Key Points
- Big-screen tablets can replace smaller laptops for many people, offering a portable and enjoyable experience.
- The Apple iPad Pro is considered the best overall large-screen tablet, with its fast M2 processor, 12.9-inch mini-LED display, and gaming capabilities.
- The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ and Tab S9 Ultra offer vibrant displays, excellent performance, and the ability to replace a laptop with their optional keyboard accessories.
- Using a large-screen tablet is fun and offers benefits such as watching movies, multitasking, and customization options.
While it’s true that many people still believe that laptops and computers are the best way to access the internet, the tablet would like to have a word with them.
This is especially true for big-screen tablets, which can likely replace smaller laptops for many people. The days of small(er) tablets are long past and the days of tablets with both large screens and lots of power are here.
Whether it’s for watching movies, sports, gaming, shows, being productive, or browsing the web, a large tablet can not only be a great experience, but a portable one as well. Even the best large tablets are still more portable than similarly lightweight computers due to their form factor.
Tablets can also be a lot more fun than a laptop or desktop, which is part of the reason they have grown more and more popular.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at the 7 best tablets with large screens you can buy today.
- #1 Best Overall: Apple iPad Pro
- Best Runner-Up: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+
- Best Big Screen: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
- Best Computer: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
- Best Value Android: Google Pixel Tablet
- Best Value Apple: Apple iPad (10th Generation)
- Best Budget-Friendly: Amazon Fire Max 11
#1 Best Overall: Apple iPad Pro
- 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color
- M2 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU
- 12MP Wide camera, 10MP Ultra Wide back camera, and LiDAR Scanner for immersive AR
- Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
- 256 GB memory storage capacity
Available with a 12.9-inch display, the 6th generation Apple iPad Pro is the best large tablet available for purchase today.
Available out of the box with Apple’s lauded M2 processor, there is very little reason to think this isn’t the fastest Apple tablet ever. Much has been made about the iPad Pro’s ability to serve as a laptop replacement and with the release of iPadOS 17 and updates to Stage Manager, this reality is closer than ever.
While the iPad Pro is also available in an 11.6-inch size, it’s the mini-LED 12.9-inch display and DCI-P3 color accuracy that really makes the larger model stand out. Paired with strong brightness levels, watching shows and movies on the iPad Pro is something you truly have to experience. The same goes for gaming since there are thousands and thousands of console-quality games in the App Store.
With storage capacity up to 2TB plus the ability to pair with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, there is little doubt the iPad Pro is not just a great laptop replacement, but the best large-screen iPad available today.
Pick up the 12.9-inch iPad Pro from Amazon today.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| M2 performance is best-in-class | Might be too heavy for some |
| Great 10-hour battery life | Can get pricey fast |
Best Runner-Up: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+
- 256GB
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor
- AMOLED Screen
- S Pen
- Long battery life
- IP68 Rating
- US Version
- Beige
If you’re on the Android side of the mobile ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ is the best competitor to the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro.
Highlighted by the inclusion of the superfast Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 2 chip, this is the fastest Samsung tablet ever. Supported by a 10,090mAh battery, you can anticipate hours of enjoyment on the 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x display. Everything about the screen is just super bright and it makes for a terrific use case not just for web browsing, but for games and movies as well.
Quad speakers only add to the argument this tablet is good for both work and play as sounds come across as loud, vibrant, and likely better than your home computer. As a computer replacement, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ can enter DeX mode where you can multitask with multiple windows, use a taskbar, and drag and drop files with ease.
Last but not least, the Galaxy Tab S9+ comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, which will help Tab users enjoy extra smooth web streaming and faster downloads.
Pick up the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ from Amazon today.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wonderfully colorful display | Keyboard accessory is extra |
| Excellent performance | 512GB of storage is the highest available amount |
Best Big Screen: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
The absolute best large tablet for the Android crowd is undoubtedly the 14.6-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
With its 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, the largest ever on a Samsung tablet, there is no question the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a fantastic, albeit expensive, choice.
One of the immediate highlights that can quickly be overlooked about the S9 Ultra is that it offers IP68 protection, meaning water and dust resistance, which is very rare on a tablet. Better yet, the Armor Aluminum frame is built to withstand a few bumps.
When paired with its optional keyboard accessory, the S9+ can easily replace a laptop with a similarly sized display. Samsung’s DeX interface quickly adjusts the tablet layout to enable plenty of productivity with multitasking and multiple apps on screen at once. Add in the included S-Pen and you can write, draw, and mark up on the screen as well, which further adds to the idea of using the S9 Ultra for more than just play.
Should your phone need a charge while using the S9 Ultra, just connect a USB-C cable to both and give yourself a little power boost.
Grab your Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra from Amazon today.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent large display with beautiful colors | Keyboard sold separately |
| Water- and dust-resistant | Weighs as much as a laptop making it less portable |
Best Computer: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
- 13" 2-in-1 tablet and laptop
- Thin and lightweight
- Intel 12th Gen i7 fast processor for multi-tasking
- 16gb ram
- 256gb STORAGE
- Windows 11
- Platinum
While many people think of a tablet as a computer replacement, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is here to change your mind about what a tablet really can be.
As a full computer, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is the best of both worlds with its ability to connect to a keyboard and use at a desk or table. On the other hand, it can just as easily be pulled off from the magnetically attached keyboard and go into tablet mode without losing any aspect of the full Windows 11 experience.
Paired with an Intel 12-generation Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, this is very much a full computer experience. While Apple and Samsung opt for a tablet-specific operating system, Microsoft has gone in the other direction by allowing you to enjoy similar portability without sacrificing any programs or applications you regularly use.
