Gaming is an activity that doesn’t necessarily require you to buy cumbersome equipment. It means you don’t always need a high-end laptop, PC, or console to satiate your gaming desires. Thankfully, there are gaming tablets that are larger than a phone and smaller than (but sometimes equal to) a small laptop that can satisfy your need for playing games. Tablets are designed to perform everything from surfing the web, sending/receiving emails to playing games. Furthermore, their size is highly appropriate; the screen is bigger and better suited to gaming compared to a phone. Tablet is highly portable contrary to laptops which can be difficult to carry. With the best tablet for gaming, you get the best of both worlds thanks to the smart screen and portability allowing you to enjoy games anywhere.
Since there are so many tablets in the market featuring different specifications, it is important to know about the game tablet, so you can enjoy their diversity, portability, and power at a very marginal cost. Without further ado, Dimble would like to present you a list of the best gaming tablets followed by a detailed buying guide that will make your buying decision easier.
Guide you may also like: Laptop for Gamers
Editor’s Choice
After reading all the recommendations above you might have an idea of what is necessary for the best gaming tablet. In our eyes, if you have pure gaming needs, you should go for the Nvidia K1. Nvidia is known around the gaming world as being one of the pioneers in graphics, so there should be no second-guessing their capabilities. However, if you are looking for an all-around tablet with great battery life, we recommend the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro.
10 Perfect Gaming Tablets
Here are Dimble’s recommendations for the cool gaming tablet in the market.
Released in 2018, the iPad Pro is an exemplary device that could be termed as the one with the best all-around ability. Its design is not much different from other iPads in the market. It has a bezel below and the signature apple logo at the back. At times, it feels Apple is not concerned about making their product look more stylish and attractive. As for its performance, it is unmatched. Even the best gaming tablet cannot compete with the lightning fast interface of an iPad. So, if you buy this, you can forget about game hangs or lags. Talking about tablet games, all those available at the Apple App Store pose no challenge to the iPad Pro, all work flawlessly. The display of the previous iPad Pro, released in 2017, was a bit of a disadvantage for gamers on the move. The tablet’s display was not very bright, so using it in direct sunlight was an issue. However, this newer iPad Pro has an 11-inch screen equipped with a True Tone feature, which enables the screen color-tone to adapt to the ambient light of the surroundings. Thus, you can now easily play games in low light without any eyestrain.
Dimble’s Review
We recommend the iPad Pro because it has the best value for money. Sure, there are issues with the display or with the App Store itself where you have to pay for almost everything but if you have other Apple devices in your home, our Apple iPad Pro recommendation shouldn’t make a difference. When you are tired, you can lie around and use it as a laptop; editing 4K quality videos, playing high-end games, and making 3D renderings are no problem all thanks to the premium processor and the decent battery life. However, if you are thinking of buying it for everyday regular use, this tablet can prove to be too expensive and impractical.
Specs
- Operating System: iOS 12
- Display: Liquid Retina display, LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology, 2388 x1668 (264 ppi)
- Processor: A12X Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture, Neural Engine, Embedded M12 coprocessor
- Storage: 64GB – 256Gb – 512GB – 1TB
- Ram: 4GB, 1TB version comes with 6GB of RAM
- Camera: 12MP back and 7MP front
- Speakers: Four speaker audio
- Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, 4G, Lightning port for connecting to a computer.
- Charging: USB-C Charge Cable (1 meter)
- Battery: Built-in 29.37-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
- Weight: 468g
Pros
- Very powerful processor and long battery life
- Good resolution
- Good battery life
- Slim and incredibly light
- Awesome screen and speakers
- Many accessories
Cons
- Still very expensive
The Google Pixel Slate, as the name suggests, is made by the tech-giant Google. This is the best gaming tab when it comes to the Android platform. It has an expansive 12.3-inch screen, which inducts it into the larger tablet category, right alongside the iPad Pro that has a 12.5-inch display screen and the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 that has a 12.3-inch display. The 12.3-inch brand new Molecular Display screen is made of LCD display with 400 nit max brightness that optimizes the tablet for using in bright areas. When it comes to the overall design, we feel it is simple and good looking. There are no fancy elements and it looks Google has not gone overboard with the design of this best gaming tablet. The Pixel Slate has a classic tablet look with a deep blue color and slightly rounded edges. Google has stuck with a classic and minimalist theme with a thin metal frame, which results in the only 7mm thick body of the tablet.
