Choosing the best Android tablets can sometimes be about choosing the ones with the best specifications, sometimes it’s about the user experience and sometimes it’s about the size. They may not be hot items in the news anymore, but Android tablets are still one of the most popular computing devices around. There are inexpensive units in use by young children, secure devices in businesses and schools and those powerful high-end tablets that you use to consume your favorite media.
No matter what makes a tablet great, one thing is for sure, the highest price tag does not mean the best tablet. Join us for a little run down of the devices that we like and think are worth their value – this is our list of the best Android tablets.
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Editor’s note – We will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.
Update, September 2016: We added just one new tablet to the list this month. It’s only just been announced, so stay tuned for the actual device release, but we’re liking it enough from what we see so far. Check out the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus below.
Google Pixel C
Google surprised many of us at its 2015 Nexus event when it unveiled the Pixel C, an in-house built tablet that’s made for productivity. While it may be a tad overpriced, the Pixel C does a lot right. It comes with a big 10.2-inch display, a 34.2WHr battery and Android 6.0 Marshmallow, all powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra X1 processor and 3 gigabytes of RAM. There are quite a few decent official accessories available for the tablet, too, like the official keyboard or folio keyboard.
Like we mentioned earlier, the Pixel C is overpriced for what it offers, though it’s still a great Android tablet if you have the extra money to spend. It’s available now from the Google Store starting at $499, with official accessories adding an extra $149 to your purchase.
Specs
10.2-inch LTPS LCD display with 2560 x 1800 resolution, 308ppi
64-bit 1.9GHz octa-core NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor
3GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, no microSD expansion
8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
Non-removable 34.2WHr battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
242 x 179 x 7mm, 517g
Read more
Google Pixel C review
Google Pixel C hands-on and first look
Google Pixel C officially announced
Buy the Pixel C now
Google Nexus 9
The brand new Nexus 9 from Google and HTC is an Android fanboy’s dream. It runs the purest, most recent version of Android – Lollipop 5.0 – and it will stay current for at least two years. There are no OEM additions (though stock Android may be a little too minimal for your taste) and therefore nothing to bog down the user experience.
The Nexus 9 is just as impressive on the hardware side – you get a 64-bit Tegra processor, a beautiful 1536 x 2048 pixels screen, stereo front speakers (disguised under the protective glass) and a big battery. However, like all Nexus devices, there’s no microSD card slot. The device features a utilitarian, yet elegant design, with an aluminum frame that gives it rigidity without adding much heft.
Specs
Dimensions: 228.2 x 153.7 x 7.9 mm (8.98 x 6.05 x 0.31 in), 270 g (9.52 oz)
Display: 8.95-inch IPS LCD, 1536 x 2048 resolution, 281 ppi
Processor: Nvidia Tegra K1 Denver, 2.3 GHz dual-core
GPU: Kepler DX1
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 16/32GB
microSD slot: No
Cameras: 8 MP rear, 1.6 MP front
Battery: 6,700 mAh
OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop
Connectivity: Wi-Fi/3G-LTE
Read more
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Nexus 9 full review
Buy the Nexus 9 now
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 was one of our tablets of choice in the past, and its successor is here to make it an even better option. This pad is slimmer, lighter and smaller. This tablet comes with a smaller 8.0-inch display, which makes it more portable without sacrificing too much on screen real estate. It’s also only 5.6 mm thick and 272 grams.
Don’t mistake it for the “little guy” in the playground, though. It has plenty of power to keep you going through all your tasks. It may be a bit too similar to an iPad, but it’s still a great Android tablet that many of you will enjoy.
Specs
Dimensions: 198.6 x 134.8 x 5.6 mm (7.82 x 5.31 x 0.22 in), 272 g (9.59 oz)
Display: 8.0-inch AMOLED (2048 x 1536), 320 ppi
Processor: Exynos 7 Octa 5433 octa-core CPU
GPU: Mali-T760 MP6 GPU
Memory: 3 GB RAM
Storage: 32/64 GB
microSD slot: Yes, up to 128 GB
Cameras: 8 MP rear, 2.1 MP front
Battery: 4,000 mAh
OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop
Others: fingerprint scanner
Read more
Opinion: Does the Galaxy Tab S2 have things going for it… or against?
Impressions: the Galaxy Tab S2 is a curious “top-tier” tablet
Galaxy Tab S2 vs Galaxy Tab S: what’s changed?
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 now
NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1
Did you love the NVIDIA Shield Tablet? Well, you will certainly also like the NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1, its direct successor. The darn thing is pretty much the same! Specs are nearly identical and the design is painfully similar, except for the addition of a rubberized surface by the speakers and brushed metal lettering in the back.
Oh, and they removed the stylus holder, which takes us to our next point – the stylus is gone! So are the cable and charger. The point here is that NVIDIA is trying to cut costs, and that they did. This thing is now only $200!That makes the K1 not only one of the best Android tablets on the market, it is also one of the most affordable.
Specs
Dimensions: 221 x 126 x 9.2 mm (8.80 x 5.00 x 0.36 in), 356 g (12.06 oz)
Display: 8-inch Full HD (1920 x 1200) resolution, 283 ppi
Processor: NVIDIA Tegra K1 CPU
GPU: Kepler GPU
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Storage: 16 GB
microSD slot: Yes
Cameras: 5 MP rear, 5 MP front
Battery: 19.75 watt hours
OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop
Read more
Nvidia Shield K1 announced (quick hands on)
Buy the Nvidia Shield K1 now
The Shield Tablet K1 is currently out of stock most places, we’ve been assured that it’ll be back soon.
