Best Android tablets in 2022

Android tablets are pretty divisive, and the problem is that whatever you can get in the Android world, you’re typically better off just getting an iPad instead. Android doesn’t scale particularly well on tablets and is often left best as a mobile operating system. Android 12L went a long way towards improving the problem, but it’s still not an ideal situation if you’re looking to pick up an Android tablet. iPads almost certainly have an upper hand in the tablet world.

Love them or hate them though, Android tablets are a thing. They’ve stayed through the years just like good phones and good Chromebooks have. While we may not be able to get them as easily as we can buy a phone from carriers like AT&T, they don’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Android OEMs want to fight Apple’s current stronghold in the tablet market, and if you want to try one out yourself, we’ve collected some of the best Android tablets currently available.

With options from Samsung to Amazon, there are a lot of possibilities for everyone and every use case, so keep reading to know more.

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus

The biggest Android OEM that’s still going at the tablet game is Samsung, and the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus shows just how good their tablets in the premium spectrum can get. This particular model features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, up to 12 GB of RAM, and Samsung’s excellent 120Hz AMOLED panel manages to drive the show, this time around in a 12.4-inch presentation. What makes this particular tablet so good, however, is that it’s not just stretched-out Android. Samsung DeX can be enabled without requiring an external display, and with a keyboard and mouse, it actually manages to take on some productivity tasks, further helped out by the big 12.4-inch display.

With a 10,090 mAh battery driving the show, support for 45W charging, and Android 13, it’s one of the best Android tablets money can buy today. Samsung has been on the ball with updates recently, and you’ll have the update to One UI 5 ready to install when you first power on this device.

Also great: Xiaomi Pad 5

Before the Xiaomi Pad 5, Xiaomi had been absent from the tablet game for a number of years. The company typically makes products with great hardware, and phones such as the Mi 11 Ultra have been some of the best in the Android world. The company finally returned with the Xiaomi Pad 5, and it has an 11-inch, 2560 x 1600 IPS LCD panel that refreshes at 120Hz and can display over a billion colors, as well as support for the DCI-P3 color gamut.

Under the hood of the Xiaomi Pad 5 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC, an 8,720 mAh battery, and 6GB of RAM with 128 or 256GB of storage. These components are obviously not 2022, but they cement the Xiaomi Pad 5 as an affordable, upper mid-range tablet. The tablet is missing a fingerprint scanner, so you must use a PIN code, password, or the not-so-secure face unlock as security. Even without flagship specifications, all of this at a starting price of €349 is a bit of a steal.

Best Overkill: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

While the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is the best tablet for everyone, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is that tablet that packs just a bit more in every department, though at a higher premium. It packs the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and the same speakers, though a lot of the rest of the device has been tweaked. This has up to 16GB of RAM, a larger 14.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel, and a dual front-facing camera system. This is an overkill tablet that most people don’t need, though if you need one of the largest screen tablets around, then maybe this is for you.

Best for Most People: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Samsung is pretty much at the top of the Android tablet game, which is why the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is also taking yet another top spot based on specifications and quality. It’s pretty much the same package as the Galaxy Tab S7, except in a considerably smaller package. Most of the internals are kept as-is, except we also now get an 11-inch LTPS TFT display (also at 120Hz, by the way) instead of a 12.4-inch AMOLED panel. Whereas the Tab S8 Plus was suitable to be used as more of a laptop replacement than an actual tablet at that size, the Galaxy Tab S8’s size is way more versatile and portable, and you can still use it with DeX, which is Samsung’s desktop mode if you really wanted to.

The same Snapdragon 865+ CPU, up to 8 GB RAM, and the same exact software are also in tow, with the only immediate difference being the smaller 8,000 mAh battery, which is partly due to the smaller display.

