Samsung is the current market leader, with devices that run pure Android and aren’t lacking in apps. However, if you’re a dedicated Amazon user looking for a portable device to enjoy your favorite Prime content on the go, Fire tablets are a great choice.
In our path to help you find the right Android tablet for you, we test them all in the lab, measuring battery life and performance, as well as screen quality. Without further ado, here are the best Android tablets, based on our hands-on testing and review of dozens from Amazon, Samsung, Nokia and more.
If price isn’t an issue, its massive older sibling the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a powerful Android tablet that can double as a laptop. I’d personally recommend people spend almost twice as much, though, as the Fire HD 8 has amazing endurance, the likes of which beats practically every tablet up and down the list.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 The best Android tablet overall Specifications CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Display: 11-inch (2560 x 1600) 120Hz LCD display Storage: 128GB/256GB Memory: 8GB RAM Ports: USB-C, microSD Dimensions: 9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 inches Weight: 1.1 pounds Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Samsung (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Bright, beautiful display + Excellent battery life + Great sound quality + Surprisingly good cameras + Decent laptop replacement Reasons to avoid – Underwhelming performance vs. iPads – Camera quality degrades at extremes – Book Cover keyboard feels small, cramped On the couch its great for gaming or reading comics, and at work it’s nice to have as a note-keeping device or secondary display, especially if you go to the trouble of investing in the Galaxy ecosystem and making your workspace DeX-friendly. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 The best budget Android tablet Specifications CPU: Qualcomm SM6115 Display: 10.4-inch, 2000×1200-pixel Storage: 32GB Memory: 3GB Ports: USB-C, microSD Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.2 x 0.3 inches Weight: 1.1 pounds Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent battery life + Facial recognition + USB-C charging Reasons to avoid – Screen is a little dim – Underwhelming performance
On top of that, it’s got thinner bezels than the 10.2-inch iPad and crazy 13+ hour battery life — so you can enjoy more of what you’re watching and reading for a lot longer time.
Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 The best Android tablet when you want a big screen Specifications CPU: Snapdragon 870 Camera Resolution: 8MP (front) Display: 13-inch (2160 x 1350 pixels) capacitive touchscreen Storage: 128GB Ports: USB-C, micro-HDMI Dimensions: 11.55 x 8.03 x 0.24-0.98 inches Weight: 1.83 pounds Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Today’s Best Deals View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Built-in kickstand + Vibrant 13-inch touchscreen + Impressive speakers + Long battery life Reasons to avoid – Lacks 5G support – No rear camera – Hard to find suitable cases for it The slate can even act as a secondary monitor for your laptop or tablet, giving its 2K screen a bit of extra versatility.
Amazon Fire 10 HD 2021 Best cheap Android tablet with amazing battery life Specifications CPU: 2.0GHz octa-core CPU Camera Resolution: 5 MP (rear) 2 MP (front) Display: 10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel Storage: 32GB, 64GB Ports: 1x USB-C, headphone jack, microSD Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches Weight: 17.8 ounces/1.1 pounds Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Stellar battery life + Sharp and bright screen + USB-C charging Reasons to avoid – Speakers aren’t that strong – Still lacks Google apps The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) takes an already-good tablet and applies incremental upgrades, such as a slightly brighter screen, 1GB more RAM and a smaller, lighter design. That said, the Fire HD 10 (2021) is still going to be great for the folks who are looking for a device to casually peruse the internet, read e-books, and watch videos. Amazon Fire HD 8 The best Android tablet under $100 Specifications CPU: 2.0 GHz quad-core processor Camera Resolution: 2MP (rear), 2MP (front) Display: 8-inch 1280 x 800-pixel Storage: 32GB, 64GB Memory: 2GB Ports: headphone jack.
Its impressive 13+ hours of battery life stands out in a sea of tablets we already complement for endurance, and, yes, you can get the reversible USB-C port at this wallet-friendly price. Amazon Fire 7 The best Android tablet if you’re on a tighter budget Specifications CPU: Quad-Core 1.3 GHz processor Camera Resolution: 2MP (rear), 2MP (front) Display: 7 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels Storage: 16GB, 32GB Memory: 1GB Ports: headphone jack.
And while it’s not perfect, Amazon’s cheapest slate got a recent update that put a lot more kick under the hood with a snappy quad-core 1.3 GHz processor. The latest Fire 7 also fixes a mistake of previous updates, allowing you to summon the Alexa digital assistant with your own voice. Its sub-HD screen is good enough for younger children streaming kids’ shows on Prime, but their older siblings (who’ve seen a few tablets in their time) might ask for something a little sharper.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 The best Android tablet when price is no concern Specifications CPU: Snapdragon Qualcomm 865+ Display: 11-inch 2560 x 1600-pixel TFT panel Storage: 128GB/256GB Memory: 6GB/8GB Ports: USB-C, microSD Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 0.2 inches Weight: 1.1 pounds Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Fantastic battery life + Beautiful 120Hz display + Thin and light design Reasons to avoid – Book Cover Keyboard has cramped layout – DeX mode still has room to grow This beautiful slate is thin, light and packs slim bezels for an all-screen aesthetic that Apple’s given users for years with the iPad Pro. Its number keys will be too small for some and assembling its two-piece design is a little annoying if you transition from laptop to tablet mode often.
Also, we wish the Snapdragon 865+ had a bit more pep in its step, as benchmarks show Intel Core i5 and Apple A12Z chips running circles around it. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra A powerful Android tablet that could replace a laptop Specifications CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 octa-core CPU Camera Resolution: 12MP + 12MP UW (front), 13MP AF + 6MP UW (back) Display: 14.6-inch, 2960 x 1848-pixel Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB Ports: 1x USB-C, microSD Dimensions: 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 inches Weight: 1.4 pounds Wi-Fi: WiFi 6E (2.4/5/6GHz) Today’s Best Deals View at Samsung (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Big, beautiful OLED display + Svelte design + Snappy Android interface Reasons to avoid – May be too large for some – More expensive than better laptops
And with the optional keyboard attachment and improved multi-window mode, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra could potentially replace a laptop. Our web-surfing-based battery test times how long a tablet can browse the internet for, with its display set to 150 nits of brightness.
