After testing dozens of scooters for more than five years, ranging from models that cost less than $200 to ones that cost more than $1,500, I think the best electric scooter for most people is the Segway E3 Pro.

This midrange model has good range, a comfortable top speed, a great design, and some nice extras, like turn signals and integration with Apple's Find My network. For what it offers at its price, it's a good value.

If you're looking for something that doesn't hit your wallet as hard, NIU also makes my favorite budget scooter, the NIU KQi 100P. This model costs less than $400, but if your needs are modest, it can get you around comfortably. Just don't expect it to perform well on hills, or take you for extra-long rides.

As part of our evaluations, I've ridden electric scooters for hundreds of miles, taken them up and down hills, on subways and trains, through cities and suburbs, to see how well they perform in a variety of conditions.

Whether you need a scooter to get back and forth to school or work, a scooter that can go the distance, or a scooter that can help you haul groceries from the store, we have a pick for you.

The best electric scooters available right now

Best electric scooter overall

The Segway E3 Pro isn't the fastest, nor the lightest, nor the most powerful, nor the least expensive scooter I've ever tested. But you know what? It's plenty fast, plenty powerful, and priced just right for the vast majority of people who are looking for a dependable ride, with a few extra niceties thrown in.

I found the E3 Pro's top speed of 20 mph easily fast enough for cruising around town, and while it wasn't a hill champ like the Apollo City, it was able to get be from the train station to my home just fine.

I did find myself having to charge it more often, as the inclines did drain the E3 Pro's battery faster, giving me a much shorter range than the advertised 17.5 miles when using its highest speed setting (you only get up to 34 miles if you poke along as a very slow 9 mph).

The E3 Pro is also well-designed, with a new folding mechanism that's a lot easier to use. And it has turn signals in the handlebars, as well as some fun rainbow LEDs on the underside of the scooter which give you better visibility at night.

However, I wish there were turn signals in the back, too, as it would make it easier for cars behind you to see where you're turning and improve overall rider safety.

Speaking of user safety, the scooter has not one but two brakes — a front drum brake and a rear electronic brake, with a traditional hand brake on the right handlebar.

You also get dual suspension (not often seen on a scooter at this price), traction control, and Apple Find My integration; I still use a bike lock to secure the scooter, but it's nice having a little bit of extra protection in case it goes missing.

• Read our full Segway E3 Pro review

Best budget electric scooter

With a starting price of less than $400, the NIU KQi 100P undercuts many comparable electric scooters by a good amount, yet doesn't compromise on features or performance.

Black with gray accents, the KQi 100P has a fairly clean design, as the scooter's cables are routed through its body. Its headlight was enough to illuminate my way home in the dark, but I wish it could have been brighter for even better visibility.

For a budget scooter, the KQi 100P offered a very smooth ride, thanks to its large 9.5 x 2.3-inch tires and front suspension, and it has a nice folding mechanism for when you want to store it. And, if you connect it with NIU's app, you can lock the scooter via Bluetooth, and set an alarm if someone tries to steal it.

You can also use the app to customize a few aspects of the scooter, including the strength of its regenerative braking system.

Make no mistake, though — this scooter's specs are far more modest than the other models on this list. With a 300W motor, a max speed of 17 miles per hour and a hypothetical range of 18 miles (I got about 10 in practice), this isn't a scooter designed for long distances or big hills.

But, if you're riding on flat terrain, or looking for an electric scooter for your teen who's ready to graduate from one of the best electric scooters for kids, this is a pretty good option.

The KQi 100P unseated the Hiboy S2 as my favorite budget scooter. Both performed similarly in my tests; the Hiboy is lighter, so it's easier to carry around, but the KQi is significantly cheaper.

If you want something more compact — and with turn signals — you should check out the NIU KQi 100F, which costs $100 more, but has handlebars that fold down, and features flashers in the handlebars to let traffic know which way you're going.

• Read our full NIU KQi 100P review

Best electric scooter for long distances

The Ninebot Kickscooter Max G3 is the third generation of Segway's long-distance electric scooter; this model sees a new, slicker color scheme — black and red — and an updated design, including raked handlebars, hydraulic disc brakes, dual suspension, and even a loop through which you can attach one of the best bike locks.

In addition, the Max G3 has a longer theoretical range than the G2 (50 miles vs. 43) and a higher top speed (28 vs. 23 mph). In my day-to-day use, I found the G3's range to be about the same as the G2 — around 20 miles — but that was riding it up and down hills at top speed. If you're more conservative and travel on more level ground, you should see a much better range.

I also like that the G3 has turn signals in the handlebars (although I wish Segway would add them to the deck too, like on Apollo's electric scooters, as it signals to cars behind you which way you're turning), and the display is bigger and brighter than ever. Plus, its double-action piston disc brakes help bring you to a safe and controlled stop.

The G3's 850W motor (2000W peak) roared me up hills, and I liked that top speed allowed me to better keep up with local traffic. I also like that, similar to the G2, the G3 supports Apple Find My network as well as a digital locking system; they can't prevent your scooter from being stolen, but at least it'll help you find it.

There are a few quirks that I would like Segway to work out with a firmware update: if you don't depress the throttle fully, the G3 has a tendency to jerk forward, and it also slows down for a split section after you drive over a pothole. Otherwise, this scooter will let you go the distance.

Another option around this price is the Apollo City, which has a higher top speed of 32 mph and crushes hills just as easily. It has a slightly shorter range, though.

• Read our full Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max G3 review

Best electric scooter for hills

If you live in a hilly area, you're going to need a scooter that can muscle you up those inclines; there's nothing worse than having your ride slow to a crawl as you get to the top.

Thanks to the Apollo City's 500W motor, I was able to roar up and down even the steepest of hills with ease. And, with its top speed of 32 miles per hour, I could keep pace with most local traffic.

I also liked its full suspension and puncture-proof tires, which helped keep the ride smooth. Apollo's app even lets you customize the scooter's performance and has a remote-locking function to engage the scooter's brakes, so that others can't ride it.

The Apollo City has something most other electric scooters lack: turn signals. It's a lot easier to let other drivers know you want to go left or right if you can switch on a light, rather than holding your arm out — even better, they're on both the deck of the scooter as well as the ends of each handlebar, so it's even easier for cars to spot you.

It has multiple choices when it comes to brakes, too, with a thumb-activated regenerative braking system on the left handlebar, and there are also hand brakes on both the right and left sides. Plus, no matter which braking method you use, the Apollo City’s taillight will flash red, warning those behind you that you’re slowing down.

Still, at 57 pounds, this is a pretty heavy electric scooter — it's not my first choice if you have to carry it up a flight of stairs — and its latching mechanism is more finicky than you'll find on many other electric scooters. But otherwise, this is a fun and fast electric scooter with some good safety features built in.

• Read our full Apollo City review

Best electric scooter for kids

The Segway Ninebot Kickscooter C2 Lite is the best electric scooter for parents who want to get a scooter for their kids to safely ride around town.

It's easy to learn, with a simple thumb lever on the right to control acceleration and a hand brake on the left for controlled and easy braking.

Parents can set the max speed to either 7.5 mph or 9.9 mph depending on the age of their child and experience (the recommended age range is 6-10 years). I (and my kid testers) liked the C2 Lite's design, especially the color-changing LEDs on the bottom of the scooter, which make it look even cooler when it's dark outside. I just wish the scooter came in more colors than just blue.

While the C2 Lite has rubber wheels, it was still comfortable enough to ride over small bumps, and its 120W motor gave it just enough oomph for our test kids to enjoy the ride safely.

The C2 Lite has a rated battery life of up to 70 minutes — you'll most likely see closer to 50 depending on how hard your kid decides to ride it — but there's a big clear battery life indicator to let you know how much juice is left.

If your child is a little older, you might also want to check out the Segway C2 (ages 6-12), which has an even sleeker folding design and adjustable handlebars, but the same top speed as the C2 Lite; or the C2 Pro (ages 6-14), which has a higher top speed of 12.4 mph, and has a Bluetooth speaker built in.

• Check out our full guide to the best electric scooters for kids

Best electric scooter for commuters

Thanks to its dual 250W motors, the Unagi Model One Voyager powers up hills with aplomb, zipping along twice as fast as other scooters with just a single motor. Using both motors (you can opt to use just one) causes the battery life to drop significantly lower than the scooter's advertised 20-mile range.

The Unagi also has a great display that's bright enough to easily see even in daylight; we also liked its intuitive controls and loud, electric-sounding horn. It has both head and taillights, the latter of which blinks rapidly when you hit the brakes to signal to those behind you that you are doing so.

I was also enamored with the Unagi's sleek design; its carbon-fiber front post changes in geometry from a circle to a triangular shape, making for an intriguing look. No other scooter on the road looks quite like it.

At 26 pounds, the Unagi is also super-light, which makes it really easy to carry around — helpful if you have to lug it up stairs. However, part of what makes it so lightweight are its small rubber tires, which I found delivered a much rougher ride over potholed streets.

All of this comes at a price: The Model One Voyager costs $1,490 — and it's often on backorder. However, Unagi's scooter rental program lets you rent the Voyager for $79/month, or the Unagi Model One Classic for $59/month with an annual subscription.

• Read our full Unagi Model One Voyager review

Best scooter for carrying stuff

The Glion Balto is the best electric scooter for those who want something they can use to pick up groceries or carry things to and from the store. And, it can fold up on itself, making it much easier to store.

One thing I really appreciated about the Balto is that it comes with a side-view mirror, lights, and turn signals, which made me feel safer in traffic. And, the Balto's battery is removable, so you don't have to park the scooter near an outlet. As a bonus, you can also use the battery to charge your phone — but you'll need to buy an adapter first.

If you're looking for another scooter with a basket, you should also check out the Razor EcoSmart Cargo; it has a bit more zip than the Balto, and its basket can be swapped out for an extra seat, but it can't fold up, and its chain drive is a bit noisy.

• Read our full Glion Balto review

Best offroad electric scooter

With huge 11-inch tires, full suspension, and a 1600W peak motor, the Segway ZT3 Pro is designed to be taken almost anywhere outdoors. I certainly had a lot of fun riding it both on- and offroad around my town.

I was able to comfortably take it up a pretty steep grassy hill — which proved a touch too steep at the end — where lesser scooters would have bowed out.

What's more, the ZT3 Pro really looks the part; it has some great gray and red accents, and the scooter's large X-shaped running light in the front sets it apart from others. The handlebars were easy to grip even on bumpy terrain, and the controls on either side, such as the turn signals, were easy to reach.

It has both front and rear disc brakes — although they’re cable-operated, not hydraulic, unlike on some of Segway's more high-end models. They are operated via a traditional handbrake on the right handlebar.

Like some of Segway's newer scooters, the ZT3 Pro also has Apple's Find My support and a remote electronic locking feature. While I still recommend using one of the best bike locks, it's nice to have a bit of extra insurance.

Also like most electric scooters, the advertised max range of the ZT3 Pro (43.5 miles) is a highly optimistic figure. If you ride it like I did — at top speed — you're more likely to get around 20 miles before it needs a recharge.

I also wish its top speed were a little higher than 24.9 mph (check out the Apollo City if you're looking for something faster), but otherwise, I have few quibbles.

• Read our full Segway ZT3 Pro review

Best premium electric scooter

The Navee UT5 Ultra X wasn't designed with the standard user in mind. Instead, this Rolls-Royce-inspired, top-of-the-line scooter was designed for adrenaline junkies who'll get the most out of its speedy acceleration and high speeds.

The fastest and most powerful electric scooter I've ever piloted, it's capable of going from zero to 12 mph in under two seconds and has a maximum speed of 43 mph. With this being said, you'll need to dial in the maximum attainable speed via the Navee companion app, although this does take just a couple of clicks.

This doesn't mean you don't have control, though. Its dual disc brakes provide excellent stopping power, even when descending steep hills. Plus, the UT5 Ultra X also offers a downhill motor assist option that switches the motors into low gear to give you more control as you do so.

You can also control other settings, like the lights and cruise control in the app, as well as checking the current battery level and range.

Speaking of, the Navee UT5 Ultra X offers an impressive battery range of up to 75 miles per charge, assuming an average speed of around 10 mph. You can also fully charge the battery from 0% in just about two hours. It also has a decently high max rider weight at 330 pounds.

One of its major flaws, however, is its sheer weight. At 88 pounds, it's 23 pounds heavier than the second heaviest model in this guide, the Segway ZT3 Pro. It was a struggle to get it up a few steps, let alone a full flight of stairs.

I also have to mention the elephant in the room — the price. At $2,499, the Navee UT5 Ultra X is roughly five times the cost of the Segway E3 Pro. However, this increased price also comes with increased power, speed, and battery capacity.

Overall, I don't recommend the Navee UT5 Ultra X for apartment dwellers or anyone who might need to navigate up/down stairs. However, if you're looking for a premium electronic scooter that'll do more than just grocery runs, this may be the one for you.

• Read our full Navee UT5 Ultra X review

Best electric scooters compared

Also tested

We've tested a lot of electric scooters at Tom's Guide, and while many are great, not all can crack our top list. Still, if none of the picks above satisfy your needs, you may want to check out these below.

Scooter accessories you'll need

The majority of our picks on this page are for adult riders. However, if you're looking for something for your child, be sure to check out the best electric scooters for kids.

