The best tablets on the market offer an impressive combination of versatility, portability and functionality – ranging from bigger versions of the best phones, all the way to massive computer alternatives that offer more power than some of the best laptops.
There are just so many use-cases for tablets in 2024, with options that are perfect for different users like students, kids, gamers, artists and writers, and that's before you add in the best drawing tablets or best ereaders that give life to a whole other range of impressively versatile, and specialised tech. The best tablets act as jacks-of-all-trades that are powerful enough to handle any need, be used in any situation and take on any task – more versatile versions of the best MacBooks.
Our guide includes many of the best iPads, known for their incredible performance, seamless integration and high price tags, and the best Android tablets that excel in the productivity space and offer unique hardware options, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9’s IP68 water and dustproof rating. No matter what you’re looking for, from a tablet that can easily edit 4K video or simply a larger display to elevate the best streaming services on-the-go, read on to check out our selections and find the best tablet for you.
The quick list
Below you'll find a quick roundup of our choices for the best tablets in Australia in 2024. We've selected a mixture of brands and screen sizes, and catered to a range of budgets. You can jump to a more detailed review of each pick, and shop the latest deals using our price comparison tool.
The best iPad for most people
The perfect blend of performance and value, if you need a stylish tablet to handle all your entertainment and some work without breaking your budget, it's very hard to beat.
The best Android tablet for most people
This tablet is made for getting things done, and whether that's watching movies, playing games or doing work, it's powerful processor is more than a match.
The best premium iPad
Able to handle even the most draining activities, the newest iPad Pro is a genuine laptop substitute. It's not cheap, but you get a whole lotta tablet and battery in an incredibly thin and light design.
The best premium Android tablet
The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus offers the best performance of any Android tablet with a 12.4" OLED display, water resistance, easy multitasking and S Pen functionality.
The best budget tablet
You can find a tablet cheaper than this, but Apple's iPad 10.2 from 2021 is still a darn good tablet – offering snappy performance and a price that no other tablet can rival.
The best tablet for students
The new iPad Air is powerful, lightweight and markedly cheaper than the iPad Pro (2024), making it a great option for students and those working on the go.
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The best compact tablet
The 7th generation iPad mini, powered by the A17 Pro chipset is almost identical in appearance to the 2021 iPad mini. However, its exceptionally powerful, utilises Apple Intelligence and excels as a drawing tablet.
The best tablet for drawing
This tablet is everything we love about the S9, with a 14.6-inch display – making it a true laptop replacement and perfect for those focused on drawing and art.
The best smart display tablet
If you're looking for a tablet that's more about entertaining than productivity, enter the Pixel Tablet – turning into a capable smart display with its dock, and a great display for watching content.
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The best e-ink tablet
If you're looking for a tablet to write, draw and scribble on without distraction, the reMarkable 2 is for you – you can add a keyboard to type articles, and it's passable as an ereader.
The best tablets in Australia for 2024
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Below you can find more in-depth reviews of our choices for the best tablets, and you can click through the full reviews of each, written by TechRadar's team of technology experts.
The best iPad for most people
The iPad 10.9 (2022) isn't the outright cheapest iPad you can buy – we'll get to the 9th Gen model later – but the substantial upgrade this 10th Gen model offers over its predecessor is what earns it its spot on this list as the best option for most people. It has a refreshed design to bring it in line with the iPad Pro, a big 10.9-inch screen, good battery life and improved cameras, with video calls being much more pleasant thanks to the front-facing camera sitting on the longer edge.
Add to that a selection of vibrant colours and support for various accessories such as the Apple Pencil, and you’re left with an excellent tablet – and one remarkably close to matching Apple’s iPad Air line, just at a lower price.
That said, the iPad 10.9 (2022) only supports the original Apple Pencil rather than the newer Apple Pencil 2, and in our review we found the screen more reflective than we’d have liked, so there are still some compromises made to keep the price down.
Read the full iPad 10.9 (2022) review
The best Android tablet for most people
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is made for getting things done. Samsung's OneUI interface makes it easier to multitask on a Galaxy Tab than any other tablet, including the iPad Pro. If you want to run multiple apps at the same time, drag images and text between windows, or just keep an eye on everything at once, the Galaxy Tab S9 is the tablet for you.
Samsung includes DeX software to make the Galaxy Tab S9 look more like a Chromebook with windows and a proper home screen dock, and you can even connect an external monitor, mouse and keyboard for a multi-screen solution. Or, if you have a Galaxy S phone and a Samsung Galaxy Book laptop, you can drag a mouse from one screen across the others with basically no setup required.