The Best Android Tablets for 2022
High-end iPads and Windows tablets dominate the top of the field with impressive tools for productivity, but Google’s Android operating system is very popular at lower price points. Plenty of RAM Acts as an Alexa smart display Cons Poor app selection Unimpressive cameras No promise for OS updates after Android 12 Read Our Full Review $209.99 at Lenovo See It (Opens in a new window) App compatibility can be hit or miss Not waterproof Read Our Full Review $479.99 at Amazon See It (Opens in a new window)
Alcatel Joy Tab 2 4.0 Excellent Best for Affordable 4G Connectivity Bottom Line: The Alcatel Joy Tab 2 is an excellent alternative to Amazon’s Fire lineup, with a clean Android experience, strong LTE connectivity, and impressive audio quality. Strong LTE connectivity Excellent audio for the price Cons Cameras perform poorly in low light Read Our Full Review $199.99 at Metro by T-Mobile See It (Opens in a new window)
Poor cameras Base models include ads on the lock screen Read Our Full Review $59.99 at Amazon See It (Opens in a new window) Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) 3.5 Good Best for Video Playback and Zoom Calls Bottom Line: Amazon’s inexpensive Fire HD 8 tablet continues to be an excellent value for the price, but its poor app store is really starting to feel limiting.
Limited app compatibility Sluggish performance Read Our Full Review $89.99 at Amazon See It (Opens in a new window) Very expensive No monitor mode Read Our Full Review $879.99 at Amazon Check Stock (Opens in a new window) You can find an endless array of no-name, plasticky sub-$100 slates sold at your local CVS or through mysterious “fulfilled by Amazon” drop-shippers. Acer, Asus, Lenovo, and Samsung used to deliver solid iPad competitors, but they’ve all slowed down their cadence to once every two years or so.
Android tablet manufacturers rarely use the latest version of the OS, and software upgrades are even less common. Speaking of Amazon, it and other large manufacturers like Samsung like to customize Google’s OS by adding a bevy of features, new app stores, and completely revamped user interfaces. Even if you don’t have the most recent OS iteration, Android continues to be the most configurable tablet operating system you’ll find. If you’re thinking of switching to a different carrier, be sure to check out LTE and 5G band support to ensure your tablet will work without any hiccups.
Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet is great for media streaming (Photo: Molly Flores) Most carriers allow you to use your phone as a hotspot for those times when you’re not close to Wi-Fi, and many newer cars have built-in LTE connectivity for road trips or keeping your child occupied while you sit in traffic. Many of these off-label tabs are perfectly serviceable, but we recommend choosing a brand you can count on for software support and hardware quality control.
Best Android tablets 2022: which should you buy?
That size sees it dwarfing even the largest iPad Pro, but with its included S Pen stylus this also makes it a superb device for creating artwork, editing documents, taking notes, and other productivity tasks. The display is crisp at 1848 x 2960 and smooth at 120Hz, there’s tons of power from the Tab S8 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, and it has a great 12MP ultra-wide camera on the front, making this an ideal device for video calls. While the slate works brilliantly as a conventional tablet, it also has a built-in stand, so you can prop it up without a case, and there’s a micro HDMI port, so you can easily use it as a second screen for a laptop or other device – two features which we found very useful,. What you don’t get – in another unusual move – is a rear camera, but then tablets are never ideal for taking photos anyway, and we also found the design made it hard to use with a case.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus The best older Samsung tablet Specifications Weight: 575g Dimensions: 285 x 185 x 5.7mm OS: Android 10 Screen size: 12.4-inch Resolution: 1752 x 2800 pixels CPU: Snapdragon 865 Plus Storage: 128GB/256GB microSD slot: Yes Battery: 10,090mAh Rear camera: 13MP (wide) + 5MP (ultrawide) Front camera: 8MP specifications Storage Size 256GB Colour Silver Condition New Today’s Best Deals View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Gorgeous OLED screen + Premium design Reasons to avoid – Android lacks quality tablet apps – High price – but it justifies it You also of course get a whole lot of power from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus’s Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset, enough that we found it the smoothest Android tablet experience we’d come across at launch.
Samsung has long been ruling the high-end Android tablet world, but it now faces an unlikely challenger in the form of the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro. Coupled with loud quad-speakers, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro makes for an accomplished media machine, and with its long-lasting 8,600mAh battery it’s a great travel companion.
The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro packs an attractive metal build too, and it supports both a keyboard and a stylus, transforming it into a capable productivity device – though one that’s still no match for a typical laptop.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021) The best big screen, budget Android tablet Specifications Weight: 468g Dimensions: 247 x 166 x 9.2mm OS: Fire OS Screen size: 8-inch Resolution: 880 x 1280 CPU: quad-core Storage: 32GB/64GB Battery: up to 12 hours Rear camera: 5MP (wide) Front camera: 2MP specifications Storage Size 32GB – 64GB Condition New Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Well priced + Good quality screen Reasons to avoid – Looks dated – Could be faster
That means it’s ideal for watching your favorite movies or shows, especially as we also found that it manages around 12 hours of battery life, so you won’t run out of juice at a pivotal moment. Storage is limited at either 32GB or 64GB and we’d like speedier performance in an ideal world, as the chipset was a little bit dated even at launch, but at this price, it’s not bad at all.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 The best Android tablet for flagship buyers on a budget Specifications Weight: 420g Dimensions: 244.5 x 154.3 x 7mm OS: Android 9 (upgrade to Android 10) Screen size: 10.5-inch Resolution: 1600 x 2560 pixels CPU: Snapdragon 855 Storage: 128GB/256GB microSD slot: Yes Battery: 7,040mAh Rear camera: 13MP (wide) + 5MP (ultrawide) Front camera: 8MP specifications Storage Size 128GB – 256GB Colour Blue Condition New Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at BHPhoto (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Beautiful AMOLED display + S Pen as standard Reasons to avoid – Samsung’s One UI not perfect – No headphone jack It’s not the perfect device – there isn’t a 3.5mm headphone jack and we found that the user interface had its own quirks – but it’s still a top Android slate.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) The best compact, affordable Android tablet Specifications Weight: 355g Dimensions: 202 x 137 x 9.7mm OS: Fire OS Screen size: 8-inch Resolution: 880 x 1280 CPU: quad-core Storage: 32GB/64GB Battery: up to 12 hours Rear camera: 2MP (wide) Front camera: 2MP specifications Storage Size 32GB – 64GB Colour Black Condition New Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Target (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Super-low price + Great front camera placement Reasons to avoid – Poor screen quality – Locked to Amazon’s ecosystem
It’s an upgrade on its predecessor thanks to 30% more power, improved battery life, double the storage, and the presence of a USB-C (rather than micro USB) port, but that aside this is familiar territory if you’ve used an Amazon slate before.
