Best Android gaming tablets 2023

Elden Ring via Steam Link on Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
(Image credit: Android Central / Andrew Myrick)

Gaming on the go can be much better when you have an upgraded screen to play on. For this reason, many players turn to tablets when it comes to playing some of the best mobile games on the market instead of phones. However, with the tablet world filled to the brim with so many choices, it can be kind of tough to choose just what might be the best one for your gaming needs. 

Regarding Android-based tablets, a handful of contenders made the cut for some of our favorite choices, but only a handful are suited for gaming. To help, we've compiled a list of some of the best Android gaming tablets you can find. If you're looking for a place to start, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+.

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(Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7

High-quality Android tablet experience

Reasons to buy

+
Very light
+
Gorgeous display for gaming

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as powerful as other tablets
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Screen could be a bit bigger

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 can keep up with the more premium Galaxy tablets without the extremely high price usually associated with them. Sporting a 10.4-inch IPS LCD screen, you'll get some great visuals on this no matter which of the best Android games you play. Because the tablet has a battery that can last up to 10 hours, you'll be able to go on long gaming sprees without having to worry about things being cut short. Playing on this will help you understand just why mobile gaming is on the rise.

The A7 weighs just over one pound and has no problem fitting into a sleeve or backpack for easy carry. The 1.8 GHz Samsung Exynos 9611 Octa-Core Chipset built into the device also means you'll get some decent power from it, especially with 3GB of built-in RAM. You can also upgrade the A7 to hold up to 1TB of data, so running out of space will never be a worry.

As far as pricing goes, the A7 is a highly affordable option as far as Samsung tablets go. You won't have to worry about upgrading too often, either, as Samsung has packed the A7 with some of the best and most up-to-date specs a tablet consumer can hope for.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus

(Image credit: Android Central)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+

Best premium option

Reasons to buy

+
Best tablet screen on the market
+
Great battery life
+
Keyboard attachment option
+
5G option for true future-proofing

Reasons to avoid

-
Premium pricing

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is one of the company's last-generation flagship devices, but the Galaxy Tab S7+ is an upgraded version. It sports a premium price but includes some of the best specs you can find in a tablet. The S7 Plus sports a 12.4-inch Super AMOLED screen that can offer up to a 120Hz refresh rate. Based on our time testing this tablet, that means that you'll be playing games with some of the best-looking graphics around.

The S7 also features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset, so it has a ton of power in it to run much more than games. Best of all, the S7 Plus isn't too beefy, coming in at just over one pound and having a much narrower design than most other modern tablets.

It's important to note, though, that this tablet is a premium option. It may be the one of the best available, but it's really best suited to become a laptop replacement. If you're looking to game on it strictly, it may be best to look elsewhere, but if you're in the market for a new tablet and want something that will give you the best gaming experience, this is it.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

(Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

A great mid-range Android gaming tablet

Reasons to buy

+
Included S Pen inking stylus
+
Beefy battery life
+
Great, color-rich screen

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey entry point for gaming
-
Chipset isn't as advanced as newer models

If you want a solid premium experience but don't want to play current-gen prices, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is worth looking into. It might be a couple generations old by now, but it has great specs, with a super color-rich 10.4-inch screen that's perfect for gaming. Much like the A7, the S6 Lite sports an Exynos 9611 Octa-Core Chipset, but comes packed with 4GB of RAM, so you'll be able to most mobile games.

Alongside an impressive battery life and some other incredible features, the S6 Lite could be something for those looking to do a little more than gaming. However, the price point may be a bit of a barrier for some, although you can get it for way less than a lot of other tablets on this list.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+

High-end gaming at a price

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic 120hz AMOLED screen
+
Good battery life
+
Solid balance between Tab S8 and Tab S8 Ultra

Reasons to avoid

-
More expensive than other options
-
Case and charger are not included

If you absolutely need the latest tech no matter what, then you'll want to consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+. This tablet packs advanced specs like a 120hz AMOLED screen into a familiar Samsung form factor. The battery life is good, so you won't be quickly cut off after you start playing your favorite games. Meanwhile, 8GB of RAM ensures it can handle any game available right now at the highest settings.

In our testing, we found that it's the best balance of the three S8-model tablets, featuring everything that most users will want. With that in mind, there's no getting around the price tag. It's expensive, and on top of that, it doesn't come with a case or charger. 

Huawei Mediapad T5 10.

(Image credit: Huawei )

Huawei MediaPad T5 10.1

Budget-friendly Android tablet for gaming

Reasons to buy

+
Affordable and still powerful
+
Solid screen for a budget tablet
+
Adequate performance for media apps

Reasons to avoid

-
Less powerful than other, more premium tablets
-
2GB of RAM is low for gaming

Finding a budget tablet, especially for gaming purposes, can be a bit tricky. Not only do you want something that still packs a ton of power and sports a good screen, but you want something that isn't going to give you an awful, laggy experience. The Huawei MediaPad T5 10.1-inch tablet has some of the best internal parts you'll find in a cheaper tablet and will give you something to game on.

The MediaPad T5 features a 659 Octa-Core processor, meaning you won't have to sacrifice power for cost in this device. It also comes with 2GB of RAM built-in, and while that might not be the most, it's a solid amount for an affordable tablet. All of this, plus its 5,100mAh battery that promises at least up to 10 hours of video playtime, means you should be more than good when it comes to gaming on this device.

Lenovo Tab M10 Plus

(Image credit: Lenovo )

Lenovo Tab M10 Plus

The best affordable option from Lenovo

Reasons to buy

+
Affordable
+
Great speakers for a budget tablet
+
Adequate performance for media apps

Reasons to avoid

-
Processor leaves much to be desired
-
2GB of RAM isn't a whole lot

The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus is a true budget tablet, coming in at under $200 while still offering some extremely worthwhile features The M10 features a 10.3-inch screen and comes equipped with Dolby Atmos sound, meaning you won't be left wanting when you're playing a game like Fortnite without headphones.

The M10 also sports a reasonably small bezel, so most of the front of the tablet is left for screen real estate. Inside the tablet, a MediaTek Helio P22T processor doesn't offer the best performance, but it can get the job done for pretty much any game. Where the M10 really shines, though, is in its battery, which is advertised to be pretty powerful and able to last for some time. So if you can get over some of the performance issues here, you'll find a surprisingly solid gaming entry for a low price point.

Consider all the options

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is the best tablet for strictly gaming when it comes down to it. It balances both affordability and power to deliver on some keys for gaming, including a stunning display, great speakers, and a good battery life that will give you some long gaming sessions. So while it might not be the best overall tablet available today, the A7 is something that you'll be more than happy with if gaming is your top priority.

However, if you're looking for something more premium, then you may want to look into the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+. A beefed-up version of Samsung's flagship tablet, the S7+ sports some of the best internal parts of any tablet on the market, period. Of course, the flashy features come with a flashy price point, but it's more than worth it for those wanting to replace their laptop with something smaller.

Anthony J Nash

Anthony Nash has been writing about games and the gaming industry for nearly a decade. When he’s not writing about games, he’s usually playing them. You can find him on Twitter talking about games or sports at @_anthonynash.

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