2023 is going to be an Epic Year for Gaming Tablets!
Pre-2020 Android tablets were… well… there’s no other easy way to say it… crappy. While the displays & design were great, the raw gaming performance was lacking.
Only the big-dogs, Samsung & Apple could give us access to top-tier CPUs inside a big-display tablet form-factor.
Fast-forward to 2023… and we’ve got choices! Beautiful, big tablet displays with high-end mobile chipsets to match.
Your next gaming Android tablet will offer the same graphical fidelity and performance we’ve expected from phones for years.
And even better, they’re not as expensive as you might think.
So if like me, you’re tired of thumbing your way around a tiny 6″ phone screen, or want a gaming emulation beast with a large display, then here are the Top 5 Android Gaming Tablets of 2023!
Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro (11″) – Gaming Tablet Beast
From: $349/£339/€369
Xiaomi’s 2023 tablet flagship has got some beefy upgrades this year thanks to the use of the Flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, that even outperforms Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Tab 8.
- Related: What’s the fastest tablet?
So what’s new with this year’s epic Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro?
The 11″ display gets a boost in resolution, refresh-rate and brightness making it the best non-OLED tablet display available.
The real improvement comes from the modern 4nm Qualcomm chipset used which offers better connectivity, helps with battery life and gives the Xiaomi Tab 6 Pro a 40% boost in gaming graphics. Why the powerful chipset? Thanks to the 144Hz display, you can play your favourite games at ultra-high (PC Level) refresh rates!
While not the latest flagship mobile CPU, this is still an ultra-capable choice that runs even the most demanding of Android games at 120-144Hz.
It’s great to see Xiaomi taking their tablets seriously this year!
So who’s the competition to this tablet beast?
- Related: Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro Vs Xiaomi Pad 6 – Which offers better value?
- Related: Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro VIVO Pad2
Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro 11″ Pro – Available Now
Display: Epic (11″ HDR10 2880×1800 144Hz – 550nits brightness)
Performance: Epic (Snapdragon 8+ gen 1 + 8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM + 128GB UFS3.1 Storage)
Speakers: Excellent (8-Speaker Setup + Dolby Atmos)
Connectivity: Excellent (WiFi 6e, Type-C, BT5.3)
Battery: Epic (8840mAh+ 67watt Fast Charge)
Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro (11″) – Best Value Gaming Tablet
From: $349/£339/€369
Xiaomi’s 2022 flagship tablet is still a great gaming choice in 2023 thanks to its beefy Snapdragon 870 chipset.
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 11″ gains a whopping 20-30% graphics performance boost over the non-pro with its Snapdragon 860. That means higher graphics settings on Genshin, or you can opt for super smooth 120fps gameplay.
With the Pad 5 Pro, you’re getting top-notch flagship tablet features including: a bright (500nits) 11″ display with a WQHD+ resolution of 2560×1600, a 120Hz refresh rate, a sleek full aluminium body and ultra-fast charging.
While it doesn’t feature Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon Gen 8+ Gen 1 chipset (they’re saving that one of the Pad 6 Pro in Q2 2023), the large 12″ metal unibody acts like a huge heatsink to help sustain those peak clock rates on the SN870 which ultimately gives you better FPS in your favourite Android games!
Add to that an 8-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support and you’ll wonder how this tablet only costs half that of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (Amazon).
If you’re considering the Xiaomi pad 5 or Pad 5 Pro for your next gaming tablet, there is no better option when it comes to Price vs Gaming Performance & Features.
Xiaomi Pad 5 11″ Pro – Available Now
Display: Epic (11″ HDR10 2560×1600 120Hz – 500nits brightness)
Performance: Excellent (Snapdragon 870 + 6/8GB LPDDR5 RAM + 128GB UFS3.1 Storage)
Speakers: Excellent (8-Speaker Setup + Dolby Atmos)
Connectivity: Excellent (WiFi 6, Type-C, BT5.2, SIM Support)
Battery: Epic (8600mAh+ 67watt Fast Charge)
Redmi Pad (10.61″) – Budget Gaming Tablet
Xiaomi’s budget spinoff, Redmi, has just released its own budget tablet for 2023. The 10.61″ Redmi Pad.
Featuring MediaTek’s Helio G99 chipset, it’s more than capable of playing your favourite Android games on medium settings while taking advantage of its smoother 90hz display. We also get the same metal unibody design as the Xiaomi Pad Pro, a quad-speaker setup and an FHD+ display.
Selling for $240/£250/€260, it’s the best-performing tablet in its price class. And that’s before you factor in its excellent speakers and metal design.
- Related: Xiaomi Pad 5 Vs Redmi Pad
Bonus features that make the Redmi Pad stand out from the crowd are its expandable SD Card port, ultra-thin 0.71mm & light body (445g) and finally a centre-placed wide-angle front camera for video calls.
If you can squeeze a little more out of your budget though, the Xiaomi Pad 5 is only an extra $70 which will net you around an 80% increase in GPU performance and a better display.
Do we recommend the Redmi Pad?
Yes! Unless you need the extra-gaming grunt, the Redmi Pad offers it all at a great entry-level price.
Redmi Pad 10.61″ – Available Now
Display: Good (10.61″ 2000×1200 90Hz – 400nits brightness)
Performance: Good (Helio G99 + 4/6GB LPDDR4X RAM + 64/128GB UFS2.2 Storage)
Speakers: Excellent (Quad-Speaker Setup + Dolby Atmos)
Connectivity: Good (WiFi 5, Type-C, BT5.3)
Battery: Good (8000mAh Dual-Cell + 18w Charging)
Lenovo Y700 (8.8″) – Best Small Android Gaming Tablet
Wielding the same Snapdragon 870 as the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro, but with a much smaller display is the Lenovo Y700 gaming tablet.