It's also important that you wear a helmet while riding a scooter. In the event of an accident, it could very well save your life, or prevent a traumatic brain injury. Our current top pick is the Giro Register MIPS, which is light, comfortable, and very affordable. For other options, check out our guide to the best bike helmets.

You'll also want to pick up one of the best bike locks to make sure that your scooter doesn't get stolen. Considering that it's a little tricker to lock up a scooter than a bike, a chain lock, like the Kryptonite New York Legend Chain 1515 & New York Disc Lock, might be your best option. It's heavy, but it's incredibly hard to cut.

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How to choose the best electric scooter for you

How are you going to use the scooter?
How you plan to use your scooter will go a long way to determining the best electric scooter for your needs. If you're using it as a "last-mile" vehicle — getting you from your home to the bus or train, and then from the bus or train to your office — you'll want to prioritize an electric scooter that's small and light. Look for a scooter that weighs between 20 and 30 pounds.

You'll also want an electric scooter that folds quickly and easily. There's nothing worse than having to fumble with a latch when you're rushing to catch a train — and your fellow passengers will appreciate it, too.

Are you riding on hilly terrain?
Where you plan to ride your scooter should also help determine your purchase. If you live in a flatter area, a scooter with a 300W to 350W motor should give you all the power you need. If, however, you live in, say, San Francisco, you'll want a scooter with a stronger motor to get you around. Larger individuals should also consider electric scooters with more powerful motors.

Battery life/range: After price, this will be the next deciding factor for many. It's a bit difficult to provide an accurate estimate of battery life and range, because it's dependent on a variety of factors, including the rider's weight, the temperature, and the terrain — if you're riding on flat surfaces, you'll be able to go much farther than if you're riding up and down hills. Battery life is typically measured in Amp Hours (aH); the higher the number, the longer you'll be able to ride.

Speed: Most electric scooters will top out at around 20 miles per hour on a flat road. That's plenty fast for most uses, but there are scooters that will zip along at speeds in excess of 25-30 MPH.

Motors: The majority of electric scooters will have a single hub-mounted motor (meaning the motor is built into the wheel itself), and will typically have a power rating of around 350 Watts. If you live in a particularly hilly area (or want to go fast) you'll want a motor with higher wattage.

Tires/suspension: There's nothing worse than a jarring ride as you bump over potholes and cracks in the road. To mitigate this, most electric scooters are now outfitted with air-filled (pneumatic) tires, which help cushion things. Others will have front or rear suspension (or both), which makes for an even more comfortable ride. Bigger tires also mean a more stable ride, too.

Lights: If you plan on riding your electric scooter in the early morning, at dusk, or among city traffic, it's worth getting a model with lights so you can see and be seen. Look for electric scooters with headlights and taillights — the better ones will have taillights that flash when you apply the brakes. Unfortunately, turn signals are rare, so you'll have to look out when changing lanes.

How much does an electric scooter cost?

For many, the price of an electric scooter will be the starting point for any buying decision. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect at each price tier.

• $100 to $200: These scooters tend to be very inexpensive and come with smaller motors, low-capacity batteries and simple braking mechanisms. This is where you'll also find most electric scooters for kids, but for adults, I would recommend you look for something in the $300-$400 range.
• $300 to $400: This is where you'll find the best budget scooters for adults that are actually worth owning. You'll get the basics, though most won't be great for hills or long distances.
• $400-$600: These scooters can be considered as either mid-range or entry-level commuters, and they tend to include bigger wheels, slightly longer ranges, fast-charging batteries and the ability to scale hills.
• $600 and up: These scooters are in the premium range. You can expect a longer, more comfortable ride, along with larger tires, faster speeds, disc brakes and better suspension.

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FAQs

How we test the best electric scooters

There are dozens of varieties of electric scooters on the market, but only a few are worth bringing home to ride.

To test electric scooters, we ride them around a New Jersey suburb and, if the scooter is light and small enough, we take it on a train and into New York City. As increasing numbers of people are bringing scooters on public transportation, we like to see how easy it is to lug a scooter up stairs, and to see how well it can be stowed under a seat.

Once in New York, we ride the scooter some more to see how well it handles potholes and other road obstacles. We also take each scooter up a street with a 6% grade, to see how well its motor performs under strain. More powerful scooters will be able to maintain a somewhat consistent speed, while lesser models will slow to a crawl.

In addition, we evaluate each scooter to see if it can reach its advertised top speed, and how close its range comes to the company's estimates. Spoiler alert: most electric scooters will get around 60% of their advertised range.

As part of the testing process, we also evaluate a scooter's brakes, lighting, and design, as well as its price.

For entry-level and commuter scooters, we primarily consider things such as portability — how easy it is to fold up to bring on the bus or other types of public transportation, or how light it is to cart up a long stretch of stairs — along with range and top speed.

Commuter scooters don't need to be the fastest things around, but it helps if they can manage at least 15 mph for a sustained time so that you're not holding up anyone in the bike lane.

We also looked at braking mechanisms, including hydraulic disc brakes, which are the best for stopping quickly and safely at top speeds, and mechanical disc brakes, which are considered the second best for their reliability. Extra features like headlights, reflectors and available speedometer also factored into our commuter picks.

For the performance-based, higher-end rides, we consider range, speed and braking mechanisms, but we also looked at suspension. If you're paying upward of $1,000 for an electric scooter, it should be comfortable to ride and able to scale curbs, hills and bumpy roads.

For our picks for kids, electric scooters in this category don't offer the same bells and whistles as commuter models. For instance, many of the child and preteen picks don't fold up for portability, so we considered overall weight and size for kids with longer rides to school.

We also stuck with scooters that topped out at 15 mph for utmost safety. And like our commuter and high-performance picks, we pored over reviews from parents where accessible.

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If your soundbar just hasn't been making your movies sound as cinematic as they deserve, then perhaps it's time you entered the world of the home theatre with one of the best AV receivers. That's how you get the best surround experience possible, after all. If you're willing to invest in some speakers as well. One per channel, of course. We never said it would be cheap.

Our favorite amplifier at the moment is the Denon AVR-X4800H. It's an excellent performer with loads of great features, and doesn't cost as much as similar options. If you want something even cheaper, then you should opt for the Denon AVR-X2700H. It's a great beginner AV receiver.

So if you're looking for a new way to get even better sound for your movie nights and TV binge sessions, then look no further than one of the best AV receivers of 2026.

About the author

The best AV receivers you can buy right now

Best AV receiver overall

A sonic tour de force, the X4800H is a home theatre amplifier with long-term appeal. The provision of a full board of 8K /4K 120Hz HDMI inputs, and coverage of all the significant home cinema sound formats, ensures that this Denon amp will partner any display or source you might acquire for a long time to come.

It's not a small box by any stretch of the imagination, but that just means its filled with loads of impressive amplification internals. 9 channels of channels mean that you can attach a massive surround or Atmos system. The screen on the front makes it easy to read what mode its in, and then there's an easy setup mode when you plug it into your TV or projector. From there, you can setup all of the different settings and features to get the most out of your reciever.

The sound profile is best described as visceral. The soundstage is crisp and detailed, but there is a sense of power and precision as well; directional panning is totally convincing. While Denon rates on-board power at 9x 125W (into 8 Ohms) / 200W (into 6 Ohms), it sounds rather more muscular than that. This is a blockbuster amplifier designed for blockbusters but is also darn good with music, sounding light and agile with two-channel stereo and seamlessly immersive with 3D audio mixes.

• Read the full Denon AVR-X4800H review

Best value AV receiver

Denon’s AVR-X2700H provides an affordable jumping-on-point for the brand’s 2021 X-series AV receivers. The price tag hints at budget components, but in a smaller viewing room (rather than a cavernous theater), it defies expectations.

While this one might not have as many channels, its still a great AV receiver for most people. There are plenty of HMDI ports on the back so you can hook up loads of devices, and there's an easy setup menu when you hook it up to your TV or projector. It's a solid piece of kit that gives your home cinema system a good centerpiece.

In our listening tests it gave a punchy delivery and has no problem with action-orientated soundtracks, plus it’s nuanced enough to portray subtle ambiance too. Power output is rated at 150W for multichannel, which is generous and it’ll support a 5.1.2 channel configuration or conventional 7.1 surround (depending on how you’ve set up your loudspeakers). There’s also 8K support, albeit via a single HDMI 2.1 input.

Best AV receiver for format support

The Marantz Cinema 50 is one of the most future proof home theater amps we've seen. The connectivity on offer is truly impressive with 8K and 4K @120Hz support, 6 HDMI inputs plus three outputs, and an impressive auto calibration system. Format support is extensive with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro 3D capable, as well as Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. It’s also IMAX Enhanced certified, which could come into its own when Disney+ starts streaming IMAX audio mixes.

If you’re looking for an AV amp that can deliver massive dynamics, with whip crack fast transients and a fearsome bass extension, the Cinema 50 doesn’t disappoint. It’s a tremendously exciting listen and steers gunfire shootouts beautifully, with effortless panning, and even at high volume there's no hint of strain.

It does music well too. Marantz’s lauded HDAM amplification circuitry is warm and melodious. In 2-channel mode, we’d say the Cinema 50 is comparable to a high quality mid range stereo amp, and with strong format support is as future proof as they come right now.

• Read the full Marantz Cinema 50 review

Best AV receiver for small spaces

Available in silver-gold to U.K. buyers and black only in the U.S. and Australia, the Marantz Cinema 70S is a half-height lifestyle AV receiver perfect for smaller spaces and viewing rooms. The sonic signature has a warm sound that works with hi-res audio as well as movies and gamers.

You can run a 5.1.2 Atmos setup with a uniform 50W delivered across all 7 channels and was peerless with movie soundtracks. In Army of Thieves (Dolby Atmos, Netflix), our reviewer really got the sense that they were travelling into the inner mechanism of the safe when Ludwig Dieter lays his hands on the lock, during the safecracking competition. The clicky travel of the dial is crisply delineated against the symphonic score, which rises all around.

Hooked up to a Fire TV stick listening to Dolby Atmos music mixes from Tidal, our reviewer was thrilled at just how seamlessly the 360 presentation was. Billy Porter’s "Break A Sweat" places the listener firmly in the middle of the dance floor, with horns in the surround, the vocal dead center and the main beat gyrating across the LCR. In our 5.1.2 configuration, there were no sonic gaps or dips with any kind of content, just a totally immersive listening experience.

• Read the full Marantz Cinema 70S review

What is an AV reciever?

An AV reciever is a kind of amplifier that's designed for home cinema and movie watching. You plug it into your TV with an HDMI cable, and then it takes the audio signal, and processes it for seperate speakers. You need to have speakers for an AV reciever to work — it's a kind of go-between device.

You could have as many speakers as you like, although there's a minimum of two. Everything from a normal stereo (2 speakers) up to a much larger surround setup (7.1 and above). It needs to be plugged into the power as well. Remember to budget for speakers with an AV reciever.

Do I really need an AV reciever?

This is a big question to ask yourself. Do you have the space for multiple speakers around the room? What kind of watching do you do? Can you budget for more than two speakers?

If the answer to any of those questions is no, then you don't need an AV receiver. I'd argue, in fact, that very few people need an AV receiver — you're much better off with the space-saving capabilities of one of the best soundbars, or the musical chops of a pair of HDMI-enabled powered speakers like the Kanto Ren.

But, if you love watching movies, you've got plenty of space, plenty of budget, and permission from your significant other, then an AV receiver might be just what you've been looking for.

How to choose the best AV receiver for you

Buying something as complex and multi-talented as an AV receiver can be overwhelming to a casual consumer, so if you’re serious about transforming your sound output into something more theater-like, start educating yourself on the necessities by familiarizing yourself with the things to consider.

Configuration

Something to know right out of the gate is that most seven-channel AV receivers support a speaker configuration of 5.1.2, which is the standard 5.1 surround layout with two additional height/up-firing speakers. Models that feature nine channels of amplification can be used for either 5.1 with four Dolby height speakers (5.1.4) or 7.1 surround with two height channels (7.1.2). Speaker models such as those in the new Klipsch Reference series could make a great partnership for a home cinema setup, and has several upward-firing height speakers to meet Dolby Amos requirements.

Connectivity

Finding the best AV receiver isn’t just about HDMI inputs. Sure we like plenty of inputs, but the number of outputs are important too, particularly if you plan on running both a flatscreen and a projector in the same room.

If you're considering an AV receiver as a connectivity hub for a music system as well as movies, then be sure to check out our guide to the best turntables for any budget. Many of the receivers available today come with a built-in moving-magnet phono stage to enable vinyl playback from any of the record decks we've tested.

Resolution and frame rate support

Do you need 8K or High Frame Rate HDMIs? If your AV receiver is unlikely to have a games console connected then the answer is no. In which case there’s some great deals to be had on AVRs with regular HDMI 2.0 inputs.

Surround sound

Dolby Atmos compatibility is a given (and by default that means you’ll get DTS:X too), but how many channels do you need? Given the option, 9 channels always trump 7, because it opens up more speaker options such as 5.1.4 or 7.1.2, for example.

Don’t have a full Dolby Atmos home theatre loudspeaker setup? Look for a model that offers height virtualisation technology, so you can enjoy an immersive audio experience even when you don’t have a full set of physical speakers.

