Which tablet should I buy?

Whether you want to binge-watch a new TV show at the airport, take notes at a conference, or edit photos from your daughter's birthday party, a tablet makes work and play a lot more convenient. But with so many brands and models out there, you may be wondering, which tablet should I buy?

Here at Asurion, we not only fix and protect the devices you love, we also help you stay up to date on the latest tech. We've rounded up the best tablets for 2023 so you can decide which one is right for you.

Apple iPad Air

With a sharp, colorful screen and a long battery life, the iPad Air® is one of the best tablets this year—perfect for watching movies and TV, gaming, working, and more. It's also perhaps the most powerful tablet for your money.

Instead of a home button, you turn on the iPad Air using the Touch ID® fingerprint sensor embedded in the Power button up top. Use your fingerprint to sign into apps and make payments with Apple Pay®. The 12MP Ultra Wide front camera has Center Stage, a machine learning feature that works with video conferencing apps and automatically adjusts to keep you centered in the shot. It can even zoom in or out when people leave or join the frame.

Meanwhile, the M1 chip boosts performance by up to 60% compared to previous iPads, and it guarantees smooth multitasking and all-day battery life. The iPad Air is also one of the best tablets for sketching, thanks to its compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil®, which recharges wirelessly and magnetically attaches to the tablet. For anyone who doesn't want to pay the higher price for an iPad Pro®, the iPad Air is an excellent option.

Cost: $$$ Colors: Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue Capacity: 64GB or 256GB Dimensions: 9.74 inches x 7.02 inches x 0.24 inch Screen: 10.9 inches (diagonal), 2360 x 1640 pixels per inch (PPI), Liquid Retina Battery life: Up to 10 hours Charging method: USB-C cable

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Apple iPad, 10th Generation

The 10th-generation iPad® is a versatile tablet with the power and battery life for all sorts of activities, whether it's playing graphics-heavy games, editing 4K video, or streaming your favorite movies and shows. This model is slightly less expensive than the iPad Air, but it has the same sleek design and Touch ID features. Plus it comes with a bigger screen, the A14 Bionic chip, which deftly handles multitasking, and the 12MP Ultra Wide front camera, making it easier to look straight ahead during video calls.

There are, however, a few features it lacks, like a headphone jack. If you like sketching on your tablet, this tablet only supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, which can be awkward to charge (you have to use a dongle), and it doesn't offer a built-in way to store the stylus when you aren't using it.

But if these aren't deal-breakers for you—and if the price works for your budget—this is a great tablet.

Cost: $$ Colors: Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow Capacity: 64GB or 256GB Dimensions: 9.79 inches x 7.07 inches x 0.28 inch Screen: 10.9 inches (diagonal), 2360 x 1640 PPI, Liquid Retina Battery life: Up to 10 hours Charging method: USB-C cable

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)

Of all the Amazon Fire® tablets, the Fire HD 10 offers a big screen with great battery life at an affordable price. It's great for everyday activities like browsing the web, watching videos, reading Kindle books, streaming music, and using Microsoft® Office apps. It also has a USB-C port for easy charging with the same cable as your Android™ phone or laptop, and it comes with Amazon Alexa™ built-in, so you can seamlessly use it to talk to your smart home devices.

There are a few drawbacks—you can't stream in 4K, not all Android™ apps are available on this device, and there's no Google Play™ Store. But it's still one of the best affordable tablets, especially since it often goes on sale.

Cost: $ Capacity: 32GB or 64GB (expandable by up to 1TB) Dimensions: 9.73 inches x 6.53 inches x 0.36 inches Screen: 10.1 inches, 1920 x 1200 PPI Battery life: Up to 12 hours Charging method: USB-C cable

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids

Hand-me-down tablets make great options for kids, but if you're looking to buy something new, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids is an excellent choice for children ages 3–7. It's inexpensive and sturdy and comes with a kid-proof case and a built-in stand. Plus it's loaded with a free year-long Amazon Kids+ subscription, parental controls, access to ad-free books, apps, videos, and games, and it comes with a 2-year guarantee if the tablet breaks.

For a smaller, even more affordable option, consider the Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet. It has a 7-inch screen, promises up to 10 hours of battery life (instead of 13), and comes with storage options (16 or 32GB instead of 32 or 64GB). Your little one may not even notice these differences, but you'll save a bit more money.

Cost: $ Colors: Blue, Purple, Disney Mickey Mouse (red), Disney Princess (light aqua) Capacity: 32GB or 64GB (expandable by up to 1 TB) Dimensions: 8.7 inches x 7.1 inches x 1.1 inches (with the kidproof case) Screen: 8 inches, 1280 x 800 PPI Battery life: Up to 13 hours Charging method: USB-C cable

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (2021)

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is the biggest, most powerful Fire® tablet made for children ages 6–12. With a slimmer kid-friendly case and 10-inch screen, your children will enjoy watching their favorite shows, reading books, and playing games.

Don't worry though, you—the parents—will stay in control. You can view their usage history, set time limits on activities, and approve access to requested apps, e-books, and shows. Like the Fire 7 and 8 models, the Kids Pro also comes with a 2-year guarantee and a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+®.

Cost: $ Colors: Sky Blue, Doodle, Intergalactic Capacity: 32GB (expandable by up to 1TB) Dimensions: 7.4 inches x 10.1 inches x 0.7 inches (with the kid-friendly case) Screen: 10.1 inches, 1920 x 1200 PPI Battery life: Up to 12 hours Charging method: USB-C cable

To learn more about children and tech, check out our guides to kid-proofing your electronic devices and the best parental control apps to help keep your kids safe online.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

For a premium Android tablet, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy® Tab S8. Its 11-inch LCD screen delivers bright, colorful, sharp visuals, and its sound quality, battery life, and overall performance are top-notch. Note-takers will appreciate that the stylus magnetically sticks to the back of the tablet. And the Galaxy is a great tablet for work if you ever need it to stand in for your laptop. The high price puts you well within iPad territory, but if you're committed to Android, this model is a great choice.

Cost: $$$ Colors: Silver, Graphite, Pink Gold Capacity: 128GB or 256GB Dimensions: 9.99 inches x 6.51 inches x 0.25 inches Screen: 11 inches, 2560 x 1600 PPI Battery: Up to 13 hours Charging method: USB-C cable

Google Pixel Tablet

The Google Pixel® Tablet has a sharp LCD screen, strong audio capabilities, and slick software. But what makes it stand out most is that it comes with its own speaker and charging dock, which means it can double as a smart home hub. The Pixel is also the first tablet that supports Chromecast™, so you can stream your favorite shows and music to it from your laptop or phone. This tablet can support up to eight profiles, allowing everyone in your family to have their own. And when you're not using it, the Pixel tablet can double as a digital picture frame or clock. The only downside: It doesn't come with an official stylus or keyboard.

Cost: $$ Colors: Porcelain, Hazel, Rose Capacity: 128GB or 256GB Dimensions: 10.2 inches x 6.7 inches x 0.3 inches Screen: 11 inches, 2560 x 1600 PPI Battery: Up to 12 hours Charging method: Charging speaker dock (included) or USB-C cable (sold separately)