Apple may have its lauded iPad, but on the Android side of the tablet divide, Samsung is the brand known for high quality designs and excellent stylus options. So, what is the best Samsung tablet on the market?
After countless hours of research, we couldn’t pick just one, as different models may be more suited to you based on your usage and budget.
Recommendations for June 2023
- Galaxy Tab S4 – For Typing
- Samsung Galaxy Book – Large Display
- Galaxy Tab S3 – Ideal for S Pen
- Galaxy Tab A Kids – Childproof
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A – Easy Multitasking
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 – Best Gaming
- Samsung Galaxy View – For Movie Watching
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 – Small And Portable
- Samsung Galaxy Tab Active PRO – Water Resistant
- Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7 – Best Budget
Reviews of the best Samsung tablets In 2023
Galaxy Tab S4 – For Typing
Want a tablet that can pretty much do anything? The Tab S4 should be your top pick for any usage.
Whether you want to stream crystal clear HD video, play the latest games, use apps for business, or jot down notes and scribble designs, the S4 can do it all.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the keyboard book cover essentially converts this unit into a full laptop. The included S Pen is an incredibly handy extra feature as well, for home or office use.
The high asking price may be a barrier, but trust us when we say the performance is worth the cost!Note that if you go the gaming route with this device, you can also get an exclusive free Galaxy skin for your Fortnite character!
Recommended Configuration For Galaxy Tab S4
CPU:Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon Octa-Core CPU | Graphics: Adreno 540| RAM: 4 GB| Screen: 10.5″ Super AMOLED display, 2560 x 1600 pixels resolution | Storage: 64 GB | Operating System: Android 8.0 Oreo | Battery Life: 14 hours| Weight: 1.06 lbs
Samsung Galaxy Book – Large Display
Tablets are extremely handy for their portability, but sometimes you want the full suite of features available from a bigger OS like Windows 10.
With the Galaxy Book, you get both options at the same time.
While still undoubtedly and the size and weight of a tablet, the Galaxy Book features the full Windows 10 operating system.
You don’t lose out on any of the tablet features though, with the touch screen and S Pen still included.
When portability is your most important factor, and you want the ability to use or detach the keyboard at will, the Galaxy Book should be your top pick.
Recommended Configuration For Samsung Galaxy Book
CPU: 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5| Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515| RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 12-Inch 2160×1440 pixels display| Storage: 128GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10| Battery Life: up to 11 hours | Weight: 1.42 lbs
Galaxy Tab S3 – Ideal for S Pen
While both of our previous two contenders are also excellent options and included a stylus, the S3 is significantly more affordable than either of those models.
If you mostly draw on your tablet rather than using word processing apps, this should be your top choice.
The S Pen’s functionality on this model essentially feels like drawing directly on paper. You won’t run out of options with multiple pen and brush tips to change at the push of a button.
There’s another important feature that may make this your top choice as well — the quad speaker setup.
That’s a nice touch for users who like to listen to Spotify or Bandcamp tunes while drawing and don’t want to use headphones.
Recommended Configuration For Galaxy Tab S3
CPU: Quad Core (2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz) Qualcomm APQ8096| Graphics: Adreno 520| RAM: 4 GB | Screen: 9.7” Super AMOLED touch screen display, 2048 x 1536 pixels resolution | Storage: 32 GB | Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat | Battery Life: 12 hours | Weight: 0.95 lbs
Galaxy Tab A Kids – Childproof
Built to withstand drops and spills from clumsy fingers, the kids version of the Tab A Kids includes a bumper case right out of the box.
With pre-installed kids games and educational apps, this is a great option if you want your little one to jump into the world of mobile computing.
Note however that this unit is aimed squarely at toddlers up to around 5 year olds.
If you’ve got more tech savvy kids who aren’t going to be happy with the lack of storage space or low RAM, there are better options.
In particular, the 7” version of the Tab A is one of the best price Samsung tablets with better specs and a higher resolution screen.
Since it isn’t hard to find a rubber case for that upgraded model, it is often a better choice for older kids.
Recommended Configuration For Galaxy Tab A Kids
CPU: Qualcomm SDM 429 | Graphics😐 RAM: 2 GB | Screen: 8” 1280 x 800 (WXGA) | Storage: 32 GB | Operating System: Android P | Battery Life: 13 hours | Weight: 1.32 lbs
Samsung Galaxy Tab A – Easy Multitasking
The extremely high end Samsung devices like the S3 and S4, and the S6 of course will make for great gaming devices, but they certainly aren’t the only options.
If you want a lightweight 10 inch tablet with a great screen and enough power to run the latest apps, look no further than the latest version of the Tab A.
You get a stylus for extra projects and enough RAM and CPU speed to easily play any games on the Google Play store.