Huawei MatePad Pro The best Android tablet for productivity Specifications Weight: 460g Dimensions: 246 x 159 x 7.2mm OS: Android 10 Screen size: 10.8-inch Resolution: 1600 x 2560 CPU: Kirin 990 RAM: 6GB/8GB Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB Battery: 7,250mAh Rear camera: 13MP (wide) Front camera: 8MP specifications Condition New Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Powerful hardware + Robust lightweight design Reasons to avoid – Limited software functionality – No headphone jack The Huawei MatePad Pro also has a stylish, slim, and lightweight design, plus an optional stylus and keyboard, so it’s premium and built for productivity. That’s going to be a major issue for a lot of people, but if you can live without that then this comes closer than most Android slates to matching the iPad Pro experience. Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) The best super-cheap Android tablet with a large display Specifications Weight: 465g Dimensions: 247 x 166 x 9.2 mm OS: Fire OS Screen size: 10.1-inch Resolution: 1920 x 1200 CPU: Octa-core Storage: 32GB/64GB Battery: up to 12 hours Rear camera: 5MP (wide) Front camera: 2MP specifications Storage Size 32GB Colour Black Condition New Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Crisp display + Good battery life Reasons to avoid – Bit slow – Limited software
For the price, you get a good quality and large screen with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, which we found was ideal for watching films or your favorite YouTube videos. If you plan to use your tablet for work or creative endeavors then it’s also worth seeing whether it supports a keyboard or stylus, and whether any such things are included. Every tablet included in this guide has been reviewed in full, so we’ve spent a lot of time with each of them working out what’s good, what’s bad, and how they compare. We’ve made sure to fully test out their performance with apps and games, how good content looks on their screens, whether their interface is intuitive, how long the battery lasts, and how the cameras hold up, as well as assessing their design and build quality.
The best Android tablets in 2022
Samsung is the current market leader, with devices that run pure Android and aren’t lacking in apps. However, if you’re a dedicated Amazon user looking for a portable device to enjoy your favorite Prime content on the go, Fire tablets are a great choice. In our path to help you find the right Android tablet for you, we test them all in the lab, measuring battery life and performance, as well as screen quality. Without further ado, here are the best Android tablets, based on our hands-on testing and review of dozens from Amazon, Samsung, Nokia and more.
If price isn’t an issue, its massive older sibling the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a powerful Android tablet that can double as a laptop. I’d personally recommend people spend almost twice as much, though, as the Fire HD 8 has amazing endurance, the likes of which beats practically every tablet up and down the list.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 The best Android tablet overall Specifications CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Display: 11-inch (2560 x 1600) 120Hz LCD display Storage: 128GB/256GB Memory: 8GB RAM Ports: USB-C, microSD Dimensions: 9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 inches Weight: 1.1 pounds Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Samsung (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Bright, beautiful display + Excellent battery life + Great sound quality + Surprisingly good cameras + Decent laptop replacement Reasons to avoid – Underwhelming performance vs. iPads – Camera quality degrades at extremes – Book Cover keyboard feels small, cramped On the couch its great for gaming or reading comics, and at work it’s nice to have as a note-keeping device or secondary display, especially if you go to the trouble of investing in the Galaxy ecosystem and making your workspace DeX-friendly.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 The best budget Android tablet Specifications CPU: Qualcomm SM6115 Display: 10.4-inch, 2000×1200-pixel Storage: 32GB Memory: 3GB Ports: USB-C, microSD Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.2 x 0.3 inches Weight: 1.1 pounds Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent battery life + Facial recognition + USB-C charging Reasons to avoid – Screen is a little dim – Underwhelming performance
On top of that, it’s got thinner bezels than the 10.2-inch iPad and crazy 13+ hour battery life — so you can enjoy more of what you’re watching and reading for a lot longer time. Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 The best Android tablet when you want a big screen Specifications CPU: Snapdragon 870 Camera Resolution: 8MP (front) Display: 13-inch (2160 x 1350 pixels) capacitive touchscreen Storage: 128GB Ports: USB-C, micro-HDMI Dimensions: 11.55 x 8.03 x 0.24-0.98 inches Weight: 1.83 pounds Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Today’s Best Deals View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Built-in kickstand + Vibrant 13-inch touchscreen + Impressive speakers + Long battery life Reasons to avoid – Lacks 5G support – No rear camera – Hard to find suitable cases for it The slate can even act as a secondary monitor for your laptop or tablet, giving its 2K screen a bit of extra versatility.
Amazon Fire 10 HD 2021 Best cheap Android tablet with amazing battery life Specifications CPU: 2.0GHz octa-core CPU Camera Resolution: 5 MP (rear) 2 MP (front) Display: 10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel Storage: 32GB, 64GB Ports: 1x USB-C, headphone jack, microSD Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches Weight: 17.8 ounces/1.1 pounds Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Stellar battery life + Sharp and bright screen + USB-C charging Reasons to avoid – Speakers aren’t that strong – Still lacks Google apps The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) takes an already-good tablet and applies incremental upgrades, such as a slightly brighter screen, 1GB more RAM and a smaller, lighter design.
That said, the Fire HD 10 (2021) is still going to be great for the folks who are looking for a device to casually peruse the internet, read e-books, and watch videos. Amazon Fire HD 8 The best Android tablet under $100 Specifications CPU: 2.0 GHz quad-core processor Camera Resolution: 2MP (rear), 2MP (front) Display: 8-inch 1280 x 800-pixel Storage: 32GB, 64GB Memory: 2GB Ports: headphone jack. Its impressive 13+ hours of battery life stands out in a sea of tablets we already complement for endurance, and, yes, you can get the reversible USB-C port at this wallet-friendly price. Amazon Fire 7 The best Android tablet if you’re on a tighter budget Specifications CPU: Quad-Core 1.3 GHz processor Camera Resolution: 2MP (rear), 2MP (front) Display: 7 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels Storage: 16GB, 32GB Memory: 1GB Ports: headphone jack.
And while it’s not perfect, Amazon’s cheapest slate got a recent update that put a lot more kick under the hood with a snappy quad-core 1.3 GHz processor. The latest Fire 7 also fixes a mistake of previous updates, allowing you to summon the Alexa digital assistant with your own voice. Its sub-HD screen is good enough for younger children streaming kids’ shows on Prime, but their older siblings (who’ve seen a few tablets in their time) might ask for something a little sharper. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 The best Android tablet when price is no concern Specifications CPU: Snapdragon Qualcomm 865+ Display: 11-inch 2560 x 1600-pixel TFT panel Storage: 128GB/256GB Memory: 6GB/8GB Ports: USB-C, microSD Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 0.2 inches Weight: 1.1 pounds Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Fantastic battery life + Beautiful 120Hz display + Thin and light design Reasons to avoid – Book Cover Keyboard has cramped layout – DeX mode still has room to grow
This beautiful slate is thin, light and packs slim bezels for an all-screen aesthetic that Apple’s given users for years with the iPad Pro. Its number keys will be too small for some and assembling its two-piece design is a little annoying if you transition from laptop to tablet mode often.
