The 7 best tablets of 2026: Comparing iPad, Samsung, and Lenovo
See how the new M4 iPad Air compares to the best tablets from Lenovo, Samsung, Microsoft, and Amazon Fire.
Whether you're looking for a kid-friendly tablet or a compact laptop replacement, there are plenty of excellent options out there. If you're not exactly sure which tablet you should buy, we've got one simple question to help narrow down your search: Are you an Apple person? We tested the entire iPad lineup, and though iPads are our preferred tablets in 2026, we also love some of the best tablets from Samsung, OnePlus, and Microsoft. So, whatever your preferences, we've got a tablet to recommend.
What's new in this guide?
With ever-evolving technology, this guide is never done. We're continuing to test new tablets for inclusion in this guide. At the end of 2025, we added the Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra to this guide.
As of March 2026, we've updated this guide to include the iPad Air with M4 chip, replacing the previous Air model. We also added the iPad Pro (M5) as the best iPad for professionals, as well as the OnePlus Pad Go 2 as the best budget Android tablet.
Our latest update in June 2026 includes the addition of the Lenovo Yoga Tab as our new favorite Android tablet. The Amazon Fire HD 8 was also added as our favorite Amazon Fire tablet.
Currently testing
To keep this guide fresh, we're actively testing new models. Next up is the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5, a new gaming tablet. Previously, we've tested the Legion Tab Gen 3 and named it the best gaming tablet until it was discontinued.
