Android has a reputation for being less than ideal when it comes to tablets. While it's true that Apple's iPadOS enjoys access to more apps that are optimized for big screens, the best Android tablets are often outstanding pieces of hardware. And with appealing options from Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and more, the Android tablet space is looking more exciting than it has in years.

While more expensive tablets tend to be much more capable in terms of gaming, multitasking, and screen quality, there are plenty of great tablets on the budget end of the price spectrum if you're after a slate for watching videos, reading e-books, and general doom-scrolling. There are also great Chromebooks and ChromeOS tablets that run Android apps if you're more focused on productivity and longevity in your tablet. Here are AP's top recommendations.

Our favorite Android tablets in 2023

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is our favorite Android tablet today. While it's considerably more expensive than the base-model Tab S8 — $900 at retail to the smaller tablet's $700 — we also think it's a better deal. Your extra cash will net you a larger 12.4" OLED display (the standard Tab S8 has an 11" LCD panel) plus a significantly bigger battery. Frequent sales help take the sting out of that asking price, too; it's not unusual to see the Tab S8+ for $800 or less, and it's been available for as little as $600. So keep an eye out for sales.

Like the rest of the Tab S8 line, the S8+ is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and either eight or 12 gigs of RAM, depending on the configuration you choose. That's more than enough horsepower for regular tablet use. (If you need something more snappy, the Tab S8 Ultra has options all the way up to 16GB RAM). It's also got a beautiful 120Hz OLED display that, while wider than we typically like tablets to be in landscape, is excellent for watching movies and TV shows. The Tab S8+ has Android 13 already as well. If you're looking for a premium Android tablet but don't want to go all-in on the titanic Tab S8 Ultra, the S8+ is a fantastic pick.

With a four-figure starting price and hardware you could call "excessive," the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra certainly fits the premium bill. The main attraction is the Ultra's display: it's a huge 14.6-inch OLED panel at 1,848 by 2,960 pixels, with a refresh rate that goes all the way up to 120Hz. It's got thin bezels on all sides, but there's a notch at the top (in landscape) to accommodate dual front-facing cameras.

Like the lesser S8 models, the Tab S8 Ultra packs the superfast Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. Unlike its little siblings, though, you can kit out the S8 Ultra with up to 16 gigs of RAM and 512 gigs of storage. Android's tablet apps still aren't generally super polished, but the giant screen gives you more real estate to multitask — including in Samsung DeX, which is extra handy on a screen the size of a normal laptop's. The Ultra's huge OLED is also fantastic for watching TV and movies, and its four speakers mean you'll get stereo sound in portrait or landscape orientation.

It's sturdy, expensive, and very cool — a truly premium device. So if you're out to get the most Android tablet possible, the Tab S8 Ultra should be your go-to in 2023.

Amazon's Fire tablets do technically run Android behind the scenes. The company has been positioning the Fire HD 10 as a productivity device; it's even got a bundle that includes a decent keyboard case. But it's probably better to think of the Fire Hd 10 as a media device first and foremost. At just $150, you're not going to find many other tablets for this price, let alone ones that provide a decent experience. Just be sure to install the Google Play Store if you do pick one up.

The Google Pixel Tablet is the company's long-overdue return to the tablet form factor. The tablet itself is a good midranger, with a perfectly decent 60Hz LCD screen, stereo speakers, and solid performance thanks to its Tensor G2 chipset and eight gigs of RAM — the same setup that drives the Pixel 7 series.

Possibly more interesting than the tablet itself is the Charging Speaker Dock it comes bundled with. When placed on its dock, the Pixel Tablet becomes a quasi-smart display: in Hub Mode, the tablet can accept Hey Google commands and functions as a Chromecast target for both audio and video. Sound is routed through the dock's speaker, giving the tablet's very average built-in speakers a boost.

The Pixel Tablet is sold bundled with its dock for $500 — a decent deal on a double-duty device. The speaker dock's audio is okay at best, and Hub Mode lacks some features you'll find on Google's Nest speakers and smart displays, but if those limitations won't bother you, the Pixel Tablet may be an interesting option.

