Best Tablet for Watching Movies & Netflix

We can’t make a list of tablets without the latest iPad Pro 12.9”. This is a beastly performer when it comes to productivity, but it also handles entertainment well. It has a gorgeous 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display. 

 The resolution measures 2388 x 1668 which is incredibly sharp for a tablet. It’s sharper than 2K so it’s great for watching movies thanks to the crisp and big display. But the color performance is just as impressive. 

 Everything you see on screen has excellent contrast, and you’ll even notice detailed shadows and shading.

 Picture quality is also vibrant since it has a wide color range to choose from. Plus the display supports TrueTone technology and ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate so it’s smooth and accurate. 

 Safe to say, it’s a stunning display that has vivid, true-to-life colors with a crystal-clear picture. 

 The iPad Pro also has a 4-stereo speaker setup that blasts audio from both the top and bottom and they sound great. The audio is loud, and clear and has a comfortable bass level. 

 The speakers work well for spatial audio and it supports Dolby Atmos so there’s surround sound too. And to top it off, it’ll last you a long time on a single charge, rated up to 10 hours. 

 The only real problem with the iPad Pro is the price. It’s got a hefty price tag for a tablet so that may drive users away. But if you’ve got the cash, then you can’t go wrong with the latest iPad Pro. 

If you’re looking for a premium Android tablet to watch movies on, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is it. What makes the S8 Ultra stand out is the display, a large 14.6-inch sAMOLED display with a razor-sharp 2960 x 1848 resolution.

Since the display is an sAMOLED panel it’s much more impactful in dark and bright scenes. Pictures look more detailed and vibrant thanks to the OLED tech. OLEDs display true black that creates an immersive movie-watching experience.

 Most other tablets use traditional LCD panels which simply can’t mimic AMOLED’s depth, so it’s a big plus on the S8 series tablets. 

 You also get a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support. HDR takes image quality and brightness further so it’s perfect for watching the latest blockbusters. Try watching a colorful animated movie and you’ll know what we’re talking about. 

 Simply put, color accuracy, depth, and sharpness make the Tab S8 Ultra display one of the best on the list. However, we think it’s just slightly lackluster in the audio department. 

 The S8 Ultra’s 4-speaker setup is loud and clear and sounds great even at higher volumes. But we noticed the bass isn’t as full as we’d like. 

 It’s still a great sound system with a lot to love. We just wished there was an extra kick to it. But the S8 Ultra supports Dolby Atmos surround sound and can last up to 14 hours on a single charge.

 Alternatively, if you want to save some cash you can check out the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+. This tablet has almost everything the Ultra has, but has a smaller battery and display. 

 The battery and display are still excellent on the S8+, just not generous as on the Ultra model. The Ultra’s display is also slightly sharper with a higher resolution and has a dual 12MP selfie camera. 

For Windows users looking to unwind with a movie, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is the best way to do it. The Surface Pro 9 has an excellent display; a 13-inch panel with a 2880 x 1920 resolution. 

 Picture quality is sharp, and there’s a lot of room for watching content. Plus, the Surface Pro 9 supports Dolby Vision, HDR, and Dolby Atmos so you’re getting the best visuals and audio too.

 The colors look accurate and pop out of the screen. All in all, a fantastic display perfect for binge-watching the latest series. 

 There are also the 2W stereo speakers that have surprisingly punchy bass and get sufficiently loud. The audio is clean, so it’s great for listening to music or watching content. But there’s no headphone jack which is a bummer.

 The best part is the Surface Pro 9 can last up to 15.5 hours on a single charge. 

 The Surface Pro 9 is a great entertainment console, even if it was built for productivity. But if you want a tablet that you can work and play with, this tablet is a great choice. Though you will need to purchase the keyboard/pen separately. 

If you want a more affordable iPad, the iPad Air 5th Gen is next in line to the iPad Pro. While it misses out on some of the flagship features of the Pro, it has most of its core functionality. 

 The display is slightly watered down with a smaller 10.9-inch Liquid Retina at a lower resolution. But that’s still plenty of brightness and sharpness for watching the latest films and videos.

 It has the same P3 wide color gamut and TrueTone technology, so colors still look vibrant and vivid, it’s just not as bright as the iPad Pro. 

 The iPad Air has two top and bottom firing stereo speakers. They’re loud, clear, and a little punchy, but definitely not as powerful as the iPad Pros. At least it’ll last you the whole day with the 10-hour battery life. 

 You do miss out on performance with the older M1 chip and it doesn’t have the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate. It’s still powerful enough to handle everything you’d need it to, but it’s not as smooth and it might take a little longer to load apps.

 While these are some big misses to functionality, you have to consider that it’s half the price of the iPad Pro. 

 It still has many of the features that make iPads so great. It’s a formidable tablet for all your entertainment needs, you just need to know what you’re missing and if you can live without it. 

The Lenovo P12 Pro is a great option if you’re on the hunt for a mid-range Android tablet. What makes this model stand out is the display; a 12.6-inch AMOLED with a 2K 2560 x 1600 resolution. 

 You get a crisp AMOLED display at almost half the price of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Colors are just as vibrant and you can tell there’s a depth to anything you see on screen. The 2K resolution ensures everything looks crystal clear. 

