What this ultimately means is the top gaming slates tend to be the same ones our reviewers found to be the best tablets as a whole. This includes the premium devices of Apple’s iPad lineup, Android-powered models like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, and versatile convertible laptops running on Windows. Far from solely being dedicated gaming tablets, these devices harness the latest processors and mobile technology to provide productivity and well-rounded multimedia features, while also offering the performance to handle the highest levels of mobile gaming. Browse the list we’ve compiled below for some of the best gaming tablets across a variety of manufacturers and operating systems. Other upgrades on the 5th-generation iPad Pro include support for 5G cellular connectivity—adding it on gives you on-the-go access to high-speed networks for smooth online gameplay without Wi-Fi. There’s also now an option with a massive 2TB of storage for those expecting to install a large collection of high-end games. Both of these are nice bonuses rather than essential upgrades, and you may already be upping the total price tag with other supported accessories like a keyboard, mouse, and stylus. The tablet still comes in 11- and 12.9-inch models, both with crisp 264 ppi Liquid Retina displays. The larger screen has also been upgraded with mini-LED backlighting that features 2,596 individual zones of dimming. The resulting levels of brightness and contrast rival that of OLED displays and provide a noticeable visual pop to games and videos. Operating System: iPadOS 14 | Screen Size: 12.9 inches | Resolution: 2732 x 2048 | Processor: Apple M1 chip | RAM: 8GB or 16GB | Storage: 128GB to 2TB | Camera: 12MP front, 12MP/10MP rear | Battery Capacity: 40.88 watt-hour Our tester Jeremy Laukkonen was impressed by how it handled modern graphics-heavy titles. He also appreciated the 10.2-inch, 2160 x 1620-pixel Retina display’s sharp, responsive visuals for gameplay and plenty of screen space to enjoy the graphics. On the software side, the iPad runs on Apple’s latest tablet-specific operating system, iPadOS 14, which makes navigating and switching apps smoother than ever. You can take advantage of the Apple App Store and its huge selection of games, plus you can subscribe to the Apple Arcade gaming service for unlimited access to a variety of titles for a low monthly fee. Like with other iPads, the 2020 iPad is built for more than gaming. Connecting a Bluetooth keyboard helps with productivity, and the Apple Pencil is a nice creative accessory. The listed 10-hour battery life is already plenty for games, work, and more, but our tests found it lasting even longer while in use and streaming video. In terms of storage space, the 32GB option leaves limited room to work with, so the 128GB version may be the way to go for gamers. Operating System: iPadOS 14 | Screen Size: 10.2 inches | Resolution: 2160 x 1620 | Processor: A12 Bionic chip | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32GB or 128GB | Camera: 1.2MP front, 8MP rear | Battery Capacity: 32.4 watt-hour Just as impressive as the S7+’s performance is its visual experience—our reviewer Jason Schneider found the 12.4-inch, 2800 x 1752-pixel display to be the best screen he’s seen on any tablet. It’s boosted by Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology to deliver vivid, accurate colors and deep blacks, and a fast 120Hz refresh rate that matches up with the on-screen action for maximum smoothness during gameplay. The S7+’s core Android operating system combines with Samsung’s One UI interface for an efficient, modern tablet experience. The Google Play store has tons of games and apps available to download, and you get up to 512GB of internal storage to fill (expandable by up to 1TB via microSD card). Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers with Android devices can also enjoy Microsoft’s cloud gaming service, which lets you stream high-end Xbox games such as Halo without downloading them. And, with the S7+ supporting 5G connectivity, you can easily play those games on the road even without Wi-Fi. Operating System: Android 10 | Screen Size: 12.4 inches | Resolution: 2800 x 1752 | Processor: Qualcomm SDM865+ | RAM: 6GB or 8GB | Storage: 128GB to 512GB (microSD up to 1TB) | Camera: 8MP front, 13MP/5MP rear | Battery Capacity: 10,090 milliamp-hours The Surface Book 3’s internals include a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of solid-state storage. It’s also equipped with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card with Max-Q and 6GB of VRAM, making for an impressive gaming experience that won’t be matched by the pure tablets on this list. Simply put, a dedicated graphics processor of that caliber is going to be hard for any tablet- or smartphone-grade system-on-a-chip to beat. Unfortunately, you can take advantage of the discrete graphics card only when the Surface Book 3 is docked in laptop configuration. Detach the screen from the keyboard base and you get a rather large, unwieldy tablet, albeit a powerful and versatile one. You can also benefit from the high stylus quality of the Surface Pen, as well as the ability of any Windows tablet to play all the full PC video games that are available for the Windows operating system. Operating System: Windows 10 Home | Screen Size: 15 inches | Resolution: 3240 x 2160 | Processor: Intel Core i7-1065G7 | RAM: 16GB or 32GB | Storage: 256GB to 2TB | Camera: 5MP front, 8MP rear | Battery Life: 17.5 hours with base Instead of the Surface Book’s detachable format, the Yoga 9i’s convertible design allows you to benefit from the GPU at all times, even in tablet mode. That means immersive gaming visuals and smooth gameplay on a portable slate you can hold in your hands. The giant 15.6-inch screen also features 4K resolution (3840 x 2160-pixel) for top-tier color and clarity. (A 14-inch Yoga 9i is available, but with only integrated Intel graphics.) The rest of the Yoga 9i’s hardware is equally impressive, and fully customizable through