We've all felt that bizarre urge to buy a tablet, whether it's an iPad mini to read news on the way to work or an Android tablet for sketching. Whichever the case, the best tablets account for a number of uses – making them a device that could be for anyone.
However, that doesn't mean the best tablet for one person is the best for you.
In fact, we'd argue that compared to the best laptops or the best phones, there's a much thinner margin for error when it comes to tablets. Someone who wants to watch the best streaming services during a flight doesn't need an iPad Pro, while a student looking for a laptop alternative might not be able to make do with the Samsung Galaxy S10 FE.
Luckily, with so many great options – and this guide – you can survey all the top offerings from Apple, Samsung, Amazon and others to find the tablet that perfectly suits your needs. With an abundance of choice, though, comes hard decisions –which is why our recommendations are based on extensive testing of the best iPads, Android tablets, smart displays and ereaders.
Read on below to see our picks for the 10 best tablets in Australia.
The quick list
Below you'll find a quick roundup of our choices for the best tablets in Australia in 2025. We've selected a mixture of brands and screen sizes, and catered to a range of budgets. You can jump to a more detailed review of each pick and shop the latest deals using our price comparison tool.
The best iPad tablet for most people
Apple's latest iPad 11th generation tablet didn't change much over its predecessor, but it didn't need to. The iPad is the most reliable and simplest tablet you'll find, with great battery life and enough power to run your favorite apps for years to come.
The best Android tablet for most people
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a good tablet that competes nicely against Apple's 2025 iPad. It's not as powerful, but it offers a ton of features, including a water resistance and it's an excellent multitasker. Plus, it comes with an S Pen if productivity is your goal.
The best premium iPad
Able to handle the most draining activities, the iPad Pro's M4 chip makes it more powerful than most computers. It also boasts a super-bright OLED display and fantastic battery, while also being Apple's thinnest product ever.
The best premium Android tablet
Big, fast and beautiful, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus offers no compromises in being exceptionally premium, even making a viable laptop replacement.
The best budget tablet
There's cheaper tablets on the market, but the 2021 iPad is still a very good tablet. At its price, it offers snappy performance, a viewing experience that is almost unrivalled and its selfie camera makes for easy video calls. It still has a good few years of OS support, too.
The best tablet for students
The M3 iPad Air is a great option for students, workers and who need easily portable premium performance. Much cheaper than the iPad Pro, its display, battery life and light frame make it easy to recommend.
Reveal the next 4 products...
The best compact tablet
The 7th generation iPad mini, powered by the A17 Pro chipset is almost identical in appearance to the 2021 iPad mini. However, its exceptionally powerful, utilises Apple Intelligence and excels as a drawing tablet.
The best tablet for drawing
While it's big, water-resistant, powerful and long-lasting with advanced, Pro-level software, we found the S10 Ultra almost justified its price. For art, though, its 14.6-inch display excels.
The best smart display tablet
The Echo Show 15 attempts to be both a smart-home controller and Fire TV entertainment tablet, and falls short of both, but it's still a quality smart display.
The best e-ink tablet
If you're looking for a tablet to write, draw and scribble on without distraction, the reMarkable 2 is for you – you can add a keyboard to type articles, and it's passable as an ereader.
The best tablets in Australia for 2025
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Below you can find more in-depth reviews of our choices for the best tablets, and you can click through the full reviews of each, written by TechRadar's team of technology experts.
The best iPad for most people
The iPad is synonymous with tablets for a reason and right now this new 2025 model powered by the A16 chip is perfect for most buyers.
This latest addition of Apple's entry-level tablet is refined, powerful and reliable, with just enough features to keep you entertained or help you be productive, and plenty of power for most uses.
For the longest time, basically since its release, the iPad 10.9-inch (2022) has resided in this position and this new iPad doesn't offer much more than its predecessor. However, it doesn't have to.
This 2025 Apple tablet is almost identical, with the one key difference being its new A16 processor that makes it 50% faster than the 2022 model. So, while it doesn't sport a M4 or M3 chipset like the iPads Pro and Air. it's still plenty powerful for gaming, working and creating.
One drawback from buying this cheapest iPad is that it doesn't support Apple Intelligence. For most people, we don't expect that to be an issue and, while we've enjoyed Apple's AI features, we don't think it's worth spending the extra money for the iPad mini just for Apple Intelligence. This 11-inch iPad (2025) still has the rest of Apple's great iPadOS features and it will be upgradeable to the luscious new iPadOS 26 later this year.
If you're running serious creativity software or you need a laptop replacement, there's better Apple and Android alternatives for you below. However, this 11th generation iPad, now sporting the Apple A16 chip, is the perfect starter tablet for Apple fans and anybody who just wants a bigger screen.
