Best Tablets for Watching Movies & Streaming | 2024 Edition

For a lot of folks out there, tablets aren’t just tech gadgets; they’re your go-to source for entertainment on the move. Their larger screens make them the ultimate companions for seamless movie streaming, especially when you’re tackling those long commutes. Forget squinting at your smartphone – tablets offer a better, more immersive viewing experience. In this roundup, we are here to guide you through the 10 best tablets for watching movies and streaming your favourite content.

Our rankings are based on thorough reviews, taking into account factors like display quality, battery life, and more, ensuring you make a sound buying decision on your next tablet purchase.

Best Tablets for Watching Movies and Streaming: An Overview

• Best among all the rest: Apple iPad Pro Series (on Amazon*). The iPad Pro series, known for its premium display quality, comes with a Liquid Retina XDR display in the 12.9-inch model, offering true-to-life colors and a peak brightness of 1600 nits. With features like ProMotion technology and powerful speakers, the iPad Pro is a top choice for binge watchers.
• Best premium pick for Android tablet lovers: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series (on Amazon*): Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 series impresses with its Super AMOLED display and powerful speakers. The inclusion of an S Pen stylus adds versatility, making it an ideal choice for users who appreciate both visual and creative aspects.
• Best alternative for iPad Pro: Apple iPad Air (on Amazon*). The iPad Air, equipped with the super-fast Apple M1 chipset, shares design elements with the iPad Pro. Its 10.9-inch display with True Tone technology ensures a captivating viewing experience, making it a premium yet more affordable option.
• Best pick for OLED screen lovers: Lenovo Tab P11 Pro G2 (on Amazon*). Lenovo’s Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 offers an 11.2-inch OLED display, providing exceptional black levels and contrast. With HDR 10+ support and impressive speakers, it’s a great choice for those who prioritize a high-quality visual and audio experience.
• Best alternative for Tab S9 series: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series (on Amazon*). The Galaxy Tab S9 FE mirrors the premium design of its more expensive counterpart, the Tab S9. With an IP68 rating, AMOLED display, and powerful speakers, it brings an immersive movie experience at a more accessible price point.
• Budget pick for iPad Fans: Apple iPad 10 (on Amazon*). Apple’s standard iPad 10, with its upgraded design and A14 chipset, delivers a vibrant 10.9-inch display. Its powerful hardware ensures smooth performance, making it an excellent choice for users seeking an affordable yet capable movie-watching tablet.
• Value for money tablet: Lenovo Tab P12 (on Amazon*). The Tab P12 impresses with a 12.7-inch high-resolution display and four speakers. Though slightly heavier, its large display and Dolby Atmos support make it an ideal companion for watching movies or streaming in general.
• Best pick under $200: Lenovo Tab P11 G2 (on Amazon*). Competing directly with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, the Tab P11 Gen 2 features an 11.5-inch display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz. With its sleek design and Dolby Atmos-powered speakers, it’s a great choice for multimedia consumption.
• Affordable all-rounder for daily streaming: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (on Amazon*). The Galaxy Tab A9+ stands out with its 11-inch IPS screen, boasting a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother visuals. While it may lack the premium features of higher-end models, its Snapdragon 695 processor ensures reliable performance for movie streaming.
• Best entry-level pick: Xiaomi RedmiPad SE (on Amazon*). The RedmiPad SE, priced affordably, surprises with its 11-inch 90Hz display – a rare find in this price range. With solid specifications, including the Snapdragon 680 processor and ample RAM, it’s an excellent budget-friendly option for movie enthusiasts.

10 Best Tablets for Watching Movies and Streaming: All the Details

Best Among All The Rest: Apple iPad Pro Series 

The displays on the new iPad Pro models are pretty much the same as their predecessors. Let’s start with the 11-inch model, featuring a standard LCD boasting a resolution of 2388 x 1668 pixels. This screen is a real gem – it’s fully laminated, supports True Tone, and shines brighter than any LCD on an Android tablet, hitting 600 nits. Honestly, it’s the best LCD we have laid eyes on.

