The best Android tablets: Forget the iPad

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra tech specs: Display: 14.6-inch, 120Hz, Super AMOLED 2,960 x 1,848 display | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, microSD up to 1TB | Memory: 8GB, 12GB, 16GB | Colors: Graphite | Cameras: 13MP and 6MP rear. 12MP and 12MP ultrawide front camera | Weight: 1.6 lbs | Dimensions: 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 inches | Connections: USB-C | Battery: 11,200mAh

The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the biggest and best tablet in Samsung's lineup. Samsung announced the new tablet in February 2022. It features a 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display, runs Android 12, and comes with Samsung's S Pen stylus included in the box. 

The base model comes with 8GB of memory, 128GB of storage, and a microSD card for adding up to an extra 1TB of storage to the tablet. You can also fully kit out the Tab S8 Ultra with 512GB of storage and 16GB of memory. 

Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

ZDNET Contributor Matthew Miller went hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and called it a "nice demonstration of Samsung's technical innovation."

"The hardware itself is stunning, and it was a joy to use the monstrous Super AMOLED display with minimal bezels," he added. "I love that Samsung also includes the S Pen in the box."

With a tablet this large, you're most likely considering it as a laptop replacement. That means you'll want to pick up the $349 book cover keyboard. Once connected, you can use Samsung DeX on the S8 Ultra, effectively turning the tablet into an Android 2-in-1 device with plenty of space for multitasking and using more than one app at a time. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus tech specs: Display: 12.4-inch, 120Hz, Super AMOLED 2,800 x 1,752 display | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, microSD up to 1TB | Memory: 8GB | Colors: Graphite, silver, pink gold | Cameras: 13MP and 6MP rear, 12MP ultrawide front camera | Weight: 1.27 lb | Dimensions: 11.22 x 7.28 x 0.22 inches | Connections: USB-C | Battery: 10,090mAh

The Galaxy Tab S8 Plus was intended to be a second-level tablet in the Galaxy S8 line of tablets. The specs are similar to that of the S8 Ultra, but the Tab S8 Plus costs $200 less. This tablet features a screen that is 2.2 inches smaller than the S8 Ultra, but both models have the same Super AMOLED display and refresh rate. 

Included with the purchase of this tablet is Samsung's S Pen that provides a realistic paper-on-pen experience. In addition, you can add the $229 keyboard accessory to the tablet, turning it into a DeX-powered 2-in-1 that you can use to hammer out emails, crush work reports, or watch your favorite YouTube channel. 

Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus

ZDNET Editor June Wan labels this Samsung tablet as the "best Android tablet on the market." 

"The Plus size, which is armed with similar hardware and software features as the Ultra, currently starts at $829 on Samsung's website," he said. "Save for the extra front-facing camera and larger display and battery size, you're getting a near-identical, flagship tablet experience for hundreds of dollars less."

Though photography on a tablet isn't incredibly popular, Samsung has included a 13MP standard camera along with a 6MP ultra-wide camera so you can capture all the content your creative heart desires. Additionally, when playing back videos, you can listen through the tablet's 4 AKG Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos technology for high-quality entertainment.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 tech specs: Display: 11-inch, 120Hz 2560 x 1600 display | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Storage: 128GB, 256GB | Memory: 8GB, 12GB | Colors: Graphite, silver, pink gold | Cameras: 13MP, 6MP ultra-wide, 12MP ultrawide front camera | Weight: 1.1 lbs | Dimensions: 9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 inches | Connections: USB-C | Battery: 8,000mAh

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is the third new Samsung tablet. The Tab S8 comes with 8GB or 12GB of memory and starts at 128GB of storage which can be expanded by up to 1TB thanks to microSD card support. Inside the Tab S8 is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. 

The 11-inch LCD display is compact enough to make the tablet portable. The tablet's high resolution also ensures display clarity, so you'll be happy watching your favorite shows or gaming on it. 

If you purchase the optional $199 keyboard cover, you can take advantage of Samsung's DeX platform that essentially turns the S8 into an Android-powered laptop, with apps showing up as small windows instead of full-screen. 

Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Miller also tested this base Tab S8 model, saying it was an enjoyable experience. 

"I enjoy using Samsung DeX with the tablet, especially now with the full second screen support for VMware," he added. "Samsung has put a lot of work into optimizing the tablet experience and it is not as bad as some make it out to be. All Samsung apps work very well on the tablet and many are also optimized to show split-screen views for improved productivity."

Included in the box with the S8 is an S Pen that you can use to write or draw in your favorite apps, just like you can with the Samsung Galaxy Note lineup. 

Lenovo Tab P11 Plus tech specs: Display: 11-inch, 2000 x 1200 display | Processor: MediaTek Helio G90T | Storage: 128GB | Memory: 4GB, 6GB | Colors: Slate grey | Cameras: 13MP rear, 8MP front camera | Weight: 1.08 lb | Dimensions: 6.42 x 10.17 x 0.3 inches | Connections: USB-C | Battery: 7,700mAh

Though Lenovo isn't a major name in the tablet industry, the company's newest tablets are excellent alternatives to expensive Apple and Samsung units. The Lenovo Tab P11 Plus has an impressive 2K resolution, 400 nits of brightness, and four stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, so you can view your favorite shows and movies just about anywhere. 

Streaming content requires a long-lasting battery life. Fortunately, this Lenovo tablet contains a 7700mAh battery that can hold up to 15 hours of charge. That being said, you can work, stream, or play all day without worrying about battery life depletion.

