The 3 Best Android Tablets 2023

If you’re not already invested in Android, an iPad is a better tablet in general than any current Android tablet, even for people who use Google’s apps and services. But if you absolutely need an Android tablet, either to run specific apps or because you prefer Android to iOS, the best option is the Google Pixel Tablet. For about the same price as Apple’s 10th-gen iPad, Google’s first tablet in years offers the best all-around Android tablet experience, with excellent hardware and solid performance. Google also includes a charging speaker dock, which turns the Pixel Tablet into a useful smart-home hub.

Our pick

Google’s Pixel Tablet combines a great processor and screen with a full-featured dock that the company could sell all on its own.

The Google Pixel Tablet is an excellent 11-inch tablet with a bright, sharp, and vibrant widescreen display that comes with a full-featured dock that Google could sell as a standalone accessory—it would be worth it. The Pixel Tablet is powered by the same Tensor G2 processor inside of Google’s excellent Pixel smartphones, so it can handle multiple tasks and high-end gaming with ease. Its 5,000 mAh battery lasts days on a charge and can draw power from USB-C or its included charging speaker dock. The dock gives the Pixel Tablet an additional speaker for even better audio and lets you use your tablet as a smart-home hub. The Pixel Tablet is scheduled to receive system updates through 2026 and security updates through 2028. The one downside: Stylus support is limited.

Budget pick

The Fire HD 8 has a smaller, lower-resolution screen than on the Galaxy Tab S8, but it’s a great cheap tablet for reading or watching video, especially if you get that content from Amazon’s store.

If you want a cheap tablet for watching videos, reading, or very light web browsing, the 12th-generation, 2022-release Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is ideal. It doesn’t have access to the Google Play store or any of Google’s apps, but it costs just $100 with lock-screen ads ($115 without) and lets you easily access Amazon content. Amazon’s Android-based Fire OS runs very well on the tablet, and the Fire HD 8 offers above average battery life due to its low-resolution screen. The Fire HD 8 also has more-extensive parental controls than other tablets, making it a great family device. However, because it’s limited to Amazon’s app store, it can’t offer nearly as many apps or games as a regular Android tablet or an iPad can.

Upgrade pick

The Galaxy Tab S8+ has a gorgeous 12.4-inch OLED screen that is even sharper and brighter than the one on the Galaxy Tab S8. It’s fast, sleek, and feature-packed, but it costs more than most people should spend on an Android tablet.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is the best no-compromise Android tablet. With a 1752×2800 resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, the 12.4-inch OLED display is one of the best screens we’ve seen on any device (Apple doesn’t even make OLED tablets). The display works with the included S Pen stylus, allowing you to take notes or draw. The tablet is powerful enough to run multiple apps side by side, and Samsung’s version of Android 12L has the best multitasking features we’ve seen in our testing. Samsung promises updates through spring 2026, but the software is loaded down with features you’ll probably never use. And when this tablet is not on sale, its asking price is about $900—at that price, most people should get an iPad.