Also, we wish the Snapdragon 865+ had a bit more pep in its step, as benchmarks show Intel Core i5 and Apple A12Z chips running circles around it. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra A powerful Android tablet that could replace a laptop Specifications CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 octa-core CPU Camera Resolution: 12MP + 12MP UW (front), 13MP AF + 6MP UW (back) Display: 14.6-inch, 2960 x 1848-pixel Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB Ports: 1x USB-C, microSD Dimensions: 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 inches Weight: 1.4 pounds Wi-Fi: WiFi 6E (2.4/5/6GHz) Today’s Best Deals View at Samsung (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Big, beautiful OLED display + Svelte design + Snappy Android interface Reasons to avoid – May be too large for some – More expensive than better laptops
And with the optional keyboard attachment and improved multi-window mode, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra could potentially replace a laptop.
Our web-surfing-based battery test times how long a tablet can browse the internet for, with its display set to 150 nits of brightness.
The best iPad alternatives in 2022
Whatever your reason for seeking non-Apple options, we’ve gathered together the best iPad alternatives below, from brands including Samsung, Microsoft and Lenovo. Samsung Galaxy S8 Tab Ultra The best iPad alternative overall Specifications Screen size: 14.6-inch Resolution: 1848 x 2960 Weight: 726g Dimensions: 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5mm OS: Android 12 CPU: Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) RAM: 8-16GB Storage: 128/256/512GB Battery: 11,200mAh Rear cameras (2): Wide: 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm; Ultrawide: 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, AF 6 MP, f/2.2 Front cameras (2): Wide: 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm; Ultrawide: 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ Today’s Best Deals View at Samsung (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Large screen + Superior picture quality + Ultra-thin Reasons to avoid – No cheaper than an iPad Running Android 12, this premium tablet is incredibly thin, at just 5mm, making it a stylish look, although it still feels robust enough to use and carry comfortably.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ The best iPad alternative for value Specifications Screen size: 12.4-inch Resolution: 1752 x 2800 Weight: 575g Dimensions: 185.0 x 285.0 x 5.7mm OS: Android 10 CPU: Snapdragon 865 Plus RAM: 6-8GB Storage: 128/256GB Battery: 10,090mAh Rear cameras (2): Wide: 13MP, f/2.0, 26mm, 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, AF; Ultrawide: 5 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4″, 1.12µm Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Powerful processor + Long battery life + Beautiful screen Reasons to avoid – Premium price
The S7+’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor is a fast performer, and its impressive 10,090mAh battery saves you having to plug it in for hours on end. The 12.4in Super AMOLED screen, with its 120Hz refresh rate, is a joy to behold, and the S Pen stylus is a close match for the sensitivity of the Apple Pencil 2. It’s a great choice for photography, with its 13MP wide and 5MP ultrawide cameras giving you gorgeous, vivid colours, especially when teamed with the Panorama, Night and Live Focus modes. You tap the shutter once and move around a bit for up to 10 seconds, and you’ll get a variety of stills with different styles, angles, and formats created automatically.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 The best iPad alternative for productive work Specifications Screen size: 13-inch Resolution: 2880 x 1920 Weight: 891g Dimensions: 287mm x 208mm x 9.3mm OS: Windows 11 CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i5-i7 RAM: 8GB Storage: 128-1TB Battery: 6200 mAh Rear camera: 10MP Front camera: 5MP Today’s Best Deals View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Runs Windows 11 + Fast performance + Good connectivity Reasons to avoid – Can’t run mobile apps Launched last September, Surface Pro 8 is Microsoft’s main rival to the iPad, although it offers quite a different experience overall. That’s because it’s really designed to be teamed with a clip-on keyboard (sold separately), making it easy to swap between using it as a tablet and a hybrid laptop. Photography-wise, you get a 10MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD and 4K video, that offers clean and clear images, and an impressive amount of detail.
Amazon Fire 7 (2022) The best cheap iPad alternative for basic tasks Specifications Screen size: 7-inch Resolution: 1024 x 600 Weight: 282g Dimensions: (180.68 x 117.59 x 9.67mm OS: FireOS 8 CPU: Quad-core 2.0 GHz RAM: 2GB Storage: 32-64GB Battery: Up to 10 hours Rear cameras: 2 MP Front camera: 2MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Target (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Very cheap + Good for streaming & surfing + 10 hours’ battery life Reasons to avoid – Only runs Amazon apps – Basic overall But if you just want a basic 7-inch tablet for streaming videos, looking up stuff on the web, using Alexa and running apps, it will certainly do the job. Microsoft Surface Go 2 The best cheap iPad alternative for productive work Specifications Screen size: 10.5 inch Resolution: 1920 x 1280 Weight: 553g Dimensions: 245 x 175 x 8.3mm OS: Windows 10 S CPU: Dual Core Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y RAM: 4-8GB Storage: 64-128GB Battery: 8,000MAh Rear camera: 8MP Front camera: 5MP Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at AT&T (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Hybrid device + Powerful battery + Great value Reasons to avoid – Only runs S Mode Like the pricier Surface Pro 8 (number 3 on our list), this is a hybrid device that can be transformed into a laptop with Microsoft’s Type Cover (sold separately).
On the plus side, the Go 2 comes with a powerful 8,000MAh battery, and there’s good connectivity, with a USB-C, a Surface Connector and microSD ports. If you’re looking for a premium tablet experience but don’t want to pay top dollar, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is a great choice.
With a large HD display and impressive battery life, this now classic tablet is a great choice for a little light surfing, casual gaming, listening to music and watching videos. Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) The best iPad alternative from Amazon Specifications Screen size: 10.1-inch Resolution: 1920 x 1200 Weight: 465g Dimensions: 247 x 166 x 9.2 mm OS: FireOS 7 CPU: 8-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) RAM: 3GB Storage: 32-64GB Battery: 6,300mAh Rear cameras: 5 MP Front camera: 2MP Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Target (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Nice display + Decent audio + Great value Reasons to avoid – Doesn’t run Android
Neither match up to the superior quality of the latest iPad Pro, but for most people they’ll be perfectly acceptable, particularly if you’re using a decent pair of headphones.
