The best tablets according to online reviews

Older kids need a tablet that can keep up with schoolwork, double as a laptop, and entertain past educational games. The newest version of Apple's most affordable iPad is that reliable powerhouse with a cool factor. There's obviously no kid stuff pre-installed, but Apple has multiple kid-proofing settings that can be lifted as they're grown out of. 

Educational stuff: General purpose tablets leave downloaded content up to the user, but the App Store has every educational alley a kid may need to take. Find apps for core skills like math, reading, and science, or hone in on more specific interests with apps for biology, language learning, or test prep. Kids will be psyched about the iPad's augmented reality capabilities, allowing them to immerse themselves in the world (or solar system) around them.

Parental controls: Nothing is built-in, so you'll have to get hands-on with the kid-proofing. In your iPad's settings in the Restrictions tab, you can put a virtual lock on any app or make functions off-limits (Safari, iMessage, and Facebook are a few you may consider hiding). The "Allowed Content" tab has options for movies or websites, where you can disable specific URLs or allow only G-rated movies to play. Installing parental control software like Kaspersky Safe Kids or Qustodio is a quick fix for an extra pair of eyes.

Durability and specs: Basically a mini computer, Apple manages to pack more and more technical details into each entry-level iPad without raising the price. Upgrades from the previous model include a zippy A13 Bionic Chip and crispier graphics. Artistic kids or habitual pencil-and-paper notetakers will appreciate that the first-gen Apple Pencil is also supported.

Read our full review of the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet.

Amazon's kid-friendly tablets are more than a regular Fire tablet costumed in a cutesy case. The new HD 10 Kids Pro is the ultimate model to consider.

 Kid stuff: A year-long Amazon Kids+ subscription comes free, and it's what makes the Fire experience so spot-on. School-aged kids will have a field day with the library of over 20,000 books, games, and educational apps from favorites Nat like Geo, plus access to apps like Disney+ if a parent gives the greenlight. The Youtube app is not available.

Parent stuff: Parents don't have to jump through hoops to set boundaries on their kid's Fire Tablet. Amazon has baked its intuitive parental controls right into the system, making screen time limits, age filters, limited access to specific apps, and schedules easy to find and customize. Amazon knows 12-year-olds don't want to see the baby stuff, and that 3-year-olds don't want to see the reading stuff. 

Durability and specs: The rubbery cases (slimmer and cooler for older kids on the 10 Pro) were made to withstand drops, spills, or sharing turned tugging. If a boo-boo does happen within the first two years, Amazon will send a new one without being nosey. A 12-hour battery, HD display, and Dolby Atmos speakers allow for multiple learning, playing, and streaming sessions without being tethered to the wall.

Working ladies need a badass sidekick that can keep up with their lifestyle. She’ll be psyched to have the 12.9-inch iPad Pro accompanying her, especially if her projects involve drawing or graphic design, as the Pro is compatible with the Apple Pencil. The iPad weighs 1.5 pounds and lasts for 10 hours on one charge, so taking it on the go is a no brainer.

The Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 is a nifty, nimble tablet that doubles up as an entertainment system. It boasts a 13-inch OLED display, with a 2,160 x 1,350 resolution (that's 2K, tech fans), plus Dolby Vision and Netflix HD support. Make no mistake, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 is a little beast.

Its speakers blow other tablets away, and the kickstand props the slate up like a mini TV. You can watch just about anywhere. The stand flips out, allowing you to hang the tablet from a wall, hook, or shelf. A mini HDMI port also allows you to also connect with other devices and use the tablet as a second screen. The tablet is seriously, wonderfully versatile.

Armed with a Full HD 10-inch touchscreen display, the Amazon Fire HD 10 delivers crisp images and videos. Not only can it play Full HD movies, it also plays music from Amazon Music, runs mobile games from the Amazon App Store, and doubles as a hands-free smart home hub with built-in Alexa. Not even the Apple iPad can do the smart home thing like the Fire HD 10.

The tablet comes in 32GB and 64GB varieties, but it's also expandable up to a whopping 256GB with a microSD card.

If you're a Prime member, then you'll also get access to thousands of books, magazines, songs, movies, and TV shows for free. The Fire HD 10 can do so much for under £160 that it's really a steal.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is Samsung’s latest attempt to outdo the mighty iPad — and it’s getting closer with every generation. It's also a noticeable upgrade on the previous Tab model, with a souped-up Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU.

It looks great, with an 11-inch AMOLED display. If design is your thing — or perhaps you’re an enthusiastic note-taker — it comes with Samsung’s S-Pen, which has super low latency for slick, fluid artistry.

Being a true alternative to the iPad, the Galaxy Tab S9 makes sense if you’re already stocked with Samsung devices, such as the Galaxy phone or earbuds. They all sync seamlessly.

This tablet is all about big performance — immersive game playing, pro-level creative apps, and Vision Booster viewing for bright days — but if you want something bigger still, you can try the 12.4-inch Tab S9 Plus and 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra

Not every tablet needs to cost a month’s wages. With the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 you get a premium quality tablet — from one of the best electronics brands in the tablet game — for a fraction of the cost of the iPad. You’ll be impressed. The performance comfortably outmatches the price.

It has a snazzy LCD screen that’s a step up from usual budget fare. And there’s plenty going on behind the visuals, with competitive processing power and storage.

There are nice features out-of-the-box too, including Samsung TV Plus for access to free TV channels, Samsung Kids for kids’ content and parental controls, split screen options for keeping track of windows, and screen recording for saving online classes. Not to mention synchronicity with other Samsung devices, allowing to share files and notes.

The only negative is a slightly underwhelming battery — but budget models do have to sacrifice performance in some areas.

The first thing to notice about the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is that it looks sensational — both the 13-inch display with PixelSense technology and 2,880 x 1,920 resolution. Not to mention the design of the tablet itself, which has a brilliantly thin bezel and sleek chassis.

Dedicated Microsoft users will love the experience. The Surface Pro 9 is built to give you the premium Windows 11 experience and switches between tablet and laptop. Graphic artists are also catered for. The tablet is well equipped for creative work and pairs magnificently with the Microsoft Surface Pen. Unfortunately, the pen — like the keyboard — is sold separately.

The price could be a deal breaker for some but if you're in the market for a 2-in-1 Microsoft tablet-laptop, this really is the best of the best.