Power output

Power isn’t just about roof-raising volume, and even if you’re not lucky enough to have a dedicated movie room, a model with big amplification makes sense. A high power output means an AVR can deliver dynamic transients, and pressure load a space without clipping or strain.

Surround sound explained

One of the most confusing things about any kind of home cinema system is the surround sound channel numbers you'll often spot on the box. What do they mean, and what do they tell you about the receiver that you're about to buy?

Those numbers denote the channels that are available to use with the reciever. It's broken up into three different sections. The first number are the surround channels. The is for subwoofers. The final number are the height channels, for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Say, for example, that you've got a reciever that's got a 7.1.4 surround sound setup. That means you've got 7 surround channels, that you could use for a centre, left and right stereo, two side surrounds, and then a pair of rear surrounds. You've then got a single subwoofer channel. Finally, you've got 4 height channels that you can place around the room in pre-determined Atmos spots. You can use Atmos testing videos to make sure all your speakers are in the right place.

AV receiver FAQ

As much as I've tried to explain everything about AV receivers, you're almost certainly going to have questions remaining about what are, ultimately, complicated bits of equipment. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about AV receivers, and all the answers you could ever want.

How we test AV receivers

When testing models for inclusion in our best AV receivers page, we play a range of media — including movies, music and games — to evaluate overall sound quality performance. We also test any companion software that may come with an AV receiver, and factor in how easy it is to set up and use each receiver with a reference speaker system.

Other features we consider include the different kinds of connectivity options, all of which determine how well it will work with your home entertainment setup. We also take into account power output, the number of supported audio channels and subwoofer outputs, and available processing software for decoding movie soundtracks as well as their ability to handle music sources — all factors that greatly affect how each speaker will sound in your living room.

Once we complete our testing, we rate each AV receiver based on our five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). If a product hits nearly every mark, it’s awarded an Editor's Choice badge.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single TV in need of decent sound must be in want of one of the best soundbars. And, likely, you're here because you're sick of awful-sounding TV speakers — well, I've got the list for you. We've spent a lot of time testing the best soundbars to make sure you get the best bang for your buck.

The best is still the Sonos Arc Ultra. It's an absolute stunner of a soundbar, bringing great sound, lovely Dolby Atmos, and even slick styling so you won't mind it sitting under your TV. It does come with a big wallet-denting price, though — if you're looking to save some money, we'd go for the also excellent Sony HT-S100F.

But without further ado, these are the best soundbars you can buy in 2026.

Meet the testing team

The Tom's Guide testing team is an experienced bunch who love good sound. Here's why you can trust us to find the best soundbar for your needs:

How do we test the best soundbars?

Before we dive deep into the best soundbars, I just want to go through what we look for when we're testing them. We make sure to evaluate the soundbar in some key areas.

Setup: While it's something you're only going to do once, we want to make sure that it's as easy as possible to get working. Plug-and-play is the name of the game here, and if there are extra features we want to make sure that they're as easy as possible to use.

How big is it? Everyone's space is different. Maybe you've got a massive room with loads of stuff in it, or maybe your living room is more compact and minimal. You want a soundbar that's going to suit your space, and, more importantly, not going to take up too much of it. We check whether the soundbar fits under our 50-inch OLED Philips testing TV to make sure you're not going to have any size issues. Ultimately, it needs to fit on your TV stand.

Are there any extras? What's in the box, and are its contents any good? Some soundbars come with extras like surround speakers and subwoofers. I want to make sure that those extras are worth it, and that they're not just pictures to sell them at the store.

Sound: This is arguably the most important part of the soundbar, and there are a number of things we look out for here. How's the dialog? Is it clear, or muffled? What about the bass — are you going to have rumbling floors in your movies, or are there going to be problems with the low end? I love testing the sound portion because I get to watch movies instead of working; But it's still important when testing and working out whether a bar is for you.

The best soundbars available right now

Best soundbar overall

The Sonos Arc Ultra is more than just a soundbar. It's a fully fledged audio entertainment center that connects to your TV and just happens to be really good for movies and TV.

I particularly like how you can stream your music to it from any device — I frequently find myself spending a bunch of time listening to my favorite tunes from Qobuz and Tidal with it, thanks to its ease of use.

But it's really that epic movie experience you're looking for with something like the Sonos Arc Ultra, and you get it in spades. The Dolby Atmos with just the soundbar is unlike anything else around, and if you add in the optional surrounds, it's a game-changer.

I absolutely love watching just about anything with the Arc Ultra — although you will want to pick up a Sonos sub so that you can get the low-end grunt your movies deserve. It's not cheap — but it is so, so worth it.

Setup
Setting up your Arc Ultra is going to take a bit more effort than some of the other options on the list. I found it fairly easy though, given the excellent instructions. If all you want to do is use the soundbar, you just plug it into power, plug the HDMI port into the back of the soundbar and the HDMI ARC port of your TV, and it should work without problems at all. I did have to change the settings in my Samsung TV sound menu to make sure that the device was set as the primary sound output, but then it worked with no problem.

If you want to use the excellent Sonos room correction settings, smart features, or to connect other Sonos speakers as surrounds, things will get more complicated. You'll need to use the Sonos App for these — and while it's not difficult, it is extra work. The room correction options also need you to move around the room while waving your phone around, so if mobility is something you struggle with, you may want to look elsewhere.

Once set up, you won't have any issues, but it's worth bearing in mind that it takes more work to get it working. It's all absolutely worth your time though, with massive boosts to sound quality and useful features within the Sonos App.

How big is it
The Sonos Arc Ultra is a big soundbar. It's very long, measuring around four feet long. I found it perfectly suited for TVs larger than 55 inches, although if your TV is smaller, things might look out of place.

There's less of a problem with the height. It's only about 3 inches tall, so it'll fit under most TVs without a problem.

Are there any extras
You get the soundbar in box — there's no included subwoofer here. Not that you really need one, though, given that Sonos has managed to pack some incredible bassy hardware into its slim frame.

If you want to enhance your movie-watching experience, though, you can add in a Sonos sub and surrounds in the from of Era 100 or Era 300 speakers. It adds to the cost, but it gets very close to dedicated home cinema sound.

Sound
This is the best bit of the Arc Ultra. I love the way that soundbar sounds for movies and TV, with some incredible body to the sound. I found the dialogue clear while watching the news and other TV shows, and it was excellent when listening to Sir David Attenborough talk to me about dinosaurs in Prehistoric Planet.

For movies, as you might expect, the Arc Ultra dominates. I discovered that even without extra surrounds, the Dolby Atmos was amazing, putting me in the centre of a space battle in Star Wars Episode 3. The bass without a sub is surprisingly good as well, although if you really want to feel your movie,s you should buy the extra subwoofer.

It's pretty good for music as well, uncommon for a soundbar. There's plenty of space, thanks to the wider form factor, and the bar manages the low end of your tracks pretty well, too.

• Read the Sonos Arc Ultra review

Best soundbar under $100

When you don't want to spend loads of money on a soundbar, something like the Sony HT-S150 is just what the doctor ordered. It's a lovely, cheap soundbar that does everything you need it to — make your TV sound better than the built in audio.

It brings more clarity to dialogue, most importantly. Everything from your favorite movies all the way to news bulletins and everything in between become much easier to make out, perfect if you're struggling to hear what people are trying to say.

It's relatively compact as well, so you'll have no problems fitting it on your TV bench beneath most sizes of screen. Our tester found it super easy to use well, with very few (if any) connection issues that sometimes plague cheaper devices.

It's not going to be as impressive as some of the more expensive options on the list, but it more than makes up for it with excellent clarity for all your watching.

Setup
Getting the HT-S100F up and running is about as easy as they come. Just plug the power in, connect the HDMI port to the HDMI ARC on your TV, and it'll turn on automatically whenever you turn on your TV.

Erin did find that you might have to occasionally turn the bar on with the remote control, but it didn't happen enough to be a massive problem.

How big is it
The HT-S100F is designed for normal-sized televisions, and it's compact frame will fit on most TV stands. It measures 35 inches long, so you'll be fine for TVs from 32 inches to 48.

It might seem a little small for larger TVs, though, with the screen dwarfing the soundbar beneath. You'll also find some minor sound issues with larger sets, as the picture feels wider than the sound that's coming out.

Height-wise wise you'll be fine with a range of different TVs as well. The bar measures just 2.5 inches tall, so it won't cover the bottom of your screen. If it covers the IR receiver of your TV, there's an IR repeater built in so that your controller still works.

Erin found it fit well underneath our 50-inch testing TV, although if you've got a larger TV set, you might want something slightly larger in the long run.

Are there any extras?
In the box of the HT-S100F, you get the soundbar — and nothing else. You can't buy an extra subwoofer or surround either, leaving you with no upgrades for the future.

This makes it great for just a simple setup, and it keeps the cost down. There's a controller in the box as well, so you can connect Bluetooth devices and change sources without standing up.

Sound
The HT-100F isn't going to blow you away if you're a movie lover, but its solid, serviceable sound is a big step-up over your TV's built-in speakers. It makes dialog clearer, music sounds better, and sound effects are easier to hear.

For music, things wheren't quite so impressive, but if you've got no other ways to listen to music in the living room, it will more than suffice. If you're looking for a cheap way to get much better sound out of your TV watching, then this is the way to go.

• Read the Sony HT-S100F review

Best soundbar for movies

Sony's line of soundbars can cost a lot of money — but it's the mid-range and cheap offerings that we recommend the most. This, the Theater Bar 7, is the mid-range bar, and it offers some great value for money.

For one, the 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos sound is very good. The included sub offers some extra low-end for those all-important explosions in action movies, and the surround sound is immersive and well produced. The dialogue department is where the soundbar really shines. Speech is clear and easily discernible over whatever else is going on on-screen.

There are also some useful smart features built in. You can connect to your WiFi to stream music to the bar, and adjust settings from the app on your phone. As long as you don't expect the best musical sound, of course — as with so many soundbars, this is not a musical powerhouse but a rectangular movie hero. And That's ok.

Those with bigger TVs might also struggle slightly with the size. It's quite a compact soundbar, and that can affect the perception of sound in space when the image above it is much larger. Thankfully, the solid surround sound does a good job of keeping the effect to a minimum.

It should be noted that the Theater Bar 7 is not a cheap soundbar, but it's a great way of getting great sound without spending thousands on one of the range-topping devices.

Setup
For any normal movie or TV watching, setting up the bar is very easy. Plug it into the power, and then into the HDMI ARC port on your TV. Plug in the subwoofer and everything connects together with no hassle at all.

Neither is connecting the bar to the internet. Download the app, and then follow the on-screen instructions to get everything working properly. We recommend you dip into the settings menu from there and turn the bass up, and raise the surround height to 10. That gave us the best sound, although your room might require some fine tweaking.

How big is it
This is a fairly compact soundbar, measuring 37.5 inches long. That means that it's going to be dwarfed by larger TVs, but those measuring around 55 inches or smaller are going to be fine. Our testing TV is 55 inches, for example, and everything was fine.

The subwoofer is thin and compact too, so you don't need as much space as you might for some of the competition. It fits perfectly beside a TV unit without sticking out like a sore thumb.

Are there any extras
There's one very big extra in the box beside the remote control — that lovely big subwoofer for the low stuff. There aren't any extra surround speakers though, because they're all built into the bar itself.

Features-wise, though, you've got the mobile app to go with Bluetooth and wired audio connections. You can stream music to the bar from around the house, should you want some music when you're not watching movies. You can also use the app to change key settings of the bar, like sound profiles and bass levels.

Sound
Sony's audio chops are well documented, and the Theater Bar 7 just continues the legacy. There's some lovely bass on offer here, with impact and depth whenever the action on screen gets thick and fast. We used the app to dial in the bass a bit, though; out of the box it was tuned a bit low. Your mileage may vary, of course.

The dialogue was what really impressed here, though. Speech was clear and bright no matter what was going on around it, be that a fighter plane screeching through the skies or a car chase in the Batmobile. That's not to say its ever in your face. When the goings get calmer, the voices adjust to match. You'll never miss a word.

Not everything is rosy, as it generally isn't with most soundbars. Music playback is disappointing, with merely an "ok" in our review. It's not bad, but there's no drive to the music as you'll find with movies and TV shows. A shame, but not unexpected.

• Read the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review

Best all-in-one soundbar

There’s not really such a thing as a “bargain” when it comes to home surround sound. Instead, there’s value — and the JBL bar 1300XMK2 brings the value unlike just about anything. Flexibility, a more affordable price than the key competition, and, of course, great sound.

The two ends of the soundbar can be disconnected and placed around the room, powered by their own internal batteries. If you don’t have the space for a traditional setup, this is a great way to enjoy immersive Dolby Atmos sound without a more permanent (and expensive) solution.

The soundbar itself is quite large, however. It’s very deep and rather long with its surrounds attached, so you’ll need a long TV stand and big TV to make sure it doesn’t look out of place. There’s a subwoofer in the box that you’ll need to find space for as well.

The sound is great. It’s immersive, directional, deep and clear. We loved it when watching a wide range of movies, from action to romance. There’s little this soundbar can’t do.

Setup
First off, hit the gym before you place this soundbar anywhere. This is a 26-pound behemoth, so you might even want two people to lift it into place on your TV stand. There are some extra setup quirks as well, but they’re easily mitigated thanks to the good instructions and user-friendly design.