While the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus and Tab S9 Ultra give you more screen space, the Galaxy Tab S9 offers the same powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, the same S Pen in the box, and all of the same productivity features, so there's no need to spend more on a larger tablet if you don't need it.
The Galaxy Tab S9 is less expensive than a comparable iPad Pro 11-inch tablet, plus it comes with an S Pen and it has a microSD slot to increase the storage. The iPad Pro admittedly has a much faster processor, but unless you're running pro-level apps like Final Cut Pro, you'll have no trouble with the Galaxy Tab S9's performance.
Read our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 review
The best premium iPad
The iPad Pro 13 (2024) is without doubt the most impressive iPad you can buy. If it's to be believed that the main selling point of a tablet is its large display, then the supersized iPad Pro is not only the biggest iPad screen – next to the new iPad Air – but also the most advanced Apple tablet, using tandem OLED technology on an Apple XDR-branded display.
The latest iPad Pro also comes equipped with Apple’s own M4 chip, making it just as powerful as the very best MacBooks. According to Apple, this new model boasts 20% better thermal performance than its predecessor while also offering four times its rendering performance. It offers 50% faster CPU performance compared to the M2 chip, too. In other words, the iPad Pro 13 (2024) is by far the most powerful tablet created. And it's oh so incredibly thin.
For the more creative folk out there, the latest iPad Pro supports the impressive new Apple Pencil Pro stylus, as well as a redesigned Magic Keyboard. And while its 12MP rear camera is capable for a few snaps, you'll still want to turn to your phone (or actual camera) for those serious ultra-wide and telephoto shots.
Of course, all of this tasty output doesn't come cheap. Its massive four-figure price tag means it's reserved for serious professionals who can put all that streamlined power to good use – or those who are happy to spend on the biggest and best, even if they don't need it. If you just want to watch movies and video chat with friends, then this iPad Pro 13 (2024) is probably a bit much, but if you need portable size and power, then this is the iPad to buy.
Read our full iPad Pro 13 (2024) review
The best premium Android tablet
With the Galaxy Tab S9 series, Samsung has taken its tablets to a new level of quality and durability, and the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus has the best combination of size, power and price to be our pick for the best premium Android tablet you can buy. With a superfast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (same as the Galaxy S23 Ultra), a sleek design, and tons of multitasking features, you can't find a more capable Android tablet.
While you get even more screen real estate with the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, you don't get more performance or features, and its larger 14.6-inch size is amazing for artists (making it our best drawing tablet), but is almost too big for regular use. The Tab S9 Plus is just as fast, and its smaller screen is sharper than the Ultra's large display.
At 12.4-inches, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is just a bit slimmer and more portable than the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) – but it;s not quite as slim as Apple's iPad Pro 13 (2024). Unlike the iPad Pro, though, you don't need to shell out the cash for a stylus as the S9 Plus comes with an S Pen. However, Apple's iPad Pro models are faster than the Tab S9 Plus, and Apple's Magic Keyboard accessory is much nicer than any keyboard cover that Samsung offers if you're looking for a real laptop replacement.
That said, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 Plus costs about AU$1,000 less than Apple's latest iPad Pro, and it gives you many more software features – including great multitasking and a real DeX desktop environment to connect your Tab S9 Plus to a second monitor for a truly productive experience. If you're looking for a high-quality Android tablet that offers all the performance, display and power you need, the Tab S9 Plus is it.
Read our hands-on Galaxy Tab S9 Plus review
The best budget tablet
The iPad 10.2 (2021) is not the cheapest tablet you can buy, but it might be the cheapest tablet you should buy, especially if you prefer Apple products. You can find cheaper tablets from Samsung, Amazon, and other brands, but Apple's older iPad 10.2 still gives you a premium experience at a price that other tablets can't match.
Even though it's a bit older, Apple supports its iPad tablets with regular software updates, so you can be sure that this tablet will get iPadOS on the same day as the best iPads you can buy. You can't say that about older Samsung Galaxy Tab tablets or any of the bargain tablets you might find. Apple's service and support is second-to-none, even when you're buying the most affordable iPad available.
Better yet, Apple's iPad 10.2 doesn't saddle you with ads or unnecessary software, like Amazon Fire tablets, and it feels much faster than similarly-priced Samsung tablets. You'll have no trouble running the latest apps, playing games on the larger screen, and browsing any website you please.