The Amazon Fire HD 10, then, should mainly be considered as a device for light web browsing and enjoying films and music rather than anything more serious and business-like. Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Great battery life and a lovely screen Specifications Screen size: 11.5-inch Resolution: 1600 x 2560 pixels Weight: 485g Dimensions: 264.3 x 171.4 x 6.9mm OS: Android 10 CPU: Snapdragon 730G RAM: 4GB Storage: 128GB Battery: 8,600mAh Rear camera: 13MP + 5MP Front camera: 8MP + 8MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent display + Long battery life + Affordable price Reasons to avoid – Doesn’t excel elsewhere And the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro manages to offer a number of premium features at a surprisingly affordable cost.
Still, if a high-end screen and long battery life are the main things you’re looking for, this tablet will offer you excellent value.
Best cheap Android tablet 2022
The Android tablet market, on the whole, is a bit of a mess once you look outside of Amazon or Samsung, but there are some solid and viable options if you want to spend less than $300. Starting with the design, this is a slim aluminum slab with glass on the front, which makes for quite a gorgeous form factor. This makes it possible to use the Tab M10 Plus as a digital photo frame, listen to music, or manage your smart home. Those who tend to travel will enjoy the 128GB of built-in storage to go along with the microSD card slot, which can house much of your video library. When it’s time to keep the little ones occupied, just turn on Google Kid Space and let the children have fun without accessing apps that they shouldn’t be using. Despite the pogo pins at the bottom of the tablet for docking, there are no keyboards that can be attached for easier setup or integration. The two-tone dual-material of rubber and aluminum to give this tablet a sleek and slim design that looks good, while being light enough to not tire you out if you hold or carry it for a while. When it’s time to throw a movie or YouTube video on, you’ll get (close to) room-filling sound with the four speakers with Dolby Atmos certification.
The Tab P11 Plus is also sans a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you will need to use a USB-C audio adapter or pick up an excellent set of wireless earbuds.
Under the hood, Amazon includes just 2GB of RAM, which shouldn’t present issues, but your kids could run into some bottle-necking when trying to switch between apps quickly. With the Fire 7 Kids tablet, you are provided with a durable, kid-friendly bumper cover available in three fun colors. Keep in mind that the Fire HD 10 runs an Amazon-centric version of Android, and it doesn’t have access to the Google Play Store.
Fire HD 8 Plus tablet Amazon’s best, but smaller $109.99 (opens in new tab) at Amazon (opens in new tab) 12 hours of battery life Hands-free Alexa Wireless charging Expandable storage up to 1TB No access to Google Play Store Dock must be purchased separately Cameras are not good enough to be useful Unfortunately, the Fire HD 8 Plus isn’t as great as other options on the market, as you will need to purchase the dock separately if you want to turn your tablet into a smart display.
Finally, you will have to deal with Amazon’s version of Android and won’t have access to the Google Play Store.
With the Chromebook Duet, Lenovo includes a kickstand case and detachable keyboard, allowing you to chill out on the couch or get some work done.
And despite the fact that it’s more than two years old at this point, you can regularly find the Duet on sale for much lower than the original asking price. Between the MediaTek Helio P60T and its 10 hours of battery life, we found that there’s plenty of power and juice to make it easily through a day or two.
Or maybe you need a tablet that pulls double-duty and is great for answering emails, but can transform into a portable Xbox Game Pass machine. Plus, the market is eclipsed in part by Apple’s iPad, which is ahead of the curve in terms of tablet technology. You get a great design, a beautiful display, and fantastic battery life in a slim and lightweight package.
5 Best Android Tablets of 2020
That’s because Android tablet manufacturers have mostly focused on delivering value as opposed to cramming the latest hardware and top-tier software inside of their creations.
Best Android Tablet for 2022
And since Android tablets have fewer makes, models and even manufacturers these days, it’s easier to skip the category altogether and head straight to Apple. Just like its smaller 8-inch sibling, the Fire HD 8, the tablet is packed with benefits for Prime subscribers making it easy for members to stream and download movies, TV shows and games. Updates to Samsung’s DeX software even makes the Tab S8 a possible laptop substitute, letting you connect to a mouse and even an external display. A keyboard cover isn’t included but one of Samsung’s fantastic S Pens is, so you can use the big screen for note-taking and content creation right out of the box.
Samsung carefully trimmed the features of the Plus, such as going from four stereo speakers to two and switching from an AMOLED display to an LCD screen.
Best Android tablet 2022
Android tablets vary in size and quality, but some are exceptionally good value and can make very superb iPad alternatives for those with smaller budgets. The tablet boasts a thin design that’s fronted by a gorgeous 2.5K 120Hz display and comes backed up by great stereo speakers and solid performance to boot. Just as with its phones, Xiaomi’s tablet-optimised take on its MIUI user experience won’t suit everyone but it’s wholly usable, and while the added connectivity found on the Chinese models doesn’t make it to most markets internationally, there’s still little else on the Android side of the fence we’d recommend around the Pad 5’s asking price. As well as the kinds of stylish and high-end build you’d expect from Samsung, the firm offers an excellent four years of OS updates so the Tab S8 will keep you going for a long time. Slow charger in-box MSRP: From $229.99 Best Prices Today: The Galaxy Tab A8 makes a welcome return to Samsung’s tablet range, sporting an attractive design and other standout qualities, including impressive audio chops. Android quirks MSRP: From $319.99 Best Prices Today: Lenovo Yoga Tabs have often experimented with unusual designs, embodied most obviously by their versatile integrated kickstands. The Tab 11 might not be the most powerful slate on the block but it delivers a great audiovisual experience, strong battery life and convenient usability, thanks to that signature kickstand; all at a compelling price. On the front, you’ll find an expansive, crisp and colourful 14.6in 120Hz AMOLED display with support for the included S Pen stylus.
Performance is top-notch, thanks to the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and when paired with the dedicated keyboard cover (sold separately) the Tab S8 Ultra is equally at home as a killer multimedia machine or a productivity slate. Samsung has done well to tailor its user experience to the Tab S8 Ultra’s large display, but Android has its own native quirks that present a few challenges to any tablet running on Google’s mobile OS.