Once you’ve plugged the soundbar and subwoofer into the wall, you’ll hook the soundbar into the eARC port of your TV. The soundbar and sub should find each other automatically, but if not use the connection button on the sub.

If you want to use the surrounds, pull them off the soundbar and place them around your room. Sound adjustment is done automatically. If you have any wireless connection issues, re-attach them to the soundbar to reset everything.

Streaming and WiFi are handled by JBL’s ONE app. It’s super easy; we had no problems at all getting everything connected and working.

How big is it
There’s no two ways around it — the 1300XMK2 is a very big soundbar. At 40 inches, the soundbar is wide, and that's without taking extra surrounds into account. It’s very deep too, so you’ll want to make sure that there’s enough space on your TV stand that way. If not, we’d recommend wall mounting the TV.

This is a bar suited to much larger TVs, 65-inch at a minimum. Otherwise you’ll risk the bar looking too big, and your TV small.

Thankfully, you won’t have to worry about how tall the bar is. It’s short enough that most TVs will amply clear the top, so you don’t have to worry about the soundbar blocking the view. Just bear in mind that you’ll also want space for the surround speakers behind your seating position — they’re not going to work if they’re in front of you.

Are there any extras
You get everything you need in the box. There’s the bar itself, along with the surround speakers. Unlike other models, from the likes of Sonos, this is a big bonus and means you don’t have to buy any further devices for some lovely Dolby Atmos sound.

There’s also a subwoofer in the box too, along with all the cables you’d ever need for just about any circumstance. There’s a controller in the box, although we found that the JBL ONE app was a perfectly serviceable way of controlling the sound — or your TV remote through the eARC port.

Sound
With 25 drivers powering 11.1.4 channels, you’d hope the 1300XMK2 sounded good. And, sure enough, the bar sounds excellent. Those extra surrounds make sure that the sound is immersive and massive, while the sub adds impressive depth and bass.

The planes flying in Top Gun: Maverick made the room shake, and the soundtrack was bombastic during testing. The whole movie placed our tester directly in the movie.

Object placement is good too, making sure that everything is kept in the right place.

The soundbar was pretty good for music too, making soundtracks sound great, although it struggled slightly more with stereo tracks — but its still better than most soundbars.

• Read the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review

Best value soundbar

Soundbars are expensive — there’s no way around that. You want to achieve the best bang-for-buck sound, right? Enter the Samsung QS750F. For a relatively low MSRP of $899, the QS750F gives you a soundbar, two rears, and a subwoofer, which is considerably more generous than Sonos or JBL.

As a result, the QS750F blows the competition out of the park. For under $1k, you get cinematic sound, with enviable width and immense bass. The QS750F sounds so good that we forgot we were supposed to be reviewing it.

Although it’s just a 5.1.2 channel configuration — considerably fewer speakers than JBL’s monstrous 1300X, which boasts 11.1.2 channels and costs almost double — you probably wouldn’t be able to notice the difference.

Setup
As with every other soundbar, setup is tedious yet quick. Once the soundbar, subwoofer, and rears are unpackaged, simply connect everything to power and plug the soundbar into your TV using HDMI eARC.

Unlike JBL’s collection of premium soundbars, the QS750F’s rears aren’t truly “wireless” — sure, they connect to the soundbar wirelessly, but the left speaker must be connected to power. This is only an issue if you’re short on power outlets, extension cables, or if you want a particularly cable-free setup. Even so, you’re not going to get a better multi-speaker setup for less, so we think this is a worthy sacrifice.

The subwoofer is wireless, so don’t worry about needing to connect that to the soundbar with a wire. It’ll automatically connect.

How big is it
As you might expect, the QS750F is a large soundbar. This is true of pretty much every high-power soundbar — they’re designed to be able to fill large rooms with both size and physical presence.

The soundbar is 46 inches long and ten inches deep, so you’ll need to ensure it fits on your TV stand/wall mount and that your TV is big enough. I’d recommend anything from 55 inches up.

The subwoofer is effectively a 10 x 10 x 10-inch cube. We’d recommend positioning the subwoofer around 12 inches from the walls on all sides. You’ll need to play around with spacing to figure out the optimal position. Some setups come with configuration modes in the relevant app, but Samsung locks its proprietary Space Fit Pro behind post-2021 AI-powered Samsung TVs.

Are there any extras
The QS750F comes with everything you need for a Dolby Atmos all-in-one setup. You get the soundbar, subwoofer, and two rears.

You also get AirPlay, Google Cast, and smart home features in the Smart Things app, which we’d recommend downloading. You can easily adjust playback modes and listening styles — movie, music, gaming, voice enhancement — to find what pleases you.

Sound
Alright, now onto the most important part of any soundbar: its eponymous sound. Thankfully, you’ll be pleased to know that the QS750F sounds utterly fantastic.

As the QS750F is a large soundbar, it’s intended for use in a large room. The side-firing speakers inthe soundbar itself and the powerful subwoofer work together to create a wide soundscape worthy of a movie theater. Although there’s not as much height as width, the soundbar’s Dolby Atmos performance is still admirable.

The dialogue performance is a clear standout, though: I was never left wondering what was being said thanks to voice enhancement mode. This feature isolated dialogue well, and ensured even the moodiest and broodiest speech was crystal clear.

Most audiophiles will be the first to admit that soundbars aren’t ideal for playing music — me included — but the QS750F didn’t balk at the challenge. Although I’d much rather listen to music via my bookshelf speakers or headphones, the QS750F played every song with rich, pulsing bass, and would be good enough for a quick listening session or party.

• Read the Samsung QS750F review

Best compact soundbar

It’s not hard to find a compact soundbar — there are plenty of them out there. It is, however, difficult to find a good one in the sea of otherwise identical, fairly woeful options. Thankfully, our favorite sure likes to stand out from the crowd, with a lovely retro look and lashings of useful features. Oh, and it sounds good.

We love the way that the little soundbar sounds. There’s some great bass from the bar itself, although you can increase that by buying the Marshall wireless soundbar; although it is sold separately, irritatingly. It was great for movies, TV, and uncommonly solid for music. That’s rare for a soundbar of any price. Not too shabby, Marshall.

The smart WiFi settings and features built in rival Sonos’, with plenty of connections and streaming options. Its the physical connections that really take the cake though, with a wide range of different plugs on the back to make sure you can plug in anything from a record player to your dad's old Betamax player. Yes, really.

Marshall has taken on Sonos, and come out of the ensuing tussle on top — and that’s mean feat at all considering this is the brands second soundbar.

Setup

Initial setup is about as easy as it comes. Plug the soundbar into the wall, and then connect the Heston 60 to the HDMI eARC on the back of your TV. Turn everything on, and you’re well on your way to sonic bliss.

Open up Marshall’s app to finish setting everything up properly. Here, you can run the room sound settings and change the sound to your liking with a simple EQ. You can also connect the soundbar to the WiFi with a quick setup menu. It’s all very simple.

If you bought the separate subwoofer, you’ll have to use the connection button on the back. It works well, and we had no problems with connection during use.

How big is it

The Heston 60 is on the larger side of compact soundbars, measuring around 28 inches across. It’s not very deep, though, and neither is it particularly tall. I’d say the largest TV you’d want to pair the soundbar with is around 55”, although smaller TVs might work better.

If you’ve got a larger room, you might want to opt for the larger Heston 120.

Are there any extras

In the box, you get the soundbar — and that’s it. There are no extras that come with the soundbar, like a remote. You do get a power and HDMI cables, thankfully.

You can technically connect most subwoofers up to the soundbar thanks to the standard sub-out port on the back, but Marshall also offers a very good wireless sub that you can buy. This avoids cable clutter and adds to the sound.

The RCA connector on the back opens up a whole wide world of different connection options as well. You can connect a music streamer or a record player, for example.

Sound

Despite its diminutive size, the Heston 60 packs a sonic punch. There’s plenty of oomph to the bass, even before you add a sub, and the surround from the Dolby Atmos sounds excellent, no matter the movie we threw at it.

Music sounds great, especially when you take into consideration that it's coming from a soundbar — they don’t traditionally work great for tunes. Bear one thing in mind: larger rooms will necessitate the need for a subwoofer, as the bar, while powerful, lacks the punch for bigger spaces.

• Read the Marshall Heston 60 review

Also tested

I've seen loads of soundbars pass over Tom's Guide's testing table, and while there are some excellent options out there, not all of them can fit onto one list.

That doesn't mean they're bad, by any stretch of the imagination — and they might just be the best soundbar for you. Here are some of the soundbars that we liked testing:

How to choose the best soundbar for you

It's gotta be simple

One of the best bits of most modern soundbars is that they're all simple to use in some form or another — but if you want something that you just plug in and use, then you'll want to avoid any with smart features.

While those smart features can make them sound better, or work for different types of content, they add complexity. An app might make it possible to access room EQs and the like, it also makes it more complicated for the end user.

Avoid soundbars with Wi-Fi and apps if you just want something that plugs in and works. Thankfully, most soundbars now just need your TV controller to control the volume, thanks to HDMI eARC.

Are you watching movies, watching TV or listening to music?

First up, if your primary use case is music, go for a pair of speakers with an HDMI port like the Fluance Ri71 above. They sound much better than sound bars for music, bar none. You'll thank me later.

Now, for the other questions. TV users will want something that increases dialog clarity and makes it easier to hear what's going on in the news. You won't need a subwoofer or any kind of surround support. The Sony HT-S100F above is going to be perfect for you, given it's not too expensive and works great for TV.

Movie watchers should look out for subwoofers and surround speakers. You want more space for your Dolby Atmos mixes and the subwoofer will help with the low-end rumble you get with movies. The Sonos Arc Ultra and subwoofer is a good option for you, or the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 if you want something in one package.

Size matters

If you've a small room or a small TV, you don't want a massive soundbar; that much should be obvious. It wouldn't fit, for one, but it would also make your TV look much smaller. And who wants that.

However, you also don't want a soundbar that's too small for your TV. Otherwise, all of the sound will appear to come from the middle of the TV, rather than from it's sides like it should. You'll want to get a decently sized soundbar if you've got something between 50-75 inches big. Larger than that and you should probably consider either the biggest soundbar you can lay your hands on, or a proper stereo setup built around one of the best home cinema receivers.

I’ve been wearing smart glasses for over five years — using them for over 110,000 miles of travel — and I’m testing every single new pair to help you find the best AI and AR glasses you can buy right now.

Right now, you've got a choice of two different types of smart glasses: AR or AI. But more and more, these two technologies are coming together — shown by the likes of the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses and Xreal's Project Aura. But there are still different glasses for all types of needs.

For this guide, we’ve tested the leading smart specs to help you find the right fit. The Viture Beast is our top AR pick for its sharp, expansive display, while the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) remains the AI model to choose for a more natural everyday glasses experience. For all the hands-on testing, in-depth analysis and expert advice, I've got you covered in this guide.

There are more smart glasses on the way, including the refreshed Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) glasses with longer battery life and more styles, the camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses and the all-new Meta VR Glasses, which may be the next step in VR headsets. For more, check out the latest news.

Smart glasses with cameras have raised many privacy concerns, with Meta now adding updates to its smart glasses to stop recording if the warning light is covered. You'll find many smart glasses without cameras in this guide, and for more on privacy concerns, we've got you covered.

The best smart glasses you can buy today

The best AR glasses overall

Read the full Viture Beast review

Who are the Viture Beast for?

The Viture Beast has taken the crown as the best AR glasses money can buy right now. It immediately stands out from the crowd with its sharp, vibrant visuals and smooth refresh rate, all in a subtle, Wayfarer-esque aesthetic. These are comfy smart specs to wear for hours on end, and they even boast decent spatial audio to boot. All that makes this particular Beast a worthy choice for all.

Why are these the best AR smart glasses?

At $549, these don't come cheap, but you get what you pay for. By that, I mean crisp 1200p resolution, powered by Sony’s latest Micro OLED panels, with a massive 58-degree field of view and whopping 1,250 nits of max brightness. Whether binge-watching on a cross-country flight or working through a day’s worth of apps, expect both clarity and richness in whatever you throw on its 174-inch virtual screen.

What do we like about the Viture Beast?

👍 Peak picture quality: The Viture Beast’s 1200p-per-eye display and Sony Micro OLED panels create a crisp, immersive viewing experience that stands out in both clarity and color reproduction. Throw in that 120Hz refresh rate (especially for gaming), and you won't find AR glasses that offer visuals quite as crispy as this.

👍 Subtle comforts: Viture has made its Beast an impressively comfortable pair of smart glasses to wear, despite the amount of tech these frames pack. The weight is distributed evenly and the materials give off a premium, durable vibe. More importantly, one that won't doesn't give you a double-take from others on public transport.

👍 Versatile specs: Whether you're after a 32:9 ultrawide virtual monitor, 3D visuals for 3D-formatted content or an XR-based experience, the Viture Beast offers plenty of customization to suit your multi-screen setup. With even more tweaks to be made in the SpaceWalker app.

What don’t we like about the Viture Beast?

👎 There's some blur: With such a wide 58-degree field of view, I noticed minor edge blurring at the sides, which might distract if you demand perfect sharpness across the entire screen.

👎 Better color accuracy elsewhere: Color tuning options on the Beast are more limited than some competitors, so those needing fine color calibration may be dissatisfied.

