It’s been quite a year for tablets. Apple refined its iPad line-up, giving the iPad Air M3 power and cementing its position in the sweet spot between affordability and performance. The iPad Mini received a significant boost too, packing the A17 Pro chip into its pint-sized frame and making it a genuine powerhouse for portable creativity.
On the Android side, OnePlus impressed with the Pad 3‘s stunning 13.2in display and class-leading battery life, while Xiaomi proved you don’t need to spend iPad cash to get premium build quality and impressive performance.
Even the budget end of the market delivered some big surprises, with tablets that challenged assumptions about what an affordable slate can achieve. Gaming hybrids like the Asus ROG Z13 Flow pushed boundaries too, proving that tablet portability and proper gaming performance aren’t mutually exclusive.
Whether you’re sketching with a stylus, juggling multiple apps for work, or just settling in on the sofa for a Netflix marathon, 2025 delivered tablets that genuinely excel at their chosen tasks. The winners below represent the very best slates that landed on our desks this year.
Premium tablet of the year: OnePlus Pad 3
The OnePlus Pad 3 is simply the best all-around Android tablet we tested this year. That slim 6mm aluminium unibody houses a gorgeous 13.2in LCD display that’s sharp, bright and colour-rich – perfect for both work and binge-watching Netflix. The eight speakers deliver impressive sound.
It’s powerful, too: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset paired with up to 16GB RAM flies through creative apps, games and split-screen multitasking. And OnePlus’ Open Canvas software handles multiple apps better than anything else on Android, making productivity genuinely effortless. The optional Smart Keyboard and Stylo 2 stylus boost its work credentials even further.
Battery life is class-leading thanks to a 12,140mAh cell that lasts days between charges, while 80W fast charging gets you topped up in a trice. Three years of Android updates can’t match Samsung or Apple’s longevity, but for most people, this is everything a tablet should be – and remarkably affordable too.
Highly commended
Apple iPad Air (M3, 2025)
Forget the shiny bells and whistles of the iPad Pro – for us, it’s the iPad Air M3 that feels like the best iPad for most people. Starting at £599, Apple’s tabet middle child substantially undercuts the Pro while delivering everything most users might actually need.
Its M3 chip is a tangible upgrade from the M2, future-proofing the tablet for creative work, gaming and multitasking. And the Liquid Retina display remains sharp and bright, even if it’s limited to 60Hz – a trade-off we think most will accept. It’s available in both 11in and 13in sizes, with the larger model offering the Pro’s sought-after screen space without gouging you for ProMotion or OLED.
The landscape camera placement makes video calls feel more natural, while Wi-Fi 6E and Pencil Pro support add welcome versatility. Touch ID replaces Face ID, which feels like a step backwards but works reliably. At just 6.1mm thin, it’s impressively trim to boot.
Asus ROG Z13 Flow
Gaming hybrids remain a niche concept, but the Z13 Flow makes the best case yet for merging tablet portability with proper gaming performance. Thanks to AMD’s Strix Halo processor wizardry, this 13-inch Windows 2-in-1 delivers surprisingly high frame rates without relying on dedicated graphics – a feat that would’ve seemed impossible just a few years back.
The impressively efficient setup means battery life stretches to nine or ten hours during productivity tasks, with enough juice left for a few hours of gaming once you’ve clocked off.
The 13.4in IPS touchscreen isn’t OLED, but it’s bright, detailed and practically eliminates light bleed. Combined with the integrated kickstand, detachable keyboard and proper port selection, the Z13 Flow feels like a genuine laptop alternative rather than a compromised tablet. It’s a heart-over-head purchase for sure, but one that has set a new performance bar for premium Windows hybrids.
Also shortlisted
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+
Affordable tablet of the year: Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro
The closest the Android tablet world has to an iPad Air, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is just great all-round. Starting at just £449, it massively undercuts Apple’s equivalent while delivering specs and styling that challenge higher-grade rivals.
The build quality of its metal unibody offers no obvious giveaways that this costs less than half an iPad Pro. The 11.2in display impresses with its sharpness and colour accuracy, while the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset delivers smooth performance across demanding tasks. The 50MP rear camera puts in a surprisingly good showing, recording 4K video at 60fps – unusual for a tablet.
The optional keyboard case converts it into a genuine laptop alternative, making serious productivity work perfectly feasible. Yes, we have minor quibbles – it’s heavier than Apple’s offerings, with chunkier bezels – but at this price and with no genuine weaknesses, the Pad 7 Pro is almost everything an Android tablet shopper could want.
Highly commended
Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro)
It might be Mini, but it packs a mighty punch. The 7th-generation edition of Apple’s smallest iPad nabs the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro – a serious upgrade that transforms it into a genuine performance powerhouse and enables Apple Intelligence compatibility.
That chip makes all the difference. The Mini tackles everything from casual gaming to serious creative work with aplomb, supporting Apple Pencil Pro for those who want to sketch and doodle. At just 6.1mm thick, it remains disarmingly light yet feels solid and sturdy. The Liquid Retina display delivers pin-sharp clarity with vibrant colours too.
Storage starts at a sensible 128GB, doubled from the previous generation, while Wi-Fi 6E support brings connectivity improvements. It’s pricier than Android alternatives, but the unparalleled app ecosystem and that tidy, compact form factor make it perfect for reading, casual gaming and portable productivity. Apple’s favourite small tablet remains utterly capable.
Also shortlisted
OnePlus Pad Lite
