Best Android Tablets 2025: Samsung, OnePlus, and Google Finally Take Tablets Seriously
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The Tablet Market Grows Up
For more than a decade, Android tablets were punchlines: cheap, under‑powered devices that piled up in households as “Netflix machines for kids.” Apple’s iPad owned the serious end of the market; Android was the bargain bin.
But 2025 looks different. Samsung finally put hardware muscle behind years of marketing noise. OnePlus refused to let Apple alone define what a premium slate feels like. And Google — after killing off its last attempt in frustration — stumbled onto something that makes sense: a tablet that doubles as a smart‑home hub.
The result is a lineup worth paying attention to — if you know where the real tradeoffs sit.
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra — Big, Beautiful, and Almost Too Much
Samsung’s Tab S10 Ultra is the definition of overreach: a 14.6‑inch AMOLED monster, bundled stylus, optional keyboard, and DeX desktop mode that tries to turn Android into Windows Lite.
It works — mostly. The display is luminous, the S Pen is genuinely useful for drawing or note‑taking, and the 11,200 mAh battery keeps it alive through long workdays. But it’s heavy, priced north of $1,200, and pushes into laptop territory where Chromebooks and Windows machines already compete hard.
Samsung’s argument: your tablet doesn’t just replace a laptop, it’s better. The problem is, many people aren’t convinced — and reviewers admit portability suffers. If you care about raw power and futureproofing, though, this is the Android tablet of the year.
Big screen, bundled stylus, desktop mode — this is Samsung at full throttle. If you’re willing to pay laptop money for a future‑proof Android slate, this is the one.
📌 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra – Specs
- Display: 14.6‑inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2960 × 1848, 120 Hz
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- RAM / Storage: 12 GB or 16 GB RAM / 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB (microSD supported)
- Battery: 11,200 mAh, 45W fast charging
- OS / Updates: Android 15, One UI 7.0, 7 years of Android & security updates
- Cameras: Rear: 13 MP + 8 MP ultrawide | Front: 12 MP dual
- Extras: S Pen included, Samsung DeX desktop mode, Wi‑Fi 7 / 5G
- Weight: ~732 g
👉 Check Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra on Amazon
2. OnePlus Pad 3 — The Sweet Spot, Finally
OnePlus, known for making “flagship killer” phones, pulled off a similar trick in tablets. The Pad 3 feels like the balancing act Android has needed: a big 13.2‑inch screen, Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and software that lets you juggle three apps at once without collapsing.
It charges in 90 minutes, lasts forever on standby, and handles Genshin Impact as smoothly as email. WIRED’s reviewers said it best: this is a genuine all‑rounder.
But OnePlus also cut corners. No OLED screen, no fingerprint unlock. And the keyboard accessory relies on fiddly pogo pins that feel less “premium” than Apple’s or Samsung’s setups. Still — and this is key — it’s the first Android tablet that delivers iPad‑level performance without iPad pricing.
📌 OnePlus Pad 3 – Specs
- Display: 13.2‑inch LCD, 3K resolution (3096 × 2064), 144 Hz
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- RAM / Storage: 8 GB, 12 GB, or 16 GB / 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
- Battery: 12,140 mAh, 80W SuperVOOC fast charging (wired)
- OS / Updates: OxygenOS for Pad (based on Android 15), ~4 years updates
- Cameras: Rear: 13 MP | Front: 8 MP
- Extras: OnePlus Stylo 2 support, Open Canvas multitasking, quad speakers
- Weight: ~650 g
👉 OnePlus Pad 3 on Amazon
3. Google Pixel Tablet — The Family Workhorse
Google’s Pixel Tablet takes a different tack: don’t replace your laptop, just become the best “living room slate.” Bundled with a charging speaker dock, it doubles as a smart display for Nest cameras, lights, and streaming. Docked, it’s surprisingly useful. Un‑docked, it’s a lightweight 11‑inch browsing and Netflix machine.
