However, things are different in the mobile ecosystem. Tablets can perform a variety of functions for both work and play, and in the latter case, you don’t have the flexibility of traditional gaming rigs and swap-in, swap-out upgrades whenever a more powerful graphics card or processor lands on the market. Mobile gaming requires particular hardware to prevent overheating and to prevent lags in performance, but with the emergence of game streaming – which shunts the PC power required to play games away from the user and to a service provider – gamers have more options than before when it comes to selecting a suitable tablet for gaming on-the-move. Below, ZDNet has compiled our top picks for game-ready tablets across the Android, Windows, and iOS ecosystems. Currently on offer for $849.99 (a discount applied to trade-ins), the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is for those looking for a tablet with powerful specifications. If you’re a fan of Android gaming, this could be the right tablet for you, especially considering its 120Hz refresh rate and the inclusion of a Snapdragon processor. Wi-Fi-only or cellular options are available. You also receive 4 months of YouTube Premium for free. Pros:
Super AMOLED display, good refresh rateOptional 5G connectivity
Cons:
Expensive with higher specifications
For those who want their games to look the best they can possibly look, the Apple iPad Pro, available in 11 or 12.9-inch display options, sports a Liquid Retina or Liquid Retina XDR screen which we’ve found produces stunning visual results at up to 2732x2048, 264 PPI. An anti-reflective coating is a nice touch for gamers, and the M1 processor – together with up to 16GB RAM – produces plenty of power to play without lagging or crashes. Pros:
PowerfulFuture-proof
Cons:
An expensive investment just for gaming
The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 tablet is a product designed with creative applications in mind, and this mobile workstation sports heavy specs that will also ensure gaming is a seamless experience – and with such a large display for a tablet on offer, this would suit gamers who want to take advantage of a powerful display and strong graphics capabilities. Pros:
Large, touchscreen displayPowerful
Cons:
ExpensiveLow storage for the price point
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7 is a hybrid tablet-laptop device for those who prefer the Windows ecosystem for their gaming activities. This tablet comes with Windows 10 Home, upgradable to Windows 11, and is one of the most lightweight options we recommend, coming in at roughly 1.7 pounds. Pros:
Flexibility of use, built-in kickstandGood battery life
Cons:
Fixed SSD storage
Operating on Android, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 is set for those who want a speedy device with a large display, sporting 2K Dolby Vision resolution, integrated JBL speakers, and compatibility with AAA gaming titles. Lenovo’s model also includes the “Time of Flight” camera which can be used for basic augmented reality functions and an “entertainment space” to manage your games and media collections. Pros:
A useful, stable kickstandAR features
Cons:
60Hz refresh rateDue to its size, this may not be suitable for travel
Pros:
AffordableReasonable battery life
Cons:
Stock shortages are common this year Low storage amount
You should focus on finding a tablet that is comfortable for you to hold for long periods – so, not too large or bulky – and one that has a good amount of storage (or the ability to increase this with a microSD card), and reasonable battery life.
