The Edit — Tech
Tablets for 2026: iPad, Galaxy Tab and Fire
6 tablets for adults: Apple's 11-inch iPad, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab A11+, Amazon's new Alexa Tablet 11 and Fire HD 10, and Lenovo's Idea Tab, sorted by what each does best.
This guide is research-led: we have not handled these units ourselves. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission — it never changes a pick.Research-led, nothing handled. We may earn from links; it never changes a pick. How we choose
This page sorts 6 tablets by the job each does best, from the makers’ published specifications, as How we choose describes. Nothing here was handled or tested.
Best for Most people
Watch for No card slot
Best for Drawing and notes
Watch for Costs the most
Best for Budget Android with a card slot
Watch for No pen support
Best for Alexa homes wanting Google Play
Watch for New, little track record
Best for Streaming and reading
Watch for Google Play not listed
Best for Storage for a student
Watch for No pen in the box
The 11-inch iPad is the tablet most people should buy
Apple’s base iPad does everything most owners ask of a tablet. The iPad 11-inch runs the A16 chip, has an 11-inch 2360 × 1640 screen, Touch ID and 12MP cameras front and back, and Apple rates it at up to 10 hours of web or video. It starts at 128GB, and it works with the USB-C Apple Pencil.
Apple iPad 11-inch (A16), 128GB, Wi-Fi
Apple's standard iPad: an 11-inch screen, the A16 chip, 128GB to start and up to 10 hours of battery.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Screen | 11 inches, 2360 × 1640 |
|---|---|
| Battery | Up to 10 hours, per Apple |
| Pencil | USB-C, or 1st generation with adapter |
The default tablet, for most people.
Buy it if
- Anyone who wants Apple's App Store and 10 hours of battery
Don't buy it if
- No memory card slot, so storage is fixed at purchase
The Galaxy Tab S11 puts an S Pen in the box
Most tablets sell their stylus separately, and Samsung’s flagship includes one. The Galaxy Tab S11 has an 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen, an S Pen in the box, IP68 water and dust resistance and an 8,400mAh battery, and weighs 1.03 pounds. It suits a student taking handwritten notes or an artist sketching.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11, 512GB, Wi-Fi
Samsung's flagship 11-inch tablet with an AMOLED screen, an S Pen in the box and IP68 water resistance.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Screen | 11 inches, Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
|---|---|
| Pen | S Pen included |
| Rating | IP68 |
The flagship Android tablet, for drawing and notes.
Buy it if
- A student or artist who would otherwise buy a stylus separately
Don't buy it if
- A buyer who only streams and reads
The Galaxy Tab A11+ takes a 2TB memory card
Storage is cheap on Samsung’s budget tablet. The Galaxy Tab A11+ has an 11-inch screen, 128GB built in and a microSD slot that takes cards up to 2TB, with a 7,040mAh battery. It does not work with the S Pen. It suits a traveller who downloads films and books before a flight.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+, 6GB RAM, 128GB
An 11-inch Android tablet with 128GB, a microSD slot up to 2TB and a 7,040mAh battery.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Screen | 11 inches, LCD |
|---|---|
| Storage | 128GB, plus microSD up to 2TB |
Budget Android with room for a memory card.
Buy it if
- Downloading films and books for travel onto a cheap memory card
Don't buy it if
- Drawing: it takes no S Pen
Amazon’s Alexa Tablet 11 adds Google Play
Amazon’s new tablets break with the Fire line on apps. The Alexa Tablet 11 has an 11-inch 2.5K screen, 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage, and its listing names Google Play and Alexa+. It is a new listing with little owner history yet, so it suits an Alexa household that wants Android’s full app store more than a proven record.
Amazon Alexa Tablet 11, 8GB RAM, 128GB
Amazon's new 11-inch tablet with a 2.5K screen, Google Play and Alexa+ built in.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Screen | 11 inches, 2.5K |
|---|---|
| Apps | Google Play |
Amazon’s new 11-inch, for Alexa homes that want Google Play.
Buy it if
- An Alexa household that wants Google Play apps on an Amazon tablet
Don't buy it if
- A buyer who wants a long track record; it is a new listing
The Fire HD 10 is the cheapest good screen for streaming and reading
A tablet used for Netflix, Kindle books and video calls needs little more than a good screen. The Fire HD 10 has a 10.1-inch Full HD display, an octa-core processor, 4GB of memory and 32GB of storage. Unlike Amazon’s new Alexa tablets, its listing does not name Google Play, so check that the apps you need are in Amazon’s Appstore first. For a closer look against the iPad, see Fire HD 10 or iPad.
Amazon Fire HD 10, 32GB
A 10.1-inch Full HD tablet with an octa-core processor and 4GB of memory, for video and reading.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Screen | 10.1 inches, Full HD |
|---|---|
| Storage | 32GB |
The budget screen, for streaming and reading.
Buy it if
- Streaming, reading and video calls on a small budget
Don't buy it if
- Apps outside Amazon's own store
Lenovo’s Idea Tab gives 256GB for a student budget
Storage is where Lenovo’s tablet stands out. The Idea Tab has an 11-inch 2.5K screen at 90Hz, a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage, and its listing sells it as a college tablet. It suits a student who keeps lecture files and apps on the device.
Lenovo Idea Tab, 11-inch 2.5K, 8GB, 256GB
An 11-inch 2.5K, 90Hz Android tablet with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage, sold as a college tablet.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Screen | 11 inches, 2.5K, 90Hz |
|---|---|
| Memory | 8GB RAM, 256GB |
The most storage for the money, for a student.
Buy it if
- A student who needs room for files and apps
Don't buy it if
- A buyer who wants a pen in the box
| Tablet | Screen | Storage | Pen | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad 11-inch (A16) | 11 in | 128GB | USB-C Pencil, sold separately | App Store |
| Galaxy Tab S11 | 11 in AMOLED | 512GB | S Pen included | Google Play |
| Galaxy Tab A11+ | 11 in | 128GB + microSD | Not supported | Google Play |
| Alexa Tablet 11 | 11 in, 2.5K | 128GB | Not stated | Google Play |
| Fire HD 10 | 10.1 in | 32GB | Not stated | Amazon Appstore; Google Play not listed |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | 11 in, 2.5K | 256GB | Not stated | Google Play |
What lost: iPad Pro, renewed iPads and no-name tablets
The iPad Pro and iPad Air were left out as laptop replacements, priced beyond what most tablet buyers spend. Renewed iPads were left out as older generations sold second-hand. Unbranded Android tablets bundled with keyboards and mice were left out because no maker publishes a specification for them to be read against. For a child’s first tablet, see kids’ tablets.
Prices, savings and deal badges are Amazon's own, read from Amazon within the last hour. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Best for most people
Apple iPad 11-inch (A16), 128GB, Wi-Fi