Looking for the best Samsung tablet? Whether you need an Android tablet for streaming, note-taking, drawing, gaming or work, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab range offers all the options you could ask for. The best model for you depends on whether you prioritise value, portability, a vivid AMOLED display or laptop-style productivity.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus is our top pick for most people, pairing a large display, long battery life and an included S Pen at a value-friendly price. For shoppers after a premium iPad alternative, the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus delivers a compact AMOLED screen, capable performance and Samsung DeX multitasking. Power users who need the largest possible workspace will want the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and its satisfyingly big 14.6-inch OLED display.
More Samsung Galaxy Tabs arrive every year, and we've been testing each of these tablets for over a decade. With all our expert advice and in-depth hands-on testing, this guide will help you discover the Samsung Galaxy Tab worth buying.
While I'll always be a fan of iPads, I've become more impressed with what Samsung's Android tablets have to offer over my years of testing and reviewing tablets. It's hard to beat the variety on offer, along with the stunning AMOLED displays (with 120Hz) as standard, lightweight designs and easy navigation these tablets deliver. So, if you're looking to stick with Android, my team of experts and I have just the advice on which Samsung tablet to grab.
The best Samsung tablets you can buy right now
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
Best Samsung tablet overall
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus really impressed us with what you get for your money. The large 13.1-inch display makes it ideal for streaming and watching videos, since it's bright at 782 nits peak brightness and super vivid, making the colors pop even more.
Most surprisingly, it has stereo speakers, too. Normally, the small space for audio means you get tinny speakers, but in our testing, there's a nice warm, bassy punch alongside all the details being represented nicely across the sound space.
Then throw in that big battery for all-day use (lasting 15 hours and 43 minutes in our test), and you've got something with real staying power across all your films, web browsing and casual gaming.
Notice how I said casual gaming? The chip inside is certainly not the most powerful for intense tasks. Under significant pressure, you can see slowdown, but if your use cases are casual (ie, not editing videos or playing AAA games), you won't see it break a sweat.
Throw in that included stylus for whenever you're feeling creative, a decent camera system for video calls and snapping quick pics, and One UI 8 (launched in October 2025) for a great tablet experience, and a price less than $500, and you're onto a winner.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus review
Best iPad alternative Samsung tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tablet S12 Plus is what you get when you're looking for a gorgeous display that goes beyond what many of the best iPads can offer. Its 12.6-inch AMOLED panel simply stands out, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps every scroll and pen stroke (yes, the S Pen is included!) feeling immediate. We found that colors pop with vivid clarity, and the high contrast makes everything from comics to video look its absolute best.
In our hands-on testing, the S12 Plus handled everything we threw at it, from multitasking with split-screen apps to editing photos and light creative work. Battery life is another high point, consistently making it through demanding workdays and long streaming sessions without anxiety. That makes it excellent by tablet standards.
But it's the day-to-day usability that makes this easy to use. The S12 Plus’s premium display and more compact footprint make it simple to pick up, slip into a bag, bring out on the couch or on public transport — anywhere!
Wi-Fi support is capped at 6E instead of the newer Wi-Fi 7, so if absolute future-proofing is your main priority, you may want to look at the Ultra or future models. It’s a minor trade-off, but one worth noting. Plus, it's not a major upgrade from the S11 lineup, but it is sleeker and more powerful than before.
The Galaxy Tab S12 Plus' slim and compact build makes it surprisingly easy to reach for constantly, and it's only made better with its sharp OLED display and good performance. If you’re someone who loves catching up on reading or streaming, the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus hits a sweet spot.
- Read our Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 hands-on
Best Samsung tablet for power users
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra takes what worked for last year’s Ultra model and makes it even more compelling for anyone eyeing up an enormous display: you get a huge 14.6-inch OLED display and an upgraded MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor, giving you not just more workspace but more muscle for demanding tasks. As our reviewer, Tony, puts it, it's the best Android tablet yet — but you'll be paying a lot for it.