Now, if you go for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, you’re in for a treat with the Liquid Retina XDR display, Apple’s fancy term for the Mini LED technology. The resolution here is a crisp 2732 x 2048 pixels, and at 264 pixels per inch (PPI), both models deliver equally sharp visuals. The Retina XDR display takes things up a notch with stronger contrast, especially with deep blacks that look truly impressive. For HDR content, the peak brightness reaches a whopping 1600 nits.

Editing photos or catching a movie on the Liquid Retina XDR display is a delight, especially for HDR films. However, there’s a slight blooming effect – a subtle glow during high-contrast scenes, like the end credits of a movie with white text on a black background, visible in dark settings with high brightness.

Is this a deal-breaker? Not really. But over the past year, we have noticed this glow more often during evening movie sessions. So, it’s not just a theoretical concern – it does happen in real life. Both models support the smooth 120Hz ProMotion display that Apple boasts about.

With such fantastic displays and excellent sound from the four speakers, you will enjoy watching movies and YouTube on iPad Pro. 

Also Read: Apple iPad Pro review

Best Premium Pick for Android Tablet Lovers: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series 

All three tablets boast a sleek and premium design. The IP68 certification, protecting against water and dust, is a standout feature, making it a delight to read a book or watch a movie while sitting in the bathtub with the S9 and S9+ or indulge in an HDR movie with the S9 Ultra.

Entertainment is at the forefront, supporting HD and HDR content on platforms like Netflix and YouTube. Powering this multimedia experience is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, with different storage options. The battery life is 11 hours across all models, an achievement of sorts considering the large and premium displays, putting Samsung ahead of the curve compared to Apple.

Crafted entirely from aluminum, the S9 is a mere 5.9 mm thin, the S9+ is 5.7 mm, and the Ultra takes the spotlight at just 5.5 mm, making it especially impressive given its large size. The fingerprint reader, once exclusive to the S8+ and S8 Ultra, now graces the plain Galaxy Tab S9, ensuring quick and accurate access across all models.

While the S7 and S8 featured standard LCDs, the smaller 11-inch S9 now boasts an AMOLED panel, delivering superior black levels compared to its predecessor and rivaling the S9+ and S9 Ultra, both equipped with AMOLEDs. Across the board, the displays on all three variants impress – sharp, bright enough for comfortable outdoor use, fully laminated, with vibrant colors and excellent black levels. The 120Hz support ensures smooth animations.

The S9 Ultra deserves a special mention for its stunning 14.6-inch AMOLED display, ideal for immersive movie watching, TV shows, or photo editing. The four speakers on each side deliver top-notch audio, with the larger ones standing out. They’re undoubtedly among the best in the Android tablet realm, rivaling even the 12.9-inch iPad Pro – the S9 Ultra might just have a slight edge.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series review

Great Alternative for iPad Pro: Apple iPad Air 

Apple’s iPad Air 5 marks the latest addition to their mid-range tablet lineup, with a starting price of $599. What’s noteworthy is that it now packs the super-fast Apple M1 chipset, giving it a premium edge that draws parallels with the iPad Pro.

In terms of design, the iPad Air 5 remains unchanged from its predecessor, aligning closely with the iPad Pro’s aesthetic. The consistent outer dimensions mean you can use the same accessories, such as keyboards and cases, that are compatible with the Pro. At a mere 6.1mm thickness and a weight of 461g, this iPad Air is sleek and lightweight, making it a joy to handle.

While lacking a microSD card slot, it compensates with a USB C 3.1 Gen 2 port, allowing you to connect multiple accessories, including external monitors and SSDs. Although the Pro boasts USB 4 with Thunderbolt support, the Air’s USB C port holds its own.

