Gaming is an expensive hobby. Players frequently invest heavily in high-performance PCs, prioritizing top-tier processors, graphics cards, displays, and more. But since you can’t take a desktop on the road, you may want to consider a mobile gaming device. Recent advancements have made tablets a good choice for gaming on the go. Many of the best models have powerful enough hardware to meet the demands of gamers, but which one do you buy?
Also: The best tablets: Expert tested
What is the best gaming tablet right now?
I conducted detailed research and hands-on testing to find the best gaming tablets. When compiling the following list, I evaluated various factors, such as hardware, display quality, and price. My pick for the top gaming tablet overall is the M4 iPad Pro for its stunning OLED display, fast chipset, and unique support for AAA games. But the iPad Pro is just one suggestion. Below I compare the leading models from other major brands.
Best gaming tablet in 2024
Apple M4 iPad Pro
Best gaming tablet overall
The 2024 iPad Pro takes the top spot as the best gaming tablet, setting a new standard for Apple hardware. It houses the M4 chipset, enabling top-tier performance across the board. The chipset allows the device to handle challenging tasks easily. During initial testing, senior reviews editor at ZDNET Kerry Wan found it ran resource-heavy titles like Genshin Impact at maximum settings with minimal heat generation. This is a significant improvement over the 2022 iPad Pro as that model would “overheat after 10 minutes.”
It’s also worth mentioning that Apple teamed up with game developer Capcom to port popular titles like Resident Evil Village to the App Store. The digital storefront also offers several game emulators, like Delta and RetroArch, for free download.
Review: I replaced my MacBook with an M4 iPad Pro and was less bothered than I expected
The M4 iPad Pro is still a highly recommended tablet outside of gaming. Its Tandem OLED display offers up to 1,6000 nits of brightness and vibrant color accuracy. The touchscreen makes the device ideal for photo editing, media consumption, and content creation.
Additionally, you have the option to equip the iPad Pro with up to 16GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD. Apple’s model is pretty expensive, starting at $999, although it pays for itself almost immediately.
M4 iPad Pro specs: Display: 13-inch OLED with ProMotion | Processor: Apple Silicon M4 with up to 16GB of RAM | Storage: up to 2TB | Weight: 15.6 ounces | Dimensions: 9.83 x 6.99 x .21 inches | Connections: USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Best gaming tablet for Android
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra stands out as a great tablet for tough tasks. Its 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED displays offer a resolution of 2,960 x 1,848 pixels and supports HDR10. These features provide vibrant colors, striking image contrast, and sharp visuals that enhance the overall experience. The screen’s 16:10 aspect ratio gives users an expansive view.
Buyers can equip the tablet with up to 16GB of RAM for smooth performance and 1TB of storage. It even supports Samsung DeX, which transforms the tablet into a mini-desktop, allowing users to manage multiple windows with a mouse and keyboard.
Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra review: This tablet can truly replace your laptop
I initially considered placing the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra at this spot because its MediaTek Deimensity 9300 Plus processor has a higher output than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. But that changed when I learned that game emulators run better on the Snapdragon chips.
Without getting too deep in the weeds, Qualcomm’s hardware supports third-party Turnip drivers that allow games to run better. The Dimensity 9300 Plus doesn’t support this software. This means that although video games may look better on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, they’re less stable. Titles don’t run as well, and that stability gives the Tab S9 Ultra the edge over the latest model.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra specs: Display: 14.6-in Dynamic AMOLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Storage: up to 1TB | Weight: 1.61 pounds | Dimensions: 12.85 x 8.21 x .22 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3| Battery: 11,299 mAh
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ASUS ROG Flow Z13
Best premium gaming tablet
Asus is a pioneer in the computing space, developing and releasing some of the best gaming laptops on the market. It’s no surprise that the company would try its hand at creating a gaming tablet, and it did just that with the ROG Flow Z13.
Sporting a retro-futurist design, the device houses a 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13900H, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, and 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, making it ideal for gaming. The CPU and GPU pairing allow players to enjoy immersive gameplay, while the 16GB RAM ensures speedy performance. Your favorite titles are shown through a 13-inch Quad HD touchscreen, supported by Nvidia Advanced Optimus and DLSS 3 to deliver high frame rates and low response times.
