Daily read · Gift ideas
Best tablet for gaming UK: three Christmas gift picks, plus a seat to play in
Best tablet for gaming as a Christmas gift in the UK: an iPad Pro lighter than a Switch 2, a Galaxy Tab with years of updates, and a gamer bean bag.
Arun · Electronic Guru
Galaxy Tab S11 for an Android gamer who wants a card slot and long updates; iPad Pro for an Apple fan who wants a fast, light big screen; the bean bag for the gamer who has everything.
What is the best tablet for gaming in the UK this Christmas? For most Android players it is the Galaxy Tab S11, and for an Apple household that wants the most graphics power it is the iPad Pro with M5. If you are browsing Black Friday tablet deals for a gamer, here are two with a genuinely useful edge, plus somewhere comfy to play.
Best overall tablet for gaming: Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
The surprise with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 · 128GB · Wi-Fi · Grey is how long it stays supported: Samsung's UK spec page lists security updates until 30 September 2032, which matters for a gift a teenager may keep for years.
Samsung also lists a 120Hz AMOLED screen, an S Pen in the box and a microSD slot for cards up to 2TB, so 128GB can grow later.
Premium Christmas gift: Apple iPad Pro with M5
Here is the clever bit: the Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular · Space Black weighs 446g, according to Apple, while Nintendo UK lists Switch 2 at about 534g to 548g with Joy-Con 2 controllers attached. A bigger screen, lighter in the hand.
Apple claims M5 brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing and up to 1.6 times the GPU performance of M4, on a 10 to 120Hz ProMotion display. Cellular suits a gamer who plays on the train.
Non-Amazon gamer gift: a bean bag with a headset strap
For the gamer who has the kit already, the Game Over Gaming Bean Bag Chair for Adult Water Resistant Indoor Gamer Beanbag Chair - Blue from Game Over fixes the clutter: Game Over says it has side pockets for controllers and snacks and a headset holder strap, so headphones stop ending up on the floor.
Game Over lists it at 83cm by 60cm by 83cm, filling included, in water-resistant, fire-retardant BS5852 polyester.
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Game Over Gaming Bean Bag Chair for Adult Water Resistant Indoor Gamer Beanbag Chair - Blue · Game Over
Quick questions
Is an iPad Pro lighter than a Switch 2? Yes: Apple lists 446g for this model and Nintendo UK about 534g to 548g for Switch 2 with Joy-Con 2 attached.
Can you add storage to the Galaxy Tab S11? Yes, Samsung lists microSD support up to 2TB.
Does the Galaxy Tab S11 come with a pen? Yes, Samsung includes the S Pen in the box.
Save yourself a surprise
Your quick buying checklist
- Match the tablet to the phone they already use: iPhone or Android
- Check whether they play on trains or only on home Wi-Fi
- Measure the floor space for an 83cm-wide bean bag
- Check delivery costs and the returns window before Christmas
References & editorial notes
This content is based on the sources listed below.
AI-generated information drawn from public sources. Not to be treated as any form of advice. Check details with the retailer before buying.