The rub: stylus support is a mess. Google leans on the USI standard, leaving you guessing which pens actually work. Its LCD screen is fine, not brilliant. Yet as a $500 bundle that turns into a smart‑home hub, it’s one of the few tablets that solves an actual household need. If you’re already leaning into the smart‑home ecosystem, you might also want to check how Alexa and Echo devices are expanding in 2025 — a story that connects directly to the way the Pixel Tablet fits into family living rooms.
📌 Google Pixel Tablet – Specs
- Display: 11‑inch LCD, 2560 × 1600, 60 Hz
- Chipset: Google Tensor G3
- RAM / Storage: 8 GB / 128 GB, 256 GB
- Battery: 27 Wh (~7,000 mAh), ~12 hrs video playback
- OS / Updates: Android 15 + Pixel UI, 7 years updates
- Cameras: 8 MP front / 8 MP rear
- Extras: Bundled Charging Speaker Dock, USI 2.0 stylus support, Wi‑Fi 6E
- Weight: ~493 g (tablet only)
👉 Google Pixel Tablet on Amazon
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE / FE+ — Sensible, Reliable, Boring (And That’s Good)
Samsung’s FE line is the brand finally admitting not everyone needs Ultra everything. The S10 FE (10.9‑inch) and FE+ (13.1‑inch) carry water resistance, long update cycles, and an S Pen in the box. They are not flashy.
But they hit the perfect middle: students, readers, casual note‑takers. They’re not as cheap as Amazon’s Fire tablets, but they will actually last, and security updates stretch another seven years. That’s an underrated detail for families who’ve been burned by disposable Android hardware before.
📌 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE / FE+ – Specs
- Display: FE: 10.9‑inch LCD | FE+: 13.1‑inch LCD, both 90 Hz
- Chipset: Samsung Exynos 1480 (mid‑range custom SoC)
- RAM / Storage: 6 GB or 8 GB RAM / 128 GB, 256 GB (microSD expandable)
- Battery: FE: 8,000 mAh | FE+: 10,090 mAh, 45W charging
- OS / Updates: Android 15, One UI 7.0, 7 years updates
- Cameras: Rear: 8 MP | Front: 12 MP ultrawide
- Extras: IP68 water resistance, S Pen included, Wi‑Fi 6E
- Weight: FE: ~523 g | FE+: ~610 g
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE on Amazon
5. Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 — Gaming For Its Own Sake
Then there are gaming tablets. Lenovo’s Legion Tab Gen 3 is compact (8.8‑inch, 165 Hz display), powerful (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), and weirdly thoughtful — twin charging ports so your cable never gets in the way, cooling zones where your hands grip.
It won’t get long software support, and Lenovo’s update policy trails badly behind Samsung and Google. But if all you want is Fortnite and Diablo Immortal on the couch, it’s the most focused gaming tablet around.
📌 Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 – Specs
- Display: 8.8‑inch LCD, 2560 × 1600, 165 Hz
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- RAM / Storage: 12 GB RAM / 256 GB, 512 GB
- Battery: 6,550 mAh, 68W fast charging
- OS / Updates: Android 14 (limited), Lenovo ZUI skin, ~2‑3 years updates max
- Cameras: Rear: 13 MP | Front: 8 MP
- Extras: Dual USB‑C ports (top + side), Legion gaming optimizations, quad speakers
- Weight: ~350 g
Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 on Amazon
The Ones We’re Not Recommending
Yes, there are “$129 Android tablets” on Amazon you’ve never heard of, boasting 12‑core CPUs and 4K screens. They’re junk. They won’t get updates, the app support is miserable, and they tank your Wi‑Fi‑powered kid’s Zoom class. Stick to Samsung, OnePlus, Google, Lenovo, or Amazon Fire. Everyone else barely counts.
The Bottom Line
For years, the answer to “should I buy an Android tablet?” was “just get an iPad.” In 2025, that’s no longer true:
- Best power user tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
- Best all‑rounder: OnePlus Pad 3
- Best smart‑home hub: Google Pixel Tablet
- Best value: Samsung S10 FE / FE+
- Best gaming: Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3