10 best tablets 2024: iPads, Samsung Galaxy models and more reviewed

The iPad pro has just had a makeover and it’s leagues ahead of its already-impressive predecessor. The display, which comes in 13in and 11in options, now uses OLED technology for the first time. OLED is punchy and contrasty with faithful colours. But it’s not that bright, a problem which Apple has successfully overcome by using something called Tandem OLED, where two displays are used together to boost brightness. It looks glorious.

The design has been upgraded to be light and thin: the new pro is the thinnest Apple product ever, thinner even than the iPod nano in fact. It feels remarkably light and portable. And it’s very fast, introducing an all-new processor, the Apple M4, which should be capable of AI features predicted to land on Apple products later this year. There’s only one rear camera now, instead of two, but the front camera has moved to the long, landscape edge, which is much better for video calls. It’s also compatible with lush new magic keyboard and pencil options. It’s really not cheap, but it packs so much in, that it’s good value.

Read our full review of the Apple iPad pro 2024

The latest entry-level fire tablet is pricier than the last one, but it has a faster processor and much longer battery life – now matching the iPad. It’s still hard to find a cheaper tablet from a decent brand.

The 7in display means this is lightweight and effortlessly portable. The screen is fine, though others have higher resolution. It works especially well for books and audio books, though the e-paper screen of Amazon’s dedicated Kindle ebook readers is easier on the eye. If you’ve bought Amazon movies, Kindle books and Audible audiobooks, they are automatically available. Storage is less than on many rivals but enough for most users. At £65, the price is the real thing to notice here.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is a high-performance Android tablet and the iPad’s only serious competition in the price range. Samsung’s tablet beats Apple in a few key areas: it features a class-leading 12.4in OLED display running at a silky smooth 120Hz; it comes with the S Pen stylus included as standard; and it’s packed with Samsung’s fancy new AI features, which let you organise your transcribed meeting notes, translate between speakers, edit your photos with generative AI tools and more.

The Galaxy Tab S10+ is thin, lightweight and waterproof, with an all-round premium build quality that feels tough and reassuringly expensive when held. Besides the screen size and battery, the Galaxy Tab S10+ shares the same specifications as the top-end Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (£1,035.05, Amazon.co.uk) – meaning you get blistering fast performance even when running multiple apps side by side. The basic, non-plus model was discontinued this year, in case you’re wondering.

Samsung’s One UI operating system is built on Android software, but on the Galaxy Tab S10+ it functions more like a desktop interface when needed. Connect to a TV and you can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for an even more desktop-like experience – perfect for staying productive when travelling.

Unlike other tablets, which use app-based mobile operating systems, the Surface Pro runs on a full version of Windows that’s been tuned for a touchscreen. That means it functions exactly like your laptop or desktop computer, giving you unbeatable versatility when it comes to installing niche software, tweaking settings and taking your work with you wherever you go.

Pop out the built-in kickstand, add a mouse and the optional (though expensive) flex keyboard cover (£139.99, Amazon.co.uk), and the Surface Pro essentially becomes a fully featured laptop. The more expensive, high-performance Snapdragon X Elite configuration gets a vibrant OLED display and the ability to connect up to three 4K external monitors. The Surface Pro is a remote worker’s entire setup, and it fits in a backpack.

The iPad air offers many of the functions, design and power of the iPad pro but for much less money. And now, it comes in two sizes, with an 11in or 13in screen. The price of the 11in is unchanged but the storage has doubled from 64GB to 128GB.

While it doesn’t have the OLED display or super-fast M4 processor of the pro, the display here looks great and the M2 processor is enough for almost everyone (it was fast enough for the last-generation iPad pro).

It’s light and highly portable, even in the larger size. It uses Touch ID in the power button rather than the Pro’s Face ID, but I find this convenient and effective. This is the Goldilocks tablet, offering stunning design and great performance but for a price which is a real bargain.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 FE (short for ‘fan edition’) is the pared-back version of the most premium tablet Samsung makes. Still impressively speedy, responsive and powerful, it trims away some of the more expensive features, while retaining most of the same functionality and design as the top-of-the-line model.

Samsung’s opted for a much lower-quality camera array, compared with the regular Tab S9, which makes a lot of sense for users who don’t plan on using their tablet for much more than the occasional video call. As a result, you get what is otherwise a premium tablet at a mid-range price.

You also get the pressure-sensitive S Pen stylus included, which is good news for illustrators and note-takers. While you miss out on the rich OLED display found in the most expensive Galaxy tablets, the 10.9in LCD screen is impressively bright and vibrant.

Want something bigger? The Samsung Galaxy tab S9 FE+ is a larger 12.4in variant of this tablet with extra RAM, a larger battery, but no 5G option available (£499, Amazon.co.uk).

The 10th-generation iPad is soon to be the oldest in the iPad range but the best in terms of value. First, it has upgraded the design to match the air, pro and mini (from £499, Apple.com) tablets, with cliff-edge flat sides and an all-screen front. The 10th-generation iPad has a touch ID sensor mounted in the power button, which works quickly and flawlessly. It also uses a USB-C connector instead of a lightning one. Plus, the display is bigger, while barely increasing the tablet’s overall dimensions.

It is only compatible with the first-generation pencil, not the improved version used on the air, pro and mini. Because the tablet’s connector doesn’t match the one at the top of the pencil, it means it links by cable to the tablet to charge it, which is a less elegant solution.

This apart, the 10th-generation iPad is stunning value, thanks to its great looks and outstandingly fast processor, which is easily powerful enough for most users. It also has the front-facing camera on the long side, not the short, making it excellent for video conferencing.

Google’s first tablet since it gave up on the Pixel Slate back in 2018, the Pixel Tablet is a genuinely clever hybrid of a smart home display and a traditional tablet. It comes with a stylish fabric-wrapped charging stand included. Pop the tablet on it when you’re not using it and it becomes a digital photo frame, smart home hub and smart speaker in one. It easily detaches from its magnetic mount and recognises multiple users’ fingerprints, so anyone in the house can pick it up and see just their own data on the device. There’s a guest mode, too, which is convenient if you’re hosting friends or family.

Try not to get the names confused here but, like the iPad air, Oppo’s pad air is slim and has sharp edges and flat sides. The Oppo has a textured top panel on the back, which looks good next to the aluminium panel. It’s light and slim, but feels solid, with no flex if you try to twist it. The display is good (very similar to the Nokia model) and makes video and games look good (though more advanced games such as 3D titles may stutter). Battery life is average, as is the performance.

The Fire Max 11 has the same strengths (and weaknesses) as the Fire 7. It’s exceptional value, but the special forked version of Android called Fire OS has a more limited range of apps, though they’re all comprehensively tested. This is the most powerful in the Amazon range and it has the largest display, matching the size, though not the resolution, of the iPad Air. Battery life is very strong, at around 14 hours. It’s good for video playback, especially if you have an Amazon Prime subscription with its TV shows and films. The display is bright and colourful. This model also has a slicker, slimmer and more premium design than other Fire tablets.