Android tablets might not have the same level of recognition as iPads, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some gems. The software for Android tablets isn’t always optimized for the bigger screen, and the best iPad games may have more appeal on Apple’s powerful hardware. But, a few Android tablets still manage to get things right.Both Amazon and Samsung have shown ongoing interest in making solid Android tablets. Amazon’s stick to affordability, giving you a bigger screen to enjoy content on without having to pay what amounts to the price of a second smartphone. Samsung’s tablets deliver on premiums, offering extra features like active stylus support and higher-performance internals that can let the tablet handle some light work tasks. Some 2-in-1 Chromebooks even serve as capable Android tablets thanks to their inclusion of the Google Play app store.With many Android tablet options, it can reasonably be hard to choose one knowing its actually a product worth getting. That’s why we’ve rounded up quality picks. You’ll be able to find a tablet on a variety of budgets knowing it’s a good value.
TL;DR These are the Best Android Tablets
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Best Android Tablet
Screen Size: 10.5″ Resolution: 2,560 x 1,600 CPU: Snapdragon 855 octa-core RAM: 6/8GB Storage: 128/256GB Battery: 7,040mAh Rear Camera: 13MP, 5MP ultra-wide Front Camera: 8MP OS: Android 9.0 Size: 9.63″ x 6.28″ x 0.22″ Weight: 417g
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is about the closest thing you can get to an iPad that runs Androidexcept for you know, rooting Android onto an iPad. It not quite as bezel-less as Apple’s latest tablet but the Tab S6 holds its own with some impressive specs including a much sharper 1,600 x 2,560 AMOLED display that measures 10.5-inches across. And to complement the visual feast you also get a booming set of four speakers.It also comes with a super-fast Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB of RAM, and plenty of storage starting at 128GB that you can further expand with a MicroSD card reader. The best thing about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 over the iPad is it can cost 25% to 50% less and you still get a flagship device.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Best Budget Android Tablet
Screen Size: 10.4″ Resolution: 2,000 x 1,200 CPU: Exynos 9610 octa-core RAM: 4GB Storage: 64/128GB Battery: 7,040mAh Rear Camera: 8MP Front Camera: 5MP OS: Android 10 Size: 9.63″ x 6.07″ x 0.28″ Weight: 458g
Samsung is one of the few companies still putting effort into the Android tablet market, and that helps its models stand out as among the very best. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite takes a lot of what there is to like about the Galaxy Tab S6 and repackages it into a more affordable package.This model just has one camera on each side, and no super-fancy AMOLED display, but you’re still getting a plenty-sharp screen measuring 10.4 inches diagonally. This table also runs Android 10, something you’ll be hard-pressed to find other affordable Android tablets doing. It also runs it on an octa-core processor with 4GB of RAM, which should be capable enough for most activities. The real show-stopper is the inclusion of the S Pen, which takes the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite from simple plaything, like most tablets, to a device that can be used for another level of creativity or in-depth note-taking. If you don’t need the stylus, you may get more out of the Galaxy Tab S5e at a similar price.
3. Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab
Best Ultra Cheap Android Tablet
Screen Size: 10.1″ Resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 CPU: Snapdragon 439 octa-core RAM: 4GB Storage: 64GB Battery: 7,000mAh Rear Camera: 8MP Front Camera: 5MP OS: Android 9.0 Size: 9.5″ x 6.5″ x 0.9″ Weight: 580g
The Lenogo Yoga Smart Tab is a surprisingly affordable Android tablet given its more premium-seeming design. It offers a big, Full HD display with an IPS panel for excellent viewing angles. Lenovo has made one edge of the tablet extra thick to serve as a good handhold, to house a kickstand, and to fit two extra-large speakers for improved sound. As an entertainment tablet, this all makes the Yoga Smart Tab a winner. And, it comes running the recent Android 9.0 operating system, so it won’t feel outdated as quickly as other cheap Android tablets can. At the price, it can even fit in as a smart home device with a display, giving you your ultimate Google Assistant device.4. Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus
Best Android Tablet for Families
Screen Size: 8″ Resolution: 1,280 x 800 CPU: 2.0GHz quad-core processor RAM: 3GB Storage: 32/64GB Battery: 12-hour Rear Camera: 2MP Front Camera: 2MP OS: Fire OS Size: 8″ x 5.4″ x 0.4″ Weight: 355g
Amazon makes some of the most compelling budget tablets around, and the Fire HD 8 Plus takes what was already a winner and makes it even better. This new model offers up a decently sharp display to run apps, play games, and watch your favorite content on. It runs all of this on its own special fork of Android, which limits you to the Amazon App store, but you’ll still find many popular apps, games, and streaming services available.The Fire HD 8 Plus is as affordable as it is portable, weighing in at well under a pound and boasting a 12-hour battery life. And, the new model will prove considerably faster than its predecessor, as it has double the RAM and storage capacity as well as a new and improved 2.0GHz quad-core processor.
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e
Best Android Tablet for Streaming
Screen Size: 10.5″ Resolution: 2,560 x 1,600 CPU: Snapdragon 670 octa-core RAM: 4/6GB Storage: 64/128GB Battery: 7,040mAh Rear Camera: 13MP Front Camera: 8MP OS: Android 9.0 Size: 9.65″ x 6.3″ x 0.22″ Weight: 400g
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is a great Android tablet if you’re just looking for something to stream media from Netflix or Disney+ and the like. This slate comes with the same 10.5-inch 1,600 x 2,560 display and powerful quad speakers as found on Samsung’s flagship Tab S6 for a much more reasonable $427.To get the price down, the Tab S5e packs a less impressive Snapdragon 670 and starts with half as much storage at 64GB. But it’s easy enough to make up for its lack of space with a MicroSD card.
6. Asus Chromebook Tablet CT100
Best Chromebook Tablet for Android Apps
Screen Size: 9.7″ Resolution: 2,048 x 1,536 CPU: OP1 Hexa-core Processor RAM: 4GB Storage: 32GB Battery: 9.5-hour, 35WHr Rear Camera: 5MP Front Camera: 2MP OS: ChromeOS Size: 9.41″ x 6.77″ x 0.39″ Weight: 580g
Okay the Asus Chromebook Tablet CT100 technically doesn’t run Android, but it can run just about any app you want to download from the Google Play Store. This Chrome OS-powered tablet also has a direct line to Google’s office suite of web apps and gives you access to a full-fat desktop Chrome browser.Its specs aren’t half bad either. For a little over $300, you get a device with a 9.7-inch, 2,048 x 1,536 resolution screen, OP1 Hexa-core Processor, 4GB RAM, and 32GB eMMC Storage. The Asus Chromebook Tablet CT100 is pretty much the perfect device for users who want to do more work with their slate.
7. Lenovo Yoga Book
Best Dual Screen Android Tablet
Screen Size: 10.1″ Resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 CPU: Intel Atom x5-Z8550 RAM: 4GB Storage: 64GB Battery: 15-hour Rear Camera: 8mP Front Camera: 2MP OS: Android 6.0 Size: 10.1″ x 6.72″ x 0.38″ Weight: 690g
Until Microsoft releases the Surface Duo and Neo next year, the Lenovo Yoga Book is still the closes thing to a dual-screen Android tablet we have. This 2-in-1 features a foldable cover that can be used with the tablet’s stylus for drawing or note-taking. If you hate typing on a big touchscreen, the cover can also reveal a full Halo Keyboard that makes typing a breeze.Another super unique feature is the Yoga Book also comes with an actual paper notepad that can be attached to the cover, and when you write with the included ink pen you’ll see your notes appear on the tablet! It’s like living in the future, but so it can be saved or sent out for later use.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
Home>>Theatre>>There’s plenty of functional, powerful, and flexible Android tablets out there to choose from, and here’s our picks for the very best.
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