Also: The best gaming laptops of 2024: Get your game on
With so much going on under the hood, a tablet like this can run warm. To offset overheating, Asus gave this machine a robust cooling system. It has “Thermal Grizzly’s liquid metal” to move heat away from the processor, quiet fans to blow air inside, and a vapor chamber. That last feature distributes heat evenly, so there isn’t a single hot spot.
Outside of gaming, the ROG FLow Z13 is a very capable machine, flexible enough to handle various workloads. Asus points out that it can be used to create art, write code, or make music.
Asus ROG Flow Z13 specs: Display: 13.4-in Quad HD | Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i9-1300H | Storage: 1TB | Weight: 1.61 pounds | Dimensions: 11.89 x 8.11 x 0.56 inches | Connections: USB-C, USB-A, DisplayPort, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2| Battery: 56WHrs
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Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
Best budget gaming tablet
Shoppers on a budget should check out Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A9+. It is a lightweight tablet with an 11-inch screen running at a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels. This configuration gives the tablet a noticeably wide display, which is great for immersing yourself in a game (or movie).
Similar to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, it runs on Qualcomm hardware, but this time, it’s the Snapdragon 695. That chipset is often seen on mid-range smartphones and performs well most of the time. The Snapdragon 695 can deliver a fun gaming experience, plus most emulators will run fine on them.
However, it can struggle under challenging workloads. For example, if a mobile game has many special on-screen effects or a lot of enemies, you may experience a significant slowdown. For this reason, we recommend purchasing the model with the 128GB SSD because it comes with 8GB of RAM. That should help with any potential performance issues you may encounter.
Besides the Snapdragon 695 chipset, the Galaxy Tab A9+ sports a four-speaker system supported by Dolby Atmos, enabling impressive audio quality and a lightweight, durable design that can withstand the rigors of travel.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ specs: Display: 11-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixel) touchscreen | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 | Storage: up to 1TB | Weight: 1.05 pounds | Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.64 x 0.27 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1
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OnePlus Pad 2
Best mid-range gaming tablet
The OnePlus Pad 2 excels at being a versatile, mid-range Android tablet. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 12GB of RAM, it offers fast, responsive performance that ensures smooth gaming experiences and multitasking. OnePlus’ own HyperBoost Gaming Engine feature further optimizes the hardware. ZDNET contributor Max Buondonno reviewed the OnePlus Pad 2, and said he didn’t encounter a single piece of software that slowed it down. It’s “powerful enough for today and years to come,” he wrote.
The unit Max tested had a 2800 x 2000 resolution screen that supported 900 nits of brightness and a 144Hz refresh rate. He said the OnePlus Pad 2 produced accurate and “properly saturated” color arrays. However, there is a version out there that comes with a 3K screen for even greater visual fidelity. Audio performance is another strength, as the stereo speakers can produce loud, immersive sound with “plenty of rumbling bass.”
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Everything you see here runs on a 10,090mAh battery, which can last for about two to three days straight on a single charge. What’s more, the included 67W SuperVOOOC charger can recharge the OnePlus Pad 2 in about an hour and a half.
The tablet is a good blend of well-performing hardware, premium design, and long battery life, making it a standout among other tablets in its price range.
OnePlus Pad 2 specs: Display: 12.1-inch 3.K ReadFit DIsplay | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Storage: 256GB | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.6 x 0.25 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
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Apple’s 2024 iPad Pro is the best gaming tablet; mainly thanks to its M4 chipset, but also its OLED display and exclusive support for AAA games. Below is a list comparing the tablet’s specs to our other top picks.
| Best gaming tablet | Price | Processor | Display size |
| Apple M4 iPad Pro | $1,300 | Apple M4 | 13 inches |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra | $1,200 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 14.6 inches |
| Asus ROG Flow Z13 | $1,600 | 13th Gen Intel Core i9-1300H | 13.4 inches |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | $165 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 | 11 inches |
| OnePlus Pad 2 | $500 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 12.1 inches |
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Choosing the right gaming tablet can be challenging. With numerous specifications and features to consider, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when some devices appear similar on the surface.