32GB is enough storage space to save several games, although be sure to factor in the cost of an SD card if you want more room for extra downloads.
While it is frequently out of stock, a 10.5 inch version of this tablet with the newer Oreo 8.0 OS is also available through Amazon.
With that being said, this tablet is also powerful enough for multitasking with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor.
Recommended configuration for Samsung Galaxy Tab A
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 425| Graphics:Integrated graphics| RAM: 2GB RAM | Screen: 8-Inch 1280×800 display| Storage: 32GB| Operating System: Windows 10| Battery Life: up to 13 hours | Weight: 0.76 lbs
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 – Best Gaming
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is definitely one of the most powerful and reliable tablets on this list. Being the latest in line in the Samsung S series of tablets, it has some amazing specs as well as an array of features that makes your life more convenient.
Despite the high specs, this tabler is relatively easy to carry weighing around only at 1.68 lbs. This is heavier than most tablets but it’s still easy to carry. And to top it off, the tablet has over 15 hours of battery life which is insane for a tablet with very high specs.
As for the specs itself the tablet features a Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor which allows it to run heavy programs with ease as well as run even the most unoptimized games easily. It also has a Adreno 640 GPU which helps in rendering game files allowing you to set those settings up to max.
Lets not forget its 8 GB of RAM which puts it on par with most laptops when it comes to multitasking as well as running games with high RAM requirements.
Lastly, lets not forget its super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen that has over 16 M colors available. It also has a very high resolution of 1600 x 2560 which is a 2K display.
Recommended Configuration For Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
CPU: Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 Octa-core | Graphics: Adreno 640| RAM: 8 GB RAM| Screen: Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors 10.5 inches, 1600 x 2560 pixels | Storage: 256 GB| Operating System: Android 9.0 (Pie | Battery Life: 15 hours| Weight: 1.68 lbs
Samsung Galaxy View – For Movie Watching
The Samsung Galaxy View is the biggest tablet on this list as it has a display as large as 17 inches! As the name implies, the Galaxy view was meant for viewing and it has more than size to prove this.
Its 17 inch display has a resolution of 1920 x1080 pixels which is a FHD display which ensures that you’ll be seeing movies and TV shows in high quality resolution. This is especially wonderful if you watch the media and enjoy the cinematography.
The table also has 4G LTE capability allowing you to stream easily and without having to worry about the videos buffering beforehand. We also would like to mention that this tablet is relatively light as well, weighing only about 0.68 lbs.
Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy View is ideal for travel or for long viewing sessions since it was designed to have a battery life of over 8 hours. It will certainly keep you company over those long boring flights.
Recommended Configuration For Samsung Galaxy View
CPU: Octa-Core 1.6GHz| Graphics: Samsung Exynos 7| RAM: 3GB RAM | Screen: 17.3-inch 1920 x1080 pixels FHD IPS display| Storage: 64GB Flash Memory| Operating System: Android| Battery Life: up to 8 hours | Weight: 0.68 lbs
Samsung Galaxy Tab Active PRO – Water Resistant
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active PRO is the most durable tablet on this list. It has been tested for drops and it will survive minor impacts because of this. Additionally, the tablet was designed for harsh weather conditions as well since it will survive in dusty areas, cold climates, and even high altitudes. Simply put, the tabler is dust-restand, shockproof, and weatherproof.
Being weatherproof, the tablet is highly water resisted and it has a certified IP68 rating. This means that the tablet is guaranteed to survive being dropped in water that’s 1.5 m deep, and it can last up to an hour even while submerged.
This makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active PRO really convenient for trekking in rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water where it might get wet.
Lastly, the user’s convenience was put in mind since it comes with biometric authentication like fingerprint and facial recognition that saves the user time in opening the tablet as well as using it in harsh weather conditions where using gloves might not be viable to open the tablet.
Hardware specifications for Samsung Galaxy Tab Active PRO
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6×1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver)| Graphics: Adreno 616| RAM: 4 GB RAM | Screen: 10.1 inch, 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution LCD | Storage: 64 GB | Operating System: Android 9 Pie with One UI | Battery Life: 15 hours| Weight: 2.86 lbs
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 – Small And Portable
You;ll love the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 with its AMOLED display and crisp colors. This makes the tabler wonderful for gaming despite only being 8 inches in size. It also has powerful specs allowing you to play most games with its Quad 1.8 GHz octa-core processor, 3 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of storage.
Being relatively small, this tablet is very portable since it weight only about 0.58 lbs, and pair this with 10 hours of battery life and you’ll have a nice tablet to bring around with you when you travel.