Dimble’s Review
The Pixel Slate was launched in November 2018 and is considered the best Android gaming tablet. The Pixel Slate holds its own against all other best gaming tablets due to its lighter feel and efficient processor. Furthermore, the Pixel Slate is always the first to get the latest app and OS updates among all android game tablets, so you remain up to date all the time with this. The powerful processor, user-friendly interface, and minimalistic design are bound to attract you and other Android gamers to this tablet.
Specs
- Operating System: Chrome
- Display: 12.3-inch 3000 x 2000 (293 ppi) LCD display, 400 nits for bright area usage
- Processor: 4.2 GHz Intel Core i7
- Ram: 4 – 16GB
- Internal Storage: 32 – 256 GB
- Camera: 8MP front and rear
- Battery: 1 Lithium ion batteries, 46 Wh
- Charging: USB – C
- Audio: Twin dual-speakers
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2 (MIMO), dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz)
Bluetooth 4.2 - Weight: 731g
Pros
- Good screen quality
- Excellent battery
- Good audio quality
- Sleek design
- Successful completion
Cons
- High price
- Screen relatively fragile
No one is oblivious to the Samsung brand, and when it comes to making tabs, Samsung’s work is fantastic. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 speaks volumes of the company’s tablet-making brilliance. It is so thin and light that you will wonder how it works. However, it is one of the best tabs in the market, which hardly has any substitute. Furthermore, it is highly portable allowing you to even keep it in your pocket. Just make sure you have a big pocket to prevent a fall-off. It not only works great for game playing but also is also perfect for everyday use like checking emails or browsing the internet.
Specs
- Operating System: Android 8.1
- Display: 10.5 inch Super AMOLED 2560×1600 pixels (287 ppi)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 2.35GHz octa-core
- Storage: 64GB
- Ram: 4GB
- Camera: 13MP rear and 8MP front
- Speakers: Stereo speakers
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
- Sensors: Compass/ Magnetometer, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Gyroscope
- Battery: 7,300 mAh battery
- Weight: 482g
Pros
- Superb design
- Responsive and intuitive screen
- Audio and visual performances are breathtaking
- Dex mode improves the UI
Cons
- High price
- Glass back is slippery and fragile
- Requires more RAM
Conclusion
Samsung uses only the best materials to make their products, so there is no question about S4’s durability. The body is so lightweight – literally less than half a kilo - that you may not feel it in your hands. As for the design, it is unparalleled. Moreover, even after years of use, you will not feel any lag. Although the Android updates are not as quick as those in the Google Pixel Slate, Samsung still gets them far quicker than other Android OS operators.
After the success of Acer Predator laptop, the tech company brought the Acer Predator tablet. The Android-based tab has a lot of options regarding games. You can download all the available games on Google Play Store and play them to your utmost satisfaction. On the other hand, the Predator 8 is still using the old 5.1 Lollipop, so there can be performance issues. Users complained about its pathetic battery optimization and instability. However, according to some reports, the Acer Predator 8 will be updated to 6.0 Marshemello OS soon.
Dimble’s Review
Although the Predator 8 is not the most up to date tablet, it certainly packs a punch when it comes to gaming and daily use. The battery is not so great and the performance is only fair. However, it is much better than other entry-level gaming tablets you will find in the market.
Specs
- Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
- Display: 8” 1920×1200
- Processor: Intel Atom x7 quad-core
- Storage: 32Gb expandable
- Ram: 2GB
- Speakers: Stereo speakers
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
- Battery: 4420 mAh
Pros
- Screen 1920 x 1200 pixels (very rare in this price range)
- Four speakers
- Micro HDMI output and the micro USB OTG port
- 32GB of storage space
- Value for money
Cons
- Autonomy less than 7 hours
- 3D performance
- The weight is a bit high
The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 3 has an attractive design that complements its high-class performance. The most interesting part of this tab is the rolling battery design that gives an impression as it has been snapped out of a laptop. For this reason, the design looks incomplete but it can be used as a holder allowing you to use the ergonomic feature for your advantage. You won’t miss this Lenovo tab even from a distance, thanks to its unique design. Furthermore, thanks to this design the battery is exceptional. The battery lasts for about 18 hours, which is very handy for long game playing. If you are playing with friends and they are short of battery power, you can even share your battery via a cable.
Dimble’s Review
Other than game playing, the long-lasting battery and the fabulous LCD screen coupled with JBL speakers and Dolby Atmos technology make for an unparalleled movie watching experience. Sure, the screen is not the biggest but it’s great for watching movies for a single person. To top it off, the speakers are so good, you might never feel the need for headphones. You can even hang the tab via a recess located on the back, so it can work as a car tab or kitchen tab. We like it so much because it is flexible in its use and diverse with its applications.