If this is still too much to spend, check out our list of the best budget tablets you can buy, but if you can afford to buy Apple's least expensive iPad, you'll be happy you did. Whether you're watching the best streaming services, playing games or typing up a few documents, the Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) is the best cheap tablet to do so.
Read our full iPad 10.2 (2021) review
The best tablet for students
If you're looking to upgrade your tablet or older iPad model to something worthy of 2024, but either don't need the power or don't quite want to spend the exorbitant price of the latest iPad Pro, enter the iPad Air (2024).
While it's available in two sizes – 11- and 13-inches – if you're looking for an alternative to the iPad Pro (2024), then we have to recommend the bigger 13-inch model. A truly massive display, it makes drawing, note-taking and sketching a breeze, and you'll be happy to have it when using the iPad Air for other fun things like watching movies.
The iPad Air (2024) comes equipped with an M2 chipset – the very same chipset that powers some of the older best MacBooks – making it 50% faster than its M1-equipped predecessor and a ridiculous three times faster than the iPad Air (2021)'s A14 Bionic chip.
Other key upgrades for the iPad Air (2024) include a landscape-oriented front-facing camera, stereo speakers with spatial audio, and a much improved maximum storage capacity of up to 1TB.
While it may be the more affordable option compared to the iPad Pro (2024), it's not cheap – starting at AU$999, this iPad Air is still very much a premium device. However, if you're looking to upgrade without splurging on the iPad Pro, this iPad Air is more than enough for most users – professionals, students or those who just want to watch movies and video chat.
Read our full iPad Air 13-inch (2024) review
The best compact tablet
In our Apple iPad mini A17 Pro (2024) review, our biggest problem with Apple’s return to the compact iPad model is its similarities to the three-year-old 6th generation iPad Mini. In terms of cameras, speakers, display and overall design, the A17 Pro powered iPad mini’s only visibly noticeable hardware change is one that's only visible if you shell out for an Apple Pencil. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – the iPad mini is everything you want from a compact iPad, just don’t be expecting any revolutionary changes.
That new A17 Pro chip is built with Apple Intelligence in mind, allowing it to perform without a hitch. Among other things, it enables you to quickly summarise notes or change the tone of an email with Writing Tools, have your notifications summarised, and even get a priority look into your inbox. Plus, the ability to send handwritten queries to Siri is pretty much tailor-made for the iPad, and cleaning up photos is a whole heap easier.
If you’re looking for versatility from your new tablet, rather than a complete laptop or phone replacement, few tablets offer the portability and versatility of 2024's iPad mini. It's powerful enough for most kinds of work, its 8.3-inch liquid retina display is a dream for entertainment, and drawing on it was actually one of our favourite parts of our time with it, even if its display is smaller than other other offerings in this guide.
While you'll have to go without Apple Intelligence, we recommend holding off on upgrading if you own the old 2021 iPad mini. However, if you're looking to buy your first iPad – or are upgrading from a much older model – and don't quite have the budget for the new iPad Air 11-inch, think the 10.9-inch iPad 10th gen is a touch too big and don't want to opt for the smaller, ultra-powerful 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max, the iPad mini might be the perfect tablet for you. Plus, it supports a stylus, and the increasingly massive iPhones are still lacking that.
Read our full Apple iPad mini A17 Pro (2024) review
The best tablet for drawing
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is the ultimate Android tablet, just like its predecessor, but we think it's most applicable if drawing, sketching and art are at the top of your to-do list. It comes with polished OneUI software that takes advantage of its big and beautiful 14.6-inch screen, and the included S Pen stylus and optional keyboard should make this a great device for creating artwork, editing documents, taking notes, and other productivity tasks.
We thought its size would be a little unwieldy for most users – which is why the S9 Plus is in the premium slot, but for a tablet of this size, its giant display is its selling point – and makes it perfect for activities like drawing.
It is massive, sure, but it is also beautiful, with a 1848 x 2960 resolution and smooth motion thanks to a 120Hz refresh rate. It packs a dedicated Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset with up to 16GB of RAM, and the storage goes up to 1TB. In other words, this tablet really, really wants to replace your laptop.
