Best Android gaming tablets 2025

The best Android gaming tablets combine the fun experiences of the Play Store with better visuals and performance than your typical phone offers. Instead of attaching a mobile controller to a phone and burning through your battery, you can use a gaming tablet and Bluetooth controller for a more enjoyable experience.

Not all of the best Android tablets are built for gaming. For premium Android games, a high-quality Snapdragon processor will affect the graphical quality or FPS rate you can use. You'll also want 120Hz refresh rates and rich surround sound audio.

We've compiled a list of some of the best Android gaming tablets you can find, starting with the RedMagic Astra.

At a glance

Best overall

In 2025, we saw an influx of new Android tablets released that were smaller than previous models. Of the batch, the RedMagic Astra was arguably the most impressive, and not just because of its size.

The Astra features a 9.06-inch AMOLED display, complete with a 165Hz refresh rate, while being capable of reaching up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness. Powering the tablet is the Snapdragon 8 Elite, making it one of the few to be released with Qualcomm's 2025 flagship chip.

RedMagic also did something rather unique in that there are several different configurations to choose from. These range from 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, with the ability to max everything out at 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The only real downside is that there's no microSD card slot, so you'll probably end up wanting to splurge for one of the higher-end models.

Best premium

Like the Galaxy Tab S11, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra houses a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chip behind its massive and gorgeous 14.6-inch AMOLED display. Although geared towards providing an improved AI experience, this processor brings the added benefit of being a gaming beast.

In terms of configuration options, the Dimensity 9400+ is paired with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. And unlike some of the other options on this list, it still sports a microSD card slot. However, it's worth pointing out that the only way to get a model with 16GB of RAM is by opting for the 1TB storage option.

You have two main downsides to consider. First, you're likely not going to want to play games in handheld mode with a 1.6-pound tablet; you'll want a gaming controller for your Android tablet, and Android games with controller support. Second, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is painfully expensive, especially if you buy the 1TB version and the keyboard accessory that turns it into an Android or DeX-powered laptop.

Best mid-range

If you're in the market for a flagship gaming tablet, and don't want something as small as the Astra, but don't want to pay Samsung's prices, you're in luck. The OnePlus Pad 3 strikes a good balance, as it's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, while sporting a 13.2-inch, 144Hz, display.

You can also configure the Pad 3 with up to 512GB of storage, which is important considering that the tablet does not include a microSD card slot. Something else that's important is the battery life, and this is where the OnePlus Pad 3 really shines thanks to its enormous 12,140mAh cell. Not only that, but it also comes equipped with 80W charging speeds, so you can top off the battery in a jiffy.

Like the Tab S11 Ultra, OnePlus also offers a suite of accessories that allow you to turn the Pad 3 into a mobile workstation. And of course, if you have a OnePlus phone, there are a number of features designed to provide one of the more cohesive experiences out there.

Best budget

Seeing Amazon's Fire HD 10 included might seem kind of funny, considering that it's a few years old and doesn't even come pre-loaded with the Play Store. However, given that the majority of emulators can be sideloaded from GitHub, it's really not that big of a deal.

As long as you understand and are aware of the limitations, then you really won't have much to worry about. The Fire HD 10 (2023) can emulate up to GameCube and some PS2, which is a pretty good sweet spot for emulation on budget Android devices.

While there are a bunch of games to choose from on the Amazon App Store, there is a way to get the Play Store installed and working. Then, you can download and enjoy all of your favorite games without needing to worry about paying for them again from a different app store.

Best for Play Pass

For people who think Android tablets should cost about the same as a Fire tablet, you'll find plenty of cheap tablet options but only a few good ones. Our top pick in this area is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus (2024); it won't have you running Fortnite on the highest settings, but it'll give you the essentials.

The Tab A9+ has a 10.9-inch LCD display with 90Hz refresh rate — no more having to accept 60Hz at low price points — and a Snapdragon 695 5G chip found in budget phones like the Poco X5. Our reviewer was "able to play my favorite games, such as Genshin Impact, but I had to lower the graphics settings than usual" and dealt with some occasional lag and low frame rates.

Unfortunately, that's pretty normal in this price range. You shouldn't buy a cheap Android tablet for gaming unless you mean casual Android games, and this Snapdragon chip is a big step up over the Unisoc Tiger or MediaTek Helio chips found in past budget Samsung tablets.

Otherwise, this model is affordable, comfortable to hold for long stretches, and has the latest Android 14 software.

Best for hardcore gamers

There's one reason why the Legion Tab Gen 3 makes the list as the "best for hardcore gamers" and that's Lenovo's Legion G9 controller. The Tab Gen 3 itself is fantastic, despite it being a bit outdated by the time it launched. That's because Lenovo also sells the "Y700" tablet in regions that don't include North America, with the latest iteration being powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Specifically, this model is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and features a nice and compact 8.8-inch display with a 165Hz refresh rate. It's paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, giving you plenty of oomph to push those harder-to-play games. But this is also the Legion Tab's biggest pitfall, as there aren't any other RAM or storage options to choose from.

While the Y700 hasn't made it to the States yet, we're still more than happy to have the Legion Tab Gen 3 as an option. When paired with the Legion G9, you're essentially turning it into a dedicated Android gaming handheld, but with the flexibility to remove it from the controller.

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How to choose

Choosing the best Android gaming tablet for you

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Our pick for the best Android gaming tablet is the RedMagic Astra because of its versatility for both gaming and general use. Its sleek design, Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and lengthy battery life all come together to make a fantastic package. And if you want to take it a step further, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is even better, though you'll definitely want to make sure you protect such a premium tablet with a sturdy case.

If you want something a little more lowkey or aren't looking to break the bank, start your search with the OnePlus Pad 3, as it packs flagship power into a more comfortable design. With the Snapdragon 8 Elite, you're able to do pretty much anything you could want, and if you pair it with a keyboard, it makes for a fantastic portable workstation.

Looking at cheap options, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is made for casual gaming on a strict budget. Otherwise, you can look at something like the Amazon Fire HD 10 for budget performance, if you can accept that Fire OS has a more limited gaming library than your typical Android tablet.

And then there's the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3. If you're wanting to do some serious gaming and need a tablet that's solely dedicated to it, then you'd be hard-pressed to find a better choice. This is especially true if you can manage to snag Lenovo's G9 Controller, turning the Legion Tab Gen 3 into a dedicated Android gaming handheld.