Best tablet for watching movies in 2023

If you are looking for the Best tablet for watching movies, then this is the article for you. In this article, we have considered the main factors that influence the decision to go for a tablet for watching movies. 

These factors include screen size and resolution, battery life, sound quality, and battery life.

The price of the tablet is another important factor to consider, so we have included different price ranges to make it easier to land on the most ideal choice for you.

Top tablet for movies and music

1. Apple iPad Pro – Best Overall
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus – Best Android Tablets
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite – cheaper Android tablet
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Best laptop/tablet hybrids
5. iPad Air 5th Gen – Best for Seniors
6. Lenovo Tab P12 Pro – Best upgrade
7. Amazon Fire Max – Best for most people
8. Fire HD 10 Tablet – Best kid’s tablet
9. iPad 10th Gen – Modern iPad
10. Google Pixel Tablet

Apple iPad Pro – Best Overall tablet for watching movies

1. Screen size: 12.9-inch 
2. Resolution: 2388 x 1668 Pixel
3. Processor: Apple M2 Chip
4. RAM: 8 GB / 16 GB
5. Storage: 128 / 256 / 512 GB and 1 or 2 TB
6. Operating System: iPad OS 16
7. Battery Life: 10 hours
8. Camera: 12MP Ultrawide & 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultrawide
9. Weight: 680 g
10. Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4 USB-C

It is difficult to create any review without considering the iPad Pro. It is by far one of the most powerful tablets on the market today.

The processing power and overall display are top notch with a bright rich color display. The screen is 13 inches in size with a unique liquid retina screen resolution of 2388 x 1668 Pixels. 

This display is clear and added to 1000 nits of brightness allowing you to use it both indoors and outdoors in high-light conditions.

Processing power stands out with Apple’s latest modern M2 chip which is almost twice as fast as their older M1 chip.

For multitasking, you will have 8 GB and 16 GB RAM options to choose from. These are both ideal for professional tasks such as video editing, photo editing, or animation as well.

If you like saving your movies on tablet storage you have a wide range of choices from 128 GB up to 2 TB. Unfortunately, the storage space is not expandable and you have to buy a new iPad if you wish to upgrade.

Although it is a good replacement for a laptop when adding accessories such as the Magic Keyboard, you will have to buy any iPad accessory that you need separately. 

It is compatible with the standard Apple Pencil 2 but you still have to buy it separately. Overall, this is a perfect device save for the expensive price range and lack of accessories on purchase.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus – Best Android Tablets

1. Screen size: 14.6 inches
2. Resolution: 1848 x 2960 pixels
3. Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 
4. RAM: 12 GB / 16 GB
5. Storage: 256 GB/ 512 GB Expandable to 1 TB
6. Operating System: Android 13
7. Battery Life: 13 hours
8. Camera: 13 MP, 8MP and 12MP
9. Weight: 498 g
10. Connectivity: USB-C 3.2

Apple iPad Pro OS may be complicated for most newbies. Other people prefer Android systems. If you are one in this group, then your best option is the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus. 

On its release it has gradually become the best Android Tablet, dethroning the Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra. 

It comes with a large clear 14.6 14.6-inch screen with 1848 x 2960 pixels resolution. Although larger than an iPad Pro, the iPad wins in terms of brightness and clarity due to better screen technology and resolution.

The sound quality is perfect and will give you a theater-like effect when you combine it with this large display mentioned earlier. You will enjoy this movie-watching experience for up to 13 hours of streaming which is awesome.

At only 498 grams, carrying this tablet around is a little difficult, but you may need a big backpack to accommodate its large 15-inch size.

Just like many large tablets, you might need to get a stand for a better user experience. Overall it is a good iPad Pro alternative by a far better price range.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite – cheaper Android tablet

1. Screen size: 10.4-inch
2. Resolution: 2000 x 1200 Pixels
3. Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G
4. RAM: 4 GB
5. Storage: 64 GB / 128 GB Expandable to 1TB
6. Operating System: Android 12
7. Battery Life: 12 hours
8. Camera: 5 MP Wide & 8 MP Wide
9. Weight: 467 g
10. Connectivity: USB-C

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is a little expensive. If you are on a budget, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. 