 But a big reason we chose this tablet is the audio. The tablet comes with a JBL quad-speaker setup that supports surround sound. It also has Dolby Atmos and is tuned with Lenovo Premium Audio.

 That’s about as much as you could ask for out of a tablet’s sound system. Content from the tablet sounds immersive and clear-cut. It has a great volume range too, so it’s loud enough for most content. 

 Where the P12 Pro compromises is its performance. It’s rocking a slightly dated Snapdragon 870 chip which is still powerful enough, just not as capable as newer chipsets. It also lacks software support so you’re stuck with the same Android version.

 Lenovo mentions they usually only receive one major Android update. It comes preinstalled with Android 11 so you’re already using older software. 

 But if you can look past these problems, the P12 Pro fantastic tablet at an even better price. 

Next up, we’ve got the latest 10th Gen iPad ranking as the best budget iPad on the list. This is a perfect option if you were looking for an iPad for your kids or if you need a budget-friendly iPad and don’t mind the watered-down features. 

 The iPad 10th Gen is way cheaper than the iPad Pro and slightly cheaper than the iPad Air. But it doesn’t take away too many features. It still has a gorgeous 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with a sharp 2360 x 1640 resolution. 

 This is the same resolution as the iPad Air so it’s equally clear. However, the iPad 10th Gen only supports an sRGB color gamut. This means content won’t look as colorful as the iPad Air. 

 Colors still pop, but you can tell there’s a difference in shading and how vibrant it is. It doesn’t get as colorful or immersive, but you can still enjoy watching a movie on it.

 At least the iPad features stereo speakers on the top and bottom of the display. It’s not as impactful as pricier iPads, but it gets the job done. The iPad will last up to 9-10 hours on a single charge so it can last you all day. 

 In terms of battery life, the iPad is still a top contender in the budget segment. 

 A big reason for getting an iPad is the Apple ecosystem. 

 Apple’s App Store has many exclusive apps, games, and content you won’t find on Android. If that’s your biggest concern (+Facetime and iMessage), then the 10th Gen iPad is the cheapest way to do it.

 Sure, you miss out on some flagship features, but it’s still an iPad and has Apple’s fantastic ecosystem, apps, and polish. 

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a great solution for students and adults who want an affordable, powerful enough Windows hybrid. It doesn’t do anything too impressive performance-wise, but it can handle general browsing and light multitasking. 

 But the Surface Go 3 still has a 10.5-inch display with a 1920 x 1280 resolution. Picture quality is clear and detailed so it’s a great companion for movie nights. And even though it’s a ‘budget’ tablet, color accuracy is superb. 

 This tablet covers the entire sRGB color gamut so videos and pictures look vibrant on-screen. Colors appear well-saturated and accurate which is very impressive considering the price tag. 

 Plus, the Surface Go 3 has the same speaker setup as the Surface Pro 9; 2W stereo speakers. The audio sounds crisp and loud, and you can tell there’s a solid kick in the bass. 

 It’s a great battery performer too, lasting up to 11 hours on a single charge. All in all, the Surface Go 3 is well-optimized as an entertainment console. It can’t keep up with heavy multi-tasking or graphic-intensive programs, but it’s perfect for Netflix. 

 It’s got a great price too, but you’ll have to purchase the keyboard/stylus separately. 

Ranking in as the Best Budget Android Tablet is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022 Edition). The tablet got a refresh last year, and it’s better than ever for streaming content. On the display, it has a 10.4-inch LCD panel with a 2000 x 1200 resolution.

 The display is sharp and shows detailed picture quality. It does lack slightly in terms of color vibrancy but it’s still good enough for everyday streaming. 

 But where the S6 Lite makes up for it is in the audio department. It has dual AKG stereo speakers that sound full, clear, and loud. It isn’t as immersive or punchy as the S8 series tablets, but it’s a solid sound system for the price. 

 The S6 Lite also has a long-lasting battery, up to 12 hours on a single charge.

 The S6 Lite is a great tablet that doesn’t compromise on the essentials. Movies look great thanks to the high resolution & wide color palette and the sound system is solid considering the price.

 However, it does lack in terms of raw performance with the entry-level chipset. 

 But if you’re in the market for a simple budget tablet that’s powerful enough to browse social media and watch videos, then this is a great option. 

Last up on the list, we’ve got the Amazon Fire HD 10 as the Best Entry-Level tablet. It’s the cheapest tablet on the list by far and has some surprising features. Like the 10.1- inch display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. 

 The display is passably sharp and is clearer than we expected. But it isn’t very colorful, bright, or immersive which is a little disappointing. It’ll get the job done for most, but it can be lacking for some. 

 It does support Dolby Atmos which is a big plus for surround sound.

 The audio is otherwise decent, clear, and loud. The volume range isn’t great as higher volumes can sound shrill, but it’s still good enough for watching videos and movies. At least it can last you all day with a 12-hour battery life. 

 The problem with the Fire HD 10 is the limited Fire OS. You’re stuck with Amazon’s paltry selection of apps and it isn’t as smooth as usual Android tablets. The streaming app you use might not even be available on the Amazon app store. 

 You’ll have to sideload any apps/games missing from the app store which is a hassle to do. 

 But even with the flaws, the Fire HD 10 is a surprisingly good tablet. You can purchase it for under $150 and honestly, at that price this is one of the best contenders. It doesn’t do anything groundbreaking for performance or speed, but it’s functional.