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These days, we live in a world where entertainment is always at our fingertips. Most of us spend time on social media every day, and there are thousands of apps to enjoy on our phones. Plus, our screens provide us with a way to access the news and reflect on memories with our stored photos. But sometimes, our phone screens are just a little too small.
That’s the entire reason tablets exist! They provide us with all the usability offered by our phones but on a much larger scale. They have plenty of storage space, large screens, and can be used as larger phones or small computers. Their versatility is unmatched, they can be found with iOS and Android operating systems, and there are even kid-friendly versions available.
If you agree with us and you’d like to buy a new or replacement tablet, we’d love to help you find the right one. Tablets will vary in things like price, operating system, screen size, display resolution, storage space, memory, and tons more features. And every single one will matter at the end of the day.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best tablets in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
iPad Pick: Apple iPad 10th Generation 10.9” Tablet
Android Pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Tablet
Kids Pick: Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet
Budget Pick: Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet
Premium Pick: Apple iPad Pro 13” Tablet
The Apple iPad 10th Generation 10.9” Tablet has so many features working in its favour, and we can’t wait to tell you about them. One of the things we love most is the liquid retina display. Combine that with the high resolution, and everything you watch on this tablet will look its absolute best. And that’s still true if you’re streaming because it offers an ultra-reliable Wi-Fi 6E connection.
You’ll also be really happy with the cameras — both the front and back cameras are 12MP cameras — which means tons of clarity in your pictures and videos. You can really channel your inner photographer with this one. Another favourite feature is the True Tone capability — it’ll adjust the screen brightness and colour based on your environment. Yup, pretty cool. And you’ll get to use Touch ID for payments and access to the iPad!
We only have a couple of potential drawbacks to mention before we wrap this up. First of all, with only 64 GB of storage space (and remember not all of that is usable space), you might run out of room for apps and photos/videos pretty quickly. Also, with only 4 GB of RAM, this isn’t the best option for graphic-intensive games or multitasking with a bunch of resource-demanding apps. Just a couple of things to keep in mind.
All in all, the Apple iPad 10th Generation 10.9” Tablet is pretty flawless. You might want to upgrade to the 128 GB version for extra storage space, but otherwise, this thing is pretty much perfect. No matter what you like to use a tablet for, this one will have your back. Always.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Apple iPad 10th Generation 10.9” Tablet. The audio quality is great for streaming and general apps, and they never have any problems with their Wi-Fi connections. They absolutely love the True Tone lighting, and the resolution is amazing. The battery lasts for a long time even when they’re gaming, too. And they’re happy with the camera quality. No complaints except for the limited storage space! 64 GB isn’t enough for everybody.
Buy If…
You depend on high-quality cameras
A reliable Wi-Fi connection is a priority
You’ll be using the tablet in a variety of lighting conditions
You prefer Touch ID over a passcode
Don’t Buy If…
You’ll be storing a lot of data on your tablet regularly
You’ll be playing graphic-intensive games or multitasking with a variety of apps
Screen Size: 10.9”
Weight: 1.1 lbs
Operating System: iPadOS 16
Storage Space: 64 GB
Memory: 4 GB
Display Resolution: 2360 x 1640
Warranty: 1 year
We love everything about the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Tablet. No matter what feature you look at, there’s no disappointment. If you love to stream movies and TV shows or playback videos you’ve taken yourself, the ultra-fast refresh rate will provide you with a seamless, lag-free experience. Thank goodness. It’s capable of connecting to 5G networks too, so connectivity will never become an issue.
While this tablet is really suited to every possible purpose you could think of, it’s got a little something special for folks who need to multitask for work or prefer to have multiple sources of entertainment going at once. What are we talking about? The split-screen functionality, of course. You can have up to three windows open at once on your screen to maximize your fun and productivity.
One of the only features that might let you down is the storage space. It only comes with 64 GB of space, and of course, some of that will be taken up by the operating system and all of the other essentials. If you plan to store a lot of photos/videos on your tablet or you enjoy having a wide selection of apps to use, you might run out of space faster than you’d like.
All in all, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Tablet is our favourite for everyone loyal to Android devices. With great video and audio quality, a slim and lightweight design, and a very reasonable price tag, there’s not much missing from this one.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have great things to say about the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Tablet. It’s lighter than other smaller tablets they’ve used in the past and it runs all of their apps flawlessly. They never experience any lags when streaming shows and movies, and they really enjoy the split-screen multitasking setup. Some would prefer it had more storage space and a better memory, though.
Buy If…
You love to multitask
You spend a lot of time watching videos/movies/TV shows
Fast connection speeds are a must
Don’t Buy If…
You need a lot of storage space
Screen Size: 11”
Weight: 1.3 lbs
Operating System: Android 13
Storage Space: 64 GB
Memory: 4 GB
Display Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Warranty: 1 year
We really like the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet. In our opinion, it’s the best possible tablet you can buy for kids under 10. You can create up to four unique profiles with parental controls applied, and you can even lock the downloads to make sure they don’t purchase any apps that cost money. You’ll be able to limit their screen time and make recommendations for educational content to encourage learning!
This tablet also comes with a durable foam case, and let us tell you, it’s pretty close to indestructible. Your kids can drop it, throw it, kick it, step on it, even bite it, and it’ll still protect the tablet inside. You’ll get a free one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, as well. And it comes with a ton of preloaded content to get your kids off to a great start.
Of course, a tablet designed for kids isn’t going to be the best-performing thing around. It won’t work very well with high-powered apps, and the resolution leaves a little something to be desired. So does the camera quality. It’s also fairly short on storage space, so it won’t be the best option for sharing with multiple kids unless you increase the capacity with an SD card.
