Best tablets in Ireland (September 2026)
Whether you want a tablet for streaming on the sofa, schoolwork, drawing or replacing a laptop, there is a great option at every budget. We've compared seven of the best tablets on sale in Ireland, from a budget-friendly Redmi to Apple's OLED iPad Pro.
The table shows the key differences at a glance. Scroll down for our detailed write-ups and a short buying guide.
Updated 26 September 2026By the a2zcheck research teamHow we compare
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Detailed write-ups
Best for most people1. Apple iPad Air (M4, 2026)
Our verdict: Pro-level speed, Apple Intelligence and Apple Pencil Pro support in 11-inch or 13-inch sizes, for far less than the iPad Pro.
Best for: The best iPad for most people
a2z score: 9.1 Price band: Mid-to-premium
The 2026 iPad Air gets Apple's M4 chip and 12GB of memory, which is more power than most people will ever need from a tablet. It runs Apple Intelligence, handles photo and video editing smoothly and will stay fast for years.
Its Liquid Retina screen is sharp and colour-accurate but refreshes at 60Hz and uses LCD rather than OLED. That is the main thing you give up compared with the iPad Pro. Both sizes support the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air.
The 13-inch model is a great choice if you want a big screen for films, split-screen multitasking or drawing.
What we like
- Fast M4 chip with 12GB RAM
- Available in 11-inch and 13-inch
- Apple Pencil Pro support
- Much cheaper than iPad Pro
Watch out for
- 60Hz LCD, not ProMotion or OLED
- Base 128GB fills up quickly
- Accessories cost extra
Full specifications
- Processor
- Apple M4
- AI engine (NPU)
- 16-core Neural Engine (Apple Intelligence)
- Memory (RAM)
- 12GB
- Storage
- 128GB to 1TB
- Display
- 11" or 13" Liquid Retina (LCD), 60Hz
- Battery
- Up to 10 hours
- Weight
- From 464g (11-inch)
- Operating system
- iPadOS
- Ports
- USB-C
- Pen & keyboard
- Apple Pencil Pro / USB-C; Magic Keyboard for iPad Air sold separately
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
Our verdict: A huge 14.6-inch AMOLED tablet with an S Pen in the box, water resistance and Samsung's DeX desktop mode.
Best for: The best Android tablet and the biggest screen
a2z score: 9.0 Price band: Premium
The Tab S11 Ultra is Samsung's no-compromise tablet. Its 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is enormous, vivid and runs at 120Hz, making it brilliant for films, split-screen multitasking and drawing.
It runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ with 12GB of memory, supports Galaxy AI tools such as note summaries and Circle to Search, and comes with the S Pen included, a real saving compared with iPads. IP68 water and dust resistance is rare on a tablet this size.
It's big and wide, so it's less comfortable to hold one-handed, and the price is firmly premium. The regular Tab S11 is better if you want something more portable.
What we like
- Massive 14.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen
- S Pen included
- IP68 water and dust resistance
- DeX desktop mode and microSD slot
Watch out for
- Expensive
- Unwieldy to hold for long
- Keyboard cover costs extra
Full specifications
- Processor
- MediaTek Dimensity 9400+
- AI engine (NPU)
- Galaxy AI
- Memory (RAM)
- 12GB or 16GB
- Storage
- 256GB to 1TB + microSD
- Display
- 14.6" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2960×1848, 120Hz
- Battery
- 11,600mAh
- Weight
- 692g
- Operating system
- Android (One UI)
- Ports
- USB-C
- Pen & keyboard
- S Pen included; Book Cover Keyboard sold separately
- Extras
- IP68 water and dust resistance
3. Apple iPad Pro (M5)
Our verdict: The most powerful and thinnest iPad, with a tandem OLED screen that is unmatched for HDR video, drawing and photo editing.
Best for: Creative professionals and the best screen on any tablet
a2z score: 8.9 Price band: Premium
The iPad Pro's Ultra Retina XDR display uses two stacked OLED layers for extreme brightness, perfect blacks and a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. It is the best screen you can get on a tablet, whether you choose the 11-inch or 13-inch size.