As OnePlus's inaugural tablet, the OnePlus Pad gets quite a bit right. Performance is solid, battery life is very good, and the screen has an aspect ratio of 7:5, which makes it comfortable for many tablet tasks, like reading and browsing the internet — though it's not ideal for standard 16:9 video.

The OnePlus Pad has OnePlus's characteristically quick charging, too, at up to 67W. OxygenOS is occasionally annoying and the tablet doesn't have a fingerprint sensor, but if those don't sound like major drawbacks to you, it's a great pick.

If you're in the market for a midrange media tablet, consider the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2. With a middling MediaTek chipset and four gigs of RAM, P11 Pro isn't a powerhouse, but it's got a great display: an OLED panel with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,536 and a refresh rate of 120Hz. Comics, videos, and games look excellent on this tablet. At $400 or less, it's a good option, unless you want to use your tablet for productivity tasks.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a refreshed version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 that we liked quite a bit in late 2020. For the same $230 MSRP, you're getting an updated design and a Unisoc processor that's a bit faster than the low-end Snapdragon found in the previous generation. Equally interesting, though, is that you can get upgraded versions that have four gigs of RAM and up to 128 gigs of storage.

Amazon's latest Fire HD 8 tablet is a great option if you're looking for something affordable, but still want something a little nicer than the company's rock-bottom-priced Fire 7. It's got an 8-inch display that's higher-res than the one on the Fire 7, though it's really only "HD" in the technical sense at a resolution of 1,280 x 800. Still, it's plenty good enough for reading, browsing social media, and some light gaming.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 doesn't run Android, but being a ChromeOS device, it can run Android apps. The tablet's 11", 2K display is sharp and just the right size for casual tablet use. The Duet 3 also comes with a detachable keyboard cover for doing more laptop-like tasks, which is something ChromeOS excels at. Its Snapdragon chipset provides ample horsepower for light-duty work, too.

However, the detachable keyboard design makes using the Duet 3 in your lap a hassle, and its touchpad has too much drag to use comfortably for long periods of time. But if that all sounds good to you, the Duet 3 is a fine tablet for running Android apps.

The Onyx Boox Tab Ultra is an Android tablet with a 10.3-inch E Ink display, making it a fantastic option for reading, but a non-starter for many normal tablet use cases like watching videos or playing games. However, it's bundled with a stylus and may be a good option for note-takers. You can also grab an optional keyboard case for an additional $109. Unlike some of Onyx's Boox tablets, the Tab Ultra has access to the Play Store, where you can download e-reader apps like Kindle and Kobo.

At a starting price of $600, the Tab Ultra is decidedly not for everyone. Performance out of the tablet's Snapdragon 662 chipset and four gigs of RAM is solid but not spectacular, and the tablet's E Ink display can make it feel even slower. But if your tablet use primarily comes down to reading and writing with a side of audio streaming, and you want a big, high-res screen to do it all on, this could be an appealing pick.

The best Android tablet for you

It may seem strange that Samsung's getting so much representation here, but the company really does make great tablets. The Galaxy Tab S8+ is an excellent place to start your search for your next Android slate. It's well-built, as fast as you could want an Android tablet to be, it's got a great display, and it's set to receive Android updates into 2026 (plus security updates for a year longer), so you shouldn't have any trouble making the Tab S8+ last.

The OnePlus Pad and the Google Pixel Tablet are both interesting midrange options for different reasons. OnePlus's tablet features a high-refresh rate display and super-fast charging, while Google's comes bundled with a Charging Speaker Dock that lets it function like a smart display while it's charging.

If you're after something less pricey, Amazon's Fire HD 10 will be worth a look. It's not nearly as premium or powerful as our top picks from Samsung, but it starts at a much more palatable $150. And, if you need something really affordable, the Fire 8 HD costs $100. Just don't expect either tablet to handle heavy-duty tasks. The Fire line is more about consumption than productivity, but the warranties are good, and the devices are great for kids.