The 10 best tablets to buy right now: Consumer Reports

Tablet sales span a dizzying range — from $100 Fire slates to $1,300 professional workhorses — and picking the wrong one means paying too much or getting too little. The gap in quality between entry-level and flagship models has never been wider, with battery life differences exceeding 10 hours and performance gaps measured in 4K video editing capability. Processors, display technology, and app ecosystems vary sharply across brands, and a mid-range price is no guarantee of mid-range performance.

Consumer Reports tested 28 tablets on battery life, performance, and display quality to identify the best for every type of user. Here are 10 that made the list.

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Consumer Reports' top pick for most users, the iPad A16 is $299. The 10.9-inch display is vivid and responsive, and it gets bright enough to be legible in direct sunlight. CR's battery testing recorded 9.1 hours of web browsing and 14 hours of local video playback. The entry-level iPad's A16 chip handles routine tasks — streaming, browsing, gaming, writing — without hesitation. Its compatibility with Apple's Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil extends its usefulness for productivity work.

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With a Consumer Reports score of 84, the iPad Pro 13" ranks highest among all 28 tablets CR tested. It starts at $1,299. The 13-inch display uses Mini LED technology, which produces far better black levels than conventional LCD panels and maintains accurate color from wide viewing angles. CR's battery tests recorded 13.9 hours of web browsing and 19.6 hours of video playback on a single charge, powered by Apple's M5 processor.

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Apple's M3-powered iPad Air 13" is $800, splitting the difference between the base iPad and the Pro. The M3 chip handles photography, light video editing, and professional apps without slowdowns. Consumer Reports says the 13-inch display shares the same sharp, bright panel quality found on smaller iPads while giving users more screen for multitasking. The iPad Air suits buyers who want more power than the base model without the iPad Pro's price tag.

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The iPad mini costs $499, and its 8.3-inch display is sized for one-handed use and easy portability. Consumer Reports notes the screen is sharp and vivid despite its smaller footprint than other Apple tablets. The A17 Pro chip inside handles demanding apps and gaming without lag. CR rated the iPad mini a top pick for users who prioritize portability over a larger viewing area, and its five-year track record of software updates adds long-term value.

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Consumer Reports' highest-scoring Amazon tablet, the Fire Max 11, runs about $230. The 11-inch display is suited for streaming Netflix and Disney+, casual games, and social media. CR's web-browsing battery test recorded 13.3 hours, and the aluminum frame keeps weight just over one pound with 64 gigabytes of built-in storage. Fire tablets use Amazon's Appstore in place of Google Play, and as a result, CR notes the app library is considerably smaller.

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At approximately $100, the Fire HD 8 Gen 12 is the least expensive tablet Consumer Reports evaluated. CR's video playback battery test recorded 15 hours, which is exceptional for a device at this price. The plastic frame and below-average performance and camera scores reflect the budget price point, and CR notes that the display quality is only middling. For users who need a tablet primarily for light reading, video playback, or keeping children occupied, the Fire HD 8's price and battery life are its strongest arguments.

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Amazon's Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet runs on the same hardware as the $100 Fire HD 8, enclosed in a rugged, colorful case. Consumer Reports says it includes a six-month subscription to Amazon Kids+, a library of age-appropriate books, games, videos, and apps, along with a two-year worry-free warranty. Battery life matches the standard model at 15 hours of video playback in CR's tests. The reinforced case handles drops that would damage an unprotected tablet, making it a practical choice for younger children.

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Consumer Reports gave the Galaxy Tab S11 a score of 78 across battery, display, and speed tests. It costs approximately $860. The 11-inch screen is bright and sharp. CR says the device performed well across every category in its test protocol, from processing speed to camera quality. Battery life reached 11.1 hours for web browsing and 15.7 hours for video playback in CR's tests.

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A score of 76 from Consumer Reports makes the Galaxy Tab S10 FE a competitive mid-range option at $400. CR says the Tab S10 FE and the Tab S11 perform similarly across most tasks, with the FE running a less capable processor. The 11-inch display and Google Play Store access make it a significantly more versatile Android option than Amazon's Fire tablets at a similar price point. CR positions it as the practical mid-range Android choice for users who want Google app compatibility without paying for a flagship.

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Among budget Android tablets with Google Play access, Consumer Reports rated the Legion Tab Gen 3 a 71, at about $380. CR noted middling marks for the camera and overall build, but the 8.8-inch display handles basic browsing, apps, and multimedia capably. CR's battery tests recorded 16.4 hours for web browsing and 13.5 hours for video playback. According to CR, the Legion Tab Gen 3 is a reasonable option for budget-minded buyers who need Google Play Store access and prioritize battery endurance over premium build quality.