The 8 best tablets of 2025: I compared iPads, the Microsoft Surface Pro, and Amazon Fire
Even if you have a very capable smartphone and a nice laptop, a tablet can still be worth adding to your tech arsenal. A touchscreen that can be carried anywhere makes for a portable studio for creatives, a crucial sidekick for frequent travelers, and an e-reader for book lovers. These days, tablets are basically just laptops anyway.
Whether you're looking for a kid-friendly tablet or a compact laptop replacement, there are plenty of excellent options out there. If you're not exactly sure which tablet you should buy, we've got one simple question to help narrow down your search: Are you an Apple person? We tested the entire iPad lineup, and though iPads are our preferred tablets in 2025, we also love some of the best tablets from Samsung and Microsoft. So, whatever your preferences, we've got a tablet to recommend.
UPDATE: Oct. 28, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EDT We're in the midst of retesting our favorite tablets. For now, we've updated this guide to include our favorite iPads, the new Microsoft Surface 11, and Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3.
Recent additions to this guide:
October 28, 2025: After our tech editor reviewed the new iPad Pro (M5), we've added it to this guide thanks to its speedy processor and the many benefits of iPadOS 26 and Liquid Glass.
October 28, 2025: We've added the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 tablet to this guide; it's an excellent Android gaming tablet.
