The best gaming tablets in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

The 2024 iPad Pro takes the top spot as the best gaming tablet, setting a new standard for Apple hardware. It houses the M4 chipset, enabling top-tier performance across the board. The chipset allows the device to handle challenging tasks easily. During initial testing, senior reviews editor at ZDNET Kerry Wan found it ran resource-heavy titles like Genshin Impact at maximum settings with minimal heat generation. This is a significant improvement over the 2022 iPad Pro as that model would "overheat after 10 minutes."

It's also worth mentioning that Apple teamed up with game developer Capcom to port popular titles like Resident Evil Village to the App Store. The digital storefront also offers several game emulators, like Delta and RetroArch, for free download.

Review: I replaced my MacBook with an M4 iPad Pro and was less bothered than I expected

The M4 iPad Pro is still a highly recommended tablet outside of gaming. Its Tandem OLED display offers up to 1,6000 nits of brightness and vibrant color accuracy. The touchscreen makes the device ideal for photo editing, media consumption, and content creation.

Additionally, you have the option to equip the iPad Pro with up to 16GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD. Apple's model is pretty expensive, starting at $999, although it pays for itself almost immediately.

M4 iPad Pro specs: Display: 13-inch OLED with ProMotion | Processor: Apple Silicon M4 with up to 16GB of RAM | Storage: up to 2TB | Weight: 15.6 ounces | Dimensions: 9.83 x 6.99 x .21 inches | Connections: USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra stands out as a great tablet for tough tasks. Its 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED displays offer a resolution of 2,960 x 1,848 pixels and supports HDR10. These features provide vibrant colors, striking image contrast, and sharp visuals that enhance the overall experience. The screen's 16:10 aspect ratio gives users an expansive view.

Buyers can equip the tablet with up to 16GB of RAM for smooth performance and 1TB of storage. It even supports Samsung DeX, which transforms the tablet into a mini-desktop, allowing users to manage multiple windows with a mouse and keyboard.

Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra review: This tablet can truly replace your laptop

I initially considered placing the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra at this spot because its MediaTek Deimensity 9300 Plus processor has a higher output than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. But that changed when I learned that game emulators run better on the Snapdragon chips. 

Without getting too deep in the weeds, Qualcomm's hardware supports third-party Turnip drivers that allow games to run better. The Dimensity 9300 Plus doesn't support this software. This means that although video games may look better on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, they're less stable. Titles don't run as well, and that stability gives the Tab S9 Ultra the edge over the latest model.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra specs: Display: 14.6-in Dynamic AMOLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Storage: up to 1TB | Weight: 1.61 pounds | Dimensions: 12.85 x 8.21 x .22 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3| Battery: 11,299 mAh

Asus is a pioneer in the computing space, developing and releasing some of the best gaming laptops on the market. It's no surprise that the company would try its hand at creating a gaming tablet, and it did just that with the ROG Flow Z13.

Sporting a retro-futurist design, the device houses a 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13900H, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, and 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, making it ideal for gaming. The CPU and GPU pairing allow players to enjoy immersive gameplay, while the 16GB RAM ensures speedy performance. Your favorite titles are shown through a 13-inch Quad HD touchscreen, supported by Nvidia Advanced Optimus and DLSS 3 to deliver high frame rates and low response times.

Also: The best gaming laptops of 2024: Get your game on

With so much going on under the hood, a tablet like this can run warm. To offset overheating, Asus gave this machine a robust cooling system. It has "Thermal Grizzly's liquid metal" to move heat away from the processor, quiet fans to blow air inside, and a vapor chamber. That last feature distributes heat evenly, so there isn't a single hot spot.

Outside of gaming, the ROG FLow Z13 is a very capable machine, flexible enough to handle various workloads. Asus points out that it can be used to create art, write code, or make music.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 specs: Display: 13.4-in Quad HD | Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i9-1300H  | Storage: 1TB | Weight: 1.61 pounds | Dimensions: 11.89 x 8.11 x 0.56 inches | Connections: USB-C, USB-A, DisplayPort, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2| Battery: 56WHrs

Shoppers on a budget should check out Samsung's Galaxy Tab A9+. It is a lightweight tablet with an 11-inch screen running at a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels. This configuration gives the tablet a noticeably wide display, which is great for immersing yourself in a game (or movie).

Similar to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, it runs on Qualcomm hardware, but this time, it's the Snapdragon 695. That chipset is often seen on mid-range smartphones and performs well most of the time. The Snapdragon 695 can deliver a fun gaming experience, plus most emulators will run fine on them.

However, it can struggle under challenging workloads. For example, if a mobile game has many special on-screen effects or a lot of enemies, you may experience a significant slowdown. For this reason, we recommend purchasing the model with the 128GB SSD because it comes with 8GB of RAM. That should help with any potential performance issues you may encounter.

Besides the Snapdragon 695 chipset, the Galaxy Tab A9+ sports a four-speaker system supported by Dolby Atmos, enabling impressive audio quality and a lightweight, durable design that can withstand the rigors of travel.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ specs: Display: 11-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixel) touchscreen | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695  | Storage: up to 1TB | Weight: 1.05 pounds | Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.64 x 0.27 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1

The OnePlus Pad 2 excels at being a versatile, mid-range Android tablet. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 12GB of RAM, it offers fast, responsive performance that ensures smooth gaming experiences and multitasking. OnePlus' own HyperBoost Gaming Engine feature further optimizes the hardware. ZDNET contributor Max Buondonno reviewed the OnePlus Pad 2, and said he didn't encounter a single piece of software that slowed it down. It's "powerful enough for today and years to come," he wrote.

The unit Max tested had a 2800 x 2000 resolution screen that supported 900 nits of brightness and a 144Hz refresh rate. He said the OnePlus Pad 2 produced accurate and "properly saturated" color arrays. However, there is a version out there that comes with a 3K screen for even greater visual fidelity. Audio performance is another strength, as the stereo speakers can produce loud, immersive sound with "plenty of rumbling bass."

Review: One of the best tablets I've tested for watching movies is not from Apple or Samsung - and it's on sale

Everything you see here runs on a 10,090mAh battery, which can last for about two to three days straight on a single charge. What's more, the included 67W SuperVOOOC charger can recharge the OnePlus Pad 2 in about an hour and a half.

The tablet is a good blend of well-performing hardware, premium design, and long battery life, making it a standout among other tablets in its price range.

OnePlus Pad 2 specs: Display: 12.1-inch 3.K ReadFit DIsplay | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3  | Storage: 256GB | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.6 x 0.25 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4