The table below provides a brief overview of each recommended tablet, highlighting key features to help you identify the gaming tablet that best suits your needs.
| Choose this gaming laptop… | If you want… |
| Apple M4 iPad Pro | The best gaming tablet. Apple’s M4 chipset has been optimized to fully support AAA games, and its Tandem OLED screen offers an experience second to none. |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra | The best Android gaming tablet. The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra houses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, offering a stable environment where games and game emulators can thrive. |
| Asus ROG Flow Z13 | The most premium gaming tablet, Asus’ ROG Flow Z13, houses the most powerful hardware configuration on this list, capable of playing modern games in ultra-high resolution. |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | The cheapest gaming tablet. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A9+ offers a solid gaming experience and powerful speakers at an affordable price. |
| OnePlus Pad 2 | The best mid-range gaming tablet. The OnePlus Pad 2, is a great all-rounder device with a long-lasting battery and booming audio system. |
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When selecting the best gaming tablet, we took several key factors into consideration for our recommendations:
- Hardware: By far, the most important aspect to consider is what kind of hardware it’s running. Games demand a lot from the device it is on, and meeting said demands is crucial. But, having powerful hardware isn’t enough because certain chipsets support games better. The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is recommended over the Tab S10 Ultra because the former runs the more stable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
- Display: Displays are critical to the user experience, so I hunted down tablets with the best touchscreens in their price range. Many models on the list have a high resolution so that users can enjoy immersive gameplay. We also looked for screens with good refresh rates, as high speeds ensure smooth animations.
- RAM: Memory is crucial because it enables fast system responsiveness. Tablets with low RAM suffer from slow performance. I looked for devices with at least 6GB of RAM, which is sufficient for most games. Luckily, I managed to find enough models with 8GB of memory as their default amount.
- Operating systems: Operating systems play a huge role when shopping for a gaming tablet as they determine what can actually be played on a device. Windows tablets can play just about every game that’s out there. It has no restrictions. On the other hand, Android tablets are restricted to mobile games, but you can expand that usability with an emulator. The iPad Pro almost didn’t make the list since it previously only supported mobile titles, but the M4 chip allowed it to rocket to the top.
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ZDNET receives a lot of tablets to review, and honestly, many of them could’ve made the list. To separate the best from the rest, we follow the criteria mentioned in the previous question: which ones have the nicest displays, the best hardware, et cetera. At first, the tablet is tested casually.
We surf the internet, watch videos, download apps, and work on them to get a feel for them. From there, we run more labor-intensive apps and perform benchmark tests to see what the hardware is capable of. Once all the testing is complete, the best of the best are sorted and placed on the list.
For more, check out our full tablet testing methodology.
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Gaming tablets have all-around better specs than regular tablets. They have higher-quality displays, faster processors, more memory, and ample storage spaces, to name a few things. Video games demand more from a device than your average Play Store app.
You can certainly run games on a low-power tablet, but the experience will not be great as the performance will be much slower. It’s also possible that the game will crash upon launch if the device can’t handle its demands.
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Most tablets do not run on Windows or are based on an Intel x86 architecture. Because of this, you won’t be able to purchase a game off Steam and expect to play it on your tablet. It’s not going to work. However, if a game has been ported to an Android storefront or the Apple App Store, then you can download it and play it just fine. Asus’ ROG Flow Z13 is a special case because it runs on Windows 11 and supports games purchased from Steam.
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It depends on what you want. Laptops are generally more powerful than tablets since they have better processing power, more storage space, and better graphical capabilities. They’re well-suited for workloads that require a lot of processing power.
Tablets, on the other hand, prioritize portability and long battery lives. Plus, touchscreen interaction can make certain games more fun than a traditional mouse and keyboard setup or controller.
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Windows tablets go on sale multiple times throughout the year. Prices usually drop around major US holidays or designated sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, you can get major discounts during Amazon Prime Day which is when the retailer slashes the price tag for many products on its platform.
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We recommend the tablets list above, but the devices below are also worth a second look.
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ZDNET Recommends
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