It is made with similar technology, but it features a smaller screen and slightly lower resolution. It is however the perfect size to hold in your hands as you watch or carry around. 

It comes in at 10.4-inch in size and 2000 x 1200 Pixels resolution. The processor is modern and fast but 4 GB RAM is slightly low if you need it for professional tasks too.

Sound quality is great with Dual AKG Stereo Speakers and a dedicated 3.5 mm Audio Jack for headphones.

Although the storage space is expandable up to 1 TB, the native inbuilt 128 GB is low, especially if you want to save files and install many applications on your tablet.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Best laptop/tablet hybrids

1. Screen size: 13-inch
2. Resolution: 2880 x 1920 Pixels
3. Processor:  12th Gen Intel Core i7-1225U
4. RAM: 8 GB / 16 GB/ 32 GB
5. Storage: 64 GB / 128 GB Expandable to 1TB
6. Operating System: Windows 11
7. Battery Life: 15.5 hours
8. Camera: 1080p webcam + 10MP rear cam
9. Weight: 879 g
10. Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C 

If you prefer a Windows system, we recommend the Microsoft Surface Pro 9. Of all the tablets in this list, it is the easiest one to be used as a laptop replacement. You will however have to include accessories such as a keyboard and mouse that you will need to buy separately.

For movie streaming, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 comes with a large 13-inch screen that features 2880 x 1920 Pixels resolution. The screen is sharp and offers a crisp image display thanks to HDR Dolby Vision support.

Sound quality matches up to this display with 2W stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support for an immersive audio experience.

Processing power is also perfect with a modern 12th Gen Intel Core i7 and up to 32 GB RAM memory. This makes this tablet able to handle not only movies and video watching but many other professional tasks with ease.

Battery life stands out as a key feature for this tablet with up to 15.5 hours of continuous streaming without having to recharge it. This is longer than any other tablet featured in this list.

iPad Air 5th Gen – Best for Seniors

1. Screen size: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina 
2. Resolution: 2360×1640 Pixels
3. Processor: Apple M1 Chip
4. RAM: 8 GB
5. Storage: 64 GB / 256 GB
6. Operating System: iPad OS 16
7. Battery Life: 10 hours
8. Camera: 12 MP Ultrawide & 12 MP Wide
9. Weight: 462 g
10. Connectivity: USB-C 

If you are on a budget but still prefer iPads over Android or Windows brands of tablets, we recommend the iPad Air 5th Gen. This lightweight and easily portable tablet comes with the same powerful technology as the iPad Pro, but at a cheaper price range.

The screen is a few inches smaller at 10.9-inch but it maintains the same Liquid Retina screen technology with 2360×1640 Pixels resolution.

This small size and long 10-hour battery life are both comfortable and allow for easy portability. Although it is a little heavy at 465 g it will not be too heavy to limit carrying in a backpack.

If you like saving your files in the tablet storage space, the iPad Air 5 unfortunately comes with 64 and 256 GB storage space which is low. It is also not expandable using a MicroSD card.

It comes with a decent Apple M1 Chip, which is slightly slower compared to the Apple M2 chip on the iPad Pro. The M1 chip will however pack more power than you need for movie streaming.

Lenovo Tab P12 Pro – Best upgrade

1. Screen size: 12.6-inch AMOLED  
2. Resolution: 2560 x 1600 Pixels
3. Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 870
4. RAM: 6 GB / 8 GB
5. Storage: 128 GB/25 6GB
6. Operating System: Android 11
7. Battery Life: 14 hours
8. Camera: 8 MP wide & 13 MP wide + 5MP ultrawide
9. Weight: 565 g
10. Connectivity: USB-C 

If you are looking for a good midrange tablet that is powerful, runs on Android, and is budget-friendly but not from Samsung, then the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro is our best pick. It features a large 12.6-inch AMOLED  screen size with 2560 x 1600 Pixels 2K resolution. 

Such a powerful screen can only be found on very expensive premium Samsung Tablets. Getting such features on a midrange Lenovo tablet is a very good deal for you.

