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Best Android Tablet for 2023

Which tablet is right for you? Tested and reviewed by CNET, here are our best picks.

Updated on June 12, 2023

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Written by  Alexandra Garrett Joshua Goldman
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Alexandra Garrett Associate Editor
Alexandra is an associate editor on CNET's Performance Optimization team. She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, and interned with CNET's Tech and News teams while in school. Prior to joining CNET full time, Alexandra was a breaking news fellow at Newsweek, where she covered current events and politics.
Expertise Culture, How-To, Tech, Home, Wellness, Money, News
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Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
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$150 at Amazon
cnet-cheap-expensive-03b-amazon-fire-hd-10
Best for basic media consumption
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)
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$800 at Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
Premium Android tablet for work and play
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
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$430 at Samsung
samsuing-tab-1
A great Galaxy Tab for less
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
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$295 at Walmart
lenovo-smart-tab-product-photos-2
Part Android tablet, part smart display
Lenovo Smart Tab P10
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Though Apple's iPad remains the go-to option for tablet buyers worldwide, there are plenty of reasons you might choose to go with an Android device. iPadOS isn't for everyone, and some people prefer the Android operating system, especially because of its features. And that's not to mention the budget-friendly options available that make Android tablets worth considering.

The best Android tablets can meet any casual or professional need, whether you're interested in gaming, drawing or word processing. Some even work with a touchpad or mouse. And if you're already invested in the Android operating system and Android app ecosystem, it makes even more sense.

So if you're looking for a cheap tablet for media consumption or a premium tablet to serve as a laptop substitute, here are our picks for the best tablets running the Android operating system. We update this list periodically, so keep checking back.

cnet-cheap-expensive-03b-amazon-fire-hd-10
$2 at Amazon

Best for basic media consumption

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)

Amazon has come a long way from the first Kindle Fire tablet. The Amazon Fire HD 10 is Amazon's biggest tablet with a 10-inch screen size and powerful speakers. Just like its smaller 8-inch sibling, the Fire HD 8, the tablet is packed with benefits for Prime subscribers making it easy for members to stream and download movies, TV shows and games. Amazon's Fire tablets don't use a pure version of Android, but instead Amazon's Android-based Fire operating system, which pulls apps from the Amazon App Store. You can still get apps from Google Play, but you'll have to install the store yourself -- meaning gaming enthusiasts have access to all of their favorite mobile games for an excellent gaming tablet experience. Also, this is probably the closest thing we have to a budget tablet on this best Android tablet list.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
$8 at Samsung

Premium Android tablet for work and play

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus tablet might be in the middle of the Tab S8 lineup but it is our top pick. The 12.4-inch AMOLED display is bright with excellent color. It's a great size for entertainment and gaming, while big enough for light productivity tasks and still small enough for travel. Updates to Samsung's DeX software even makes the Tab S8 a possible laptop substitute, letting you connect to a mouse and even an external display. A keyboard cover isn't included but one of Samsung's fantastic S Pens is, so you can use the big screen for note-taking and content creation right out of the box. 

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samsuing-tab-1
$4 at Samsung

A great Galaxy Tab for less

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE

Despite its more attainable price compared to the $850 Tab S7 Plus, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE retains an upscale feel. The S7 FE is the same size as the Plus, with a 1.3-pound aluminum body and slim bezels around its 12.4-inch display that has a 2,560x1,600-pixel resolution. Samsung carefully trimmed the features of the Plus, such as going from four stereo speakers to two and switching from an AMOLED display to an LCD screen. The result is a big-screen Android tablet that still performs well and has a premium look and feel for significantly less money. 

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$3 at Walmart

Part Android tablet, part smart display

Lenovo Smart Tab P10

The Lenovo Smart Tab P10 combines a tablet and a smart display into one 10-inch device. This Lenovo tablet comes with Android Oreo, front and rear cameras, fingerprint scanner and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor. When you set it on the dock, the Lenovo Tab becomes a smart display a lot like the Amazon Echo Show.

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