When your smartphone screen is too small and your PC or laptop too bulky, a tablet is the best middle ground. Everyone uses their tablet differently, and everyone looks for a specific function from a tablet. Hence, we have split SoyaCincau Awards 2025: The Best Tablets of the Year into multiple categories.
To give credit where credit is due, we are awarding the devices that excelled in their specific purpose with Gold, Silver, and Bronze honours. The tech experts at SoyaCincau.com, consisting of Alex, Chapree, Putra, Sam, Aisyah, Zul and Duke, have curated a list of the best tablets released in 2025 in different categories.
Naturally, we had to define some parameters to help narrow down our nominees. Therefore, only models launched between 1st November 2024 and 1st November 2025 were considered. Additionally, nominated tablets had to still be on sale and available for purchase, so any limited-edition or one-off models were disqualified.
Now, without further ado, we present, SoyaCincau Awards 2025: The Best Tablets of the Year:
- Entertainment Tablet of the Year
- Productivity Tablet of the Year
- Budget Tablet of the Year
- Tablet of the Year
Read the rest of our Awards
Check out our other categories:
- The Best Phones of the Year
- The Best Telcos of the Year
- The Best EVs of the Year
- The Best Gadgets of the Year
- The Best and Worst in Tech of the Year
Entertainment Tablet of the Year
You would think with a large display, every tablet is a winner of the Entertainment Tablet of the Year award, but that’s not the case. A good entertainment tablet needs to offer features that don’t get in between you and your content.
While there are plenty of tablets that offer this, we believe these three winners offer the best content consumption experience.
Bronze – Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro
If you’re looking for one of the best tablets for entertainment consumption, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is easily among the top contenders this year. It features a sharp 3.2K (3200 × 2136) IPS LCD with a 144Hz refresh rate, a quad-speaker setup, and a sizeable 8,850mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging — all of which make it a strong multimedia device.
For starters, it has the smallest display among the finalists. The Honor Pad 10 comes with a 12-inch panel, while the iPad Air (M3) is available in a larger 13-inch option. Additionally, its relatively narrow 3:2 aspect ratio isn’t ideal for YouTube videos or movie watching, where wider formats tend to deliver a more immersive experience.
That said, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro still brings plenty to the table. It offers modern connectivity with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, along with a capable Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, making it a well-rounded and powerful choice for entertainment overall.
Silver – Honor Pad 10
When it comes to entertainment-centric tablets, the Honor Pad 10 checks all the right boxes. It centres around a stunning 12.1-inch 2.5K display with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering a visual experience that is both fluid and vibrant. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset provides more than enough muscle for daily multitasking, light gaming, and high-quality streaming.
What truly distinguishes the Pad 10 from its peers is its six-speaker array. Enhanced by Honor Spatial Audio, it creates a far more immersive soundscape than the standard four-speaker setups found in this price bracket. To keep the show going, it features a massive 10,100mAh battery, ensuring plenty of endurance for long binging sessions or productivity tasks.
Combined with a competitive price and a complimentary stylus and keyboard bundle, it offers incredible flexibility for both WiFi and 5G users.
Gold – Apple iPad Air (M3)
Yes, the Apple iPad Air (M3) doesn’t have a 120Hz Pro Motion display and runs at 60Hz, but that’s the only dent in an otherwise perfect entertainment tablet. Whether you choose the 11” or 13” model, you will get a stunning Liquid Retina IPS LCD with almost perfect colour accuracy. Yes, it’s not an OLED panel, but you’ll need to spend a lot more.
What makes this tablet the best entertainment device is its performance and app optimisations. Apple’s M3 chip is powerful enough to run console-level games on this tablet, so mobile games won’t break a sweat. Apps are also more optimised for the iPad platform, offering a more seamless experience.
We admit, it may be a slight overkill for casual content consumers, but you’ll never be left wanting more.
Productivity Tablet of the Year
While a tablet can’t offer the productivity of a PC today, it can serve the basic needs perfectly. Not everyone needs the features of a PC or the complex software it can process. However, just because something has a larger display doesn’t automatically make it a productivity machine.
We have chosen three out of a long list of productivity-focused tablets that we believe offer the best performance, value or features.
Bronze – Honor MagicPad 3
The Honor MagicPad 3 is undoubtedly one of the best productivity tablets available this year. It features a 13.3” IPS LCD with a sharp 3200 × 2136 resolution and an impressive 165Hz refresh rate, all laid out in a productivity-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio. In addition, you also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and a huge 12,450mAh battery.
That said, the MagicPad 3 still falls short compared to the iPad Pro (M5) and Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra in terms of productivity features. The iPad’s Stage Manager allows for a Mac-like multitasking experience, while the Galaxy Tab comes with the Samsung DeX desktop interface. These features make them more capable as true computer replacements, giving them the edge over the Honor.
Silver – Apple iPad Pro (M5)
Apple’s iPad Pro (M5) is a powerhouse of a tablet, and with iPadOS 26, it gets closer to the Mac experience. Improved Stage Manager and a new Windowed Mode for multitasking and more familiar desktop features. If you want to, you could use this as a computer, and it even supports extended mode with an external display.
It gets a bit confusing with Stage Manager and Windowed Mode, considering the former is more superior productivity interface, so there’s little reason to use Windowed Mode, other than easier app access. However, this is a negligible downside.
What can’t be ignored is the price. Unlike Samsung’s offering, Apple charges you extra for the keyboard and stylus, increasing the total cost of the system. If you’re in Apple’s walled garden or love the iPad Pro as much as Duke, knock yourself out. But as a logical purchase, it doesn’t make sense compared to the Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra.
