What Is the Best Tablet for Gaming?

Best for Hardcore Gamers

ASUS ROG Flow Z13

$1,700 at Amazon $1,737 at Walmart $1,000 at Best Buy

• Screen size (inches): 13.4
• Screen resolution: 2560x1600
• Screen refresh rate: 120 Hz
• Processor: Intel Core i9-13900H
• GPU: Up to Nvidia RTX 4060 Laptop
• Battery: 56 Whrs
• Storage: Up to 1TB
• Size (inches): Up to 11.89 x 8.11 x 0.56
• Weight (pounds): 2.60
• Game controller support: Yes
  

If you want a no-compromises gaming tablet, Asus' ROG Flow Z13 tablet should be on your radar. This is a gaming laptop shaped like a tablet with a detachable keyboard.

You're getting a desktop-class Core i9 chip, an optional RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, and up to 16GB of RAM, which is more than enough to run the latest and greatest AAA games. Plus, running Windows means you have access to storefronts like Steam.

Add a 120 Hz display for buttery-smooth gameplay and all the versatility and functionality of a laptop, and you have a genuinely excellent tablet for gaming. This is a seriously powerful gaming machine. If you can afford it, it's nearly $2,000, and you don't mind some bulk.

Best for Apple Gamers

Apple iPad Pro 13-Inch (M4)

$1,749 at Amazon View on Apple

• Screen size (inches): 11 or 13
• Screen resolution: 2420x1668 or 2752x2064
• Screen refresh rate: 120 Hz
• Processor: Up to 10-core M4 CPU
• GPU: Up to 10-core M4 GPU
• Battery: Up to 38.99 Whrs
• Storage: Up to 2TB
• Size (inches): Up to 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20
• Weight (pounds): Up to 1.28
• Game controller support: Yes

The M4 iPad Pro is the most powerful iPad ever and an absolutely monstrous gaming machine. Apple's M4 chip is seriously impressive when it comes to both CPU and GPU performance, and iPad Pro won't struggle to pump out high frame rates in just about any game.

You also get a top-notch OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate that blends responsiveness with excellent image quality. Plus, Apple's M4 chip is power-efficient. Apple estimates you'll get up to 10 hours of average usage before you'll need to charge.

You are limited to what games arrive on the App Store, so you won't get to enjoy the enormous backlog of something like Steam. It is an expensive tablet–especially the larger 13-inch version–but the App Store has tons of games to choose from, and the iPad Pro starts at $999, which is cheaper than other options.

Best for Android Gamers

Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra

$1,170 at Samsung $1,170 at Best Buy

• Screen size (inches): 14.6
• Screen resolution: 2960x1848
• Screen refresh rate: 120 Hz
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• GPU: Adreno 740
• Battery: 11,200mAh
• Storage: Up to 1TB
• Size (inches): 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22
• Weight (pounds): 1.61
• Game controller support: Yes

If you're looking for a powerful, premium Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is tough to beat. Its Snapdragon chip and Adreno GPU are enough to crunch through any game you throw at it, even if they're slower than the M4 processor in the iPad Pro.

Like the iPad Pro, the S9 Ultra has a gorgeous, responsive display. Its 14.6-inch size makes it the biggest on this list, which is excellent for gamers who might feel restricted on smaller screens. Google's Play Store has countless games and emulators to try out.

The top S9 Ultra costs a princely $1,620, but it begins at $1,200 or even less on sale. You will miss out on console/PC games you could play on a Windows tablet, but if you want an Android version of iPad Pro, the S9 Ultra is more than worth considering.

Best Value

Apple iPad Air (6th Generation)

$559 at Amazon $599 at Apple

• Screen size (inches): 11 or 13
• Screen resolution: 2360x1640 or 2732x2048
• Screen refresh rate: 60 Hz
• Processor: 8-core M2 CPU
• GPU: 9-core M2 GPU
• Battery: Up to 36.59 Whrs
• Storage: Up to 1 TB
• Size (inches): Up to 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.24
• Weight (pounds): Up to 1.36
• Game controller support: Yes

If you want a capable tablet but want to spend less than $1,000 for the pleasure, the iPad Air starts at just $599. Its M2 chip might not be as powerful as the M4 inside the much more expensive iPad Pro, but it's still more capable of 60 FPS gaming.

Smart cuts make this tablet an excellent value. It has no OLED display but a bright, colorful IPS panel. It also does not have a pricey M4 chip, but a capable M2 chip perfectly matches its 60 Hz display, which can still provide an average of 10 hours of battery life on a single charge.

The iPad Air may not be the most powerful tablet, but it's much more affordable than a flagship model, especially a Windows tablet like the Flow Z13. It still offers a great gaming experience on the thousands of games on the App Store.

Best for Casual Gamers

Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet

View on Amazon $75 at Best Buy $75 at Staples

• Screen size (inches): 10.1
• Screen resolution: 1920x1200
• Screen refresh rate: 60 Hz
• Processor: 8-core MediaTek
• GPU: ARM G52MC22EE
• Battery: Unlisted capacity
• Storage: Up to 64GB
• Size (inches): 9.69 by 6.49 by 0.34
• Weight (pounds): 0.95
• Game controller support: Yes

If you're a casual gamer looking for a full-sized tablet, Amazon's Fire HD 10 sports a respectable 10.1-inch display and comes in at just $140 (or even less on sale). It's the easiest, most affordable way to game on a tablet, and you can even sideload apps off the Google Play Store for a broader range of games to play.

The MediaTek chipset inside the Fire HD 10 isn't particularly special, but it can run most games and emulators without issue, if not at the highest framerates and resolutions. But it has enough power for casual gamers or kids to entertain you.

With an estimated average battery life of around 13 hours, a bright, colorful IPS display, and enough power to handle a variety of games, this tablet, which routinely sells for less than $100 on sale, is the perfect buy for those looking to try out tablet gaming.