Viture Beast: Bottom line

The Viture Beast is aptly named, as the company unleashed the best AR glasses you can buy. While there are some trade-offs around color tuning and software, its blend of display quality, comfort, and reliable performance makes it the best pick for buyers who don’t want to compromise on their AR experience.

The best AI glasses

Read the full Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) Smart Glasses review

Who are the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) for?

These are for those who do want to get into the world of smart glasses without compromising on the aesthetics of wearing specs. There's a whole lot of goofy-looking smart glasses out there, but the various styles of the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) look seriously slick — ready to blend in while giving you a portal to Meta AI.

Why are these the best AI smart glasses?

The iterative upgrades here manage to improve some of our key gripes about the original Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. First, the improved camera, with better low light performance and higher resolution video quality, helps these work across more scenarios than just daytime (make sure you get transition lenses for that). And second, the longer battery life ensures a whole day of casual use.

What do we like about the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2)?

👍 Gorgeous design: With smart glasses, you want them to fade into the background as a stylish frame on your face. That’s exactly what the Ray-Ban Metas do — with more design options than gen 1, the dimensions and aesthetic barely look any different to your standard pair of Ray-Bans. Plus, the attention paid to keeping that weight to no more than 50 grams makes them immediately wearable all-day round.

👍 Upgraded cameras: On a spec sheet, these sound similar for the first-gen specs — a 12MP camera. However, updates have been made to the video capturing capability (able to grab shots at 3K Ultra HD), and low light performance has seen an upgrade too.

👍 Speakers and Mics are still a revelation: The first thing you notice whenever calling someone on the glasses is the voice clarity. Those speakers are impressive with minimal audio spillage — packing surprising bass when playing music. On top of that, those on the other end of your calls will appreciate how clear and detailed your voice is through the mics.

👍 Meta AI is finding its stride: Meta AI is really coming into its own as part of the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) glasses, as live translation abilities have been improved, vision AI is on a whole new level, and conversational aspects of talking to your glasses do add a new level of helpfulness.

What don’t we like about the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2)?

👎 Meta AI chats will be used for ad targeting: It's Meta after all — most of the time, you are the customer. Meta has announced that it will start using AI chats to start targeting ads in the U.S. People in the U.K. and E.U. will not be getting this, but just a fair warning that Meta's listening to send you ads.

👎 Pricey: At $379, these are indeed an expensive investment. But that’s just for the base model that gives you sunglasses lenses (limiting use to just 50% of the time because you don’t want to be that weirdo that wears shades indoors). Transition lenses will up that price to $459.

Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2): Bottom line

The second-gen Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses offer an even more polished experience. They are easily the best AI glasses you can buy right now, and a stellar companion for capturing life’s moments, listening to music while not restricting your environmental awareness and taking calls.

The best cheap AR glasses

Read the full Viture Pro 2 review

Who are the Viture Pro 2 for?

The Viture Pro 2 AR glasses are for budget-conscious commuters and travelers who want that big AR screen without the premium price tag. Viture chopped the starting cost to $299 (nearly half the price of the original), making the Pro 2 the most wallet-friendly way to get a solid virtual display for gaming or watching shows on the go.

Why are these the best cheap AR smart glasses?

The display is where the Viture Pro 2 punches above its price. You’re getting a Sony micro-OLED panel with UltraClarity 3.0 (for sharper images and smoother focus), and the peak measured brightness hits 1,600 nits, adjustable across nine levels. In real-world use, playing games and watching shows is an absolute visual treat, and it helps that these are a hugely comfortable pair of AR specs to wear for hours on end, with three different-sized sets of nose pads and even three temple adjustments to help you find the right fit. That's all in a lightweight, slim design made easy for travelling.

What do we like about the Viture Pro 2?

👍 Standout AR display for the price: Viture cut the price nearly in half for the Pro 2, so you're getting a big, 146-inch virtual screen without paying for premium extras.

👍 Bright, sharp screen for travel: The Pro 2’s Sony micro-OLED display delivers up to 1,600 nits of brightness with smooth, colorful visual quality thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, so you can see whatever you watch or play no matter where you go.

👍 All-day comfortable fit: At just 2.2 ounces and with improved adjustability for comfort, the Pro 2 is noticeably lighter and easier to wear for long stretches, from long-haul flights to lounging around on a couch.

What don’t we like about the Viture Pro 2?

👎 Tin can audio: You'll want a pair of the best headphones instead, as the Viture Pro 2's speakers won't give you the full depth of audio you'd want. Plus, if someone is sitting next to you, they'll hear it.

👎 Blurred edges: Our reviewer, Scott, found that the corners of the display, particularly for work (connecting to a PC or the like), were blurry. That's not the most comfortable for looking at documents, but when it comes to gaming or watching shows, it's hardly a big annoyance.

Viture Pro 2: Bottom line

The Viture Pro 2 AR glasses are the value pick for anyone who wants a bright, comfortable and travel-ready virtual display at the lowest price, giving you the essentials where it counts and leaving the luxury extras to pricier models. For streaming shows or playing games on a massive virtual display, these AR glasses are hard to beat for their price.

The best Xreal AR glasses

Read the full Xreal 1S review

Who are the Xreal 1S for?

The Xreal 1S is a total game-changer for anyone on the move. Whether you’re reclaiming "TV time" for gaming, keeping a confidential project under wraps in a coffee shop, or building a high-productivity multi-monitor setup at the airport, these glasses deliver a massive screen experience without the bulk. Pair it with the Neo Hub, and this becomes a must for Switch 2 gamers.

Why are these the best Xreal AR smart glasses?

Put simply, they're all the best bits you get in the more premium Xreal One and Xreal One Pros, but cheaper and even packing some upgrades of its own. At $449, you're getting a 500-inch display running at 1200p, and that X1 chip goodness, which means all the display trickery (including a 32:9 panel) is all on-device rather than through software.

What do we like about the Xreal 1S?

👍 Nice upgrades, while being $50 less: Getting more for less is always a shocker in consumer tech, but when lining these up against the pricier Xreal One, that's exactly what you get. The screen is a little brighter at 700 nits, the field of view is wider at 52 degrees, and the aspect ratio is now 16:10 at a 1200p resolution.

👍 X1 is the cheat code: I've talked about that X1 silicon baked into Xreal glasses before, so I don't need to repeat myself too much. Display customization and 3DoF is done entirely on the glasses themselves rather than software — meaning you could turn any laptop into a 32:9 ultrawide display in front of you. But even more surprising is the real-time 2D to 3D content conversion it can do (and do really well).

👍 The one for Switch 2 gaming: Using AR glasses on the Nintendo Switch 2 is a pain because the big N decided to use a weird proprietary standard of USB-C video out. Now, Xreal has actually axed its adapter for this, but you can just use the Viture Pro Mobile Dock instead, which is the best alternative.

What don’t we like about the Xreal 1S?

👎 Gets hotter than others: I'm always used to higher temperatures on the Micro OLED display modules on the top of the glasses, but these do heat up quite considerably — particularly when you use Real 3D.

Xreal 1S: Bottom line

I've tested a lot of AR glasses, and some of them may do one select thing better than the Xreal 1S. But when it comes to the best all-rounders at a good price from one of the biggest AR companies in the space, nothing else compares. This is a great extended display for entertainment and work on the go, while an additional $99 accessory makes it the best way to play Switch 2.

The best smart glasses for sports

Read our full Oakley Meta Vanguard review

Who are the Oakley Meta Vanguard for?

As the brand name suggests, these are for athletes and sports enthusiasts who need outdoor eye protection for their activities and the smart tech that comes with it.

Why are these the best smart glasses for sports?

Alongside all that we love about the Ray-Ban Meta (gen 2) being included in here, three key things make these great for sports enthusiasts — the wrap-around lenses for eye protection, the centrally mounted camera with motion stabilization, and integration with Garmin and Strava.

What do we like about the Oakley Meta Vanguard?

👍 Great sports-oriented design: The Vanguards may be a little cringe to wear in normal social situations. But on the field or in any sporting situation, they do a great job at attenuating glare from all angles with the wrap-around lenses, while balancing weight effectively for comfortable all-day wear.

👍 Great camera: That 12MP camera is mounted in the center with a 122-degree field of view, so you don't have any of the framing concerns that come with the Ray-Ban Metas. On top of that, it has motion stabilization, so if you're capturing a sick trick on the slopes, you can get it at up to 3K with no distracting jitters.

👍 Thoughtful sporting integrations: Beyond all the usual Meta AI asks you can make of this device, you can also ask for updates on key fitness metrics from Garmin or Strava. In fact, you can overlay stats on your video too.

What don’t we like about the Oakley Meta Vanguard?

👎 Huge case: If portability is the name of the game, leave the case at home when you play in these. It's a bulky container to say the least!

👎 Limited water resistance: With an IP67 rating against water, they're protected against sweat and the occasional splash or two. That means the durability may be brought into question when it comes to the pouring rain or more serious watersports.

Oakley Meta Vanguard: Bottom line

If you need something to capture those epic sports moments while also providing the eyecare you need at times like this, then the Oakley Meta Vanguards are worth that $499 price tag.

The best AI display glasses

Read the full Even Realities G2 review

Who are the Even Realities G2 for?

Prefer AI glasses that aren't so obviously "smart" looking? That's just one of the perks the Even Realities G2 smart glasses bring to the table. This pair of AI specs is for anyone who wears glasses as a necessity, but offers a smart tech upgrade featuring a bright, AR interface with simple controls to keep up with the latest news, translate in real time and even give you context to conversations (like giving you key talking points when you zone out during a talk with your fiancée).

Why are these the best AI display glasses?

Thanks to the upgraded Even HAO 2.0 (Holistic Adaptive Optics) interface over the Even G1s, you can expect multi-layer waveguide displays on each lens for a seamless, sharper and brighter AR experience. That includes when you're out and about in bright environments, which is a huge advantage that makes these everyday specs to wear. It's like a personal HUD from a game made real.

What do we like about the Even Realities G2?

👍 Everyday appeal: Almost like AI glasses in disguise, the Even G2 solves the often bulky, awkward look of smart specs with its discreet Micro-LED waveguide displays on both lenses and leaving its hardware in its temple tips, which hides behind your ears. Smart stuff, Even.

👍 Incredibly handy features: From reading off a script that syncs your voice with text when you speak in Teleprompt to following easy-to-read directions in Navigation, there are many AI tools to take advantage of. Also, its Conversate feature is like a cheat sheet for conversations, giving you details on topics as you talk.

👍 Battery life for days: Many smart glasses still struggle with this, but the Even G2 can last two days before needing a charge.

What don’t we like about the Even Realities G2?

👎 Quite the price: At $599, these are an expensive pair of smart glasses to invest in. And this is without any cameras, speakers or high-end Micro-OLED displays delivering cinema-sized screens.

👎 Even R1 smart ring is extra: When used with the smart ring, the Even G2 specs are far easier to interact with on the sly, but it costs an extra $249, and it doesn't offer the extensive health and fitness data you'd hope for.

Even Realities G2: Bottom line

The Even Realities G2 smart glasses push this form of smart tech in the right direction, and it's already doing what its competitors aim to achieve, albeit on a much more subtle scale. It achieves being the AI/AR mix for the usual glasses wearer wanting to pick up a pair of specs naturally, as you would any other pair of glasses. These are the seamless smart tech you'd hope for.

The best AR glasses for picture and sound

Read the full Rokid AR Lite review

Who are the Rokid AR Lite for?

The Rokid AR Lite package is for those prime pixel peepers who want to get the most out of that Micro-OLED tech. With a virtual screen size of 300 inches, this is the largest simulated cinema screen of the whole pack on this list. Plus, Station 2 gives you access to downloading a bunch of content for offline watching.

Why are these the best AR glasses for picture and sound quality?

Simulating a 300-inch TV in front of you, the picture quality is stunning here — big, bright and super sharp. On top of that, I'm not sure what kind of wizardry Rokid is up to, but the speakers are both loud and clear with a surprisingly minimal amount of tinniness given their size.

What do we like about the Rokid AR Lite?

👍 Mind-blowing display: Micro-OLED has not reached the peak I thought it had. Rokid has upped the game with super crispy, gorgeous panels sporting a 1200p resolution per eye, a 120Hz refresh rate and a super wide 50-degree viewing angle.

👍 Surprisingly good sound quality: It's become a given that speakers in AR glasses may have good detail, but they will always be tinny. That was until I heard the crispy speakers in the Rokid specs — sublime surround elements with some surprising depth.

👍 Good spatial computing experience: The Station 2 accessory that comes in this package unlocks a fully-fleshed spatial computing experience with its little touchpad/accelerometer-armed frame. Slick in use for gameplay and productivity.

What don’t we like about the Rokid AR Lite?

👎 This is pricey: While the price isn't confirmed outside of the Kickstarter page, list pricing indicates that the glasses and Station 2 combo will come in at a beefy $749. That's a steep asking price when you could get the Xreal Air 2 and Beam Pro for up to $250 less.

👎 No Electrochromic film: The beauty of AR glasses is that translucent viewing — getting all the goodness of that screen but still faintly seeing what's in front of you, thanks to an adjustable Electrochromic film. Frustratingly, these don't have that, and you're left relying on the snap-on lens shade.

