Finding the right tablet for your needs can be an arduous task, given the overwhelming number of options available. Whether you’re looking for a device for content creation, casual video scrolling, or gaming, the average consumer is spoiled for choice. We spent the past year evaluating the best tablets on the market and have compiled our top picks for the Best Tablets of 2025.
With entries from Samsung, Apple, OnePlus, and more, we tested a wide range of tablets this year. With accessories like styluses, keyboards with touchpads, and additional features, tablets have evolved far beyond being just oversized smartphones. Here are some excerpts from our top choices to highlight the Best Tablets of 2025.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra Tablet
Looking at the specs on the Tab S9 Ultra, we see incremental hardware changes from the previous model and a few of what some people may consider downgrades. The S9 Ultra and its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, are the same size, with the S9 Ultra weighing only a few grams more than the 5G version of the S8 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has a dynamic AMOLED 2x 120Hz 14.6” display compared to the S8 Ultra’s Super AMOLED screen of the same size.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series is the first in the Galaxy S series of tablets to offer water and dust resistance, including a water-resistant S Pen. Its Vision Booster also uses an algorithm to adjust the screen’s contrast and colour to keep your screen visible and boost the tablet’s capabilities beyond its 980 nit brightness. I can tell you that, through its use, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra screen’s vibrance in all environments has been phenomenal and beyond what the specs may suggest.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra tablet’s fantastic display, big sound, gaming capability and lightning-fast performance—even when multi-tasking—are, like the physical tablet, larger than life. Its biggest drawback is the fact that it is not making giant technological leaps that appeal to customers and its failure to market what might make the latest and greatest device worth the price of the upgrade. But, even with small steps, it’s still further ahead of its predecessor, making it the best in its class, no matter what.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is easily the best large tablet on the market right now, but the price can be a concern for many consumers who might not utilize everything it has to offer.
OnePlus Pad 2 Tablet
I have been a OnePlus user since I began at CGMagazine, and a world of smartphone options that weren’t Samsung or Apple opened up to me. The brand consistently balances power, function and price to bring something to the table that can blow other brands out of the water. Since their venture into tablets with the OnePlus Pad over a year ago, I have been excited for their second attempt, as the company only gets better with each new model. I am happy to say that the OnePlus Pad 2 does not disappoint and builds on an already great device.
The display, performance and battery life on the OnePlus Pad 2 were completely outstanding, and the audio, though not the best out there—I preferred the richer sound on my OnePlus 12 smartphone, to be honest—was perfectly serviceable for meetings, media and games. Gaming was smooth, didn’t completely destroy the battery, and nothing ever overheated, plus multiple game modes allowed me to tweak gameplay as I saw fit
One thing I can brag about regarding the OnePlus Pad 2 is its absolutely incredible battery life. I tried with everything in me to kill the 9,510 mAh battery in real-world use, and it was HARD. I left videos playing for hours on full brightness, gamed for extended periods of time, and scrolled to my heart’s content. In testing with gaming at full brightness, it seemed to lose about 20 percent every hour or so, giving around five hours of straight gaming. When using it for literally anything else, including media, you won’t ever kill the OnePlus Pad 2 in a day.
The OnePlus Pad 2 is by far the best tablet you can get in this price range, but its value is brought down by an accessory that just doesn’t live up to its quality or ease-of-use.
- Powerful Performance: The OnePlus Pad, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and Qualcomm Adreno GPU, delivers 25% faster graphics and improved efficiency for unmatched gaming and streaming.
- Large Storage & Durability: Enjoy 12GB RAM and 256GB ROM storage in the sleek, all-metal OnePlus android tablet. Its anodized finish ensures durability, a scratch-free look, and long-lasting performance.
Redmi Pad Pro
Xiaomi has been on a roll lately. With a number of new devices hitting the market across several brands, all aimed at a range of price points and audiences, they offer fantastic performance for the cost of entry, and the Redmi Pad Pro is no different. This is a tablet that feels tailor-made for those looking for a big-screen experience without breaking the bank. Developed by Xiaomi’s Redmi sub-brand, this tablet boasts a generous 12.1-inch display and a range of features that make it an interesting option for both casual users and productivity-oriented enthusiasts.
While I was impressed with what the Redmi Pad Pro brings to the table overall, especially for the price, perhaps the most impressive feature is its massive 10,000mAh battery. This capacity translates into excellent endurance, allowing the tablet to last for days on a single charge with moderate use. Even with heavy use, the Redmi Pad Pro can comfortably go a full day without being plugged in. The massive battery, combined with a slightly less power-hungry SoC, means the Redmi Pad Pro sips power, giving you more life even when pushing the tablet with gaming, browsing or even just making TikToks. The tablet supports 33W fast charging, which can quickly recharge the battery when needed.
With its impressive display, solid performance, long-lasting battery life, and support for accessories like the Redmi Smart Pen and Keyboard, the tablet is a fantastic choice for those who want to break free from lugging around a laptop but aren’t ready to take the plunge into more expensive offerings. The Redmi Pad Pro is a great tablet, and despite some minor annoyances and a lack of refinements compared to more expensive offerings, it manages to impress in the ways that matter most.