Originally thought to be a China-only release, the popularity of the Y700 has made Lenovo think twice and are now producing a global variant for western retailers.
With only an 8.8″ display, the Y700 is much easier to grip in two hands. That being said, it’s also one of the more chunky 8″ tablets with a design that feels dated in 2023.
So what makes the Lenovo Y700 a great gaming tablet?
It’s the first Android Gaming tablet to feature dual linear vibration motors. While common in gaming phones, it’s rare to get any sort of rumble on a tablet.
The display is also top-notch, using a 2560×1600 resolution with 500nits brightness. It’s HDR10 certified and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 spectrum. Finally, it’s using a fast-refresh panel at 120Hz with a decent touch-response rate of 240Hz.
If you’re looking for a dedicated 8″ Android gaming tablet, then Lenovo Y700 has you covered. We should see the price drop in 2023 with the release of the global variant.
Lenovo Y700 8.8″ Gaming Tablet – Available Now
Display: Epic (8.8″ HDR10 2560×1600 120Hz – 500nits brightness)
Performance: Excellent (Snapdragon 870 + 12GB LPDDR5 RAM + 256GB Storage)
Speakers: Excellent (Dual-Speaker Setup + Dolby Atmos)
Connectivity: Excellent (WiFi 6, Type-C 3.1 Gen 2, BT5.1, 3.5mm Headphone, SD Card)
Battery: Excellent (6550mAh + 45watt Fast Charge)
Realme Pad X (10.95″) – Alternative Budget Gaming Tablet
Entering the tablet market this year is the Realme Pad X which is in direct competition to the Redmi Pad.
But, you might find it hard to get your hands-on one as stock seems pretty limited outside of India & China.
Compared to the Redmi Pad, the Realme Pad X boasts a 15% performance boost in your games thanks to the faster Snapdragon 695. That being said, you’re only getting a 60Hz display which is a shame.
You also get a Dolby Atmos quad-speaker setup inside a slim 7.1mm design. But…. you do miss out on a metallic unibody with the back panel being made from matte plastic.
Do we recommend the Realme Pad X?
It’s a no this time. The Redmi Pad (Amazon) offers a better display, a more premium design, weighs less and costs less.
Realme Pax X (10.95″) Gaming Tablet – Available Now
Display: Good (10.95″ 2000×1200 – 450nits brightness)
Performance: Good (Snapdragon 695 + 6GB RAM + 128GB Storage*)
Speakers: Good (Quad-Speaker Setup + Dolby Atmos)
Connectivity: Good (WiFi 5, Type-C, BT5.1, 3.5mm Headphone, SD Card Port*, 5G Celluar Optional)
Battery: Excellent (8340mAh + 33watt Fast Charge + Reverse Charging)
Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro – Coming Soon 2023
Set to release in the 2nd quarter of 2023, the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro is going to cause a stir in the tablet market by taking on Samsung directly.
It’s going to do this by using the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset coupled with an AMOLED 120Hz display. If that sounds familiar it’s because it’s the exact same specs as Samsung’s 12.4″ Tab S8+.
Related: Best Xiaomi Phone
With the performance of the 8+ Gen 1 chipset, plus Xiaomi’s ultra-competitive pricing you’re going to think twice before forking out the big bucks on a Samsung tablet.
But… Samsung doesn’t need to be scared anytime soon though as the Q2 release date is for the Chinese version with no current release date for the Global variant.
If 2022 is anything to go by, Xiaomi will release the Xiaomi Pad 6 (non-pro) with an updated Snapdragon 870 for its global audience at a significant discount compared to the 2022 Pro model.
Stay tuned, as we’ll update this article with the latest Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro information once the official announcement is released.
Samsung Tab S8, S8+ & S8 Ultra – Most Powerful Gaming Tablet
The overpriced but top-tier Android Gaming Tablet Option.
I’ve left the most powerful Android gaming tablet until last. Why?
Because the price vs performance of the S8 line-up isn’t as competitive as the other gaming tablets in this list.
That being said, if you want the absolute best in performance, gaming, features and display there is no other Android option. You’re just gonna have to empty your pockets to get it.
All three of Samsung’s 2022/2023 tablets feature the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 flagship processor, which will give you the best gaming performance possible this year.
The downside, is that Samsung charges a huge premium for their top-tier Android tablets. Even the Tab S8 (11″) misses out on Samsung’s signature AMOLED display tech and still set you back $700 / £800.
You have to jump up to the 12.4″ Tab S8+ to get an OLED display, which for most people is too unwieldy for gaming without a controller.
Performance-wise, you can play Genshin Impact on high-settings at 120fps all day. It’s a tablet beast.
There’s no denying that the Tab S8 lineup is the best that Android has to offer in terms of raw performance and features, but considering Price Vs Performance & Features… it doesn’t come close to the Xiaomi Pad 5.
Feeling Disappointed in 2023’s Gaming Tablet?
Check out 2023’s Best Gaming Phones instead – it’s where all the cool gaming tech is hiding.
The market for gaming tablets is much smaller than that for gaming phones. It would be great to see Nubia release a Red Magic Tablet soon with an inbuilt fan specifically for gamers.
What do you think? Leave our team a comment below.