Overall, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet is an amazing option for parents/guardians to get for their younger kids. With the inclusion of an indestructible foam case, a 13-hour battery life, and tons of kid-friendly content for learning and entertainment, you really can’t do better for your kids.
Performance: 3.5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers absolutely love the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet. For most of them, it’s the best electronic they’ve ever purchased for their kids. The included case is incredibly durable, which means the tablet itself is nearly indestructible, and the parental controls are easy to find and use. They really appreciate all of the kid-friendly content that comes preloaded, too.
Buy If…
You want a tablet just for your kid(s)
You’d appreciate an affordable price tag
You don’t want to buy a case separately
You’d like to encourage education and entertainment equally
Don’t Buy If…
You need a tablet that can keep up with high-powered games or other apps
Storage space is a priority
Screen Size: 8”
Weight: 1.1 lbs
Storage Space: 32 GB
Memory: 2 GB
Display Resolution: 1280 x 800
Warranty: 2 years
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet is a pretty special find — it’s one of the most affordable tablets out there, but it still offers some good usability and longevity. This tablet is really best for people who will be using it primarily for reading, social media, email, and simple games. The 1080p display will make these tasks easy and enjoyable.
We also really like this tablet as an option for sharing with kids in the family. You can make up to four kid profiles with parental controls intact, and since it’s really durable, it can hold up to accidental spills and drops. Since it only weighs one pound, too, it’s a great option for taking to and from work or hitting the road for an adventure.
Unfortunately, there are a few features that fall a bit short of expectations. With only 32 GB of storage available, you’ll have to watch your photo/video hoarding and you won’t be able to download every app you want at once. Speaking of, the app store is pretty limited, too. The selection isn’t great and some apps still won’t work. The cameras are also fairly low quality — they’re only 5 MP cameras.
Overall, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet is our top recommendation for folks who want the cheapest tablet they can find that still actually works the way it’s supposed to. This one doesn’t have the best cameras or processing power, but it’s great for kids and simpler apps like social media.
Performance: 4/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have mixed feelings about the Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet. They think it’s a great value for the price, but the limited selection in the Amazon app store and the small storage capacity gets frustrating at times. They appreciate how durable it is, though, and it’s a great option for sharing with the kids since it has kid profiles and parental controls.
Buy If…
You’ll be sharing your tablet with kids
You’ll primarily be using it for simple tasks like social media, email, reading, etc.
Affordability is a priority
You’d like a travel-friendly option
Don’t Buy If…
You need a lot of storage space
Camera quality is really important to you
You don’t want to be limited in your app selection
Screen Size: 10.1”
Weight: 1 lb
Storage Space: 32 GB
Memory: 3 GB
Display Resolution: 1080p
Warranty: 1 year
The Apple iPad Pro 13” tablet has everything going for it. With an ultra-slim design and a 13” screen, this iPad is perfect for travelling and for full-screen videos — you can’t beat the graphics or 2k resolution either. If you love to take photos or do video calls a lot, the top-tier cameras will make you happy — it’s got 12MP wide view cameras on the front and back to capture every scene perfectly.
This tablet is also compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard for iPad, so you’ll be able to turn it into a creative outlet or workstation with a couple of extra purchases. With 512 GB of storage, it has room for all of your apps and videos, and it’s got all of the classic Apple features you love — face ID, impeccable touchscreen usability, a long-lasting battery, and more!
The only thing we can see not thrilling you is the price. This iPad is incredibly expensive, and it’s inevitable that some people will just not be able or willing to spend that much on a tablet. Although it does pack a ton of value for the price, it’s still a sizeable investment. And for some people, it just won’t be the right fit.
Overall, the Apple iPad Pro 13” tablet is the best of the best in the tablet world right now. Whether you’ll be using it for work tasks every day or as your primary source of entertainment, it’ll be able to keep up with everything you ask of it. And it’s light enough to be a travel companion, too.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 1/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are blown away by the quality of the Apple iPad Pro 13” tablet. It’s incredibly lightweight for its size and the battery capacity is great even when they’re running videos or games often. The camera quality is flawless for photos and video calls, and they have no complaints with the audio either. It runs smoothly and makes both their workday and relaxation time so much more enjoyable.
Buy If…
You’ll be watching videos on it a lot
You appreciate a really good camera
A large screen size is ideal
You want all of Apple’s best features
Don’t Buy If…
You’re not prepared (or willing) to spend a ton of money
Screen Size: 13”
Weight: 1.3 lbs
Operating System: iOS
Storage Space: 512 GB
Display Resolution: 2752 x 2064
Some tablets can be purchased for less than $150, and others will cost more than $2,000. There’s truly something available for everybody at every price point. Generally, more expensive tablets will have higher quality cameras and audio systems, a better display resolution, more storage space and RAM, and a larger screen size.
Tablet screens typically range in size from seven inches to thirteen inches. The larger the screen, the higher the price, but it’ll also be more usable, especially for detail-driven apps.
Some tablets will be fairly limited in storage space with only 32 GB or 64 GB of space, while others can offer 512 GB or more. A larger storage capacity means you’ll be able to download a ton of games and store plenty of photos and videos without slowing the system down, but it’ll also be more expensive. Most tablets offer the option of inserting SD cards to increase the storage space as well.
The memory in a tablet is another important thing to consider. Most tablets will come with 4 GB of RAM, but you can also find versions with 6 GB, 8 GB, or more. The higher the memory capacity, the better you’ll be able to multitask or play complex, graphic-intensive games without any lagging.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.