Pricey at RRP MSRP: From $529.99 (Wi-Fi), $669.99 (5G) Best Prices Today: The Galaxy Tab S7 FE is definitely more of a basic productivity and entertainment slate, rather than a laptop replacement, like the full-fat entries in the Tab S7 family that it followed, but that means its talents lie in its featherweight design and as a brilliant tool for note-taking, with Samsung including its S Pen stylus in-box, for good measure. Competition in the mid-range tablet space is also finally hotting up, with Xiaomi’s Pad 5 trumping it at practically every turn, for less.
Overpriced MSRP: From $679.99 Best Prices Today: If the Yoga Tab 11 is too small for your needs, Lenovo also released a 13in model, which boasts superior performance and even better audio output from its quad-speaker setup. It shares in the Tab 11’s standout design, complete with an integrated kickstand, although build quality isn’t quite as polished as we’d like and we would have loved an OLED panel in place of the LCD that features. A bigger form factor also means a larger battery, helping with its strengths as a media player, while its ability to function as a second screen is a neat party trick too. Like the 11in model, it falls foul of Android’s inflexibility on tablets and it’s more expensive than its hardware would suggest, which might be enough to put some off. The HD 10 Kids Pro runs on the same underlying hardware as its general-purpose alter ego but comes with a protective case, one year’s access to Kids+ (which includes entertainment, apps, books etc.) The user experience is closer to that of stock FireOS but makes for easy activity monitoring and leaves out access to certain age-gated content or apps (like Netflix), which have to be approved by a parent before being installed.
It’s a shame the kid-friendly version of Alexa isn’t supported – even though the tablet itself does facilitate such functionality – and certain kid-suitable Prime movies just don’t make an appearance without reason. Nokia’s return to the tablet market looks to fill a space that’s littered with poor quality unknown brands by offering the T20 up with many of the sensibilities that make its budget smartphones so appealing.
A tasteful design, nice 2K display and great battery life are the main highlights, while cameras and general performance are less capable than we’d hoped (although not entirely surprising, considering the T20’s affordable nature). For starters, it has a large 12.6in AMOLED screen with excellent colour performance and, combined with the Dolby-Atmos supporting quad speakers, make the P12 Pro suitable for a wide range of tasks.
You also get a stylus included making it even more versatile; buy the optional keyboard and you’ve potentially got yourself a laptop replacement. Lenovo’s asking price is a tad high and it’s worth noting that the older Snapdragon 870 processor means this isn’t as well future-proofed as some rivals.
If you’re going for a tablet with no slot, make sure you buy the biggest capacity you can afford, as videos and some apps can use up an awful lot of storage in a single hit. Aim for 300 pixels per inch (often abbreviated to ‘ppi’) or higher, as this will ensure a sharp-looking image that’s not jagged or blocky.
However, you can use most Android tablets with Google’s Chromecast for watching catch-up TV, YouTube and other internet video services that are supported.
If you want to know if a particular model is great for gaming or too slow for web browsing, then read our reviews, which include benchmark results for a more empirical comparison; you can’t rely on specifications such as processor speed or number of cores it possesses to guarantee good performance.
Best Android tablet 2022
All three Tab S8s offer blazing speeds, gorgeous visuals, rich audio, durable batteries, and feature-rich software; they’re also too expensive and massive for many buyers. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ Best overall Android tablet Specifications Display: 12.4 inches, 2800×1752 (266 ppi) Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Memory: 8GB RAM, 128 / 256GB storage Cameras: 3MP AF + 6MP UW, 12MP front Battery: 10,090mAh Dimensions: 11.22″ x 7.28″ x 0.22″, 1.27 lb Colors: Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Samsung (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + QHD AMOLED 120Hz display + S Pen stylus with low latency included + 4nm flagship processor + Long battery life + First-party detachable keyboard available + High-quality quad speakers Reasons to avoid – Expensive if you’re only a casual tablet user – Too large for extended portrait or handheld use
Its spec sheet leaves little to be desired, with the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 8GB of RAM, a microSD slot for expandable storage, and durable battery life. You also get extras like excellent quad speakers, in-display fingerprint sensor, and an S Pen stylus included in the box that attaches to the tablet’s back or top.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Best 11-inch Android tablet Specifications Display: 11 inches, 2560×1600 (274 ppi) Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Memory: 8GB RAM, 128 / 256GB storage Cameras: 13MP AF + 6MP UW, 12MP front Battery: 8,000mAh Dimensions: 9.99″ x 6.51″ x 0.25″, 1.10 lb Colors: Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Samsung (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Super light for its size + Large, high-quality screen + Long-lasting battery life + Quad speakers + Optional hardware keyboard cover + Productivity features including DeX Desktop Reasons to avoid – Can feel cramped when using as a laptop – Downgraded to LCD, side fingerprint button You get a manageable 11-inch LCD, which feels dramatically better for handheld use than the S8+, and still features a 120Hz refresh rate and the same 8GB of RAM and high-quality quad speakers, plus an extra 100 nits of brightness (up to 600).
Even though you get a smaller battery, the downgrade from AMOLED to LCD adds a couple of extra hours, so it should easily last two days of casual use. The entire body has a sleek aluminum design that feels extremely high-end and *impossibly* thin and light, at just a quarter-inch thick and 1.1 pounds. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Best premium productivity tablet Specifications Display: 14.6 inches, 2960×1848 (240 ppi) Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Memory: 8GB / 12GB / 16GB RAM, 128 / 256 / 512GB storage Cameras: 13MP AF + 6MP UW, 12MP FF + 12MP UW Battery: 11,200mAh Dimensions: 12.85″ x 8.21″ x 0.22″, 1.60 lb Colors: Graphite Today’s Best Deals View at Samsung (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + A bezelless behemoth of a display + Up to 16GB of RAM + Dual selfie cameras + Special backlit keyboard with trackpad + Best model for productivity and multitasking Reasons to avoid – Expensive, especially for RAM upgrades – Only Graphite color option – Not at all portable – Has a notch
The standard Tab S8 Ultra has the same performance quality as the smaller models, but you can upgrade to 12GB or 16GB to power demanding Android apps and games like Adobe Lightroom or Genshin Impact.
Combined with the impressive 90% screen-to-body ratio, the display size makes it the champion for fitting multiple full-sized apps at once; and you can buy a backlit keyboard cover with a trackpad, converting it into a modular laptop. The downside of its design is that the Tab S8 Ultra’s tiny bezels leave you no room to hold it without accidental touches, while also exposing a notch that you’ll have to learn to ignore.