In our review, we were very impressed with both the software and its performance. Qualcomm's processor really put in the work here, and Samsung's OneUI software makes this feel like a real laptop with enhanced multitasking capabilities that you simply won't find on offerings from Apple or Google. Unfortunately, its biggest flaw is that it continues to feel like a real laptop without actually being one. If you want a laptop to do all the laptop things, you'll still be better served running a real laptop. But as a giant tablet you can draw on and take care of all your other needs? Unmatched.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra review
The best smart display tablet
The Google Pixel Tablet is a solid tablet that presents a good amount of bang for your buck, but it excels as a home controller.
While it boasts a large 11-inch display, its narrow aspect ratio means it's a much smaller device than you'd expect. That's also how Google has been able to keep its price down, offering premium performance and functionality as a speaker when docked thanks to its small screen and cheaper materials.
It performs well, too. From high-performance games to multi-device home controls, you'll find very little issue. Actually, everything that comes from Google runs seamlessly – most third-party applications stretch to fit the screen like they're running on a giant smartphone, actually resulting in a worse product than other Android tablets.
If you're looking for a smart display that can also be a tablet for gaming, streaming and other activities, the Google Pixel Tablet is the best tablet for the job – but if you're just looking for the best experience from a tablet in this price range, there's better options. It doesn't offer the most premium experience at its price range, and it's considerably smaller than you'd expect given its specs. It does provide great performance, though, and we were thoroughly impressed by its sound on or off the speaker dock in our Google Pixel tablet review.
However, the software does feel more like a large phone than a true tablet, especially when running third-party apps, and seems like a starting point for Google Pixel Tablets.
Read our full Google Pixel Tablet review
The best e-ink tablet
If you're looking for a ereader with note-taking capability, the Kobo Elisa 2E and Amazon Kindle Scribe in our guide to the best ereaders has you covered. If you're looking for a dedicated e-paper tablet that lets you focus on the task at hand, the reMarkable 2 is for you.
Super thin with a 10-inch display, it's perfectly sized and even has slip-preventing little feet on its rear that allow it to sit comfortably on surfaces. We think the Kindle Scribe is the king of e-ink screens, but the reMarkable 2 offers the best writing and sketching experience. With various pen options, nib thicknesses and template options that can service all kinds of creative needs.
While it has a minimalist interface, there's actually quite a lot going on – from sharing notes via email and changing individual page templates to converting handwriting into text and more, there's a plethora of features to enjoy. And, if you shell out the extra cash for the keyboard folio, the reMarkable 2 transforms into a lovely e-paper laptop that's perfect for typing out articles.
We didn't love it as a reading device – there's no front lighting – but as an e-ink tablet first and ereader second, it's exceptional. And while there's no bookstore access, you can sideload ebooks (EPUB and PDF only). There's better ereaders that double as note-takers on the market, but if reading isn't your priority this is hands-down the best writing tablet there is.
Read our full reMarkable 2 review
How we test the best tablets
Every tablet on this list has been thoroughly tested and put through a comprehensive review, so we know exactly what makes them tick and how they compare. From there, we've ranked them based on our findings, factoring in their price and value too.
How to choose the best tablet
When choosing a tablet, the first thing you'll need to decide is how much you want to do with it. Will it be an extra device for entertainment and productivity, or will it replace a laptop as a main computing device? Today's tablets can certainly handle all of the tasks of a basic laptop.
Then you'll need to decide on your price range, because tablets can range from cheap budget devices to very expensive cutting edge portables, far more expensive than the laptops they replace.
Finally, it would be helpful to choose between an Apple iPad OS tablet and an Android device, based on the services and software you prefer.
The best tablets in Australia: FAQ
What is the best brand for tablets
Different brands make devices aimed at different buyers, so there's no 'best' brand, there's just a brand that's best for you.
Amazon's slates are great for low-budget entertainment, but aren't as good for work or creativity. Samsung has some like that too, though its top-end slates are better for workers.
Apple's iPads hit all beats, though they cost a lot, so aren't great for everybody. Lenovo's tabs are great for working, especially for students, and its Yoga devices bring features that are great for entertainment too.
Other, smaller tablet makers generally focus on entertainment tools, though some are good for work and a select few are also useful for creatives.
What should I look for when buying a tablet?
The main things to consider are how much you want to spend, and what operating system you want - with Apple's iPadOS and Android being the two main options. Then think about what else matters to you in a tablet - be it size, power, camera or battery - and choose accordingly.
What tablet can replace a laptop?
If you're hoping to get serious work done on a tablet then an iPad Pro would be a good option. This has a big screen, lots of power, and supports a keyboard accessory. Alternatively, the screen size on offer with the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 will rival that of many laptops while boasting as good or better productivity prowess.