The sides house volume rockers and a power button featuring a built-in TouchID fingerprint scanner. Sporting only two speakers, each with two openings, the Air delivers fantastic sound, albeit slightly edged out by the Pro in a direct comparison.

The iPad Air 5 sports the same 10.9-inch IPS display as its predecessor. This vibrant LCD screen boasts wide viewing angles, full lamination, and a brightness of 500 nits. With a sharp resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels, it’s a fantastic display that supports Apple’s True Tone technology, adapting the white balance based on surrounding light.

Comparatively, the 11-inch iPad Pro takes a slight lead with a 0.1-inch larger display, slimmer bezels, and 100 nits more brightness. The Pro also features the coveted 120Hz ProMotion, a feature absent in the Air, impacting the smoothness of animations, Apple Pencil usage, and supported games.

Performance-wise, both M1 chips are nearly identical, with the Pro occasionally appearing faster due to its faster-refreshing screen. In the standard battery test, the iPad Air 5 matched the runtimes of the iPad Air 4 and iPad Pro, clocking in at 6 hours while looping an HD YouTube video at maximum brightness.

Under the hood, the iPad Air 5 houses the same Apple M1 chipset found in the iPad Pro, backed by 8GB of RAM and offering storage options of 64GB or 256GB. This powerhouse ensures a seamless and robust performance across various tasks.

Also Read: Apple iPad Air 5 review

Best Pick for OLED Screen Lovers: Lenovo Tab P11 Pro G2 

The Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 is stepping up the game with its impressive 11.2-inch OLED display, a standout feature in its price range. Unlike other tablets in a similar bracket that settle for regular LCDs, the P11 Pro Gen 2 boasts significantly better black levels and an excellent contrast. When compared to the iPad 10 and Galaxy Tab S8, the difference is noticeable – the LCD blacks appear more like a dark gray in contrast to the P11 Pro Gen 2.

What’s even more delightful is the support for HDR 10+ content, allowing you to enjoy not only YouTube but also Netflix in HDR. With a brightness of up to 600 nits, it outshines most Android tablets and even surpasses the iPad Air. Adding to the charm, it supports a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for delightful animations, and if you’re looking to save battery life, you can scale it down to 60 Hz.

The display upgrade from its predecessor is remarkable. The new generation boasts a true resolution of 2560 x 1536 pixels, ensuring that texts and icons look incredibly sharp. The four speakers on the sides complement the visual experience, offering not only good but impressively loud sound quality. This combination, along with HDR support, positions the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 as an excellent media tablet, perfect for indulging in YouTube and Netflix content.

Under the hood, the P11 Pro Gen 2 houses a MediaTek Kompanio 1300T octa-core processor, paired with a generous 6GB or 8GB of RAM and ample internal storage options of 128GB or 256GB. Unfortunately, a 5G version is not currently available.

While the design maintains the high-quality feel of its predecessor, a few changes are noticeable. The body, although still impressively well-made, has transitioned from metal to plastic. At a sleek 6.8mm thickness and a weight of 480g, it retains a lightweight and portable profile.

In the battery department, the P11 Pro Gen 2 impresses with a runtime of 10.5 hours in our test – a good result, especially considering the brightness of the display. For this assessment, we always loop an HD YouTube video at maximum brightness. All in all, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 brings a winning combination of display brilliance, stable performance, and good streaming experience.

Also Read: Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 review

Best Alternative for Tab S9: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is like a twin to the pricier Galaxy Tab S9, sporting an almost identical exterior. The resemblance goes beyond looks – many accessories are interchangeable. Made entirely from aluminum, this tablet boasts an IP68 rating, a feature not commonly found in many tablets in this range.

The 10.9-inch IPS display is a noticeable improvement from its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. With a resolution of 2304 x 1440 pixels, it not only offers sharper visuals but also stands out with significantly increased brightness and more vibrant colors. When compared to the similarly priced Apple iPad 10, the S9 FE gains an upper hand – its display is fully laminated and supports a smooth 90Hz, enhancing the experience of animations and games.