Best of all, the Surface Pro 9 has up to 15.5 hours of battery life available, so you can take advantage of its edge-to-edge 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen display. Plus, you can choose from one of four colors including platinum, sapphire, graphite, and forest.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 can be yours from Amazon right now.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Full Windows 11 experience | Keyboard not included |
| Up to 15.5 hours of battery life | Not everyone wants the full Windows experience on a tablet |
Best Value Android: Google Pixel Tablet
- Features the Google Tensor G2 chip with Google AI
- Comes complete with a charging speaker dock
- 11-inch screen
- 2560 x 1600 resolution
- 128GB storage
For Android fans who want a great tablet with a large display and without the Samsung name tax, the Google Pixel tablet is the next best thing.
Right away the attraction of the Google Pixel tablet is immediately discovered as this is the first tablet with Google’s Tensor G2 chip built right in. When paired with this chip, like the Pixel lineup of smartphones, the Pixel tablet can utilize Google’s AI technology to help with a better streaming experience, as well as provide more efficient battery life.
Available with an 11-inch display, the Google Pixel Tablet is on the “smaller” side of the large tablet market, but there is still plenty of screen space for all of your needs. Better yet, the display offers outstanding colors and brightness levels, which makes streaming movies or playing games look amazing.
Speaking of streaming, Google TV is built right into the Pixel tablet so you can easily find what you want to watch from your favorite streaming apps. You can even go split screen thanks to the 11-inch display with a video on one side and email on the other side.
The Google Pixel tablet can be yours from Amazon if you order it today.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent performance for the money | Charging dock is an added cost |
| Beautiful display | On the smaller side as far as large tablets go |
Best Value Apple: Apple iPad (10th Generation)
- 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display (2360 x 1640 pixels)
- 64GB storage
- Wi-Fi 6, Touch ID
- A14 Bionic chip
- 12MP front/12MP back cameras
- Compatible with Apple Pencil (1st generation)
When Apple users want to find a more value-friendly large-screen iPad without the cost of the iPad Pro models, the 10th generation iPad is the way to go.
Available with a 10.9-inch display, the entry-level iPad is only 1/10th of an inch smaller than the Google Pixel tablet. While Google’s Android interface allows for better multitasking, the depth of the App Store provides the Apple iPad with a huge number of apps to help take advantage of its larger display.
Powered by the A14 bionic chip, the Liquid Retina display comes together with Wi-Fi 6, 12-megapixel front and back cameras, as well as Touch ID. The 10 hours of available battery life help the iPad go all day so you can use it for work, school, play, and still have time in the evening for a little more of everything.
With storage options available in either 64GB or 256GB sizing, there is plenty of room for hundreds of apps to use with the 1st generation Apple Pencil. Adding pencil functionality allows users to make full use of the screen and turn it into a drawing canvas for artists and casual drawing.
Get the 10th-generation Apple iPad from Amazon in one of four colors today.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent value for the money | On the smaller side with a 10.9-inch display |
| Great battery life | Only supports 1st generation Apple Pencil |
Best Budget-Friendly: Amazon Fire Max 11
- 11-inch 2K display
- Octa-core processor
- 128GB of storage
- Dual 8MP cameras
Amazon’s largest Fire tablet ever, the Amazon Fire Max definitely takes it to the max with an 11-inch display.
The release of the Amazon Fire Max with an 11-inch screen has upped Amazon’s game and put it firmly in the large screen tablet space. With a 2000 x 1200p screen resolution paired with 2.4 million pixels, the Fire Max 11 is also handily Amazon’s best tablet for watching movies, reading a book, and playing games. Best of all, it’s blue-light certified for reduced fatigue in your eyes.
When it comes to the body of the Fire Max 11, Amazon boldly claims its strengthened glass is 3 times more durable than the iPad 10.9-inch 10th generation iPad. While this may or may not be true, what is accurate is that Amazon bests many of its competitors with up to 14 hours of battery life.
Add in up to 1TB of storage with a microSD card, and Amazon can help keep the cost down on the Max 11, making it the most budget-friendly option in the large screen space.
Pick up the Amazon Fire Max 11 from Amazon today.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent display for the price | Optional keyboard and stylus quickly jump the price up |
| Great integration with Amazon Prime services | Multitasking isn’t a great experience |
©Mr.Mikla/Shutterstock.com
What to Know Before Buying a Large-Screen Tablet
When it comes to a large-screen tablet, you ultimately have one of two choices, and that is whether you want to go with Apple’s iPadOS or Android. The good news is that if you go Android, you have a multitude of different interfaces to choose from as Samsung, Google, and Amazon all provide their own unique user interface. Once you make the right determination about what operating system you want, the rest of the decision-making process is a little easier.
If you go down the Apple route, the choice is pretty clear as the iPad Pro 12.9, or even its 11.6-inch sibling can double as a laptop replacement. They both offer Apple’s best experience with the M2 processor and beautiful displays while the Magic Keyboard accessory helps turn them into pseudo-computers.
Going with Android means you have a large-screen tablet experience that offers you excellent multitasking, which means greater overall productivity. This is especially true for Samsung buyers with its DeX system that turns its tablets into a computer.
Using a Large Screen Tablet: What It’s Like
Regardless of which operating system you decide is right for you, using a large-screen tablet can be a ton of fun. Watching movies and shows is undoubtedly one of the best ways to make use of the screen size, but the same goes for multitasking with a variety of different apps.
Apple’s launch of an improved Stage Manager experience with iPadOS 17 helps make the iPad Pro feel more and more like it’s a great laptop replacement. For many people, this is true, especially as most tasks these days are all done through a web browser.
Android users will love the ability to customize their experience and not just be stuck with whatever interface Samsung, Google, or Amazon choose. For users who really value the ability to do what they want with a tablet, Android excels in this regard.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Gabo_Arts/Shutterstock.com.