Rokid AR Lite: Bottom line

If you want the best display and audio in a pair of AR glasses, the Rokids are the specs to buy. With their gorgeous picture quality (with myopia adjustment dials) and an impressive spatial computing element for watching all your content, this is the one for the binge watchers. Just watch out for that price tag and the lack of electrochromic film!

Also tested

These days, we're seeing many more smart glasses break onto the scene, especially compared to just a few years ago. While not all will make it into our list, that doesn't mean the smart specs we've reviewed should be ignored. Here's a look at what we've tested.

Smart glasses to watch in 2026

We're now well into 2026, and the whole game has changed for smart glasses. With that in mind, it’s worth pointing out the smart specs set to be coming this year and how we may be reaching the moment when AR and AI truly come together.

• During Meta Connect 2026, we went hands-on with all the latest smart glasses that were announced. That includes the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) glasses, a small update with longer battery life, more styles and a new action button, but still the same privacy controls. Then there's the Ray-Ban Meta Audio for a camera-free experience, which aims to fix privacy issues and delivers even sleeker styles. Finally, there's the Meta VR Glasses, essentially bringing VR headset capabilities to an AR glasses design. While these can be used for VR gaming, they are focused on entertainment and productivity first. Check out our impressions, and stay tuned for our full reviews.
• Samsung Intelligent Eyewear may have a very dumb name, but it's far from a quick go at a new segment for Samsung. They're a light, handsome option that's been packed with features from the word go. There's AI integration, as you might expect, from Gemini, who'll talk you through what you're looking at, amongst other things. Nothing better than an AI assistant always at your beck and call, that can see everything you're doing, no? ... No?
• Snap Specs are here, and we've gone hands-on with the Specs. With dual Snapdragon processors (one for computer vision, one for AR lenses), hand tracking and spatial mapping, waveguide displays with a 51-degree field of view and noticeably bulky lenses, these are fully standalone AR glasses that push the limits. Think of the Snap Specs as a middle ground between AI glasses and an XR headset. Now, these cost $2,195, which is a lot more than the smart glasses we've tested, so level your expectations. The Snap Specs are expected to launch this fall in the U.S. and U.K. Once we've done the testing, we'll let you know what to expect.
• Xreal’s Android XR smart glasses (Project Aura) are set to come to the market later in 2026. Similar to Meta’s Orion, this will be a pair of specs packing a 70-degree field of view, which is connected to a computing puck. From our hands-on testing, they already look like the future of smart glasses.

Best Smart Glasses: Frequently Asked Questions

When you're pumping weights or running a marathon, you're going to want something to keep your mind occupied — and there's little better than the best workout headphones. Listen to music, catch up with your favorite podcast, or devour some of your audiobook. Whatever you're doing you'll need some buds.

There are loads of options out there, but some are better than others. Our favorites are the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, with their great sound pairing perfectly with solid ANC and a comfortable fit.

We've tested plenty more of course, and we've tested as many as we can. So read on to find out which headphones you should be getting for your next sweat-proof listening session.

Best workout headphones overall

For almost five years, I recommended the Jabra Elite Active range to most people. But that was before Apple redesigned the Beats Powerbeats Pro in early 2025 into what are effectively AirPods for workouts, with active noise cancellation (ANC), an effective transparency mode, and proper support for iPhone and Android devices.

The winged design of the older Powerbeats Pro has been replaced with over-ear hooks, which are a lot more stable. I'd sometimes need to fiddle a bit to get them on, but once locked into place, they didn't budge. And because the hook keeps some of the weight out of your ear, they were comfortable to wear for hours at a time.

Though the downside of this design is that the case is pretty big, and much larger than you'd comfortably fit into a legging or pocket; fine for throwing in a gym bag, less ideal for carrying about, unlike the miniscule Beats Solo Buds case. But this one tops the battery up to 45 hours, while the Solo Buds case is just for storage.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 come with Apple's H2 chip, just like the AirPods Pro 3, so expect similar speedy performance, although I didn't find the noise cancellation or transparency mode were quite up to the flagship buds' standard. Though I did jump with delight at the use of physical buttons on each bud.

These headphones powered me through weights workouts, meditation sessions and long outdoor walks with no issues. I put them in and they did exactly what I wanted; good audio with no fuss. I don't run, but my coworker Nick Harris-Fry does, and found the Powerbeats Pro 2 a good companion for runs too.

The company leaned heavily into the buds' heart rate monitor at launch. It's neat, but you'll probably never use it. There's a small optical sensor built into the buds which is used to track your heart rate during workouts, but if this is something you care about, you likely have a smartwatch or Garmin watch that can do this better.

• Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review

Best budget workout headphones

If you’re looking for some top-notch earbuds for working out that won’t break the bank, then look no further than the CMF By Nothing Buds 2. With loads of gym-centric features at a price that’s less than a fifth of some of the more expensive options on the list, they’re a fantastic way to keep fit while listening to tunes. Or a podcast. Or like, white noise. Whatever floats your workout boat.

At this price point, you wouldn’t expect to find anything with noise canceling, let alone ANC that works this well. It did a great job of keeping a noisy office at bay, so the pounding techno in the gym will be no problem. Outdoor runners rejoice, they also blocked out traffic sounds when our tester, Ashley, took them out for a walk.

You don’t have to worry about your sweaty ears destroying them either, thanks to IP55 splash resistance. You won’t be able to wear them while swimming, but anything you might get up to around your block or at the gym is no problem at all. Music, come rain or shine.

You don’t even have to worry about them running out of juice mid-workout. The quoted battery life from CMF is 12 hours — we found that around 5 hours of use left us with 60% remaining. Add in the 55 hours in the case, and you’re home free for super lengthy sessions.

They’re a little cheap-looking and the environmental noise canceling in calls is… not great. But then you look at your bank balance, realise that choosing the cheaper earbuds has left you with spare change for a better gym subscription, and suddenly everything seems to make sense again.

They go in your ears, stay there, and play music while you get on with your workout. Better yet, they’ve done it for less than just about anything else around. What more could you want?

• Read our full CMF By Nothing Buds 2 review

Best workout headphones for running

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are the follow up to our former favorite running headphones, the OpenRun Pro. These bone conduction headphones sound great, despite the fact they use vibrations on your cheeks to transmit audio.

While out running with the OpenRun Pro 2 (or most Shokz headphones for that matter), we found that the fit was comfortable and secure, so you won't need to continually fiddle with them and can focus on your training.

The downside to the headband-style design is that you can't adjust the fit. However, there's a smaller edition (OpenRun Pro 2 Mini) that has a shorter band for improved fit. But we were impressed with the comfort during runs, bike rides, and yoga sessions.

You don't get a charging case, but we found that the battery would last around 12 hours between top-ups, which should see you through most workouts. That said, if you like to dial up the volume to max, expect closer to 10 hours of power.

I'm not a runner, but my multi-marathoner coworker Nick Harris-Fry summed up his feelings on the headphones, concluding: "They’re my preferred running headphones at the moment because of the excellent fit, open design and good sound. If you just want running headphones with an open design, it’s the OpenRun Pro 2."

They can survive sweaty workouts and light rain, but if you plan to train in the wet or want a more multi-functional set that'll cope with a dip in the pool, the OpenSwim Pro are a good alternative, and they have onboard MP3 storage.

• Read our full Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review

Best workout headphones for iPhone

The AirPods Pro 3 are the newest Apple's flagship headphone range, and more stuffed with features than ever. There's live translation, voice isolation on calls and head gestures to control your phone. All of that's great, but it's the fitness features that really stand out.

Like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 now have built-in heart rate sensors. Unlike the Beats set at launch, you can actually use the sensors with a load of different apps, including (importantly) Apple Fitness.

The new integration with Apple Fitness adds Workout Buddy, an AI-powered 'coach which sends you motivational messages and performance stats, like an audio-only version of what you'd find on the Apple Watch 11.

I'm generally skeptical about features like this, but our resident marathon runner Nick Harris-Fry actually seemed impressed with the heart rate accuracy, which informs a lot of the performance metrics on Workout Buddy and Apple Fitness.

Then there's the fit. Despite being popular workout earbuds, I've always found that AirPods need quite a lot of fiddling to keep them in place. But that's not the case with the redesigned tip here, which Fitness Editor Jane McGuire said performed brilliantly on runs.

Despite being one of the first mainstream brands to launch water resistant phones, the AirPods Pro 2 were surprisingly vulnerable, with just an IPX4 rating, essentially for splashes. The Pro 3 upgrade to a much more hardy IP57 for dust and water resistance, so you can finally use them in the elements.

Like the AirPods Pro 2 before, the Pro 3 are still disappointing on the battery front; 8 hours per bud, up to 24 hours with the case (while you got 30 out of the case on the Pro 2). It's not terrible, but the sub-$50 JLab Go Air Pop also reach 8 hours.

The main reason I don't rate these higher in the list of best workout headphones is mostly due to the design — these aren't made for sports and they're not as secure fitting as you'd need for all high-intensity workouts. But for general use with your iPhone, including yoga, HIIT sessions, and casual runs, they're a great choice.

• Read the full Apple AirPods Pro 3 review

Best workout headphones for Android

As Google continues to develop the Pixel-branded ecosystem of devices to rival Apple's iPhone and AirPods, it's no surprise that the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the best workout headphones for Android, even if they are targeted squarely at owners of the brand's range of Pixel phones.

The key upgrade from the first-generation Pixel Buds Pro is the addition of Google Gemini, the brand's generative AI model. As it's still fairly new, it doesn't replace the older virtual Google Assistant, although in theory it can. But in practice, we found that it doesn't always offer the most accurate answers.

Features like voice assistants and hands-free controls are useful, but not essential when you're working out. Instead, it's more important that they stay in place as you exercise. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a new wing on each bud to help them lock into your ears.

This would be great, but it doesn't quite reach the inner-top part of your ear, so we still found a bit of adjustment was needed to keep them in position for optimal noise cancellation. Google also claims to have improved the ANC, but it's hard to really tell the difference here between the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and the original.

However, it's still effective, blocking out most noises except for some higher frequency sounds like crying babies and emergency service sirens. The sound quality matches the Pixel Buds Pro, although you may want to tweak the EQ to your preferences, as the default setting is a bit heavy on the lower end.

One other thing they have in common with the AirPods Pro is that they're not necessarily the best workout headphones if you spend hours training every week, as the fit isn't quite optimized for high-impact exercise. But if you're after a versatile option to wear at the gym and at the office, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a great choice.

• Read our full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review

Best Open workout headphones

Bone conduction headphones are cool, but they’re bulky. Your common or garden earbuds sound great, but they have a habit of making it difficult to hear your surroundings. Open earbuds, like the Beyerdynamic Amiron Zero, are a great middle ground that offer solid sound while allowing you to hear the rogue bus that’s bearing down on you as you do your morning run.

They’re surprisingly secure, their silicon “hinges” holding onto your outer ear with little discomfort and no wiggle. Ashley, our tester, had no problem wearing them for hours and hours on end, partly thanks to their lightweight design. Just remember that these are completely open, playing the sound at your ears rather than in. Everyone is going to hear your playlist. Everyone.

The battery life could be better. There are 20 hours total on tap here, which falls down compared to other in-ear options. You’ll be reaching for the charging cable more often than not, unfortunately, although you won’t need to pop them in the charging case as often with 6 hours of realistic listening time. Our tests pretty much confirmed this number.

Sound-wise, these are a great in-ear alternative. There’s a little less bass than we might like overall, but there’s little else we’d ask for. The mids sound good, and the treble is solid as well. Don’t expect game-changing audio, but for open buds these sound great.

Even better, you can change the EQ. That’s a big bonus for something like this, and it means you can change the sound to your heart's content so that they sound great no matter your sonic preference. Five bands of adjustment, baby.

They’re IP54 water- and dust-resistant too, so you don’t have to worry about your sweaty ears causing any problems down the line. These are a good pair of earbuds that open you up to safer, more aware exercise — we really like them.

• Read our full Beyerdynamic Amiron ZERO review

Also tested

The workout headphones in the guide above aren't the only ones we've tested. We regularly try out workout earbuds so that we can recommend the top options that are worth spending your hard-earned cash on.

However, there are several other good options if you're after a bit more choice. These are the earbuds we've tested that didn't quite make the cut.

How we test the best workout headphones

Before investing your money in a set of workout headphones, you want to be sure that they do what they claim and are comfortable enough to wear during your training. That's why we put each set to the test before including it in the guide.

I've been testing headphones for almost ten years and know the most important areas to check out before recommending any pair. You really don't want them to fall out and get lost or need to continually adjust them in your ears.

So, we wear the headphones across a range of training styles, including high-impact runs (which can cause a lot of vibration and movement), intense fast-paced workouts and weightlifting sessions to see how they fare.

If they easily stay in place, they glide through this test, but it's not a write off if they do move — headphones that struggle with runs may still make great weights companions — so we move into other areas, like comfort and sound.

For longer sessions, including runs, yoga classes and extended gym sessions, we check that the headphones are actually comfortable in your ears and don't leave you with ear pain or pressure headaches, which can happen with some sets.

Likewise, you don't want them to run out of battery mid-session, so we check how the battery life stacks up to the manufacturer's specs. For earbuds, we see how long they last out of the case and confirm how long the case can boost that.

When it comes to sound quality, even the best workout headphones aren't going to be a match for the best audiophile headphones in terms of clarity and detail. But that doesn't mean you need to put up with poor or low quality audio.