The 90Hz refresh rate strikes a good balance, falling short of 120Hz but providing a seamless visual experience that’s challenging to distinguish from the higher refresh rate. However, the disparity in black levels is evident – the AMOLED display of the S9 outshines the LCD of the S9 FE in this regard. Nevertheless, the display remains a highlight, combining aesthetics, brightness, high resolution, stable viewing angles, and vibrant colors. Additionally, with a Widevine level of L1, it ensures HD resolution when streaming from platforms like Netflix.

Surprisingly good are the two speakers, almost reaching flagship qualities. While the iPad Pro and S9 may have a slight edge in bass and volume, the S9 FE’s sound quality is notably better than entry-level tablets. It’s only in a direct comparison that the minor differences become apparent.

Comparing the S9 FE+ with the Galaxy Tab S9+ and S8+, the bright display of the FE+ stands out, matching the brightness of its flagship counterparts. However, it employs a standard LCD, resulting in blacks appearing more like a dark gray compared to the richer AMOLEDs found in premium tablets. This distinction is most noticeable in a side-by-side comparison.

The display upgrade is evident when compared to its predecessor, the S7 FE, which had a noticeably darker and less impressive screen. The speakers maintain their high quality, providing an excellent audio experience for movies and TV shows. While the S9+ may have a louder sound with better bass, this is a minor critique given the overall stellar sound quality of the S9 FE+, making it an excellent pick as one of the best tablets for watching movies.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE review | Tab S9 FE+ review

Budget Pick for Apple Fans: Apple iPad 10

Apple has given the classic iPad design a modern makeover, bidding farewell to the home button, chunky bezels, and the Lightning connector. The new iPad 10 now shares the sleek design with its counterparts, the iPad Air and iPad Pro. A sleek black bezel houses the display, noticeably slimmer than its predecessor, the iPad 9.

On the sides, you’ll find four speaker slots hosting two speakers each. The sound quality is surprisingly good, we finally get decent stereo separation on the basic iPad, making it an great choice for a media tablet.

Under the hood, the iPad 10 boasts fantastic hardware, featuring the potent Apple A14 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. You have the flexibility to choose between 64GB and 256GB of internal storage, with an option for a 5G version. 

Moving to the display, the iPad 10’s 10.9-inch screen is slightly larger than its predecessor, a change we appreciate. The resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels ensures that texts appear sharp and clear. What’s more, the display is impressively bright at 500 nits, outshining many competitors. Colors pop vibrantly, and the support for Apple’s True Tone technology enhances the visual experience.

In the battery department, the iPad 10 clocked in a runtime of 5.5 hours in our test, looping an HD YouTube video at maximum brightness. Considering the display’s brightness, it’s a solid result, though not groundbreaking.

When it comes to performance, the iPad 10 flexes its muscles in the Geekbench 5 benchmark comparison, outperforming the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series and proving itself as a snappy contender among Android tablets. While slightly stronger than its predecessor, the iPad 9, it sits below the iPad Mini. However, the iPad Air with the M1 and the iPad Pro with the M2 are the true powerhouses in Apple’s lineup.

Running on iPadOS 16, the iPad 10 shares the same software as its iPad siblings. We can’t help but appreciate the wealth of apps optimized for iPadOS, making it a fantastic choice for work, school, or university.

It’s worth noting that the iPad Air, with its fully laminated display and the mighty M1 chipset, stands out as a more powerful alternative within the iPad lineup.

Also Read: Apple iPad 10 review

Value for Money Tablet: Lenovo Tab P12 

The Lenovo Tab P12 embraces a design similar to its counterparts, the P12 Pro and P11 Pro Gen 2, showcasing a premium aesthetic with its sleek metal casing. At just 6.9mm thickness, it presents a slim profile with a large 12.7-inch display. Weighing in at 615g, it strikes a good balance for its size, providing a comfortable feel.