Read the full iPad 11-inch (2025) review
The best Android tablet for most people
While we loved the big-screen Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus as a competitor to the iPad Air, its smaller sibling, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE, is a better value. Priced to compete with the 11-inch iPad (2025) above, we believe it's the best tablet for most people.
This is especially true for those who want to use its writing and drawing features. While it might not be as powerful as its iPad counterparts, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE comes with an S Pen, making it an affordable productivity tablet for those looking to level-up their work or study.
Plus, while it's underpowered on paper, the S10 FE offers snappy performance even when playing games or multitasking with multiple windows. The Tab S10 FE Plus handled everything we threw at it, and the S10 FE performed just as well for our European colleagues.
Whether you're working on the road or relaxing by the pool, this is a great tablet to have. You don't even have to worry about reading with it in the bath; Samsung's water-resistant design is no joke and will even let you clean it in the sink if it gets dirty. No iPad can do that.
The two FE models are essentially the same, with the Plus version offering greater battery life. The choice simply comes down to which screen size best suits your lifestyle.
Read our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus review
The best premium iPad
While the Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra offers serious competition, the iPad Pro 13 (2024) is not only the best iPad that money can buy, but it remains the most formidable tablet available in 2025.
It's the largest iPad ever with a 13-inch display, and it combines that size with its most advanced display – boasting tandem OLED technology on an Apple XDR-branded display.
This newest iPad Pro is also a true laptop alternative. Equipped with an Apple M4 chip, it's as powerful as (or even more powerful than) the best MacBooks. It boasts 20% better thermal performance and four times the rendering performance compared to its predecessor. If the power of the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) impressed you, the iPad Pro 13 (2024) will undoubtedly exceed expectations.
Creative types are taken care of on this machine, too. Apple's new iPad Pro supports the impressive Apple Pencil Pro stylus, not to mention the redesigned Magic Keyboard. And, while we wouldn't be lugging it on a hike to capture the view, its 12MP rear snapper is more than satisfactory.
Naturally, all of this power and versatility in a supremely designed device means you'll have to pay handsomely for the privilege of owning it. And, if all you want to do is watch movies and video chat with friends, it's overkill. However, if you want the best of the best, look no further than the 13-inch iPad Pro 13.
Read our full iPad Pro 13 (2024) review
The best premium Android tablet
Taking over from its predecessor in this list, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is exactly what you want from a premium tablet – providing the best of both worlds between a phone and a laptop. With its included S Pen stylus, it has perks if you prefer writing text, and it aces tasks that take advantage of everything the stylus has to offer. However, this is a premium feature that would be (mostly) wasted on casual consumers – those who want a large display to watch, read and play on. tIf that's you, we'd push you towards the Galaxy Tab A9 series, which almost beat out the 10.2-inch iPad for the best budget spot.
Matching its incredible AMOLED display – which is no easy task – the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus has exceptionally rich sound. And, despite its large size, it's comfortable enough to hold for a while in its landscape form factor – making watching the best streaming services and listening to music a fantastic experience with the Tab S10 Plus.
Close rivals, particularly from Apple, also do this exceptionally well, and the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus's AU$1,799 price point puts it in heated competition with Apple’s iPad Pro (AU$1,699). Still, with the included S Pen stylus, and some retailers offering the Galaxy Tab keyboard as a bundle bonus , the Tab S10 Plus looks like a better deal all-around.
Samsung still sells the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, and its price will likely become increasingly attractive with the release of its successor, even if it is a generation older. But if you want the best, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is about as good as it gets – though the S10 Ultra might have it beat, as it's basically the same, just bigger.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review
The best budget tablet
The iPad 10.2 (2021) is not the cheapest tablet you can buy, but it might be the cheapest tablet you should buy, especially if you prefer Apple products. You can find cheaper tablets from Samsung, Amazon, and other brands, but Apple's older iPad 10.2 still gives you a premium experience at a price that other tablets can't match.
Even though it's a bit older, Apple supports its iPad tablets with regular software updates, so you can be sure that this tablet will get iPadOS on the same day as the best iPads you can buy. You can't say that about older Samsung Galaxy Tab tablets or any of the bargain tablets you might find. Apple's service and support is second-to-none, even when you're buying the most affordable iPad available.
Better yet, Apple's iPad 10.2 doesn't saddle you with ads or unnecessary software, like Amazon Fire tablets, and it feels much faster than similarly-priced Samsung tablets. You'll have no trouble running the latest apps, playing games on the larger screen, and browsing any website you please.
If this is still too much to spend, check out our list of the best budget tablets you can buy, but if you can afford to buy Apple's least expensive iPad, you'll be happy you did. Whether you're watching the best streaming services, playing games or typing up a few documents, the Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) is the best cheap tablet to do so.