Yes, this is one massive display, but that's not all it has going for it. In our hands-on experience, it’s among the best OLEDs you’ll find on any tablet, with rich contrast and detail that make both deep work and downtime a pleasure. For instance, when watching a nature documentary, we found animals and landscapes pop with lifelike vibrancy. That's a real premium movie-watching slate.
Performance-wise, it’s robust enough to handle multitasking and intensive apps without slowing down, whether you’re juggling slides, spreadsheets or a dozen Chrome tabs. It's not quite enough to fully replace one of the best laptops, especially since Samsung's DeX Mode only works with an external monitor, but it's enough to use more demanding apps.
Battery life lands at 11 hours and 31 minutes in our testing, which is respectable for a screen this size, though it trails the S10 FE Plus’s impressive 15:43 and is just behind the S11. The trade-off for that extra screen real estate is a bit less stamina and a form factor that can feel cumbersome on the go, especially if you’re comparing to more compact options
Now, if your expectation is a seamless, laptop-replacement type switch, keep in mind that while the S12 Ultra makes work on the go possible and even enjoyable, it’s not a flawless laptop replacement. That said, for multitaskers who want a mighty and big tablet that can be used as a work machine, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is our top Samsung pick.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra review
Also tested
Best Samsung Tablet: Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I buy a Samsung tablet over an iPad?
Samsung tablets deliver better value and flexibility, especially if you're already in Samsung's ecosystem. The premium S Pen stylus is typically included, saving you money, and you get more versatile storage options thanks to the standard microSD card slot.
For productivity, Samsung’s DeX mode transforms the tablet into a PC-like desktop environment with true multitasking and resizable windows. Furthermore, many Galaxy Tabs feature a superior AMOLED display for richer, more immersive movie watching with perfect blacks.
Do Samsung tablets come with an S Pen?
Many Samsung Galaxy Tab models include an S Pen, but you should check the box contents for the exact model before buying. All the Samsung tablets in this guide come with an S Pen included, which is great for note-taking, sketching or just doodling.
Compared to many of the best tablets and best iPads, the included pen makes a Galaxy Tab better value than a tablet that requires a separate stylus purchase.
Can a Samsung tablet replace a laptop for work?
This depends on the work you will do on a Samsung tablet. It can replace a laptop for email, web work, video calls, note-taking, documents and light multitasking, especially when paired with a keyboard and Samsung DeX. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is a great alternative with its 14-inch display and when paired with the $399 Pro Keyboard, but that will ramp up the price.
But it's not a complete replacement for every workflow, as it still uses Android OS. Check that the Android versions of your essential work apps meet your needs, and note that DeX and keyboard accessories still have limitations compared with a usual laptop.
Are Samsung tablets on Android?
Yes, Samsung Galaxy Tab tablets run Android, with Samsung’s One UI software layered on top. That gives you access to the Google Play Store and Samsung-specific features such as DeX on compatible models, which provides a more desktop-like interface for multitasking.
That means you get the full Google Play Store just like any other Android tablet, although Samsung offers a number of unique features, like Galaxy AI, that other Android tablets can't match.
How we test the best Samsung tablets
We put every tablet through real-world and lab testing to see how it holds up — not just to the hype, but to the competition. That means using each device like an actual owner would, while also digging into the data that matters.
- Battery life: We run a web-surfing test over Wi-Fi with the screen set to a standard brightness to see how long it lasts on a full charge.
- Display quality: We measure screen brightness (in nits) and color accuracy (via sRGB) to gauge how good it’ll look for work and play.
- Performance: We run benchmarks like Geekbench to see how fast and powerful the tablet really is.
- Software experience: On Android tablets, we check app availability and whether you’re getting full access to the Google Play Store.
- Parental controls: If a tablet offers kid-safe features, we try to break them — so your kids don’t.
- Everyday use: We spend days weeks using each tablet like any buyer would; opening apps, watching videos, multitasking, and seeing how it all feels in the hand.