The M5 chip is the same generation found in Apple's MacBooks, so it handles 4K video editing, pro music apps and demanding games with ease, and runs Apple Intelligence on the device. Paired with the Magic Keyboard it becomes a capable laptop replacement for many people.
The downside is cost: the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard are expensive extras. If you mostly browse, stream and take notes, the iPad Air offers most of the experience for much less.
What we like
- Best-in-class tandem OLED 120Hz display
- Laptop-grade M5 performance
- Incredibly thin and light
- Apple Pencil Pro support
Watch out for
- Very expensive, especially with accessories
- iPadOS still limits some pro workflows
- Keyboard and pencil sold separately
Full specifications
- Processor
- Apple M5
- AI engine (NPU)
- 16-core Neural Engine (Apple Intelligence)
- Memory (RAM)
- 12GB (16GB on 1TB+ models)
- Storage
- 256GB to 2TB
- Display
- 11" or 13" Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED, 120Hz
- Battery
- Up to 10 hours
- Weight
- From 444g (11-inch)
- Operating system
- iPadOS
- Ports
- USB-C (Thunderbolt / USB 4)
- Pen & keyboard
- Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard sold separately
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
Our verdict: The Ultra's features in a more manageable 11-inch size, still with an AMOLED screen, S Pen and IP68 rating.
Best for: A premium, portable Android tablet with a pen
a2z score: 8.7 Price band: Mid-to-premium
The standard Tab S11 keeps nearly everything that makes the Ultra great, including the Dimensity 9400+ chip, 12GB of memory, a 120Hz AMOLED screen, the bundled S Pen and IP68 water resistance, but in an 11-inch body that's easy to carry and hold.
It's an excellent choice for note-taking, reading, streaming and gaming. Samsung's software adds useful extras such as DeX for a desktop-style layout and Galaxy AI features.
Compared with the iPad Air it offers a better screen and an included pen, while Apple wins on app selection for creative professionals.
What we like
- Vivid 120Hz AMOLED screen
- S Pen included
- IP68 water resistance
- Compact and light
Watch out for
- Base storage is modest
- Tablet-optimised Android apps still lag behind iPad
- Keyboard sold separately
Full specifications
- Processor
- MediaTek Dimensity 9400+
- AI engine (NPU)
- Galaxy AI
- Memory (RAM)
- 12GB
- Storage
- 128GB to 512GB + microSD
- Display
- 11" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2560×1600, 120Hz
- Battery
- 8,400mAh
- Weight
- 469g
- Operating system
- Android (One UI)
- Ports
- USB-C
- Pen & keyboard
- S Pen included; Book Cover Keyboard sold separately
- Extras
- IP68 water and dust resistance
5. OnePlus Pad 3
Our verdict: A large, fast Android tablet with a 144Hz screen and a battery that goes and goes, at a very competitive price.
Best for: Flagship speed and huge battery for a mid-range price
a2z score: 8.6 Price band: Mid-range
The OnePlus Pad 3 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite, one of the fastest mobile chips available, so games, multitasking and video editing all run smoothly.
Its 13.2-inch 3.4K LCD refreshes at up to 144Hz, and a 12,140mAh battery gives outstanding stamina. Eight speakers make it a great portable film screen.
The trade-offs: the screen is LCD rather than OLED, there's no water resistance, and the stylus and keyboard are sold separately. It is best for media and gaming rather than serious note-taking.
What we like
- Snapdragon 8 Elite flagship performance
- Big 13.2-inch 144Hz screen
- Excellent battery life
- Eight-speaker sound
Watch out for
- LCD rather than OLED
- No water resistance
- Pen and keyboard sold separately
Full specifications
- Processor
- Snapdragon 8 Elite
- AI engine (NPU)
- Google Gemini / OnePlus AI
- Memory (RAM)
- 12GB or 16GB
- Storage
- 256GB or 512GB
- Display
- 13.2" 3.4K LCD (3392×2400), 144Hz
- Battery
- 12,140mAh
- Weight
- 675g
- Operating system
- Android (OxygenOS)
- Ports
- USB-C
- Pen & keyboard
- Stylo and keyboard sold separately
6. Apple iPad 11-inch (A16)
Our verdict: The most affordable way into iPad: plenty fast for streaming, schoolwork and games, with a sharp 11-inch screen.