We use a consistent playlist of music to help compare the headphones to other sets we've tested, which includes a variety of motivational dance music, dynamic rock songs, and everything in between, including the best new workout music.

How to choose the best workout headphones

There a lot of Bluetooth workout headphones out there, so it can be challenge to decide between them all. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind that'll help narrow your options down to the right ones for your needs.

Firstly, it's vital that they stay in place during your exercise sessions. Some have ear hooks to physically hold them down, but others rely on clever engineering, a range of ear tips, or a specific set of materials to stop them falling out.

You also want them to survive some degree of moisture. If you plan to get sweaty, then you'll need a set rated to at least IPX4 for water resistance. But for outdoor workouts with a chance of rain, it's best to aim for an IPX7 rating.

Importantly, they also need to last the length of your workout. If you're doing short, high-intensity sessions, then you may only need an hour of battery. But, with the right case, you may only need to recharge them every couple of weeks.

If long runs are more your thing or you're training for a marathon, you'll need a long-lasting set, like the Shokz OpenRun Pro, which are specifically designed with long distance outdoor runners in mind and last up to 10 hours.

And, finally, how loud do you like your workouts? If you don't mind some background noise at the gym, then a set of passive noise-canceling headphones should do the job, but most of the best workout earbuds have active noise cancellation (ANC) instead.

Earbuds with ANC cancel out the sound before it even hits your ears, so they're ideal if you want to zone out to your favorite tracks and focus on your exercise. But you may also want to hear traffic when you're out and about, so choose a set with a transparency mode too, which cancels most, but not all, noise.

FAQs

You're here to find the best Android tablet, and that means you haven't been tempted to grab an iPad. So, if you're wondering if these slates can compete, I've got some good news.

As we've seen over the years of testing the latest slates, Android tablets can power through apps and games without breaking a sweat and make for excellent devices for everyday browsing and streaming. Plus, you'll find that many can be more affordable than the lineup of iPads, ever since Apple's price hikes earlier this year.

At the moment, our favorite tablet is the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, thanks to its great screen and useful Alexa integration. But there's more to fit everyone's needs. So, to save you all the time and effort that goes into researching dozens of devices, my team of tablet experts and I have curated a list of our favorite Android tablets available now.

The best Android tablets you can buy today

The best Android tablet overall

An Amazon tablet wasn’t the device we were expecting to land on the list, but the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro just makes such a good case for itself that it's hard to put it anywhere else. It’s powerful, large, and the screen is a stunner — it's vivid, bright, and made everything we threw at it, from comics to Prime Video, look amazing. All for a price that's comparable to or better than the competition.

While this isn’t a gaming powerhouse, there’s still plenty of power under the hood, which means your games will still look great on the 12-inch screen. And thanks to the (pricey, we should add) productivity peripherals you can get hold of, you can even do some like work on it — as long as the light work is document editing or some light spreadsheet stuff.

The cameras are good, the battery life is solid — but there are a couple of caveats. The main issue is that it's locked into Amazon’s ecosystem, and that is not to everyone's taste. There are plenty of other options out there if you’re not a fan of Alexa, though you will miss out on how well everything is integrated here. We also wish the peripherals were slightly less expensive.

But this is a great tablet with loads of useful features for a great price. Grab it with a keyboard, and you’ve got a mini-laptop replacement, which is always a useful thing. The perfect pick for a grab-and-go Android tablet.

• Read our full Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro review

The best budget Android tablet

The Motorola MotoPad (2026) gives you a very affordable way to stream and browse all day on a vibrant display, with tested battery life going well past 10 hours and a display that covers a vibrant 112% of the sRGB color space. For anyone just looking for a simple tablet for entertainment, the MotoPad delivers plenty of value for just under $250.

We found the 11-inch screen comfortable for movies and reading, and the built-in microSD card reader means you can bump storage up to 2TB. That's perfect if you want to load the tablet up with offline content.

The MotoPad clearly focuses on essentials: you get a sharp display and long battery life, but you'll give up some performance, multitasking features and premium hardware touches. For most everyday needs, though, the savings are real.

Powered by a basic MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip, the MotoPad isn’t built for gaming or heavy multitasking — our reviewer, Madeline, struggled to get playable frame rates in anything more demanding than casual games like Candy Crush. But if you want a no-nonsense tablet for streaming, reading and keeping the family connected, it's hard to find a better buy at this price.

• Read our full Motorola MotoPad review

The best Android tablet for streaming

The Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 is the best tablet we’ve tested for streaming movies and shows, thanks to its sprawling 12.1-inch, 2.5K display and truly immersive sound from the JBL-tuned speaker system. Essentially, it's like a giant speaker with a tablet attached to it, and that's no bad thing. Whether you’re camped out on the couch or propping it up on a hotel nightstand, the mix of size and audio punch makes movie nights feel bigger than what most competitors deliver.

Battery life is a major win for the Tab Plus Gen 2 — in our lab, it lasted a full 16 hours at 60Hz and still hit 13 hours and 39 minutes at the smoother 120Hz setting. That’s more than enough for the longest flights or a weekend of binge-watching, so you don't have to worry as much about constantly charging this slab.

As a hard rock and heavy metal fan, our reviewer was especially impressed by the Tab Plus Gen 2’s speakers, finding that even dense, bass-heavy music sounded rich, punchy and loud. That's a rare treat for any tablet at this price. Even better, it’s just as effective at filling a room with clear dialogue and effects when you’re streaming your favorite shows.

This isn't a strong tablet for playing games or working on, as it's MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor can just about manage general tasks like browsing the web, watching shows, playing lighter games and some multitasking. Plus, because of the speaker, it can be awkward to hold because of its weight distribution.

Otherwise, if you want the best combination of screen and sound for streaming, the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 stands out as our top pick. We awarded the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 the best tablet of 2026 in our Tom's Guide Awards, so it's well worth grabbing.

• Read our full Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 review

The best Android tablet for gaming

The RedMagic Astra 2 is easily the most unapologetically powerful Android tablet we've tested this year, with its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a 185Hz OLED display designed to keep pace with the most demanding games and apps. If you need a tablet that can handle heavy-duty gaming, and that includes emulated PC games, this is the Android device that's built for you.

Taking on the likes of the iPad mini but stepping it up a notch, the RedMagic Astra 2 delivers a compact yet gorgeous 9-inch OLED display with a super-fast 185Hz refresh rate that's primed for fast-paced, highly detailed gameplay. Plus, with its size and weight, it's easy to take around wherever you go, and it can even be used with some of the best mobile game controllers. That said, the dual USB-C ports are oddly mismatched: only one supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds and DisplayPort, and its side placement can make desktop setups awkward.

Under the hood, the Astra 2 can be configured with up to 16GB of DDR5X RAM and 512GB of storage, which means large files and complex multitasking won’t push it to its limits. Plus, with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 onboard, this tablet comes with plenty of performance. It can play the likes of Wuthering Waves, Fortnite and other demanding Android games, but also emulate the best PC games thanks to RedMagic’s GameHub app (we tested Valve’s Portal 2 and got a solid 60 fps!).

But the Astra 2 won't be for everyone. While other Android tablets offer broader versatility or a more polished app ecosystem, the Astra 2 doubles down on sheer speed and visual punch for a steeper price. RedMagic OS also feels clunky compared to more mature platforms, and you won’t find any bundled accessories in the box. Just the basics, which is disappointing for the price.

Still, this is the Android tablet I'd reach for when I want performance without compromise. Tablets are now an excellent choice for gaming, and the RedMagic Astra 2 proves it.

• Read our full RedMagic Astra 2 review

The best big screen Android tablet

If there's one thing Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra does well, it's size. The massive, vivid 14.6-inch OLED display is a sight to behold, yet despite its huge size compared to its smaller rivals, it's still fantastically thin and lightweight. If you're looking for a portable big screen for entertainment, and even for productivity (and gaming), this slab will be the right fit. That is, if your budget allows for it.

With its sharp 2960 x 1848 resolution and bright, colorful visuals, the OLED display makes everything shine. Its 14.6-inch size also makes it great for multitasking, drawing and taking notes, especially when paired with the Book Cover Keyboard and S Pen. Another major bonus is the impressive battery stamina, as we measured a long 12 hours and 13 minutes. That anchors it as Samsung’s top-tier tablet for anyone who puts a premium on all-day usability and a great viewing experience.

Everyday performance is just as solid. With a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chip and 12GB of RAM, the Tab S11 Ultra never slowed down through our typical multitasking and media runs. For anyone who needs a tablet to move between note-taking, editing, and streaming, this Android tablet has you covered.

There are a few downsides to consider, of course. For one, despite being lightweight, this is a cumbersome tablet to hold due to its sheer size, and Samsung's DeX mode isn't quite snappy enough to make it a full-fledged laptop replacement. All that said, you get a world-class display, strong all-day performance and a surprisingly portable design, with accessories like the Book Cover Keyboard making it even more versatile for media. It's a pricey one, but for the big-screen experience, you won't find any better.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review

Battery life compared

Battery life is a key factor when choosing a tablet, as no one wants a slab that turns into a brick after just a few hours of watching shows or scrolling the web. The good news is that Android tablets have come a long way, and the very best of them have outstanding battery life.

We put every tablet we test and review through a series of battery tests, then average the results and compare them against the competition. Here's a look at the battery life of each of our top picks.

To put this in perspective, the iPad Air M4 lasts 9 hours and 44 minutes, which says a lot about how long these Android tablets last.

Best Android Tablets Battery Life Results

In our battery test, we set the tablet's display to 150 nits of brightness and have it endlessly browse the web via Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.

Battery life (hh:mm:ss)

Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2

16:00:00

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus

15:43:00

Motorola MotoPad

10:31:00

RedMagic Astra 2

11:28:00

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra

12:03:00

05101520

hours

Battery life (hh:mm:ss) Data

Product	Value
Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2	16
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus	15.716666666666667
Motorola MotoPad	10.516666666666667
RedMagic Astra 2	11.466666666666667
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra	12.05

Also tested

While the Android tablets on our list made it on top as they fit into most of what people are looking for, that is by no means the extent of what Android tablets have to offer.

I mean, this list wouldn't be complete without tablets from Samsung, as its selection of value-driven slates to massive, near-laptop replacements is not to be sneezed at. We test dozens of tablets each year, so if you're after more options, we've got them right here.

Best Android Tablets: Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose the best Android tablet for you

When it comes to picking the best Android tablet for you, start by thinking about the apps you want.

Those who want every single application on their Android tablet should probably look away from the Amazon Fire tablets, as those require jumping through hoops (and disabling security protection features) to get Gmail or any of the Google apps as apps. If you don't need those apps on your tablet, or could stand to use older, less-than-stellar versions of those applications in a web browser, then you can consider the Fire tablets.

If you want all of the apps, you have three questions, each with its own answer. Are you mainly going to be consuming content? Get the Motorola MotoPad. Looking for a machine the whole family can use and acts as a smart hub? The Google Pixel Tablet is right for you. Fine with the limitations of Amazon tablets and just need something simple for the family? Grab the Fire HD 10 if you're shopping for folks with slightly higher standards (for a more affordable price). Need an all-purpose tablet with more performance power? The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus strikes the right balance of power and price.

Of course, there are even more options to check out, but get a closer look at other slates in our detailed buying guides for the best Samsung tablets, the best Amazon Fire tablets and the best cheap tablets.

How we test the best Android tablets

The first thing we do to separate the great tablets from the not-so-great is to test all their different facets.

Our web-surfing-based battery test measures how long a tablet can browse the internet for, with its display set to 150 nits of brightness. But to figure out what percentage of brightness equals 150 nits, we perform a series of display tests to measure how colorful the panel can get (measured with its sRGB output number), as well as how bright it can get. Then, we run benchmark tests on said tablet, including the latest version of the Geekbench general performance benchmark.

Another thing we do to evaluate Android tablets is check out the app store to see if you're getting a true Android experience or some company's vision thereof. The latter is a major disappointment — though we don't expect anything different from Amazon at this stage. On tablets with parental control settings, we try to find the loopholes in said limitations to find red flags before your kids can.

Then, we just use the tablets like we would if we owned them. Opening tab after tab and app after app to see if we can multitask without hiccups. We also watch YouTube videos because the color output (sRGB) and brightness (nits) measurements don't tell the whole story. Only through all of these tests can we be sure that we're giving you a complete assessment of a tablet's value.

Looking to buy a tablet? The right tablet for you should fit the way you browse the web, watch shows, get work done and travel — and then go a step beyond. The best tablets today can be bargain devices for binge-watching shows and powerhouses for getting work done on the go, and this guide will help you find the tablet that suits you.

Whether you want a versatile iPad, a straightforward Android tablet, a mini-machine made for gaming or a focused device for note-taking, the best choice depends on the apps, accessories and screen size you will make the most of. We here at Tom's Guide have been reviewing tablets since Apple's first iPad, with years of hands-on testing to find out what makes a good tablet.

Right now, we recommend the iPad Air M4 as the best tablet for most, with its amazing performance and lightweight, portable design. But if you prefer Android, you'll want to check out the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 or massive Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra.