.Specs
- Operating System: Android 5.1
- Display: 8” 1280×800
- Processor: 3 GHz quad-core
- Storage: 16GB
- Ram: 1GB
- Speakers: Stereo speakers
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
- Battery: 6200 mAh
- Weight: 466g
Pros
- Good battery life
- Good equipment at a fair price, bright and sharp display
- Good resolution
Cons
- Slightly expensive
6. Nvidia K1
Either a beginner or a pro, we are sure you have heard the name Nvidia at least once in your life. The Nvidia GPUs are the finest in the gaming world. The tech company did not take long to decide diving into the gaming market in a different way through their gaming tab. The Nvidia K1 looks very decent and simply attractive. The grainy texture on the two vertical ends of the tablet adds a nice bit of aesthetic touch and the slim design promotes grip. To make it more rugged, designers have added a rubber shell that prevents damage, however, it is only for light falls. The only downfall, when it comes to design, is the back which gets dirty very easily because of fingerprints and dust. We can’t stop singing praises for its gaming ability though. K1 allows you to play heavy graphics games like Sonic, Need for Speed: No Limits, and PUBG effortlessly. Moreover, some game franchises have even optimized their games, particularly for this tablet so you get the cool gaming experience.
Dimble’s Review
The Nvidia K1 is our favorite Android gaming tablet which you can use to play best android tablet games. It has so much to offer for a very low price. The Tegra K1 processor makes it the best gaming tablet in terms of performance. Furthermore, it is the absolute perfect android tablet for gaming, as it not only allows you to download and play free tablet games from the Google Play Store just like any other android tablet but also permits you to download specially optimized games from the Nvidia online store. What more do you want from a tablet that lets you play games like Half-Life 2, Doom 3?! This tablet is basically like a portable version of your gaming PC or console.
Specs
- Operating System: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
- Display: 8-inch 1930×1200 LCD
- Processor: Tegra K1 quad-core at 2.2 GHz 192-core Kepler GPU
- Storage: 16GB internal and MicroSD card supported
- Ram: 2GB
- Camera: 5MP front and rear
- Speakers: Stereo speakers
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS
- Charging: Micro USB
- Battery: 75 W Lithium-ion
- Weight: 390g
Pros
- • Great free tablet games available
- Super AMOLED screen, very bright and contrasted
- Rubberized shell protection
- Top tier performance
- The battery that does not overheat at all
Cons
- No LED flash and the infrared remote control
- The position of the speakers (unsuited to playing movies in landscape mode)
7. Morphus X300
The Morphus X300 is not the ace gaming tablet in appearance but it is certainly one of the best when it comes to tablet features. To start off, this tablet has a built-in slot for wireless controllers (there goes your need for touching the screen). This feature allows you to have precise and accurate in-game control. To top it off, it is extremely thin and incredibly fast, making the X300 a close competitor to the iPad Pro in terms of performance. What’s more, there is a 7,300 mAh battery that will facilitate your gaming for hours. When the battery goes low, you can switch to the Ultra-energy saving mode to squeeze a few more hours out of it.
You also get a hi-tech 8-megapixel camera at the back that records HD resolution videos and even higher quality photos. Furthermore, there is autofocus, self-timer, LED flash, and more. You can even enjoy some selfies with this boss tablet.
Dimble’s Review
Morphus X300 is an amazing tablet when it comes to flawless android gaming. It has a high-quality construction, exceptional processing power, and a long-lasting battery. This best gaming tablet from Morphus is lightweight due to its materials. We would recommend Morphus if you are not concerned a lot about battery life. Otherwise, it is not that bad as it is a cheap gaming tablet. It has brilliant features that every gamer would love.
Specs
- Operating System: Android 5.1.1
- Display: 8″ capacitive touch and glasses-free 3D active SBS IPS display with 1280×80
- Processor: Octa Core ARM Cortex-A7 processor
- Storage: 32GB – 64GB SD card expandable
- Ram: 2GB
- Camera: 8MP with autofocus
- Speakers: Stereo speakers
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
- Charging: USB port
- Battery: 5,200 mAh Lithium-ion
- Weight: 480g
Pros
- Sufficient power
- Good screen
- Great price
Cons
- Battery life could be better and you have to wait long for software updates
Amazon is more popular as an e-commerce giant rather than a manufacturer of electronic devices. The quality and greatness of the Amazon Fire HD are not at par with other tabs in our list. The Fire HD 8 is excellent for game playing at a price that is hard to beat. You’d be better off using it for daily activities such as watching videos, reading e-books, and for light gaming. The screen is not that big at 8-inches but the tablet maintains the low price of its predecessor.