Despite lacking some of the features found on more expensive tablets, the Redmi Pad Pro is an excellent budget-friendly choice for those looking for a big-screen mobile experience.
- WIFI Version, NO SIM CARD. GLOBAL VERSION GLOBAL ROM FCC ID: 2AFZZPFDL
- 12.1″ 2.5K(2560 x 1600) display at 249 ppi¹ / 120Hz AdaptiveSync refresh rate² / Brightness: 500 nits, HBM 600 nits / Color Depth: 12-bit, 68.7 billion colors / 1500:1 contrast ratio / Supports Dolby Vision / TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) Certified / TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified / TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certified / Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Screen Protection.
iPad Pro M4
With the iPad, Apple changed the way people interact with tablets and paved the way for a whole new way to create and consume media. With the iPad Pro M4, Apple has pushed the boundaries even further, delivering one of the most powerful and thin portable computing devices the company has ever created. The Apple iPad Pro M4 is a device that doesn’t just push the boundaries of what a tablet can do; it redefines the category. Unveiled at Apple’s recent Let Loose event, this tablet is a testament to Apple’s relentless pursuit of innovation, combining portability, performance and advanced features in an almost futuristic way.
To take advantage of the raw horsepower, Apple has paired the M4 chip with a truly stunning display. Both sizes feature what Apple calls “the world’s most advanced display”—a new Ultra Retina XDR display with state-of-the-art tandem OLED technology. This breakthrough display uses two OLED panels, combining the light from both to provide phenomenal full-screen brightness, inky blacks, and vibrant colours. The result is a display that’s not just beautiful to look at but also incredibly accurate, with support for a wide colour gamut and HDR. For those who need it, there’s even a new nano-texture glass option to reduce glare, making it easier to work in bright environments.
The iPad Pro M4 is an innovative device that redefines the tablet experience. Its combination of portability, performance, and advanced features make it an essential tool for anyone who wants the ultimate creative workspace on the go. Whether you’re a designer, photographer, filmmaker, or simply someone who appreciates the best in technology, the iPad Pro M4 is a device that will exceed your expectations.
Apple’s iPad Pro M4 blurs the lines between tablets and computers, offering a powerhouse tool for creatives and professionals alike.
- WHY IPAD PRO — iPad Pro is the ultimate iPad experience in an impossibly thin and light design. Featuring the breakthrough Ultra Retina XDR display, outrageous performance from the M4 chip, superfast wireless connectivity,* and compatibility with Apple Pencil Pro.* Plus powerful productivity features in iPadOS.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE—Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data—not even Apple.*
POCO Pad Tablet
The POCO Pad’s aluminum frame and back make it a sturdy tablet, as does its Gorilla Glass 3 screen. It has a 12.1-inch screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 2560×1600 pixels, an AdaptiveSync refresh rate of up to 120Hz and 600 nits of HBM (High Brightness Mode) brightness, which makes the screen easy to read even in bright conditions. It has 12-bit colour depth with 68.7 billion colours and is Dolby Vision compatible. The sound is great, too, with four speakers and Dolby Atmos support. The POCO Pad even has a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired sound, which is not often found on newer devices.
What’s great about the POCO Pad is its seamless integration with other POCO Devices. Connecting to your POCO Phone, you can use Home Screen + which lets you access everything on your phone, including apps, on the tablet. You can even drag and drop content from your phone onto your tablet instantly. A shared clipboard allows you to copy text from one device and paste it to the other and, using the Notes app, you can insert pictures taken on your phone directly onto documents being created on the tablet. This level of connectivity makes owning the devices as a complete ecosystem very attractive.
The question when buying the tablet, whether for yourself or for your kids, is whether those upgrades are worth paying twice the price. Unless you are trying to do some more serious gaming or delve into some heavy multimedia productivity, my answer would be no. The POCO Pad is a perfect budget tablet for casual users.
The POCO Pad is an excellent tablet for people who want a tablet for everyday use. It has good performance, amazing battery life and a price tag that won’t leave you with buyer’s remorse.
- WIFI Version, NO SIM CARD. GLOBAL VERSION GLOBAL ROM FCC ID: 2AFZZCFBG
- Size: 12.1″, 16:10 aspect ratioResolution: 2560 x 1600 249 ppiMaterial: LCDRefresh rate: 120Hz AdaptiveSync (30/48/50/60/90/120Hz)Brightness: 500 nits (typ)；600 nits (HBM)Touch sampling rate: up to 240Hz *240Hz is based on using Redmi Smart PenScreen-to-body ratio：83.6%Contrast ratio: 1500:1Color depth: 12-bit, 68.7 billion colorsDimming: 4096 levels brightness adjustment, DC dimmingDolby VisionAdaptive colorsAdaptive reading modeTÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) CertifiedTÜV Rheinland Flicker Free CertifiedTÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly CertifiedCorning Gorilla Glass 3
