While the iPad has made a name for itself in the tablet space, there are also plenty of good Android options if you prefer something outside of Apple. In addition to being affordable, these tablets have a number of features that aren’t available on Apple devices.
Android tablets can meet any professional or casual need, whether you want to use one for word processing, illustration, or gaming. Accessories like a mouse or touchpad can even work with some models. If you’re already a fan of the Android app ecosystem and The operating system of Android Overall, it makes perfect sense to go down this path.
So if you’re looking for a premium tablet that acts like a Laptop replacement, or an affordable one to stream entertainment, here are our picks for the best tablets running the Android operating system. We update this list regularly, so keep checking back.
Amazon has come a long way since the first Kindle Fire tablet. The Amazon Fire HD 10 is Amazon’s largest tablet, boasting a 10-inch display and powerful speakers. Like its smaller 8-inch sibling, the Fire HD 8, the tablet is packed with perks for Prime subscribers, making it easy to stream and download movies, TV shows, and games. Amazon’s Fire tablets don’t run a pure version of Android, instead running Amazon’s Android-based Fire operating system, which pulls apps from the Amazon App Store. You can still download apps from Google Play, but you’ll have to install the store yourself, meaning gaming enthusiasts can access all of their favorite mobile games for a great gaming tablet experience. This is also probably the closest thing to a budget tablet on this list of the best Android tablets, typically retailing for around $150.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 Plus tablet may sit in the middle of the Tab S8 lineup, but it’s our top pick. Its 12.4-inch AMOLED display is bright and colourful. It’s a great size for entertainment and gaming, while still being large enough for light productivity tasks and small enough to carry around. Updates to Samsung’s DeX software even make the Tab S8 a potential laptop replacement, allowing you to connect to a mouse and even an external display. It doesn’t come with a keyboard cover, but it does come with one of Samsung’s fantastic S Pens, so you can use the big screen for note-taking and content creation right out of the box.
Despite its more attainable price point compared to some other tablets, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE maintains a premium feel. The S7 FE is the same size as the Plus, with a 1.3-pound aluminum chassis and thin bezels around its 12.4-inch, 2560 x 1600 display. Samsung has taken careful note of features over the Plus, such as switching from four stereo speakers to two and switching from an AMOLED display to an LCD. The result is a large-screen Android tablet that still performs well and has a premium look and feel for considerably less money. It’s currently selling on Amazon for $400.
The Lenovo Smart Tab P10 combines a tablet and a smart display into one 10-inch device. This Lenovo tablet features Android Oreo, front and rear cameras, a fingerprint scanner and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor. When you place it on the dock, the Lenovo Tab becomes a smart display, just like the Amazon Echo Show.