Read our full iPad 10.2 (2021) review
The best tablet for students
If you're looking to upgrade your tablet or older iPad model to something that feels worthy of 2025, but don't quite want to shell out the exorbitant price to grab the latest iPad Pro, enter the iPad Air (2024).
While it's available in two sizes – 11- and 13-inches – if you're looking for an alternative to the iPad Pro (2024), then we have to recommend the bigger 13-inch model. A truly massive display, it makes drawing, note-taking and sketching a breeze, and you'll be happy to have it when using the iPad Air for other fun things like watching movies.
The iPad Air (2024) comes equipped with an M2 chipset – the very same chipset that powers some of the older best MacBooks – making it 50% faster than its M1-equipped predecessor and a ridiculous three times faster than the iPad Air (2021)'s A14 Bionic chip.
Other key upgrades for the iPad Air (2024) include a landscape-oriented front-facing camera, stereo speakers with spatial audio, and a much improved maximum storage capacity of up to 1TB.
While it may be the more affordable option compared to the iPad Pro (2024), it's not cheap – starting at AU$999, this iPad Air is still very much a premium device. However, if you're looking to upgrade without splurging on the iPad Pro, this iPad Air is more than enough for most users – professionals, students or those who just want to watch movies and video chat.
Read our full iPad Air 13-inch (2024) review
The best compact tablet
In our Apple iPad mini A17 Pro (2024) review, our biggest problem with Apple’s return to the compact iPad model is its similarities to the three-year-old 6th generation iPad mini. In terms of cameras, speakers, display and overall design, the A17 Pro powered iPad mini’s only visibly noticeable hardware change is one that's only visible if you shell out for an Apple Pencil. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – the iPad mini is everything you want from a compact iPad, just don’t be expecting any revolutionary changes.
That new A17 Pro chip is built with Apple Intelligence in mind, allowing it to perform without a hitch. Among other things, it enables you to quickly summarise notes or change the tone of an email with Writing Tools, have your notifications summarised, and even get a priority look into your inbox. Plus, the ability to send handwritten queries to Siri is pretty much tailor-made for the iPad, and cleaning up photos is a whole heap easier.
If you’re looking for versatility from your new tablet, rather than a complete laptop or phone replacement, few tablets offer the portability and versatility of 2024's iPad mini. It's powerful enough for most kinds of work, its 8.3-inch liquid retina display is a dream for entertainment, and drawing on it was actually one of our favourite parts of our time with it, even if its display is smaller than other other offerings in this guide.
While you'll have to go without Apple Intelligence, we recommend holding off on upgrading if you own the old 2021 iPad mini. However, if you're looking to buy your first iPad – or are upgrading from a much older model – and don't quite have the budget for the new iPad Air 11-inch, think the 10.9-inch iPad 10th gen is a touch too big and don't want to opt for the smaller, ultra-powerful 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max, the iPad mini might be the perfect tablet for you. Plus, it supports a stylus.
Read our full Apple iPad mini A17 Pro (2024) review
The best tablet for drawing
If you think bigger is better when it comes to tablets, the Galaxy Tab 10 Ultra is likely the device for you. It sports a huge 14.6-inch screen that can be a work surface, drawing space, tabloid newspaper or a mini TV for your bedroom.
It also comes with the Galaxy S Pen out of the box, making it a tablet to consider for creatives looking for a drawing tablet – though you might want to buy Samsung’s Smart Book Cover case. It's also water resistant to the point that it can withstand submersion in up to 1.5m of water for up to 30 minutes thanks to its IP68 rating, so it's the tablet to have if you like watching content in the bath (though the S10 and S10 Plus offer the same resistance).
There’s Galaxy AI too, but tools like Sketch to Image or Circle to Search are useful additions, not reasons to buy a premium tablet. Otherwise, this is almost exactly the same as last year's Tab S9 Ultra, which is both good news and bad. While the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra was excellent, their designs are identical – with S9 Ultra accessories working with this tablet.
Performance is good for a tablet, but it isn’t a Snapdragon. Last year’s Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra came with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset found in the Galaxy S23 family. This year’s Galaxy S24 uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The MediaTek 9300 can mostly keep up with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and once in a while beat it, but not always.
The Tab S10 Ultra does have slightly better graphics capabilities than a Galaxy S24 phone, but this is supposed to be Samsung’s best tablet. Why is it only slightly better? Compared to the iPad Pro, the Tab S10 Ultra gives you more display at the cost of performance.
If you want to run pro-level software, you should buy Apple’s tablet. If you want the biggest, best display to run all of your Android apps and games and watch your favourite content, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a great choice, with a screen that will knock your socks off.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review
The best smart display tablet
Returning with moderate hardware upgrades and quality-of-life improvements that make for a slightly more rounded offering, but there was still a question of whether new Echo Show 15 (2024) could earn a place alongside its siblings on our list of the best smart displays.