Lenovo’s site. You can load in a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 or even i9 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and SSD storage up to 2TB—it adds up plenty of performance for just about any task as a laptop or a tablet. Plus, unlike other brands where key accessories are often sold separately, the Yoga 9i ships with an active stylus for drawing and note-taking, complete with a built-in storage slot on the side where it charges when not in use. Operating System: Windows 10 Home or Pro | Screen Size: 15.6 inches | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Processor: Intel Core i7-10750H | RAM: 12GB or 16GB | Storage: 256GB to 2TB | Camera: 5MP front, 8MP rear | Battery Capacity: 69 watt-hours Our tester Zach Sweat admitted the custom Nvidia processor in the Switch doesn’t quite match up to contemporary consoles like the Xbox One or PS4, and its small size, 720p display, and few available apps make it a fairly mediocre tablet for non-gaming purposes. The lineup of available games, though, makes it easily one of the best handheld gaming devices there is. No other tablet can offer access to first-party Nintendo titles, including well-loved franchises like Mario, the Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon. Another big differentiator for the Switch is the ability to dock it to the TV when you want to play on a big screen, along with other console-oriented features. The detachable Joy-Con controllers, equipped with advanced motion sensors and HD rumble, come in pairs that can be split between two players. It’s an innovative design that makes the Switch excellent for local multiplayer and parties. Screen Size: 6.2 inches | Resolution: 1280 x 720 | Processor: Nvidia Custom Tegra X1 processor | Storage: 32GB internal (microSD up to 2TB) | Battery Capacity: 16 watt-hours The difference, unfortunately, is not one that’s clearly noticeable at the devices’ mid-tier level of performance, but any boost is welcome for gaming purposes, and the price remains in the same range of affordability. Other differentiators of the Fire HD 10 Plus include convenient wireless charging and a soft-touch finish that gives the device a more premium feel. The tablets also tout improved 10% brightness, contributing to the admirable display that our reviewer Jordan Oloman always considered a strength of the Fire HD 10—a crisp 10.1-inch display at 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution makes it a great value for a gaming tablet. Operating System: Fire OS 7 | Screen Size: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | Processor: MediaTek MT8183 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB to 64GB (microSD up to 1TB) | Camera: 2MP front, 5MP rear | Battery Capacity: up to 12 hours Jeremy Laukkonen is a tech writer for Lifewire and a number of trade publications. He has created an automotive blog as well as co-founded a video game startup. He is an expert in Android and Apple devices. Jason Schneider has a decade of experience in covering technology and media, contributing to Thrillist and Greatist in addition to Lifewire. He is an expert in consumer tech, including personal tablets. Zach Sweat has written for IGN Entertainment and other publications, in addition to reviewing gaming hardware and other products for Lifewire. He has a background in both multimedia journalism and photography, and is an expert in gaming.
What to Look For in the Best Gaming Tablets
Performance
High-end games can potentially be the most demanding things you run on your tablet, so more processing power generally means smoother gaming performance and a more future-proof selection of titles you’re able to play. Current-generation iPad models will have no issues in this department, thanks to Apple’s revolutionarily fast in-house chips—namely the Apple A12 Bionic and on. Other premium-level tablets like those in Samsung’s Galaxy Tab line feature Qualcomm Snapdragon processors that likewise provide more than enough performance for your gaming needs, paired with RAM and graphics hardware that appropriately balance power consumption and battery life.
Operating System
Among other things, the operating system a tablet runs on defines the device’s user interface, navigation, and overall feel of its day-to-day use, so choosing one is often a matter of personal preference and familiarity. For gaming purposes, it also plays a critical role in determining which titles you will actually be able to play. Apple iPads use a tablet version of iOS called iPadOS that will feel very familiar to users of iPhones and Mac products. Apple’s App Store features a huge selection of games that have gone through a thorough review process, and the Apple Arcade subscription service offers unlimited access to 200+ games for $4.99 per month. Tablets running on the more flexible Android OS have an even wider pool of games available on the Google Play Store, and the Google Play Pass service (also $4.99 per month) includes a list of 500+ games and growing. If you go with a hybrid tablet-laptop like the Microsoft Surface, however, you can take advantage of the Windows 10 operating system that can run both mobile apps and any PC games compatible with your hardware.
Display
Since a bigger screen is one of the main advantages of playing mobile games on a tablet instead of a smartphone, the size and quality of your tablet’s display should be a significant part of the discussion. Most slates offer screens measuring at least 10 inches diagonal, with larger 10- or 12-inch models that often come with upgraded hardware. You can even find screens as big as 15 inches, usually in the form of convertible Windows laptops, but this starts to make the tablet less convenient to hold and transport. To add to the visual experience, premium tablet models may feature advanced display technologies like Apple’s Retina displays and Samsung’s AMOLED screens, which can boost clarity, crispness, color, and brightness. Some displays even include fast 120Hz refresh rates for extra-smooth and responsive gameplay.
