Tablets are the ideal middle-ground between smartphones and laptops, especially when it comes to gaming.
But, finding the right gaming tablet can be a hassle considering the wide range of options available on the market. To help you make the right decision, we’ve created a comprehensive list of the best gaming tablets out there based on:
Written by, Mihajlo Trajcheski
Updated July, 21, 2023
When it comes to gaming tablets, Apple’s latest addition to the iPad Pro generation is hard to beat.
Both the 11-inch and the 12.9-inch versions have a powerful Apple M1 processor (the same chip that Most MacBooks use) that can handle demanding games, which ensures less lag and faster title loading.
The iPad Pro 12.9 also has superb battery life that charges fast via a USB-C connector and lasts up to 10 hours, as well as a variety of storage options to choose from (of up to 2TB) to allow for a more expansive game collection.
What’s more, Apple boasts a responsive trackpad and an excellent Liquid Retina display with ProMotion technology and True Tone, as well as high-quality quad speakers, top-tier WiFi 6, and built-in 5G.
The tablet is a great pick for gamers who prefer first-person shooter and multiplayer online games thanks to a wide range of features that allow for a smooth and immersive gaming experience.
If you’re looking for a device that combines the portability of a tablet and the speed of a standard laptop, you might want to give the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 a try.
The tablet is a good choice for all Windows fans who prefer gaming on a tablet that’s supported by its quick and reliable Intel processors.
Users can choose between three different processor types, (the i5 and i7 versions come with an Intel Iris Plus Graphics card) and four SSD storage options of up to 1TB that guarantee smoother gaming sessions, making it one of the most versatile devices in the Microsoft gaming tablets lineup.
The tablet has a battery life of up to 10 hours, has a built-in Kickstand, and supports gaming accessories like keyboard and mouse attachments for a more traditional gaming experience.
The Surface Pro X is Microsoft’s response to Apple’s iPad Pro version. This tablet/laptop hybrid is light and thin, has a slick and refined design, and provides a comfortable gaming experience.
The Surface Pro X is undeniably a good tablet for gaming and was designed with performance in mind. What sets it apart from other Microsoft devices is that it features the SQ1, Microsoft’s first-ever original processor, which the company co-developed with Qualcomm.
The tablet comes with 8GB or 16GB of RAM, which is just enough for slightly more demanding games and has a clip-on keyboard attached and a responsive touchpad.
The Surface Pro battery is one of its best features and lasts for around 13 hours of mixed usage.
Finally, the Surface Pro X also has an integrated nano-SIM slot, making it a great option for travelling gamers who want to stay connected while on the road.
The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is another laptop/tablet hybrid that’s easily one of the best mid-range tablets on the market for the price.
The tablet is a strong challenger to some of Samsung’s pricier gaming tablets. It offers a 2K OLED screen, a large battery that lasts up to 10 hours, and four stereo-effect speakers that undercut the high-end competition.
The screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio that nicely displays widescreen content (and most games) and stretches across 11.5 inches, which is excellent for a gaming tablet. It’s perfect for those who want to entertain themselves by playing games.
The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro specs have enough oomph, though it might experience some lag with more demanding games, mostly due to the high-resolution display. Still, the Snapdragon 730G chipset and 6GB of RAM are enough to keep several games in memory and without any issues.
The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is an impressive low-cost machine and one of the best, one-the-go gaming tablets on the market for gamers looking for a productive and affordable device.
The tablet boasts a premium-looking design with less bezel and more screen than its precursor. It also hosts a computer-like dual-core Intel processor and up to 8GB of RAM for those who prefer lighter games and good Surface Go battery life, that’s on par with the iPad Air.
One of the Microsoft Surface Go 2’s best features is its ability to turn into a small, full-fledged laptop with the help of an optional keyboard, which is great for both gaming and work.
If the built-in storage seems too limited, you can always add an SD card of up to 1TB and upgrade the model to include a 128GB SSD which offers a significant boost in overall performance.
Amazon Fire 8’s Kids Edition ticks all the boxes for a low-cost tablet for kids to play on.
It has a faster processor than the previous version, longer battery life, and more memory. Amazon also responded to users’ feedback by adding a USB-C charging option.
The company kept the 32GB storage, which is more than enough for a gaming tablet for a kid, considering the 1.5GB of RAM under the hood.
The Fire 8 kid’s edition boasts some great kid-friendly features. It has a sturdy rubber case to protect it from bumps and cracks, a 2-year warranty, and comes with an Amazon Kids subscription.
What’s more, it’s among the cheapest tablets for gaming that can handle a fair share of games, with a battery life of up to 12 hours.
The only downside is that your kid will only get access to games available in the Amazon app store.
With so many options available on the market, finding the right table can be a challenge.
If you’re not quite sure where to start, here’s what to look for in a gaming tablet.
The CPU and RAM memory (and a solid motherboard to support these two PC components) are crucial if you’re looking for a tablet to play games. A subpar CPU or RAM can cause lag when gaming and an overall sluggish experience.
Any tablet with a RAM of 8GB is a good gaming tablet.
iOS users generally have a smaller library of games to choose from. Android-based tablets, however, are more versatile and customisable.
Games are graphics-intensive apps that require a lot of processing power. That’s why any good tablet for gaming should have a high-end GPU.
Tablet screens usually come with an IPS, which has a good colour accuracy, or an AMOLED panel, which is more power-efficient. For a more immersive gaming experience, you might want to consider the display’s size and resolution. The ideal gaming tablet has a display that’s larger than 8 inches and a resolution of 1080p or higher.
Having a large in-device memory to store all your data usually costs extra, but it’s well worth it for users that play more than a couple of games.
Most tablet manufacturers promise a battery life of up to 12 hours, but some games can drain the battery on the device more quickly than regular browsing.
Premium tablets with all the bells and whistles come with a heftier price tag. To get all the extras, you’d often have to invest even more. If you’re on a budget, there are great low-cost tablets that have great features and are an excellent choice for gaming.
Even though tablets are the least used device for gaming, today’s tablets offer users an option to take gaming wherever they go without having to sacrifice speed and resolution. Fortunately, there are many top-notch gaming tables available on the market for both serious gamers and those who prefer a lighter gaming experience.
A gaming tablet has anywhere between 3GB and 8GB RAM memory.
Yes, both tablets and phones can heat up during extended gaming sessions. Since games require a lot of processing power, prompting the tablet to generate more power and, with it, heat.
Even the best gaming tablets need optimization for smooth gaming sessions. To fix lag and jitter, you can clear the cache memory, remove background apps, and conduct regular hardware and software maintenance.