Best for: Families, students and anyone on a budget
a2z score: 8.5 Price band: Budget
Apple's entry-level iPad uses the A16 chip and starts with 128GB of storage, which is double what the older model offered. For browsing, streaming, video calls, homework and casual games it feels quick and responsive.
The 11-inch Liquid Retina screen is bright and sharp, and battery life is rated at up to 10 hours. It works with the USB-C Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard Folio.
The important limitation is that this model does not support Apple Intelligence. If Apple's AI features matter to you, step up to the iPad Air.
What we like
- Lowest price of any current iPad
- 128GB storage as standard
- Great for streaming and schoolwork
- Huge choice of apps and cases
Watch out for
- No Apple Intelligence
- Screen isn't laminated, so there's a small air gap
- Only supports basic Apple Pencil models
Full specifications
- Processor
- Apple A16
- AI engine (NPU)
- 16-core Neural Engine (no Apple Intelligence)
- Memory (RAM)
- 6GB
- Storage
- 128GB to 512GB
- Display
- 11" Liquid Retina (LCD), 2360×1640, 60Hz
- Battery
- Up to 10 hours
- Weight
- 477g
- Operating system
- iPadOS
- Ports
- USB-C
- Pen & keyboard
- Apple Pencil (USB-C) and 1st gen; Magic Keyboard Folio sold separately
7. Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2
Our verdict: A genuinely good 11-inch tablet for well under half the price of an iPad: great for streaming, reading and kids.
Best for: The best tablet for streaming on a tight budget
a2z score: 7.6 Price band: Budget
The Redmi Pad 2 proves you don't need to spend much for a pleasant tablet. Its 11-inch 2.5K screen is sharp and refreshes at 90Hz, so scrolling looks smooth, and a 9,000mAh battery easily covers a couple of days of casual use.
The MediaTek Helio G100-Ultra processor handles streaming, browsing, e-books and casual games well, but it slows down with heavier games or lots of apps open at once.
There's no stylus support and updates won't last as long as on Samsung or Apple tablets, but as a second screen, travel tablet or child's device it's great value.
What we like
- Very affordable
- Sharp 2.5K 90Hz screen
- Long battery life
- microSD slot
Watch out for
- Modest performance for games
- No stylus support
- Shorter software support than big brands
Full specifications
- Processor
- MediaTek Helio G100-Ultra
- AI engine (NPU)
- Basic (Google Gemini app)
- Memory (RAM)
- 4GB to 8GB
- Storage
- 128GB or 256GB + microSD
- Display
- 11" 2.5K LCD, 90Hz
- Battery
- 9,000mAh
- Weight
- 510g
- Operating system
- Android (HyperOS)
- Ports
- USB-C, headphone jack
- Pen & keyboard
- No stylus support
Buying guide
iPad or Android?
iPads have the best selection of tablet-optimised apps, particularly for drawing, music and video editing, and receive software updates for many years. They work seamlessly with iPhones and Macs.
Android tablets from Samsung often include a stylus in the box, have OLED screens at lower prices and support microSD cards for cheap extra storage. They pair nicely with Android phones.
Which screen size?
An 11-inch tablet is the sweet spot for most people: big enough for films, light enough to hold in one hand. Choose 13 inches or larger if you want to multitask with two apps side by side, draw, or use the tablet as a laptop replacement.
Do you need a stylus?
If you take handwritten notes or draw, choose a tablet with good pen support. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S11 and S11 Ultra include the S Pen, while Apple Pencil is sold separately. For streaming and browsing, a stylus isn't necessary.
