When it comes to gaming tablets, there’s more to it than just the screen. These devices must balance productivity features with entertainment options to justify their cost, while still providing high-quality gaming across a wide range of genres.
This is one of the reasons why prices can increase so quickly on purpose-built devices; you’re getting features that don’t usually find their way into consumer products. However, many traditional tablets are perfect for your finger-tapping games, and with the rise of cloud gaming, they are getting more and more helpful as time goes by.
Currently, the best gaming tablet on the market is the Asus rOG flow Z13. This is a Windows 11 tablet that comes with an RTX3050 graphics card, with the ability to upgrade to an RTX3080 with an external GPU. However, its high cost may put it out of most people’s reach. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our favourite slabs across all price points.
Whether you’ve grown out of your gaming phone or you’re looking for something that’s more than just a gaming handheld, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from. In addition, the top gaming tablets are now competing with gaming laptops in terms of performance and cost-effectiveness.
iPad Pro
Apple M2 Processor, Trackpad and Keyboard Functionality, Liquid Retina Display with ProMotion, this is by far the best gaming tablet on the market. In other areas, the Pro comes with dual-camera and lidar capabilities.
They improve the performance of AR apps by enabling the iPad to better detect distances. When paired with an eye-catching Liquid Retina display that’s ideal for gaming and movies, facial recognition, and built-in Apple Pencil compatibility, it’s top-of-the-line technology.
The M2 processor improves almost everything about the iPad Pro, including gaming performance. This means you’ll be able to load games quicker, experience less stuttering, and your battery life will be much better when you’re also playing heavy software.
The refresh rate of the 120Hz display is also very useful when playing faster games, as it will keep up with your frame rate perfectly for smooth gaming.
For most buyers, the iPad Pro won’t be just a gaming tablet. Instead, it’s a full-featured productivity PC with the highest gaming capabilities of any Apple device. It’s a big investment but if you’re looking for a media editing tablet for creative workflows and high-end gaming, you’re in the right place.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Even though it doesn’t have a full-blown OLED screen, we were very impressed with the black levels of this screen. It’s also the biggest tablet screen we’ve seen (along with the Asus ROG Flow). This adds up to an immersive experience that you won’t find anywhere else, even if you’re willing to pay for it.
The speakers sound great, especially when you turn them up to Dolby Atmos. You also get the built-in S Pen stylus for note taking (Apple devices require a separate accessory) and task bar app switching.
With COD Mobile set to maximum, we were able to keep the refresh rate consistent, although Diablo Immortal didn’t fare as well. However, we would strongly advise you to use a mobile controller for all of these tasks.
On the other hand, the larger screen makes manual controls especially challenging for anything that requires a lot of concentration, but it did make it easier for puzzle games like Monument Valley. 14.6-inch screen is also working hard for you, providing a level of immersion that is unmatched by any other item on this list.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7
In addition to saving you money, you also get some awesome toys to enjoy. To put it another way, the A7 uses facial recognition to unlock faster. It is hard to return to the feature after using it for a period of time. But we were more thankful for the old fashioned 3.5 mm headphone jack.
You’ll also find a MicroSD card slot to boost the 32GB internal storage running along the edge as well. The screen is far behind its siblings, rocking up with a 2,000 x 1,200 LCD panel, which means lower brightness and some odd viewing angle issues.
On the other hand, you’re still going to get a quad-speaker and Dolby Acoustics for a more immersive sound.
The Tab A7’s Snapdragon 835 processor won’t be able to compete with top-of-the-line devices, but it’s well ahead of the competition in terms of price and features.
This means that it will be able to handle most scenarios with ease. In reality, it will only work if you request it to execute more intensive software, or multiple programs at a time.
Amazon Fire HD 10
If you’re looking for a budget gaming tablet that can play your favorite mobile games as well as browse the web and watch live TV, then you’ve come to the right place.
You’re getting a high-resolution screen that’ll make your games look great and plenty of internal hardware for a smooth gaming experience in lighter titles. That’s a pretty good return on your investment, especially considering how frequently these devices come out on the market.
The MSRP for this tablet is $149.00 for 32GB, but this is far from the lowest price you can find during sale events. The speakers aren’t very loud and you won’t find the best touchscreen experience out there here, but for budget light gaming, it’ll do the trick.
Amazon Fire HD 10 does one thing very well. Playing games from Amazon’s own Fire selection and through Luna’s streaming service feels smooth and effortless, with very few hiccups.
Navigating between apps can be a bit of a hassle, but once you’re in, you’re good to go. If you’re trying to move the Fire HD 10 over anything lighter, you’ll run into a few hiccups, but this one’s for the thumbs up on the big screen.