Apple has an all-new tablet on the horizon, and it’s looking to take a spot in this guide. The iPad mini 8 has been announced, and after our hands-on testing, we’ll let you know if it’s worth shopping for in this guide. For now, you'll find our expert advice on the best tablets worth buying today right here.

The best tablets you can buy right now

The best tablet overall

Was it really a surprise? The iPad Air M4 now takes the top spot as the best tablet for most, even if the only real upgrades here are improved performance, 12GB RAM and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. But the real win here is that it's all for the same price as its M3 predecessor.

It brings over everything we adored about Apple's previous Air tablets, from its gorgeous 11- and 13-inch Liquid Retina displays with bright, crisp visuals and colors to its just under 10-hour battery life. That also means the same lightweight, portable design that's comfortable to hold for hours on end.

But the might of its M4 chip delivers greater performance, and it's wild to think that it nearly matches a full-on MacBook Air. That means it can breeze through multitasking and some heavy-duty tasks, like video editing and AAA gaming (for what's available on iPadOS).

With the upgraded 12GB memory and faster connectivity with Wi-Fi 7, the iPad Air M4 now stands as the tablet for most. All that for the same price? Even better. If you already have an M3 iPad Air, or even an M2, and only use tablets to browse the web, use apps and watch shows, the performance they offer is already way more than enough, so it won't be worth the upgrade. And it's a shame we're still not seeing Face ID and a more affordable Magic Keyboard.

Still, for most people looking for a tablet that can handle it all, and for the same price, the iPad Air M4 stands triumphant.

• Read our full iPad Air M4 review

The best budget tablet

To be frank, the Apple iPad 11 (2025) is not the cheapest tablet you can find. There are plenty of cheaper tablets out there, mostly running Android, but the latest model of Apple's flagship tablet is the best budget option for the amount that it offers.

Like the iPad Air M4, the physical design is familiar, just a little lighter and with a more entry-level chip powering the whole thing. It'll handle daily tasks with ease, but if you're into video editing or gaming, it might struggle a bit.

The main advantage it has over cheaper Android tablets is Apple's ecosystem: a well-stocked App Store, better battery life and excellent parental controls, which is a huge plus if you're thinking of this as a family tablet.

And despite being several hundred dollars less than some other iPad models, our testing showed that the entry-level iPad actually has a slightly brighter screen than the iPad mini 7 and lasts longer on a full charge than either the iPad Air M4 or the iPad mini 7. So while the hardware isn't as powerful, it never really feels that way.

The display isn't as vivid or immersive as you'd find on a tablet with an OLED screen, but for a daily driver that won't break the bank, I think it's absolutely a compromise worth taking.

• Read our full Apple iPad 11 review

The best Android tablet

The Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 is the Android tablet made for buyers who want their entertainment to sound as good as it looks, nailing exactly what most would want an Android tablet for. It has an actual JBL 9-speaker system that fills a room, so much so that our reviewer, Tony, couldn't get enough of the punchy and rich hard rock and metal tracks. We even awarded it the best tablet in our Tom’s Guide Computing Awards of 2026.

Visuals are no afterthought, either. The sharp 12-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) screen delivers crisp images and lively colors, so whether you're catching up on YouTube or scrolling through photos, everything pops. Watching movies and shows is impressive, too, and the high resolution means your streaming and video calls look clear even in everyday lighting.

It also really shines in battery life and hands-free binge-watching. The Tab Plus Gen 2 lasted a full 16 hours, which is more than enough for a long flight. Plus, the 360-degree rotatable kickstand is a smart touch, letting you prop it up for movies or rotate upright for reading, making binge sessions and video chats more comfortable.

With its MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chip and 8GB of RAM, performance isn’t up to productivity tasks or heavy multitasking, and while the Tab Plus Gen 2's audio outshines the Motorola MotoPad or even the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra for watching shows, it can be awkward to hold thanks to the massive speaker attached to it.

Ultimately, if you want an Android tablet that nails sound and screen for entertainment and travel, the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 is the Android tablet I’d reach for first.

• Read our full Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 review

The best budget Android tablet

Under $250 for a very capable tablet? It doesn't get much more budget than this. The Motorola MotoPad (2026) is the iPad alternative to get if you care about practical essentials, like its smooth, high-resolution (2560 x 1600) 11-inch display bursting with color, lightweight, one-pound design and long-lasting battery life.

Think of it as the budget machine made to stream your shows. Not only will you get formidable specs for the price, but its crisp LCD panel and strong quad-speaker system make it a reliable streaming companion for binging your way through Netflix shows or YouTube videos on the couch or on the go.

Speaking of, when it comes to battery life, the MotoPad delivers real-world endurance that’s more than enough for daily use. In our testing, we saw 10 hours and 31 minutes of web browsing on Wi-Fi, which is enough to handle a full workday or a long flight without needing a charger. That kind of staying power makes the MotoPad a smart pick if you’re watching your spending but still want to get things done.

Choosing the MotoPad also means trading some performance and ecosystem polish for savings. The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip is fine for web browsing, email and video, but don’t expect the snappy multitasking or creative muscle you’d get from Apple's iPad. And while the MotoPad is cheaper than most, it can't match the smoothness of iPadOS. For casual tasks, the MotoPad holds up, but if gaming is a priority, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

If you want a lightweight, affordable tablet for streaming, reading or getting through a day on the go, the MotoPad fits the bill. It's no powerhouse, but for the price, it’s made for buyers who want to keep things simple and mobile.

• Read our full Motorola MotoPad (2026) review

The best gaming tablet

The RedMagic Astra 2 takes the compact, premium design of an iPad mini and smashes it together with the might of one of the best gaming handhelds, making it not just the best gaming tablet around, but also a premium Android tablet worth getting.

With its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a 185Hz OLED display built for demanding games and apps, the Astra 2 is more like a tablet-sized console that can play the latest titles on Android and beyond in crisp, super-smooth detail. If you need a tablet that can handle heavy-duty gaming, including emulated PC games on Steam (really!), this is the Android device for you.

Other specs back up that promise. You get up to 16GB of DDR5X RAM and 512GB of storage, with gaming sessions holding steady at 120 fps on top-tier titles like Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero and Fortnite. Our reviewer, Anthony, used the Astra 2 daily for two months, including travel and marathon gaming sessions, and never encountered lag or overheating. PC game emulation via the Game Hub app also worked well, with games such as Portal 2 running at 60 fps without any hiccups.

There are a couple of improvements we'd like to see, such as the dual USB-C ports being welcome but poorly placed (especially for mobile controllers) and not being the same (one is a 3.2 Gen 2 port with DisplayPort out, the other is just USB 2.0). Plus, the OS can feel clunky compared to iPadOS or just Android.

Otherwise, the RedMagic Astra 2 is easily our best pick for gamers who prioritize speed, frame rates and screen smoothness above all else. For amazing performance in a very portable design, along with a gorgeous 9-inch OLED display, this one is hard to beat.

• Read our full RedMagic Astra 2 review

The best Samsung tablet

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra puts Android tablets back in the conversation for anyone who wants a true big-screen experience for movies and apps. Its 14.6-inch OLED display is simply enormous, and with our lab tests measuring HDR brightness at nearly 1,000 nits, watching anything on this screen is a treat no matter where you are.

Under the hood, the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor and 12GB of RAM mean Android runs smoothly, even with multiple apps or browser tabs open. In practice, we rarely saw slowdowns or stutters. That said, as our reviewer Tony puts it, this isn’t a laptop replacement, but it’s more than capable for everyday productivity: web browsing, messaging, Office apps and plenty of streaming. If your digital life revolves around Google services and Android apps, setup and syncing are seamless.

We measured battery life at 11 hours and 31 minutes, which is strong for a tablet of this size boasting a dazzling OLED display. Despite its size, the tablet is thin and sturdy, making it easy to travel around with and take out.

Still, the Tab S12 Ultra comes at a premium price, and while Samsung's DeX Mode is improved, it won’t fool anyone who needs a real desktop workflow. What's more, the Ultra’s size means it’s less comfortable to hold for hours. Ultimately, I’d recommend the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra to anyone after the big-screen tablet experience, and it's Samsung's best tablet to date.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra review

The best tablet for note-taking

The ReMarkable Paper Pro looks like one of the best Kindle e-readers, but it comfortably finds its place as one of the best tablets, thanks to its interactive e-paper display. It's not a tablet like the rest here, but it knows its strengths — reading, writing, sketching and note-taking.

If that's what you need, there's probably no better option. The display is designed to replicate the feel of pen on paper, which is very different from writing on a tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus, where the stylus-on-glass feel is a bit slipperier.

Of course, while it excels at some things, there are compromises. E-paper displays take longer to change or refresh, in their power-saving Etch-a-Sketch kind of way. But to compensate, the tablet has more than 4,000 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is why you get such a 'real' experience when writing or drawing on the screen.

Although I've included it here, I'd probably think of the Paper Pro more like a digital notebook; great for quick reminders, sketches, notes and reading, but it's not a laptop-style device like the Surface Pro 11 or an entertainment tablet like the iPad.

So long as you know that going in, and don't expect it to come with all those features, it really excels, especially when you pair the color display with the keyboard cover. If you think it's a bit on the pricey side for what's on offer, the ReMarkable Paper Pro Move is very similar, but a third less in a smaller, more portable form.

• Read our full ReMarkable Paper Pro review

The best tablet for power users

The iPad Pro M5 is currently the most powerful (and most expensive) tablet in Apple's lineup. If you want a portable device for entertainment, it's probably overkill, but for a mobile-first laptop replacement, it's excellent.

It managed to last almost 13 hours between charges in our tests, which is in part thanks to the efficiency of the M5 chip, currently one of the most powerful in Apple's roster. That's also why you get near-instantaneous feedback on the tablet when you touch the display, open an app or give a command.

The OLED display does look incredible, making it ideal for watching movies and editing videos or photos, with either the 11-inch or 13-inch version of the tablet. And if you want to use the iPad Pro in direct sunlight, you can upgrade the display with a glass coating to reduce reflections.

Where the iPad Pro M5 comes a bit unstuck is the price. The configuration we tested would set you back $2,000, more than many of the best MacBooks. If the laptop alternative is more expensive than the iPad, it's hard to explain why you should buy the iPad over a MacBook.

Of course, the main reason you would is that it's what you want. After all, the key to any of these devices is to choose something that you find easy and fun to use. Otherwise, your powerful tablet will end up in a drawer somewhere, and that'd be a shame when the iPad Pro M5 has a lot to offer for power users.

• Read our full iPad Pro M5 review

Best for Amazon users

If you're knee-deep in Amazon's Alexa ecosystem, then the new Alexa Tablet Pro and its 12-inch screen look like the best option. That larger screen gives you more space to work with, for one, and it makes those Amazon Prime shows and movies look great.

Ignore the “Pro” moniker, though. While this is a fairly powerful tablet for the price that offers a keyboard accessory so that it can try to replace your laptop, this isn’t a tablet that you’ll be getting any real work done with. Some quick notes and document editing at best.

Instead, it's a content consumption beast. That big 12-inch display is a pleasure to look at, with vivid colors and brightness comparable to Apple’s similarly priced iPad — it’s also larger than the iPad 11. It is slightly more money than Apple’s iPad, however, which is worth bearing in mind.

There are still issues with Android as a tablet platform too, and Amazon’s involvement may put some potential customers off. It also makes it entirely inflexible, killing off one of Android's biggest benefits. We’re also not the biggest fans of how much the peripherals cost on top of the higher asking price than some of the competition.

Still, if you’re an Amazon customer and Alexa user looking for your next tablet with some extra power, then the Alexa Tablet Pro is a great way to spend your hard-earned dollars.

• Read our full Alexa Tablet 12 Pro review

Also tested

Not every device we test can be "The Best" tablet. But many come close. If you're after some more options, these are the tablets that didn't quite make the cut, but I still think these are good options if you need them.

Best Tablet: Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose the best tablet for you

Ultimately, choosing the best tablet is going to come down to what devices you already own. Use a lot of Apple products? Then you'll want an iPad. Samsung phone owner? Stick with a Galaxy tablet. Prefer Android over iPadOS? Choose the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 or the Motorola MotoPad for affordability.

If you travel or you're away from power outlets a lot, battery life will be key. But if you want to game, then performance is your biggest concern. There are devices that sit comfortably in the middle (like the iPad Air M4), but you'll also find powerhouses like the RedMagic Astra 2.

Many people like tablets because they're a useful second device for car journeys or entertaining kids. In that case, you want to be sure the tablet you're choosing has good parental controls so you can lock down the device in the way you feel comfortable with.

How we test the best tablets

We put every tablet we review through a raft of custom tests, looking at power consumption, performance and battery life. The process differs slightly between operating systems, but we aim for consistency to make it easier for you to compare models and brands.

Plus, since manufacturers love to talk about how vivid the new display on their latest tablet is, we actually check that. We use professional-grade colorimeters to measure how bright the screen can get on every tablet we test, as well as how well it displays colors in the sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts.

Once the technical tests are complete, we start using them just as you would. We browse the internet, check emails, play games and watch movies and YouTube videos. It's one thing to see how they perform in ideal conditions, but we want to know what you really get in everyday usage.

At a minimum, we put them through their paces like this for a week to get a realistic sense of how they perform and feel day-to-day. Where we can, we keep hold of the tablets even after our review is published so that we can get some long-term testing notes to update our reviews and buying guides, like this one.