Dimble’s Review
Dimble recommends this tablet for those on a strict budget. Although it is a cheap tablet, yet you do not miss out on the biggest luxuries like the latest apps. The only drawback is the small screen. Most smartphones come with a 6-inch screen or more, so it’s not a big upgrade from your phone. As for lag, the processor is fairly strong, so you’ll only feel lagging when the storage is full. The solution is adding a big SD card. That will allow you to remove pressure from the internal storage. Watching HD videos won’t be a problem.
Specs
- Operating System: Android 7.1.2
- Display: 8” 1280×800 (189 ppi) LCD IPS screen
- Processor: 1.3GHz quad-core processor
- Storage: 8GB/16GB
- Ram: 5GB
- Speakers: Stereo speakers
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Camera: 2MP rear and front
- Weight: 363g
Pros
- Attractive price
- Its microSD card slot makes it possible to add up to 400 GB of memory
- The grip of the tablet is easy, perfect for the whole family
- Hands-free Alexa
- The Amazon OS offers easy access to its own features and allows you to watch videos, read books and browse the web without worries
Cons
- Camera is of poor quality
- The sound at the back and the headphone output are subpar
- Design is not attractive
- Lots of ads on the interface
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is basically a laptop that can turn into a tablet. In other words, it’s a Windows gaming tablet. And since it is Microsoft’s creation, the OS is Windows. Furthermore, it is lightweight and compact, even if you work with the attachable keyboard. Without the keyboard, it does not even weigh a pound! The good thing is, you get to play PC games on Microsoft Surface Pro, so you are not limited to childish games found on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The biggest concern for gamers is the battery time of their tablet and the Surface Pro 6 does not do very well in that department, offering only 5h and 25 minutes of battery time.
Dimble’s Review
When you use this Windows 10 gaming tablet, it responds very well. That’s what you would expect from a laptop cum tablet. Supreme performance, good battery, and a wide library of windows tablet games! If Android and iOS are not your cups of tea, this is what you should get. The design is one of the best out in the market – sleek yet sturdy.
Specs
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Display: 12.3” PixelSense™ Display with 2736 x 1824 (267 ppi)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ 8th Gen i5-8250U or i7-8650U
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD
- Ram: 8GB or 16GB
- Camera: 8MP rear and 5MP front
- Speakers: Stereo speakers
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
- Warranty: 1 year limited hardware warranty
- Sensors: Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
- Weight: i5: 770g, i7: 784g
Pros
- High-quality screen
- Light and portable design
- Unlocking by facial recognition
- Full-size USB 3.0 port
- The choice of configuration
- Long battery life
Cons
- Autonomy
- The optional keyboard
- The stroke of the keys of the keyboard
10. Linx 10
Linx 10 is our second best Windows gaming tablet recommendation. The design is simple and durable. The screen is not riddled with unnecessary buttons, and even if you look at it from the side, it is slim and sleek. Furthermore, it comes with a detachable keyboard. You can simply dock the keyboard to the front of the tablet and enjoy your games flawlessly. The tab weighs considerably less than a kilo and is still pretty strong and robust. This best gaming tablet is perfect for creative designers and gamers alike.
Dimble’s Review
The Linx 10 is good for light gaming because of its low-functioning processor. However, it has an increased battery life compared to the Linx 8, and runs smoothly without any lags. The HD screen is also useful to watch movies. The tablet also comes with a USB ‘on the go’ cable, which adds to user convenience. The Linx 10 is recommended for office work as well as for playing games.
Specs
- Processor: Intel Bay Trail-T Quad Core Z3735F 1.83GHz processor
- Operating System: Windows 8.1
- Memory: 2GB LPDDR3
- Display: 10.1-inch 16:9 IPS HD (1280 x 800) with 10 point multi-touchscreen
- Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics
- Storage: 32GB eMMC
- Camera: Front 2MP and rear 2MP
- Networking: Integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth V4.0
- Connectivity: 1 x mini-HDMI, 1 x micro-USB, 1 x microSD slot
- Audio: Built-in stereo speakers and microphone
- Battery: 7,900 mAh li-ion
- Dimensions: 258 x 172.6 x 10.5mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 601g
Pros
- Sufficient power
- Good screen
- Great price
Cons
- Processor is low-functioning for heavy games
Gaming Tab Buying Guide
Size
The first thing to consider is the size of the display screen you are comfortable with. When checking on a brochure or on a website, the tablet would look much smaller than it really is. When you buy it, you get the real feel of the tablet. Furthermore, it is much better if gaming is your only concern with the tablet since game playing feels good even on a slightly smaller screen, say 8-9 inch. On the other hand, to enjoy movies and TV series you need a larger screen. Moreover, a larger screen requires two hands for handling while a small screen tablet can be used with a single hand. This is especially a concern when you use the tablet in busy places like the train or the bus. Consider what size fits you best and then weigh your options.