Its Snapdragon 750G chipset and 4GB of base RAM fall short in performance, it only sports dual speakers instead of quad, and it only hits 60Hz instead of 120Hz. Lenovo Tab P11 Plus Best entry-level Android tablet Specifications Display: 11 inches, 2000×1200 (225 ppi) Processor: MediaTek Helio G90T Memory: 4-6GB RAM, 64-128GB storage Cameras: 13MP rear, 8MP front Battery: 7,700mAh Dimensions: 10.2″ x 6.4″ x 0.295″, 1.1lbs Colors: Slate Grey, Platinum Grey Today’s Best Deals View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Lenovo USA (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Bright 2K display + Loud stereo speakers + Better-than-budget performance + Long battery life + Relatively affordable Reasons to avoid – Stock Android software is limited – Minor issues with Face Unlock, haptic motor
Our favorite pick is the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus, which offers a slight step up in specs over the Samsung A series and Amazon Fire tablets, without costing too much more. The MediaTek Helio G90T CPU is a few years out of date, but features surprisingly solid performance comparable to the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, especially if you spring for the RAM upgrade. And unlike Amazon’s Fire Tablets, it has a fully-functional version of Android with Google services like the Play Store, so you can download any apps you want. The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a great option for those in the market looking for an entry-level tablet that offers a traditional Android experience. The smaller display and overall design make the Tab A7 Lite extremely portable and comfortable to hold in one hand while still being large enough to consume media from streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and Disney+. Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet Productivity Bundle (2021) Best affordable tablet for students Specifications Display: 10.1 inches, 1920×1200 (224 ppi) Processor: 8-core 2.0 GHZ Memory: 3GB RAM32 / 64GB storage Cameras: 5MP rear, 2MP front Battery: lasts up to 12 hours Dimensions: 9.73 x 6.53 x .36 inches, 16.5 oz Colors: Black, Denim, Olive, Lavender Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Exceptional value for this size + Solid display + Amazon’s apps get the basics done + Fun color options available + Productivity Bundle option with Microsoft Office 365 Reasons to avoid – No access to Google Play apps – Cheap-feeling plastic body – No official water resistance
The Amazon Fire HD 10 is one of those deals that’s almost too good to pass up if you’re after a device with a large screen and a smaller price tag. It’s simply the best big Android tablet for doing the basics, from watching movies and TV shows, to browsing and playing casual games. Or, if you do prefer to hold it, the Yoga Tab 13 has soft Alcantara fabric on its back that makes it incredibly comfortable to prop in your arms. Amazon Fire HD 8 Best value Amazon tablet Specifications Display: 8.0 inches, 1280×800 (189 ppi) Processor: MediaTek MT8168 Memory: 2GB RAM32 / 64GB storage Cameras: 2MP rear, 2MP front Battery: 12 hours Dimensions: 202 x 137 x 9.7mm, 355g Colors: Black, White, Plum, Twilight Blue Today’s Best Deals View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Small enough for kids to use + Fun color choices + Gets all of the basics done + Now has 32GB storage and USB-C + Almost unbelievable price Reasons to avoid – Low-quality screen – Cheap-feeling plastic build – No access to Google Play apps
The latest version delivers an 8-inch HD display, comes with 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, a 30% faster processor, and it finally charges with USB-C. You can spend a little more to get 64GB of storage for apps and video and also opt to pay a little more to remove Amazon’s “Special Offers” lock screen ads.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (2021) Best Android tablet for older kids Specifications Display: 10.1 inches, 1920×1200 (224 ppi) Memory: 3GB RAM32GB storage Cameras: 5MP rear, 2MP front Battery: 12 hours Dimensions: 7.4 x 10.1 x 0.7 inches, 25.3 oz Target Age Range: 6-12 Colors: Black, Doodle, Intergalactic, Sky Blue Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Target (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Great warranty + Lots of content for older kids + Great case options + Excellent parental controls + Fantastic display + Great sounding dual speakers Reasons to avoid – Can be a bit large for some children – On the expensive side – No Google services built-in
Amazon took its top big tablet, loaded it with parental controls, kid-specific content for older children, and wrapped it in a durable and functional case.
Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition Best Android tablet for younger kids Specifications Display: 7 inches, 1024×600 (171 ppi) Memory: 1GB RAM16GB storage Cameras: 5MP rear, 2MP front Battery: 7 hours Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.3 x 1.0 inches, 16.1 oz Target Age Range: 3-7 Colors: Blue, Pink, Purple Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Great warranty + Age-appropriate content for younger children + Great case options + Excellent parental controls + Smaller size is easier for smaller kids to hold + Cheapest kids Fire Tablet Reasons to avoid – Display isn’t great – 1GB of RAM is not much – Battery life could be better The Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet is much smaller and more manageable for children to hold, but it still retains the fun and colorful protective cases with kickstands.
And circling back, there are the aforementioned “intangibles” to consider, such as determining whether you can actually use a tablet as a laptop replacement of sorts, depending on the model. The 11-inch Galaxy Tab S8 is the best mainstream pick, coming in lighter, brighter, and more affordable than its larger siblings while sporting the same flagship Snapdragon chip.
You’ll trade in the S8’s basic LCD panel for a 12.4-inch AMOLED, giving you richer colors, deeper blacks, and more screen space for fitting in multiple apps at once. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra measures a massive 14.6 inches and 1.6 pounds with tiny bezels, making it wholly unsuitable for casual streaming in bed, but perfect as a laptop replacement using Samsung DeX mode.
Dropping into the mid-range category, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE provides the same display size and battery as the S8+ for about half the price, if you can stomach some performance downgrades. The specs are nothing to write home about, but performance is surprisingly good, and you get a great media consumption device for a highly competitive price.
The former allows you to have a constant internet connection but comes at the cost of an additional line of data (read: higher monthly bill). Cellular tablets also have a tendency to suffer a bit in the battery life department since they’re always trying to find a suitable network connection.
Best Android Tablets (August – 2022)
The Android tablet market is flooded with a huge list of models, devices, and brands, but not all of them are worth your money. Some of the more prominent features we looked for when choosing devices include an HD-quality display, adequate memory or RAM, and one of the later versions of the Android OS, at least 8 and above.
The 8” HD display is perfect for visual media like movies, TV shows, cartoons, YouTube, books, and much more. It offers plenty of power for most games and apps (including Township, Candy Crush Saga, Mobile Strike, and much more), thanks to a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 1.5GB of RAM.
Additional features include dual-band WiFi — for 2.4 and 5G networks — 2MP front and rear-facing cameras, a microSD slot for expandable storage, and direct access to all of Amazon’s services like Instant Video, Audible, Kindle books, and more. The OS is built on Android, but it’s a custom skinned version designed by Amazon and it prioritizes the company’s services, including its mobile app store.
