Best Large Tablets 2026: What to buy for performance, size, and on‑device AI

TL;DR — Quick verdict for procurement teams

• Best overall: Apple 13‑inch iPad Pro (8th gen, M5) — top performance, OLED display, mature tablet app ecosystem. (Starts at $1,299, prices as of Jan 2026.)
• Best budget large display: KTC 25‑inch Android Display — huge screen for collaboration and static use, exceptional value.
• Best full Windows tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro (11th gen) — runs desktop apps, integrates Microsoft CoPilot; ideal when legacy software is required.
• Best value iPad: Apple 13‑inch iPad Air (6th gen, M2) — strong performance at a lower price (~$799).
• Best Android flagship: Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra — premium display, S Pen workflows, Galaxy AI features.

Who this guide is for

Procurement leaders, product managers, and power users deciding whether a large tablet should replace laptops for certain roles — sales teams, field service, creatives, and meeting hosts. Focus: business use cases, on‑device AI capability, accessory costs, and lifecycle/TCO considerations.

Why size is only one axis

Large tablets now sit at the crossroads of mobility, performance, and on‑device intelligence. Screen real estate matters for presentations, design, and split‑screen workflows, but the choice of SoC, OS, and accessory ecosystem usually determines whether a tablet is a productivity tool or a costly compromise. Performance chips like Apple’s M5 and M2, Microsoft’s Snapdragon X lineup, and MediaTek/Qualcomm parts in Android devices don’t just deliver speed — they enable low‑latency AI features, better camera processing, and longer battery life.

Top picks and who should buy each

Apple 13‑inch iPad Pro (8th gen, M5)

Why it matters: The 13‑inch iPad Pro blends an Ultra Retina XDR OLED, the M5 chip, and up‑to‑date radios (Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread, faster 5G). Benchmarks and hands‑on testing show the M5 delivers noticeably faster app loads and graphics rendering, which translates to smoother multitasking and creative work.

Who it’s for: Creative teams, executives, and power users who need the best tablet apps, top display quality, and a strong accessory ecosystem.

• Pros: Best-in-class performance, OLED display, mature app ecosystem, strong accessories (Magic Keyboard redesign).
• Cons: Premium price; keyboard and high‑capacity storage add significant cost; iPadOS still limits some full‑desktop workflows.
• Starting price: $1,299 (Jan 2026).

ZDNET’s lead reviewer noted the 13‑inch iPad Pro finally feels like the intuitively responsive tablet Apple has been promising, and that the M5 made day‑to‑day rendering and app responsiveness noticeably faster than earlier devices.

KTC 25‑inch Android Display (budget large tablet)

Why it matters: A surprising value play — a 25‑inch FHD IPS panel with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage at a low price point (MSRP $500, often discounted). It’s heavy and less portable, but for a static collaboration display, showroom, or shared meeting hub it’s hard to beat.

Who it’s for: Teams that need large, affordable screens for demos, digital signage, or shared workstations.

• Pros: Low cost per inch, built‑in kickstand, decent multitasking for Android apps.
• Cons: Weight (~13.7 lb), limited portability, Android app scaling remains a variable.
• Starting price: $500 MSRP (often found nearer $350; Jan 2026).

One reviewer said they pushed the display through a variety of apps and found the larger surface improved interaction versus a phone — a useful reminder that form factor can change use patterns more than raw specs.

Microsoft Surface Pro (11th gen)

Why it matters: If you need full Windows apps in a tablet form factor, the Surface Pro remains the clearest path. Snapdragon X Plus/X Elite options bring extended battery life and on‑device AI capabilities with Microsoft CoPilot built into Windows 11.

Who it’s for: Field engineers, analysts, and teams that must run legacy desktop software or extensive Windows toolchains.

• Pros: Native Windows apps, strong accessory support, integrated CoPilot AI for productivity.
• Cons: Higher entry price when configured for performance, accessories (keyboard, pen) raise total cost.
• Starting price: Around $1,499 (Jan 2026).

ZDNET commentary emphasized the Surface Pro’s performance and versatility, with one reviewer calling it an enthusiast’s choice that “absolutely rocks” for full‑desktop workflows.

Apple 13‑inch iPad Air (6th gen, M2)

Why it matters: Offers much of Apple’s silicon advantage at a friendlier price — the M2 brings solid performance improvements and the iPad Air is a capable hybrid for hybrid meeting hosts and designers who don’t need the Pro’s top display.

Who it’s for: Teams seeking strong app support and performance without flagship pricing.

• Pros: M2 performance, lower cost, good battery life and webcam improvements for hybrid work.
• Cons: Fewer premium display features than the Pro; accessory costs still apply.
• Starting price: About $799 (Jan 2026).

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra

Why it matters: Samsung’s flagship brings a massive Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, redesigned S Pen workflows, and Galaxy AI features for on‑device smarts. Long OS update promises (advertised up to seven years) appeal to enterprise buyers who plan multi‑year device fleets.

