Best Android Tablet 2024: Samsung, Google, OnePlus & More

Those looking for a high-end Android tablet won’t be disappointed with the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, the middle child of the 2023 range. At 12.4in, it’s certainly not small, but significantly more manageable than the 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra.

But it’s still wafer thin at just 5.7mm and features full IP68 dust and waterproofing – a rare find in the tablet world.  

There are plenty of premium specs elsewhere, including an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and no less than 12GB of RAM. Furthermore, there’s a high-quality OLED screen with dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. It means the Tab S9 Plus is more high-end than some laptops.

Samsung also includes the S Pen stylus and there’s decent sound by AKG, long software support and lots more to like. Price is the only real thing that counts against it.

If you’re on a strict budget, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9. It starts at just £169 in the UK (currently unavailable in the US), yet offers everything most people are looking for in a cheap tablet.

That includes the fundamentals of a great tablet: solid performance, a decent 8.7-inch display and impressive battery life. You also get Samsung’s slick One UI software, all within a compact yet premium design.

However, it’s not all great news. Charging is annoyingly slow and the cameras are very basic, while scrolling pages and menus can leave a blurry ‘ghosting’ effect.

But none of those should be dealbreakers, especially at this price. The Tab A9 is simply superb value for money – if you need a device for the basics, you won’t regret buying one.

If you’re looking for something bigger (and slightly more expensive), consider the 11-inch Galaxy Tab A9+.

The original OnePlus Pad was an excellent tablet, but its successor is even better.

Moving to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers a nice performance boost, and means it’s almost as good as the best Android phones around. Alongside a high-quality 144Hz display and premium design that closely resembles flagship tablets and OnePlus is on to a winner.

Other highlights include strong battery life and impressive audio from no fewer than six speakers. The software feels generally optimised for the big screen, and OnePlus is offering support for four years.

Inevitable compromises come in the form of disappointing cameras, but that’s hardly a priority for most tablet users.

Overall, the OnePlus Pad 2 represents excellent value for money, and offers everything most people are looking for in an Android tablet.

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If your budget is a little higher but you still don’t want to pay premium prices, look no further than the Xiaomi Pad 6.

Despite only costing £369, it looks and performs like a much more expensive tablet. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 was a flagship chipset not long ago, and it shows – expect great performance, including while gaming.

A silky-smooth 144Hz refresh rate makes the 11-inch LCD display feel much more premium, while quad speakers deliver an immersive audio experience. Build quality is also good, and Xiaomi’s version of MIUI for tablets is much more intuitive than the smartphone version.

Battery life is the big compromise, and it’s weird to see no fingerprint sensor. It’s also not clear how long the Pad 6 will continue receiving updates for, with no specific commitment from Xiaomi.

But those are small negatives for an otherwise excellent tablet.

The Tab S9 Ultra represents the absolute pinnacle of Android tablets. It’s too big (14.6in display) and expensive (from £1,199/$1,199) for most people to consider, and even with the keyboard cover it probably won’t replace your laptop.

But if money and size are no objects, it’s a stunning device. The 1848×2960 OLED screen is a joy to use, especially with a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. Performance from an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is almost as good as it gets, and an IP68 rating ensures adequate protection from water and dust.

The included S Pen is also very good, though it doesn’t dock into the tablet like on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. But that’s hardly surprising, given it’s just 234g and 8.9mm thick.

Aside from price, the lack of Android apps designed for such a big screen remains its biggest limitations. And there’s no 5G support in the US, though it is available in the UK.