Speaking of the display, the Lenovo Tab P12 boasts a 12.7-inch regular LCD screen, featuring an impressive resolution of 2944 x 1840 pixels. This high resolution ensures that texts, photos, and icons appear exceptionally sharp, outclassing competitors like the Honor Pad 8, even surpassing the clarity of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE.

While the display may seem a tad dim for direct sunlight, it shines brightly under cloudier conditions. The fully laminated screen offers wide viewing angles, complemented by convenient features like a reading mode, blue light filter, and customizable color temperature adjustments in the settings. Though limited to a standard 60Hz refresh rate, it’s worth noting that some may notice a subtle jelly or rolling shutter effect during portrait scrolling, a quirk that disappears with the 120Hz option available on the Tab P12 Pro or the smaller Tab P11 G2, the latter boasting a brighter display and even more stable viewing angles.

One notable improvement over the P11 is the P12’s superior speakers, featuring a total of four with boosted bass, even surpassing the Samsung S7 FE in audio quality. This, combined with the large display, positions the Tab P12 as an exceptional entertainment tablet. Not to mention, it supports essential DRM standards, ensuring you can enjoy Netflix and other streaming services in HD resolution.

Powering the Lenovo Tab P12 is a MediaTek MT8791V processor accompanied by either 4GB or 8GB of RAM and internal storage options of 128GB or 256GB. Unfortunately, as of now, a version with LTE or 5G capability seems to be unavailable. 

During our heavy battery test, where we continuously looped fullHD video content on full brightness on YouTube, the Tab P12 scored a runtime of 5.5 hours. However, under normal usage conditions with medium brightness, we anticipate the tablet could comfortably reach around 7 hours of backup. 

Also Read: Lenovo Tab P12 Gen 2 review

Best Pick Under $200: Lenovo Tab P11 G2 

What sets the Tab P11 Gen 2 apart is its larger display, supporting a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Lenovo has stuck to its design roots, and the Tab P11 Gen 2 carries the signature look seen in many Lenovo tablets. The back is a combination of 2/3 metal and 1/3 plastic, resulting in a solid build quality. While it might lack the seamless transition seen in premium tablets, it more than makes up for it with its overall sturdiness.

The tablet boasts a 11.5-inch display with a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels. While this resolution is standard for 10-inch tablets in its price range, the larger size of 11.5 inches means you get to experience more pixels.

Comparing it to the smaller Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, which shares the same resolution but has a slightly higher pixel density due to its smaller size, the Tab P11 Gen 2 gains an advantage with more stable viewing angles and the coveted 120Hz refresh rate. While competitors like the Redmi Pad settle for 90Hz, and the S6 Lite only manages 60Hz, the Lenovo’s animations look notably smooth.

Bright enough to tackle work on a train with daylight streaming in, the display is complemented by four speakers on the sides. These speakers deliver impressive volume and decent sound quality, making the P11 Gen 2 an ideal companion for binge-watching YouTube or Netflix, the latter supporting HD playback thanks to a Widevine Level of L1.

Under the hood, the Tab P11 Gen 2 runs on a MediaTek Helio G99 processor, complemented by a choice of 4GB or 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. There’s also an LTE option for those who need it. In we setup, we opted for the 4GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration.

In the battery department, the P11 Gen 2 clocked in a runtime of 6 hours in our test, with the refresh rate set to 120Hz. It’s worth noting that this duration will extend when operating at 60Hz. For our battery test, we always run an HD YouTube video at maximum brightness in an endless loop. Despite the lower battery life, the Tab P11 Gen 2 still stands out with its compelling features and performance.

Also Read: Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 review

Affordable All-rounder for Daily Streaming: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 

Samsung tablets maintain their familiar rectangular shape with a practical 16:10 aspect ratio. The back panel, comprising the majority of the device, boasts a metal finish with a matte touch, except for the plastic frame at the top.