Gold – Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
Since Android’s native desktop mode is still in beta, it makes Samsung the only Android tablet manufacturer to offer a desktop mode in the form of Samsung DeX. Samsung recently overhauled DeX to make it look less like a desktop and more like the same One UI 8 layout with desktop-like features.
Regardless, you get more flexibility when multitasking and the ability to extend DeX to an external monitor. Of course, there are still the typical Android limitations, but Samsung has tried its best to put a plaster over them.
Then, there’s the massive 14.6” display, giving apps more breathing room in split-screen mode or having multiple app windows open without getting cramped. Samsung also bundles a keyboard case (albeit a weird one) and a stylus in the price, so you’re good to go out of the box.
Couple that slim body, gorgeous OLED display, and Samsung’s ecosystem strength, and you get an Android tablet that could replace your laptop.
Budget Tablet of the Year
Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean bad. A good budget tablet can offer all the necessary functions at a price that won’t break the bank. Why pay extra for features you’ll never use, right?
These are the best budget tablets that execute the basics well.
Bronze – Oppo Pad SE
Looking for a budget-friendly tablet? The Oppo Pad SE is a solid choice at under RM700. It features an 11” Full HD+ IPS LCD with a 16:10 aspect ratio, stereo speakers, and a 9,340mAh battery that can easily power your entertainment sessions.
If you need mobile connectivity, there’s also an LTE version available at an extra cost. While it won’t offer flagship-level features, the Oppo Pad SE delivers respectable specs for its price, making it a smart option for those on a budget.
Silver – Redmi Pad 2
Taking home the Silver is the Redmi Pad 2, a device that redefines what a budget tablet can offer with a starting price of just RM699. Despite its entry-level positioning, it boasts features typically reserved for more expensive models, including a 2.5K display with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate and active stylus support.
Powering the experience is a robust 9,000mAh battery, but the real versatility lies in its connectivity; Redmi offers a 4G LTE variant for those who need to stay online without relying on WiFi. It also retains fan-favourite legacy features, combining quad speakers with a 3.5mm headphone jack (a pairing that is increasingly rare in 2025).
While it may not match the raw power of our Gold medalist, its balanced feature set and HyperOS 3 support make the Redmi Pad 2 an unbeatable value proposition for budget-conscious buyers.
Gold – Honor Pad X9a
Securing the Gold for Best Budget Tablet of 2025 is the Honor Pad X9a. Priced competitively around the RM1,000 mark, it delivers a robust experience tailored for students, casual gamers, and media lovers alike. It’s a rare budget contender that offers a 4G LTE variant, giving users the freedom of cellular connectivity without the usual flagship markup.
Driven by the reliable Snapdragon 685 and a generous 256GB of storage, the Pad X9a punches well above its weight. The 11.5-inch 120Hz display and quad-speaker system provide a premium viewing experience, while the massive 8,300mAh battery ensures all-day endurance. What truly seals the win is the inclusion of a complimentary stylus and keyboard, paired with Honor’s Multi-Screen Collaboration for seamless cross-device workflows.
For those seeking maximum utility without the high price tag, the Honor Pad X9a is the undisputed champion.
Tablet of the Year
To receive the Tablet of the Year award, a tablet must be able to offer the best features and performance for the price. If it’s going to be expensive, it should be uncompromising or deliver exceptional value for the price. It wasn’t easy for us to choose, considering most manufacturers can offer uncompromising performance or exceptional value.
In the end, we decided that these three tables deserve the award this year.
Bronze – Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro
If you’re looking for the best balance of features and price, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is hard to beat. Starting at under RM2,500, the tablet offers an 11.2” 3.2K IPS LCD, a capable Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, a quad-speaker setup, and an 8,850mAh battery with 67W fast charging. These specs make it a solid choice for both work and play.
Silver – Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
In the Android tablet space, Samsung is one of the few manufacturers to offer a true flagship tablet. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra comes with a massive 14.6” OLED display, a desktop mode for productivity applications, and Samsung’s ecosystem integration.
It’s a very premium tablet that offers one of the most complete tablet experiences money can buy. It’s both an entertainment and productivity powerhouse.
Samsung still has to deal with Android’s shortcomings, but it has done a commendable job offering solutions and fixes. This is no different from the iPad Pro (M5), which faces similar restrictions. However, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra lacks Apple’s app optimisations and software polish, earning it second place.
Gold – Apple iPad Pro (M5)
While the Apple iPad Pro (M5) is overpriced for what it offers and what you can do with it, it is undeniable that it’s the best tablet money can buy. Android rivals can compete with the iPad Pro (M5) in performance and hardware, but switch gears to software, and it leaves everyone in the dust.
Apple’s first-party apps might be lacking in features, but 3rd party apps are optimised best for the iPad platform. Some apps are exclusive to the iPad just because of the performance it offers.
You can confidently purchase the iPad Pro (M5) knowing that your device has the fewest number of compromises in this form factor.
Closing Thoughts
So that’s a wrap on SoyaCincau Awards 2025: The Best Tablets of the Year. While Apple’s iPad remains unmatched with no equal rival, we can see Google and the Android tablet manufacturers making an effort to catch up. But at least in the budget category, where price, more than anything, dictates sales, we can see that Android tablets have captured the segment.
With Google’s desktop mode just around the corner, it will definitely allow more tablets to pose a threat to Samsung in the productivity category. We hope that in 2026, both Google and Apple will break down more walls between tablets and laptops.
What do you think about our winners? Do you agree with our selection, or do you think we chose wrongly? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to check out the rest of our SoyaCincau Award winners.