Recommended Configuration For Samsung Galaxy Tab S2
CPU: Quad 1.8GHz Octa Core| Graphics: Integrated graphics| RAM: 3GB RAM | Screen: 8-Inch 1280×800 HD AMOLED display| Storage: 32GB| Operating System: Android| Battery Life: up to 10 hours | Weight: 0.58 lbs
Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7 – Best Budget
The Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7 is a cheap and reliable tablet and is a viable pick if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a gadget. It has decent specs with a 1.3 GHz processor made specifically for tablets, and 1 GB of DDR3 ram.
It’s not the best specs out there but they are usable allowing you to do basic tasks like watching videos, browsing the net, and even play some lower-end video games.
What we like about it is that it has a 8 GB storage making this the ideal table to store important files and videos. This is really useful if you’re making vlogs and you’re in a place where the internet is scarce.
Recommended Configuration For Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7
CPU: ARM Cortex-A7 processor with 4 cores | Graphics: Vivante GC1000| RAM: 1 GB RAM | Screen: 7.0” HD display | Storage: 8 GB | Operating System: Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7 | Battery Life: 5 hours | Weight: 0.68 lbs
Picking The Best Samsung Tablets In 2023
Viewing Quality
Since the screen is the one single component you will most often interact with, you should make sure the resolution and touch sensitivity are as high as possible.
Screen quality can fluctuate significantly between models, especially as you go up and down on the pricing scale.
In the vast majority of cases, we recommend going with a minimum of 1920 x 1080 resolution for streaming HD video or playing new Android games.
If you don’t mind spending more money and want a premium viewing experience, be on the lookout for Samsung’s AMOLED screens that have double the resolution of lower end models.
Overall Performance
Aside from screen quality, the top reason tablets receive negative reviews is easily the speed when booting up or loading apps, so don’t skimp on processor power or RAM when buying!
With Samsung models, you usually have very similar CPU types between models, but there are generally two tiers of RAM.
We recommend going with a 4GB of RAM if you can afford it to future proof your purchase, but most of Samsung’s 3GB models will still smoothly run the vast majority of apps on the Google Play store.
The only reason to ever go below 3GB of RAM with a Samsung device is to save a bundle by picking a unit aimed at children’s apps instead of normal adult usage.
Portability & Comfort
Since you will frequently directly hold your tablet in your hands, you should put a heavy focus on finding a device with a low weight and comfortable design.
Most of our picks below stick to around 1 pound or less in weight, as that’s the most comfortable range for 9 – 10 inch tablets.
Weight isn’t your only consideration when looking for portability and comfort, however.
There are several other features beyond just weight and grip style to keep in mind, like Bluetooth connectivity, extra ports, and even overall sound quality.
If you don’t want to have to buy an extra set of headphones, we recommend picking a unit with a quad speaker setup for better sound when away from your main computer.
Storage Capacity
Tablets will usually have much less physical storage capacity than a laptop, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find options with more room to store your files and apps!
With the exception of tablets aimed at younger kids, we recommend a minimum of 32GB of internal storage space.
Anything less than that threshold won’t have enough space to store screenshots and let you install the apps you want to run.
Of course, any of these models listed below can expand their memory with SD cards or online storage solutions.
Don’t forget to check the Samsung apps that come pre-loaded with your device, as you can frequently get large amounts of storage space for free through DropBox with a proof of purchase.
Additional Components
Considering the amount of money you will be spending on a Samsung tablet, you should expect to get a few extra features included with your purchase.
One of the top reasons that buyers recommend Samsung tablets over other competitors is due to the versatility and quality of the S Pen stylus.
We highly recommend picking a model that includes that stylus out of the box so you don’t need to spend any extra cash after making your tablet choice.
There are a few other extras to look out for as well, such as an included keyboard cover or rubber bumper case for extra durability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Samsung tablet better than an iPad?
No not really. The same can be said for iPads as well.
Samsung tablets and iPads have their own specialties that come with their own set of strengths and weaknesses as well.
iPads usually come at a premium and they run on iOS which is a sophisticated operating system that doesn’t get viruses and has no bloatware.
Samsung tablets on the other hand have more varieties than iPads giving the customer a wider range of products to choose from. Samsung has durable tablets, tablets for gaming, and even budget tablets on the market.
In the end, it’s up to you to choose what you want. The versatile Samsung or the sophisticated iPad?
What is the best time to buy a tablet?
The best time to buy a tablet is when you need a portable gadget to carry around that’s not a smartphone. You’ll usually use tablets for business meetings, taking down notes on lectures, and even when travelling the world.
The best time to buy a tablet is now because tablets are useful gadgets that can be used at anytime and at anywhere.
Resources
- Joshua Goldman, Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 review: A premium tablet great for entertainment, CNET
- Matt Swider, Galaxy Tab S3 Review, Tech Radar
- Cherlynn Low, Samsung Galaxy Book Review, Engadget
- Hayoto Huseman, Should You Buy The Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite for Kids?, Android Central
- Roydon Cerejo, Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 Review, Gadgets 360