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Sony may be having a difficult time in the mobile device market, but that is certainly not because of a lack of good products. An extremely appealing line of devices that the company should be proud of is their high-end tablet series, with the latest addition to the line introduced back at MWC 2015. Sony continues to push the boundaries in terms of design, with the Xperia Z4 Tablet managing to be even sleeker than its ultra-thin and light predecessors.
Of course, this tablet packs the latest and greatest when it comes to hardware, and the Sony staple feature of dust and water resistance is also retained, making for a very compelling device. The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet may be at the higher end of the price spectrum, but it is still worth it, and certainly deserving of a place in our roundup of the best Android tablets currently available.
Specs
10.1-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1600 resolution (299 ppi)
2 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
Adreno 430 GPU
3 GB RAM
32 GB storage, expandable via microSD up to 128 GB
8.1 MP rear camera, 5.1 MP front-facing camera
6,000 mAh battery
Android 5.0 Lollipop
254 x 167 x 6.1 mm, 389 grams
Read more
Sony Xperia Z4 tablet announced
Sony Xperia Z4 tablet first look
Sony Xperia Z4 tablet review
Buy the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet now
Dell Venue 8 7000
Dell may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of OEMs that provide fantastic Android tablets, and while the company does have some really good low-cost tablets available, they managed to impress with one that can be conservatively considered “premium mid-range.” What makes the Dell Venue 8 7000 stand apart from its competition at this price range includes a premium, industrial design that will give even far more expensive devices a run for their money, a solid media consumption experience courtesy of nice sounding front-facing speakers and a beautiful edge-to-edge high resolution display, and for those who want it, a decent camera experience with a setup not unlike the Duo Camera system of the HTC One M8.
With an impressive performance and even better battery life, the Dell Venue 8 7000 manages to provide a lot, without the premium price point that would usually be associated with such a package.
Specs
8.4-inch OLED display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution (359 ppi)
2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor
PowerVR G6430 GPU
2 GB RAM
16 GB storage, expandable via microSD up to 512 GB
8MP rear camera with Intel RealSense 3D technology, 2 MP front-facing camera
5,900 mAh battery
Android 4.4.4 Kitkat
215.9 x 124.2 x 6.1 mm, 305 grams
Read More
Dell Venue 8 7000 review
Dell Venue 8 7000 now available
Buy the Dell Venue 8 now
Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro
In an age in which tablets are starting to get as little more boring, it is manufacturers like Lenovo that we need in order to push things into new directions. The Yoga Tab 3 Pro is unique, much like other Lenovo devices, but this one is special. You see that hinge? We have seen it before, but this time around Lenovo added a full-blown projector and stand. It is truly a media powerhouse, too. Just look at the specs below to see what this tablet is all about.
Specs
Dimensions: 247 x 179 x 4.68 mm (9.72 x 7.05 x 0.18 in), 667 g (23.52 oz)
Display: 8-inch LCD, Full HD (1920 x 1200) resolution, 283 ppi
Processor: Intel Atom x 5-Z8500 quad-core processor
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Storage: 32 GB
microSD slot: Yes, up to 128 GB
Cameras: 13 MP rear, 5 MP front
Battery: 10,200 mAh
OS: Android 5.1 Lollipop
Read more
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 3 Pro hands-on and first look
Our best of IFA 2015
Buy the Yoga Tab 3 Pro
Up and coming: ASUS ZenPad 3 8.0
What you are seeing pictured is the the ASUS ZenPad Z8, a Verizon exclusive version of the tablet we are actually excited for. No offence to the Z8, but we highly prefer unlocked devices that are purchasable by anyone around the globe. What we are really excited for, then, is the recently announced, but not yet released, ASUS ZenPad 3 8.0. More than just a name change, the ZenPad 3 8.0 is a 7.9-inch device with 2015 x 1536 resolution, a well equipped Snapdragon 650 Processor with Adreno 510 GPU and the options to expand past the 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage on the Z8, you can bump up to 4GB and 32GB of internal storage on the ZenPad 3 8.0.
ASUS is throwing in things like free cloud storage and some great software enhancements to offer you one of the best Android tablets we think they’ve ever created. Of course, USB Type-C is a popular draw to the device, as are premium speakers and a SIM slot for LTE connectivity.
Specs
7.9-inch IPS LCD display with 2048 x 1536 resolution (324 ppi)
1.8 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor
Adreno 510 GPU
2 or 4 GB RAM
16 or 32 GB storage, expandable via microSD
8 MP rear camera, 2 MP front-facing camera
4680 mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
205.4 x 136.4 x 7.57 mm, 320 grams
Read more
ASUS ZenPad Z8 review
ASUS ZenPad 3 8.0 quietly announced
ZenPad Z8 at Verizon
Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus
Announcing at IFA 2016 in Berlin, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus was one of many tablets, convertibles and ultrabooks to cross our path. What a treat. This is a 10-inch size range tablet with QHD resolution, 3GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 652 and 32GB of internal storage. There is a trick available with this tablet, I think you see it in the video above, there is a built in kickstand that lives on a swivel on an enlarged and rounded edge of the tablet.
Look for more than just a simple tablet here, Lenovo has packed in 4 front facing JBL speakers with Dolby sound, faux-leather backing and more.
Specs
10.1-inch Quad HD display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor
3 GB RAM
32 GB storage, expandable via microSD
13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera
9,300 mAh battery
Read more
Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus, Yoga Book, Miix 5, Yoga 910 announced at IFA
Hands-on with the Yoga Tab 3 Plus
Check back for purchasing options in a future article update.
There you have it – our picks from the best Android has to offer right now. Missed anything? Tell us in the comments!
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