A good screen goes hand in hand with a good audio experience when it comes to tablets for watching movies. The Lenovo Tab P12 Pro comes with JBL quad-speakers plus Dolby Atmos producing a premium level sound experience. 

This immersive sound experience and perfect screen display will last for a very long time with up to 14 hours battery life of continuous streaming.

 You can easily use this tablet for many other different functions thanks to its powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor and 6 to 8 GB RAM options. Additionally, you will have an easy-to-use and upgraded Android 11 operating system, similar to one found on Samsung Tablets.

Amazon Fire Max – Best for most people

1. Screen size: 11.5 inches 
2. Resolution: 2000 x 1200 pixels
3. Processor: Mediatek MT8188J
4. RAM: 4 GB
5. Storage: 64 GB / 128 GB
6. Operating System: Android 11, Fire OS 8
7. Battery Life: 15 hours
8. Camera: 8 MP and 8  MP
9. Weight: 489 g
10. Connectivity: USB-C 

Most of the tablets discussed in this review pack more power than is needed for watching movies. They can be used for multiple purposes, which makes them expensive.

A good budget-friendly tablet that is dedicated to basic tasks such as streaming or notetaking, Amazon Fire Max is your best pick.

This tablet comes with an 11-inch screen size with a 2000 x 1200 pixels resolution. It provides a clear vivid color display that is perfect for watching videos. The display is okay but a far cry compared to more expensive tablets.

The sound experience is good with a dual speaker setup. However, we found a 4 speaker setup sounded better and more immersive. If I can change anything on this tablet, I would add 2 more speakers for the best sound experience.

For its very low price range, however, 2 speakers are good enough. The Mediatek MT8188J processor and 4 GB RAM are good enough for movie streaming but will not be of much help when you try performing complex tasks with it.

Most Amazon tablets used to have only Fire OS operating systems which are limited in using Google Play applications. To make up for this, Amazon Fire Max comes with Android 11 and Fire OS 8 options.

Although this issue is being addressed, it is important to note that you may have limited Google support which is a major downside. Another standout feature of this tablet is the long 15-hour battery life of continuous streaming.

Fire HD 10 Tablet – Best kids tablets for watching movies

1. Screen size: 10.1 inch 
2. Resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels
3. Processor: Mediatek MT8183 Helio P60T 
4. RAM: 4 GB
5. Storage: 32 GB / 64 GB
6. Operating System: Fire OS 7
7. Battery Life: 12 hours
8. Camera: 2 MP & 5 MP
9. Weight: 465 g
10. Connectivity: USB-C 2.0 

The Fire HD 10 Tablet is the best option for beginners. In this list, it can be considered the best tablet for your kids. Just like the Amazo Fire Max 11, it is a very affordable tablet, especially when you consider its features.

Like most Amazon Tablets, it will not be ideal for complex tasks such as photo editing or video editing but will be okay for watching movies, reading, note-taking, and other simple tasks.

It comes with a 10.1-inch screen and full HD 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution. You will be able to watch your films in rich color and high clarity. Additionally, 10-inch screen size is neither too big to limit portability, nor too small to affect your viewing experience.

The display will not be as good as other expensive tablets but will work just right for watching movies. It is just right. Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet will produce good surround sound for an immersive experience thanks to its Dolby Atmos support.

It sounds great in midrange and low volume levels but may be unclear as you increase sound output. You will just not set it too loud and enjoy. Battery life stands out with up to 12 hours of continuous streaming, without the need to charge.

10 Best tablets for movies and Netflix

1. Apple iPad Pro – Best Overall tablet for watching movies
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus – Best Android Tablets
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite – cheaper Android tablet
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Best laptop/tablet hybrids
5. iPad Air 5th Gen – Best for Seniors
6. Lenovo Tab P12 Pro – Best upgrade
7. Amazon Fire Max – Best for most people
8. Fire HD 10 Tablet – Best kid’s tablet
9. iPad 10th Gen – Modern iPad tablet for watching movies
10. Google Pixel Tablet