Resolution/Screen
The resolution of an electronic device is its defining factor. On a low-resolution display, playing games or watching movies will not be a pleasant experience. To enjoy the graphics of a game and view HD photos and HD videos, the device must render excellent image quality. HD movies require 1280 x 720 pixels minimum and nowadays we even have Quad HD or 4K, so look for the one that is latest. A cheap display can easily be recognized through their individual pixels and unevenly lit screen. The image quality is not the best in the world as well.
Furthermore, the screen is the basis for the touch mechanism. You need a highly responsive screen to enjoy games. Go for a smaller screen size to have a better resolution.
Operating System
When it comes to the best gaming tablet, you need to make a decision on its Operating System (OS). There are three major mobile OSs in the world of technology: Android, Windows Phone, and iOS. Starting with Android, it is the most widely used and most popular OS in the world with almost all tablets running on this platform. It is also user-friendly allowing you to download games and movies from third-party websites. Its biggest competitor and the complete opposite is iOS. This mobile operating system can only be found in Apple products. The biggest advantage of iOS is its security and accessibility. As for Windows Phone, it is widely found in gaming PCs and rarely in tablets but the great thing about a Windows-based tablet is that it allows you to play a PC game on your Windows tablet.
Internet Connection and Connectivity
The Internet is the main artery of a gaming tablet. All tabs today have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which were rare few years ago. One step forward is 3G, 4G and LTE technologies which you can enjoy only if your tab offers SIM card functionality. The biggest advantage with this is that you can access the internet even if you don’t have Wi-Fi or you are on the move. That being said, data plans can be costly, so choose a network service provider wisely. A 3G connection is slower than an LTE connection simply because LTE is the latest technology.
Bluetooth is another integral part of the tab that lets you connect to external devices like gaming microphone, gaming keyboards, and even gaming speakers. Moreover, it allows you to share files wirelessly in an instant. Take a close look at the specs of your tablet to ascertain the right one for you.
Internal Memory and Extension
A high internal memory is compulsory for the smooth function of a tablet. With your tab full of eBooks, games, movies, and videos, you might experience lag in performance. To avoid lags and enhance performance, you should use external memory devices like an SD card. This card allows you to store stuff without putting pressure on the internal memory of the tab, so you get lightning fast performance even with hundreds of games installed. Furthermore, the card enables you to share your data with your PC or with your friend’s tabs, which is a faster way of file transfer than Bluetooth. All tablets generally come with an extendable memory capability of 128 GB. Some even offer more. Know your usage and decide if you need more memory or you can manage the internal storage.
Processor
The processor is the heart of any tab. Ascertain the speed and quality of the processor before making your final decision. Look for the latest processor in the market since they get upgraded every few months. The biggest company making processors for tabs is SnapDragon. So, look at their latest models and you won’t have to worry about performance in your best gaming tablet.
Battery Time
Tabs are basically bigger phones. They are built to be portable, so you can take them to places where you cannot take your laptop. The portability demands you to have an extended battery life. Usually, a tab lasts for around 10 hours under strict game conditions but some even give you 16 to 18 hours of battery time. If you intend to use your best gaming tablet for intense game playing, look for an Acer tablet. Their tabs offer very good battery time. A useful tip to squeeze maximum battery time out of your device is to close all apps running in the background.
How We Test
Our team of dedicated tech geeks and professional gamers have tested all of the best tablets for gaming to their limits. While testing, the major factors under consideration were the battery time, screen resolution and performance of the tabs. Our tech geeks compiled a list of important specs, found the best gaming tablets and gave them to professional gamers for analysis. While there are literally hundreds of game tabs to choose from, we had to keep the test strict.
FAQ
Why should you buy a gaming tablet?
Ans: Gaming tablet is portable allowing you to do work and entertain yourself on the go.
How much GB storage is needed for streaming and gaming?
Ans: Streaming doesn’t use a lot of storage but game playing requires at least 64 GB of space if not more.
How to boost Android tablet for game playing?
Ans: The good way to boost the performance of an android tablet is to add external storage and run less number of apps at a time.
How much RAM do I need in my gaming tablet?
Ans: Serious gamers require at least 4 GB or more RAM to keep things smooth and flawless.
Why own a gaming tab?
Ans: Gaming tablet lets you play games flawlessly.