With access to the Google Play Store, you can gain access to work applications, games, streaming services, and so much more. Though you'd likely want a higher-end tablet for work, Lenovo offers a keyboard attachment and the Lenovo Precision Pen 2.

Review: Lenovo Tab P11 Plus

Wan said that the Lenovo Tab P11 rivals more premium competitors at a much cheaper price. 

"I'm a big fan of how sharp and accurate the colors are on the Tab P11 Plus, especially for a tablet that costs $259," he said. "For an IPS panel, viewing angles were consistent to look at, and there wasn't the color-shifting issue that I'd normally find on cheaper displays."

OnePlus Pad tech specs: Display: 11.61-inch, 144Hz refresh rate, LCD 2,800x2,000 display | Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Mobile Platform | Storage: 128GB | Memory: 8GB | Colors: Halo green | Cameras: 13MP rear. 8MP front camera | Weight: 555 grams | Dimensions: 189.41 x 258.03 x 6.54mm | Connections: USB-C | Battery: 9,510mAh

OnePlus is better known for its smartphone lineup where the company has led the way with producing phones that include a ton of features and performance while undercutting the competition when it comes to cost. And for the most part, that's exactly what's happened with the OnePlus Pad. 

This Android-powered tablet has month-long battery standby (I tested it), along with impressive daily battery life. It is quick and snappy for daily tasks like checking your email, playing games or browsing the web, all on a display that looks fantastic. 

And you get that experience for $479. Not too shabby. 

OnePlus also sells a keyboard case and a stylus for the OnePlus Pad, which more or less turns the OnePlus Pad into an iPad Pro dupe. And that's where the stellar Pad experience starts to struggle. 

Trackpad gestures and navigation are finicky, and a lot of the same interface features -- such as the mouse pointer -- on the OnePlus Pad come straight from Apple's iPadOS interface for the same feature. If you're looking for an Android tablet that's better suited for productivity, Lenovo or Samsung are where you want to focus your efforts. 

That said, if you're looking for a tablet that's great for keeping you entertained with very light work, then the OnePlus Pad and its 11.61-inch 2.8K display are worth a long look.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 tech specs: Display: 8-inch, 1200 x 800 display | Processor: Qualcomm SDM 429 | Storage: 32GB or 64GB | Colors: Silver, black | Cameras: 8MP rear, 2MP front camera | Weight: 345g | Dimensions: 8.27 x 4.90 x 0.31 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB 2.0 | Battery: 5,100mAh

Samsung's entry-level Galaxy Tab A8 is a compact tablet that can hold its own against higher-end models. It's not going to blow you away with overall performance, but it is more than capable of running your favorite apps, handling some light gaming, and streaming your favorite shows.

It has a 5,100mAh battery, 32GB of included storage, microSD support up to 512GB, and a quad-core processor. Color options include black and silver. 

Again, you're not going to be overly impressed with this particular model, but it's more than capable of keeping your kids entertained. It's also great if you want to use it as a Kindle, check your email, or stream your favorite Netflix series. 

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tech specs: Display: 8-inch, 1280 x 800 display | Processor: Quad-core 2.0GHz | Storage: 32GB or 64GB | Memory: 3GB | Colors: Black | Cameras: 2MP front and rear | Weight: 12.5oz | Dimensions: 8.0 by 5.4 by 0.4 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C | Battery: 12 hours

Gone are the boxy and square tablets from Amazon. The company completely redesigned the Fire HD 8 lineup with a more rounded look and feel. There are actually two new tablets: the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus. 

I am including only the HD 8 Plus in this list because it's worth the extra $20 for added memory and support for wireless charging. 

The Fire HD 8 runs Amazon's Fire OS. It runs Android apps, but you're limited to apps that are available in Amazon's own Appstore. Like with most tablets in this price range, performance can be sluggish at times, but you'll have no issues shopping, browsing Facebook, or checking your email on the Fire HD 8 Plus. 

Review: Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus

Wan called the Amazon Fire HD Plus a "no-brainer" buy if you're in the market for a cheap Android tablet. 

"If you're eyeing a tablet that can play your child's favorite YouTube videos or control your home's Alexa-supported devices or even serve as a digital cookbook, then Amazon's Fire HD 8 Plus is a no-brainer at a fraction of the cost of the cheapest iPad," he wrote. 

Pixel tablet tech specs: Display: 10.95-inch LCD at 2,560 x 1,600 (276 ppi) | Processor: Google Tensor G2 | Storage: 128GB or 256GB | Memory: 8GB | Colors: Porcelain, rose, hazel | Cameras: 8MP wide-angle rear, 8MP wide-angle front | Weight: 17.4 ounces | Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches | Connections: USB-C, 4-pin accessory connector | Battery life: Up to 12 hours

Google hasn't had an Android tablet since the death of the Google Pixel Slate in 2018, but the company announced a new iteration in May 2023. Built specifically for entertainment and casual at-home use, the Pixel Tablet has a 10.95-inch LCD display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels. It's powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip that's found in the Pixel 7 line and the Pixel Fold. 

What's interesting about this tablet is that the included charging dock also converts it to a Nest Hub, meaning that when you're not using the tablet to watch YouTube, it has a second purpose as a smart home display. 

Also: Google Pixel Tablet vs. Apple iPad: A spec-by-spec comparison

The battery life can last for up to 12 hours of video streaming, and it supports third-party stylus pens. 

While this tablet won't replace a laptop for school or work, it could be handy if your home is a Google smart home and you're looking for a tablet that can double as a smart display (that is, if you don't already have a smart display in your smart home).

Note: The Pixel Tablet is currently only available to preorder.