Who it’s for: Designers, Android‑first teams, and Samsung ecosystem customers who want premium display and stylus features.

• Pros: Excellent display, strong multitasking, S Pen integration, Galaxy AI features for notes and meeting assistance.
• Cons: Android tablet apps still less consistent than iPadOS; accessories sold separately.
• Starting price: Near $1,200 (Jan 2026).

How testing and real‑world use diverge from specs

Lab benchmarks like Geekbench quantify CPU/GPU differences — the M5 shows measurable leads in raw throughput — but real‑world value is about responsiveness, battery life under typical workloads, and accessory fit. ZDNET’s methodology focuses on display accuracy, responsiveness, multitasking behavior, game frame rates, real‑world battery runs, and camera/audio tests. For procurement, prioritize the tests that match your use case: long video calls, on‑site mapping, or heavy graphics workloads will stress different subsystems.

What on‑device AI actually delivers for teams

On‑device AI now does three business‑relevant things: offline processing for privacy and reliability, lower latency for real‑time assistance, and reduced cloud costs for high‑volume tasks. Examples that matter:

• Live meeting transcription and instant summaries that don’t require streaming to cloud servers — useful for sales reps and legal teams needing confidentiality.
• Context‑aware drafting and email summarization — faster responses and fewer toggles between apps.
• Enhanced camera and audio processing (real‑time background blur, noise suppression) for remote meetings with minimal lag.

Which chips enable these features? Apple’s M‑series includes neural engines optimized for local inference; Snapdragon X Elite/X Plus adds NPUs for Windows devices; flagship MediaTek and Qualcomm parts power many top Android tablets. The practical point: if your workflows rely on low‑latency local AI (instant summaries, offline transcription), prioritize devices with strong NPU capacity and advertised on‑device features like Galaxy AI or Microsoft CoPilot.

Procurement checklist — what to specify for a fleet

• Minimum hardware baseline by role:
  • Sales/field: 8–16GB RAM, 256GB storage, cellular option if often offline.
  • Design/creatives: 16GB+ RAM, 512GB+ storage, top display tier (OLED/AMOLED), S Pen or Apple Pencil support.
  • Executive/meeting hosts: 8–16GB RAM, 256GB storage, premium webcam/audio, long battery life.
• Security and manageability: require hardware security (secure enclave, TPM), MDM compatibility (support tested with your MDM vendor), and corporate enrollment options.
• Accessory budget: assume 10–40% uplift per device for keyboard, stylus, and protective cases; flag premium boards (Magic Keyboard, Samsung Book Cover) often sold separately.
• Lifecycle and OS updates: prefer vendors promising 5+ years of security updates for fleet devices; Samsung advertises up to seven years for flagship lines, Apple traditionally supports multi‑year updates for iPads, and Surface models carry Windows update commitments.
• Pilot plan: test 5–10 units in a 30‑day pilot that mirrors field conditions (cellular use, heavy annotation, long meetings) before a wide rollout.
• Estimated TCO uplift: plan for 10–40% additional spend for accessories and higher storage tiers; include MDM licensing and insurance in total cost.

Common procurement questions

When should a business standardize on tablets instead of laptops?

Use tablets for roles where mobility, battery life, stylus input, and quick collaboration are higher priorities than legacy desktop apps. Choose Surface Pro when full Windows apps are required; choose iPad Pro/Air when tablet‑optimized apps and a mature app ecosystem matter more.

How impactful are on‑device AI features day‑to‑day?

Increasingly meaningful: expect faster transcription, offline summarization, and context‑aware assistance. The real productivity gains depend on app integration and whether the device’s chip supports low‑latency models.

Will Android’s tablet app ecosystem improve?

Hardware will continue to improve, but app quality depends on developer incentives. Without stronger, platform‑wide investment from Google, iPadOS will likely remain the leader for productivity apps.

Are very large devices like the 25‑inch KTC practical?

They’re niche but useful: excellent for fixed collaboration spaces, presentations, and kiosks. They trade portability for screen size and are less practical as daily carry devices.

Decision shortcuts

• If you need full Windows legacy apps: pick Surface Pro (11th gen).
• If you need the best tablet apps, creative tools, and display: choose iPad Pro (13‑inch, M5).
• If you want premium Android + S Pen + Galaxy AI: choose Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.
• If you want maximum screen at minimum cost for static use: consider KTC 25‑inch.

Final notes for leaders

Large tablets in 2026 are strategic decisions: they are platforms with an OS, accessory ecosystem, and increasing on‑device AI capability. Successful rollouts hinge on matching device strengths to job roles, budgeting for accessories and MDM, and running pilots that test AI features under real conditions. When chip, OS, and apps align with your workflows, a large tablet becomes a clear productivity win. When they don’t, it becomes an expensive experiment. Start with a small, role‑based pilot and let that data guide fleet decisions.