Plus, it has 32GB of internal storage, a micro HDMI port, a metal body, and supports dual-band WiFi. Read Full Review: Dragon Touch Storage Quad Core Processor
The 1.3GHz processor supports 64-bit applications, coupled with the 2GB of RAM, you’ll run into few performance issues even with many games.
Additional features include dual-band WiFi, 32GB of storage built-in with support for microSD cards up to 128GB, micro HDMI out to TVs and monitors, a 2MP front-cam, and an 8MP rear camera. Most importantly, it’s running a vanilla version of Android 9.0 Pie with access to the Google Play store. This tablet is one of the best for watching media, and for interfacing with smart home devices through Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant — which is built-in.
The screen is a 10” HD IPS panel with a resolution of 1280×800, paired with two dual-front speakers with Dolby Atmos. The tablet shell is made of hard plastic, not metal, and the dock, although integral, is sold separately. The price to performance ratio is worth it, as it’s equipped with a 2.0GHz Snapdragon 429 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
The S6 Lite can expand storage up to 1TB, it has a 10.4-inch screen size, and comes with the S Pen Stylus for taking notes, drawing, and much more.
Additional features include dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth, integrated Adreno 504 graphics, and a 2MP front cam. It does have a micro-USB charging port, which is unfortunate to see in a 2019 model tablet — USB Type-C would be the preferred option.
WHY WE LIKE IT: The 7” compact size is perfect for on-the-go use whether you want to read a book in the open air, or take a peek at some online resources — like cooking recipes. The sharp 146 PPI display offers crisp, colorful visuals, ideal for media streaming and casual gaming. It has a Mediatek MT8163 1.3GHz quad-core processor with 3GB of RAM, which combined offer decent performance for a low-cost device.
As one of the cheap tablets, this 10” model may not be the cream of the crop, but the price is unbeatable especially when considering the performance specs. The 10” HD IPS display supports a resolution of 1280 x 800 which means video content should look pretty good. The body of the tablet is a unique blend, with the mid-frame around the screen composed of metal, while the backing is hard plastic.
This budget-friendly tablet running vanilla Android 9.0 Pie — with Google Play access — has a competitive price and a lot of the same features found in comparable models. The 10” IPS HD display operates at a resolution of 1280 x 800 with excellent brightness settings and true-to-life colors. Dual speakers round out the media support, offering a better overall experience when streaming via Netflix, Disney , and other services.
Additional features include 32GB of internal storage with support for microSD cards up to 128GB, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, a 2MP front-cam, an 8MP rear camera, and a 4500mAh battery offering up to 6 hours of use.
One of the first things we considered when choosing tablets for this list was the price to performance ratio, or rather how much bang-for-buck each model offers. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Samsung, which is a little more expensive but includes both power and beauty — the display is unmatched.
Usually, the larger screen size offers an HD quality display which is excellent for watching media on Netflix, Hulu, Disney , and other services. Finally, everything on this list offers plenty of power to handle modern apps, games, and content without experiencing a major slowdown.
When it comes to the latter, however, the lightweight design, budget-price, and responsive user-interface more than make up for the lower RAM count. Some tablets also include support for external media or storage, usually via a microSD card slot, but occasionally they’ll offer full-USB. Most newer devices have either hard plastic or metal alloy shells with a slightly reinforced display. They’re plenty durable as-is, but even more so if you install a sturdy case and tempered glass screen protector—neither of which are particularly expensive.
The best Android tablets to spend your money on
So many, in fact, that they have an entire phablet category dedicated to the extra real estate. Picking your operating system is a great place to start, though, and it means we don’t have to worry about iPads later on. Since you’ve already landed on Android, it’s time to move to the finer points of your tablet. For example, the Amazon Fire HD 8 has an 8-inch screen, while Samsung’s premium Galaxy Tab S8 Plus sports a massive 12.4-inch display.
On the other hand, those of you hoping to download movies, games, and more will want extra space and possibly an expansion slot. Many of Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs come with aluminum bodies, which can usually handle wear and tear.
Yet, the cheaper tablets on the market opt for plastic builds to save weight and cost. The tablet is ready for action with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, 8GB of RAM, and as much as 256GB of storage.
The inside of the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus isn’t the only way it earns points — the outside is pretty good too. You get an aluminum build, a crisp Super AMOLED display, and an S Pen for good measure. As a result, the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is by far the best Android tablet on the market, even if it has a high price tag to match. Samsung doesn’t just stop at the premium tablets, as is evident with the Galaxy Tab A8.
Don’t worry, though, this Android tablet still packs more than enough power and a streaming-friendly design. The Galaxy Tab A8 runs on a UniSoc Tiger T618 chipset with 3 or 4GB of RAM to back it up.
You get another one of Samsung’s brilliant displays with a sharp resolution and great color reproduction. It’s not a top tablet for gaming with its limited RAM and storage, but the Galaxy Tab A8’s four Dolby Atmos speakers are perfect for catching up on your favorite shows. It packs a 10.5-inch display, a solid metal build, and improved RAM and storage options to power through your day. If you prefer Amazon’s Alexa as your smart assistant of choice, these next two tablets may fit your needs perfectly.
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus was brand-new for 2021, and it kicked off at a very low price with ad support. You’ll get the same 10.1-inch display you know and love from previous generations, but Amazon has added an extra gig of RAM and wireless charging to the mix.
You can still choose from ad-supported or ad-free versions, which means that this Android tablet can set you back as little as $89.99. As another Fire OS tablet, you won’t find Google apps, but there are plenty of ways to make do without. If you want the absolute smallest Amazon tablet you can get, the company introduced a new and updated Fire 7 in 2022. It offers updated RAM over the previous version but stays at a wallet-friendly sub-$100 price tag.
IT comes with a smaller screen, great functionality, and a price tag that will keep your wallet very healthy. Lenovo’s premium new tablet offers excellent hardware with a gorgeous display that you can happily use all day long. It measures 12.6-inches across and offers a 120Hz refresh rate complete with Dolby Vision support. While it’s not the newest chipset, it offered plenty of punch throughout our testing — especially when paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. Lenovo Tab P12 Pro Lenovo Tab P12 Pro A perfect entertainment, gaming, and productivity powerhouse that’s built for use outdoors and indoors, with an all-day battery and bright display. Generally, those no-name brand tablets for sub-$100 prices aren’t worth buying!
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