On the rear, you’ll notice a slightly protruding circular camera module, while the front features toughened glass with symmetrical bezels and a discreet front camera lens. The flat sides also carry the matte finish, offering a practical touch. The right side houses a charging port, headphone jack, microphone, and two external speakers. Meanwhile, the left side features two more external speakers. 

When it comes to build quality, the tablet impresses with a solid and well-constructed design, without any annoying creaks or wobbles. Bringing exciting improvements over its predecessor, the tablet is comfortable to hold, relatively lightweight for an 11-inch device, and the flat sides ensure a comfortable grip. 

Moving on to the display, the tablet boasts an 11-inch IPS screen with Full HD resolution and an impressive 90Hz refresh rate, marking the first A series tablet to support high refresh rates. This enhancement results in smoother visuals, elevating the overall viewing experience.

The brightness is slightly limited due to the display type i.e. TFT screen. Nevertheless, the viewing angles are excellent, with no noticeable backlight bleeding. The image clarity is sufficient for streaming your favorite movies and shows. The 11-inch screen size hits the sweet spot for a tablet. Indoors, the display is a delight, but under direct sunlight, content visibility becomes challenging, even at full brightness.

Under the hood, the tablet is powered by the reliable Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, featuring eight cores. While not breaking any speed records, it delivers a steady mid-range performance. The Tab A9+ variant, in our setup, boasts 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, with another variant offering 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage. Even with 64GB, you can expand the storage using a microSD card up to 1TB.

The tablet packs a 7040mAh battery with support for fast charging up to 15W. The quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos enhances the sound quality, particularly enjoyable in quiet surroundings. However, in noisy environments, the sound output may not be as impressive.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ first impressions

Best Entry-level Pick: Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE

The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE, priced under $200 Dollars, proves to be a good entry-level tablet, boasting an impressive array of features. 

At the heart of the device is an 11-inch IPS display, offering a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels with a pixel density of 207ppi. While this might fall short of the pixel counts in many smartphones, it proves to be more than sufficient for the tablet’s Full HD display. What sets it apart, particularly in its price range, is the inclusion of a 90Hz screen, surpassing the common 60Hz offerings in competitors. This higher refresh rate lends a smoothness to animations and games, a notable feature considering its budget-friendly nature. Despite the slightly lower brightness compared to the iPad 10, the 400 nits illumination still holds up well, allowing for outdoor use, even under direct sunlight for reading, though dark movies might pose a challenge.

The display’s quality extends beyond refresh rates, with solid contrast, commendable color reproduction, full lamination, and support for HD resolution streaming on platforms like Netflix. The audio experience is enhanced by the four speakers, delivering a sound quality that further positions the Redmi Pad SE as an excellent choice for multimedia consumption on platforms like Netflix and YouTube.

Under the hood, the tablet houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 octa-core processor, coupled with a substantial 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB of RAM, depending on the version. This memory capacity is noteworthy, especially given its budget-friendly price point. Storage won’t be a concern either, as all versions come with a generous 128GB internal storage, further expandable via the micro-SD card slot.

Crafted with a metal body, the Redmi Pad SE gives a high-quality feel, measuring 7.36mm in thickness and weighing in at 478g. While the transition from the display to the casing might not match the seamless elegance of the iPad Pro, the overall build quality is good. Xiaomi offers it in three attractive colors – lavender purple, graphite gray, and mint green.

In the battery department, the Redmi Pad SE stands strong, achieving a runtime of 8.75 hours in the battery test. This robust performance, where an HD YouTube video plays at maximum brightness in a continuous loop, speaks volumes about the tablet’s endurance.

In conclusion, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE emerges as a well-rounded and a budget-friendly tablet with its 90 Hz display, ample RAM options, solid build quality, and impressive battery life. It certainly holds its own in the competitive tablet market.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE review