnetically attaching keyboard and Stylo Pen

Collects fingerprints
Android Tablets lack of tablet-specific apps

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Android Tablet

Go to ranking

techadvisor

Best Speakers

Stunning 144Hz display
Superb speakers
Impressive performance
Solid battery life

Hit-and-miss software
Only one storage option
No cellular option
80W charger sold separately in UK

Go to ranking

We ranked Google Pixel Tablet #6 in September 2023 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

Most fun Android tablet

Great value for a tablet and speaker dock combo
Home screen controls are useful and improving
Excellent sound for immersive audio

Android still seems a phone OS shoehorned into a tablet
Soft-touch back picks up dirt and fingerprints
Smaller than the ‘11-inch’ marketing makes it see

Go to ranking

T3

The best tablet for home

Dock included for home hub-like use
Decent battery life when off the dock

Dock inclusion won't suit all
Screen only has 60Hz refresh rate

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best tablet for the smart home

Charging dock a useful accessory
Good photo quality
Strong photo editing features

Average performance
Few productivity accessories available

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

The best Android tablet for casual users

Slick, stylish design
Good audio performance
Fast, zippy performance
Seamless dock integration
Excellent battery life

Lacks some typical tablet accessories
Charging Speaker Dock could do more

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best for Doubling as Smart Display

Solid Android tablet
Flawless audio hand-off
Good sound from Speaker Dock

Expensive
Speaker Dock has limited functionality
Hub Mode could do more

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Tablet and Smart Display Combo

Go to ranking

We ranked Microsoft Surface Pro 9 #7 in September 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
T3

The best tablet for work

13-inch screen with 120Hz refresh rate
HD webcam and 4K rear camera

Not as powerful as elsewhere
No MicroSD card slot

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best Windows 11 tablet

Slim and light design
Responsive touchscreen
Works well as a laptop or tablet

Unremarkable display
Same old design
Slim Pen 2 and Signature keyboard sold separately

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best Windows tablet

New colors look great
Design and build quality are top notch
SQ3 is a solid alternative
Type Cover keyboard is excellent
High resolution webcam

No headphone jack
Upgrades still too expensive
Limited performance improvements

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Laptop/Tablet Hybrid

Go to ranking

techadvisor

Best Windows Tablet

Solid battery life
Premium design
Great keyboard cover and stylus
Excellent webcam

Poor performance on ARM models
Limited ports
Expensive

Go to ranking

We ranked iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) #8 in September 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best iPad by far

Beautiful mini-LED screen
Future-proof M2 chip

128GB is small for the price
Battery life isn't huge

Go to ranking

T3

The best premium tablet, full stop

Unbelievably powerful and slick
Great battery life
The best tablet screen ever

No change in typical brightness
iPadOS can be limiting
Face ID is awkward at times

Go to ranking

techadvisor

Best for Creatives

Unmatched performance
Excellent range of features
Mini-LED screen

Expensive, especially in the UK
Not many apps take advantage of M2
Similar to previous-gen

Go to ranking

We ranked Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) #9 in September 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
PCMag

Best Tablet Under $150 / Editors' Choice

Fast processor for the price
Plenty of RAM
Acts as an Alexa smart display

Poor app selection
Very Amazon-centric interface

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Tablet Under $200

Go to ranking

What Hi-Fi

A bigger, more premium and ultimately great value tablet

Strong, punchy picture
Very able for audio
Terrific value

Designed to sell subscriptions

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple iPad Pro 5 (2021) #10 in September 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best tablet for power users, period

XDR display gets super bright
M1 processor sets new iPadOS records
Center Stage is pretty cool

Display needs HDR content to look its best
Expensive with accessories

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best big tablet

Sleek and modern design
Bright, vivid, gorgeous display
Wild performance from the M2 chip
Apple Pencil hover feature
iPadOS 16 is super robust

Stage Manager needs more work
Lackluster, awkward front camera
Prohibitively expensive

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

For pro-level performance and a massive screen

Go to ranking

We ranked Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 #11 in September 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
PCMag

Best Tablet Under $100

Vibrant screen
Good battery life
Lightweight

Sluggish performance
$10 more than the previous model
Limited app selection

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Tablet Under $100

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

A cheap tablet for streaming media

Go to ranking

We ranked Amazon Fire 7 #12 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best tablet for those on a budget

Fast for its price
Hyper affordable
Finally, hands-free Alexa

Lots of Amazon ads
Low-res display

Go to ranking

What Hi-Fi

A cheap everyday tablet that nails the basics

Superb value
Balanced and natural picture quality
Solid wired audio

Standard-def screen isn't very sharp
Weak mono speaker

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 #13 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Laptop Mag

The best Android tablet

Improved S pen
Great speakers
5G support

No headphone jack

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

Best Android tablet for most people

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra #14 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best Android tablet

Very powerful
Giant screen can be useful

Unwieldy to transport
Incredibly expensive

Go to ranking

T3

The best tablet with a big screen

Huge 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display
S Pen included in the box
Latest 4nm processor

Not particularly portable
Average battery life

Go to ranking

We ranked Lenovo Tab P11 Pro #15 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

Best value Android tablet

Slim and lightweight aluminum
Sleek dual-tone design
Beautiful 11.2-inch 2.5K OLED display
Quad speaker system with support for Dolby Atmos
Great battery life

Front camera is terrible
Uses Android 12, Android 12L coming later
Only up to 6GB of RAM

Go to ranking

WIRED

A Cheaper Android Tablet

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra #16 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best Android tablet when you absolutely need the biggest screen possible

Gorgeous 14.6-inch OLED display
Slim, lightweight design
Fast performance

Pricey compared to the competition
DeX mode is a poor Windows 11 imitation

Go to ranking

WIRED

Luxe Android Tablets

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021) #17 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The second best 11-inch iPad

Desktop PC-level performance
Good battery life

iPadOS doesn't utilize the power of M1
Doesn’t feature a Mini LED display

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best tablet for power users on the go

Fantastic screen
Epic battery life
M1 processor is blazing-fast

12.9-inch iPad Pro's display is better
iPadOS feels limited with M1 power

Go to ranking

We ranked Fire HD 8 Kids Edition #18 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

Best tablet for kids

Curated age-appropriate content
Generous 2-year warranty
Easy parental controls
Rugged case
Decent battery life

Locked into Amazon ecosystem
Some content requires internet access

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Kids Tablet

Go to ranking

We ranked reMarkable 2 #19 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best tablets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best tablet for writers

Amazingly slim design
Faster stylus input
Excellent writing feel

More expensive than an iPad
Just for writing and reading, no apps

Go to ranking

techadvisor

Best E-Ink

Thin, light and stylish
Excellent pen input
Powerful companion app
Continued software updates

Pen not included
Subscription unlocks all features
Very occasional software gripes
No backlight

Go to ranking