While only featuring small tweaks compared to its predecessor, there’s little that really needed changing to make the best tablet on the market even better. That remains the case in 2023, and there’s even the possibility of discounts.

A move to Apple’s M1 chipset delivers stellar performance, especially when combined with the optional 5G support. You also have an excellent 12Mp front-facing camera with the Apple’s face-tracking Centre Stage tech, making it a superb choice for video calls.

Beyond that, it offers up the same premium design in an array of colours, Touch ID and compatibility with Apple’s Magic Keyboard and second-generation Apple Pencil. All Apple’s really done is given its best tablet an even longer lifespan.

If you want that 120Hz ProMotion tech or thinner bezels, consider the 11in iPad Pro instead, but you’ll pay quite the premium for these extras.

For most people, the S9 Plus is the sweet spot in Samsung’s 2023 Galaxy Tab range. It offers almost everything you’d want in an Android tablet, without the extortionate price of the Tab S9 Ultra.

It’s insanely thin at just 5.7mm and now comes with an IP68 rating, full dust and waterproofing that’s very unusual to find on a tablet.  

The Tab S9 Plus is also more powerful than many laptops thanks to overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Galaxy Edition and a whopping 12GB of RAM. There’s not much you can’t do with this slate and it’s also got a gorgeous 12.4in 120Hz OLED display.

With the S Pen stylus, long software support, AKG speakers and optional 5G, there’s no doubting this is an excellent tablet.

For just £199, the Redmi Pad SE is exceptional value if you’re looking for a cheap Android tablet.

Its affordable price isn’t apparent from the design, with a premium aluminium alloy build but only 478g in weight. There’s enough room for a decent Full HD+ LCD display, and you even get a nice 90Hz refresh rate.

Performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 is solid, and audio is better than you’d expect from such a small device. Battery life is also one of its key strengths, although you will have to put up with slow charging speeds.

There are also a couple of software issues – all the extra apps Xiaomi adds to its MIUI Android skin, and the fact you’ll only get two new versions of Android (14 and 15).

But for under £200, it’s hard to complain about everything you’re getting.

If you rely on Windows or want a great tablet for productivity, the Surface Pro 9 is the best choice – provided you go for an Intel model.

A move to 12th-gen chips is the only upgrade of note (aside from removing the 3.5mm headphone jack), but that’s easy to forgive after the big upgrades introduced on the Pro 8. It maintains a sleek, premium design, with the 120Hz display the star of the show.

Other highlights include solid battery life, a great webcam and excellent accessories, even if the latter are still sold separately.

You might have see that there’s a new ARM-based model for 2022, which improves battery life, adds new video calling features and brings 5G to the Surface Pro for the first time. But the effect on performance and how some third-party apps run simply isn’t worth it for most people.

The sixth-gen iPad Mini ditches the old form factor for something more akin to the iPad Air and Pro ranges; with an angular design, stereo speakers, Centre Stage technology and much smaller bezels than before.

The Mini’s 60Hz display has jumped to 8.3in, but without changing the physical size of the tablet – allowing for more display real estate without affecting its portable nature. It’s a gorgeous display too, with the highest pixel density of any iPad right now, even if it is a bit on the small side for true split-screen multitasking.

It’s powered by the same A15 Bionic silicon as the
iPhone 13 range, making it more powerful than the iPad Air at a similar price.

The Touch ID sensor has been moved to the Power button – like with the iPad Air – and there’s support for the second-gen Apple Pencil to boot. However, the lack of a Smart Connector on the rear means that it doesn’t have its own Magic Keyboard; a real boon for the iPad Air and Pro ranges, and the only real chink in the Mini’s armour.

The latest iPad Pro in the larger size is the most capable tablet on the market, sporting Apple’s desktop-level M2 chip that provides unmatched power, one of the best displays around with a 120Hz refresh rate and mini-LED backlighting that allows it to compete with OLED displays while being much brighter.

The experience is improved even more with the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, with the latter turning the tablet into a fully-fledged laptop replacement. However, those are optional extras when the tablet has already gone up a whopping £250 in the UK for the cheapest model.

If you really will use all the raw power and creative features such as Hover mode on the Apple Pencil, then you may be able to justify it. Otherwise, look to the 2021 model or another iPad from the range.

It might not be hugely different from the previous entry-level iPad, or as big as the new 2022 model but Apple has yet again created a tablet that’s very hard to complain about and will be an easy decision for many people as the cheapest way to get an iPad – even with a price increase on the original RRP.

If you’ve got the seventh or eighth-gen iPad, there might not be enough to tempt you, but there’s a lot to love here if you’re coming from an older device or want to dip your toe into the iPad experience.

It’s got everything you need from a tablet to do all the daily things you’d want, featuring a 10.2in TrueTone screen, A13 Bionic chip and 64GB of storage as standard.

Apple has since launched an updated 2022 model with refreshed 10.9in design, but we think the 10.2 is the better value buy with its much lower price.

The Tab S9 Ultra is total overkill for most people as a tablet, and very expensive. But it’s an impressive feat of engineering, and having a huge 14.6in canvas to work with can be useful.

That 120Hz OLED display is a joy to use, especially when combined with stellar performance from an overclocked version of Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip from late 2022. You also get decent battery life and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, all within an incredibly thin and light design.

Samsung includes an S Pen in the box, which is perfect for taking handwritten notes or digital art. But while the multitasking features are good, a lack of optimised apps really comes to the fore on such a large display.

With a high price tag and the keyboard cover sold separately, it’s not a realistic purchase for most people.

OnePlus took its sweet time launching a tablet but the wait, on the whole, was worth it.

We like the fetching premium design and, more importantly, a top-notch screen. Even if it isn’t OLED, the super-slick 144Hz refresh rate outpaces rivals.

Combined with amazing audio and reliable battery life, the Pad is an excellent choice for all forms of entertainment. It’s not so good for productivity, though. Only one storage capacity is a shame, as is the lack of a fingerprint scanner, but many buyers won’t notice these downsides.

Overall, the OnePlus Pad is a solid first effort if you want a mid-range Android tablet.

For something a bit different to your traditional tablet, the ReMarkable 2 is well worth a look. This E-Ink slate might look like a stylish rival to the Amazon Kindle but you can do a lot more than read books on it.

The stunningly thin design is a highlight here and the custom OS makes tasks like note taking very easy indeed and there’s clever cloud syncing, screen casting and online storage too.

On the downside, you have to pay for a subscription for everything to work and sadly ReMarkable doesn’t include a stylus and the screen doesn’t have a backlight for using the tablet in the dark.