The first Echo Show 15 found itself on the sidelines until Amazon released a Fire TV update. While it had weak audio and a mediocre display, that upgrade made the Echo Show 15 an interesting option as a smart display for kitchens, offices and more.
This smart display has always struggled to decide what it is. It's designed to cater to the relatively small niche market of “small TV-shaped smart hubs” by offering app support for various streaming services in addition to the standard array of music streaming platforms supported by the best smart speakers, as well as some basic smart home controls.
However, following the release of the Echo Hub in early 2024, which arrived rocking a new user interface and features specifically designed for smart-home control, I had high hopes that some improved smart-home… well, smarts, from the Echo Hub’s user interface would make an appearance in the second-generation Echo Show 15 as well as the all-new Echo Show 21.
Sadly, that’s not the case. Instead, the Echo Show 15 is both an entertainment and smart-home hub, no with built-in Fire TV, widgets and an Alexa Voice remote. It's got an improved camera too, as well as upgrades to its display, audio and connectivity – areas of concern according to customers the first go around.
Amazon has addressed the bare minimum upgrades needed to make the Echo Show 15 a more attractive option; unfortunately, not enough has changed for me to recommend the device as a must-have smart display. Especially with the release of the all-new Echo Show 21, the Echo Show 15 doesn't even have "being the biggest Amazon Echo Show" going for it anymore. It is, however, a nice-to-have screen that might fill a relatively small gap in your smart-home ecosystem, and is plenty capable for what it is.
Read our full Amazon Echo Show 15 review
The best writing tablet
If you're looking for a ereader with note-taking capability, the Kobo Elisa 2E and Amazon Kindle Scribe in our guide to the best ereaders has you covered. If you're looking for a dedicated e-paper tablet that lets you focus on the task at hand, the reMarkable 2 is for you.
Super thin with a 10-inch display, it's perfectly sized and even has slip-preventing little feet on its rear that allow it to sit comfortably on surfaces. We think the Kindle Scribe is the king of e-ink screens, but the reMarkable 2 offers the best writing and sketching experience. With various pen options, nib thicknesses and template options that can service all kinds of creative needs.
While it has a minimalist interface, there's actually quite a lot going on – from sharing notes via email and changing individual page templates to converting handwriting into text and more, there's a plethora of features to enjoy. And, if you shell out the extra cash for the keyboard folio, the reMarkable 2 transforms into a lovely e-paper laptop that's perfect for typing out articles.
We didn't love it as a reading device – there's no front lighting – but as an e-ink tablet first and ereader second, it's exceptional. And while there's no bookstore access, you can sideload ebooks (EPUB and PDF only). There's better ereaders that double as note-takers on the market, but if reading isn't your priority this is hands-down the best writing tablet there is.
Read our full reMarkable 2 review
How we test the best tablets
Every tablet on this list has been thoroughly tested and put through a comprehensive review, so we know exactly what makes them tick and how they compare. From there, we've ranked them based on our findings, factoring in their price and value too.
How to choose the best tablet
When choosing a tablet, the first thing you'll need to decide is how much you want to do with it. Will it be an extra device for entertainment and productivity, or will it replace a laptop as a main computing device? Today's tablets can certainly handle all of the tasks of a basic laptop.
Then you'll need to decide on your price range, because tablets can range from cheap budget devices to very expensive cutting edge portables, far more expensive than the laptops they replace.
Finally, it would be helpful to choose between an Apple iPad OS tablet and an Android device, based on the services and software you prefer.
The best tablets in Australia: FAQ
What is the best brand for tablets
Different brands make devices aimed at different buyers, so there's no 'best' brand, there's just a brand that's best for you.
Amazon's slates are great for low-budget entertainment, but aren't as good for work or creativity. Samsung has some like that too, though its top-end slates are better for workers.
Apple's iPads hit all beats, though they cost a lot, so aren't great for everybody. Lenovo's tabs are great for working, especially for students, and its Yoga devices bring features that are great for entertainment too.
Other, smaller tablet makers generally focus on entertainment tools, though some are good for work and a select few are also useful for creatives.
What should I look for when buying a tablet?
The main things to consider are how much you want to spend, and what operating system you want - with Apple's iPadOS and Android being the two main options. Then think about what else matters to you in a tablet - be it size, power, camera or battery - and choose accordingly.
What tablet can replace a laptop?
If you're hoping to get serious work done on a tablet then an iPad Pro would be a good option. This has a big screen, lots of power, and supports a keyboard accessory. Alternatively, the screen size on offer with the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 will rival that of many laptops while boasting as good or better productivity prowess.