Best Mid-Range: Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 is really as good as it gets for a tablet with mid-range specifications. Lenovo is a pretty big fish in the Android ecosystem, being the parent company of Motorola and also making some smartphones of its own. Lenovo also occasionally makes tablets, and the Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 is currently the best one in their lineup. Featuring an 11.5-inch OLED display and internals such as a MediaTek Kompanio 1300T and up to 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, the Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 is decidedly a mid-range device at heart, but it excels in aspects such as display quality and battery life thanks to the 8,200 mAh battery inside. It’s a really good refresh of an already excellent mid-range tablet, and you can’t go wrong with picking it up.

It runs Android 12L, features 20W fast charging, and is a great media consumption device. Lenovo is trying to fill a gap here as there are relatively very few actual tablets with these specifications, and so far they’ve done a pretty good job. While we would’ve liked to see improvements in its software, it’s clearly one of the best Android tablets you can get. If you can get a good deal on it, then it just gets even better.

Best Budget: Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

Samsung doesn’t just make flagship tablets. In fact, flagship tablets are actually a rather new venture for them, given that the Galaxy Tab lineup has been going since 2010. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 belongs to Samsung’s lineup of lower-end tablets. And honestly? It’s not even horrible. There’s a 1920×1200 TFT LCD panel here, a Unisoc T618 chipset (which Samsung says is 10% faster than the previous Snapdragon 662), up to 128 GB of storage, 4 GB of RAM, and Android 11 based on One UI. It’s now even updatable to OneUI 4.1 based on Android 12!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a good option for everyone that wants a basic Android-powered device with a big display, which is why it’s making our list of the best Android tablets currently available.

If you’re looking for a seamless Android experience like the one you’ll get in a smartphone, Amazon’s Fire tablets are not a viable option to look into. While the software is Android-based, you don’t get Google services and you won’t be able to grab apps from the Play Store, not to mention that the internals are barely up to spec, meaning that anything intensive you’re planning to do might be a less than stellar experience. But Amazon is not selling you these tablets for doing that. It’s meant for you to watch movies, series, and videos, and for that, it does the job more than well.

It’s a media consumption-capable device that doesn’t break the bank, which is why we’re adding it as one of our best Android tablets available.

Best for Children: Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro

Finally, if you’re a parent and want to get your kid their first tablet as a toy, the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro is an excellent option. We chose the HD 8 version because we think that it’s the sweet spot between specifications, storage, size, and pricing for most kids. Specs-wise, it’s pretty much an Amazon Fire HD 8 with a thick, kids-friendly case to protect against drops and bumps, and it also comes with an adjustable kickstand. Amazon also offers a 2-year “worry-free” warranty for these, meaning that if your kid manages to break it, you can return it and Amazon will replace it for free.

While it’s not up to spec for anything really demanding, it’s still one of the best Android tablets for kids, as it allows them to get games, watch educational videos, and more. Note that this also does not have the Google Play Store on it.

Honorable Mention: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Wait, what is a phone doing on this list? Well, it does technically count as a small tablet as well, as the phone unfolds to reveal a 7.6-inch internal display. In fact, Samsung is clearly playing that game here, as these phones with large foldable displays blur the line between a phone and a tablet more than ever. Especially now that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has fixed many of the flaws that plagued the first-gen Galaxy Fold and the Z Fold 2, while improving on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, this should be a good option for people actually looking for a smaller tablet with top-of-the-line specifications — and don’t really bat an eye at expensive stuff.

It’s one of the best Android tablets and, incidentally, one of the best Android phones as well. That’s foldables for you.

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We have a lot of options here for everyone, but those with a budget of over $500 should be taking a look at the Galaxy Tab S7 lineup. As I said before, the Android tablet competition is currently pretty much non-existent, and only a few companies have managed to put out products worth considering. If you’re not a fan of Samsung, Lenovo also has a decent option with their Tab P11 Pro 2nd Gen, and Amazon has a few devices under its belt too, which actually sell like hotcakes but will probably let you down if you’re looking to do more intensive tasks on it.

Of course, if you do want the best possible tablet out there right now, look beyond Android and see if you can pick up the new Apple iPad Pro 2021 or the iPad Pro M2 12.9-inch 2022, which is the same device but with a chip bump. Sorry Android fans, but it’s the truth.