10. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Amazon now not only offers a pair of tablets, but now their own smartphone so, they’re a technology company like Apple, Samsung and HTC, right? Well no, not really and the Kindle Fire duo are shining examples of why not. Both the 7 and 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX devices are great value for money with some excellent displays. There’s a Snapdragon 800 under the hood as well as 2GB of RAM and even LTE on AT&T, but primarily this is a vessel for consuming content, and content mostly from Amazon at that. However, if that’s all you want, then either of these two tablets will serve you well.
The 7-inch version is available from Amazon here, and the 8.9-inch version here.
09. Google Nexus 10
The Nexus 10 is perhaps the only real option out there for those looking for a stock Android tablet above 8-inches or so and it’s still a decent option. It is however, a shame that the bezels are so thick, but this is a pretty old tablet now and Google have chose not to release a new version of it, which is disappointing. Still, if you can find it on offer somewhere or pick one up used on the cheap, there’s nothing wrong with the Nexus 10, it still has a great display and it still runs the latest version of Android admirably. Of course, that might change soon with the release of Android L, but we’re hoping that Google will give this one last update.
08. ASUS Transformer TF701T
While ASUS’ tablet offerings these days seem focused more on the lower-end of things, presumably as there’s not as much demand for 10-inch Android tablets, the TF701T still remains an excellent option if you don’t want a laptop, but would like a keyboard from time-to-time. With its 10.1-inch 2560 x 1600 display, NVIDIA’s Tegra 4 and a great keyboard attachment that also adds to the tablet’s battery life, the TF701T will handle pretty much anything you challenge it with.
ASUS’ latest Transformer is available from Amazon.
07. Sony Xperia Tablet Z2
Sony’s Xperia Z2 offerings, both their phone and the tablet, were their best yet thanks to the change to IPS displays offering better viewing angles and color reproduction. However, the Xperia Tablet Z2 goes for style over substance a little too much. It’s super-thin, looks good and waterproof so there’s no denying the Z2 is a looker, but the screen resolution just doesn’t hold up that well. If you want an all-rounder then the Snapdragon 801 and Full HD display won’t let you down, but for reading magazines and books, a 2560 x 1600 display found on most high-end tablets these days is a much safer bet.
Available from Amazon, the Xperia Tablet Z2 also recently launched on Verizon, too.
06. LG G Pad 8.3
LG’s most recent offerings were a little disappointing frankly, the new G Pad 7.0 and 10.1 are both woefully underpowered, but they are well priced. This however, continues to be the best tablet LG makes with superior build quality and a really nice Full HD 8.3-inch display. With Android 4.4 onboard and other niceties like an SD card slot, LG’s G Pad 8.3 is a very good deal, indeed. Hopefully, LG bring their new software from the G3 down to last year’s tablet, but as it stands it still has a surprising amount to offer.
05. Galaxy Note Pro
If you’re after a larger than 10-inch tablet, then you don’t need to look any further. Sure, there’s a Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 as well, but the extra money for the S-Pen makes all the more sense on a canvas this large. Not only is this a large tablet, but it’s got a nice display resolution of 2560 x 1600 and it’s got all the power needed to get you through a day. Using the S-Pen for notes, or even technical drawings is doable here on the 12.2-inch Note Pro and even though it’s expensive, it’s arguably the best middleground between tablet and laptop if you think a 10-inch display is too small.
The Galaxy Note Pro is available from Amazon.
04. Google Nexus 7
Value for money when choosing a tablet isn’t something that should be skipped, especially if you’re not looking to spend laptop-money on a slate just yet. If that’s the case there’s still no better option than Google’s own. The Nexus 7 2013 edition has an excellent display, it’s nice and portable at 7-inches and it’ll be getting updated to Android L in the Fall before anything else. The Snapdragon S4 Pro under the hood does look a little dated, it still runs along nice and smoothly.
You can buy the 2013 model of the Nexus 7 from Amazon as well as Google’s Play Store.
03. Galaxy Tab S 8.4
The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is quite possibly the best “compromise” there is out there and while Samsung’s build quality still needs work (a tablet of this cost shouldn’t feel this cheap) there’s no denying the specs here. It’s got an excellent Super AMOLED display great for movies, YouTube, browsing the web and viewing photos and at 2560 x 1600 its also fairly dense as well. The only problems here are Samsung’s build and its price, but if you want an excellent display that’s under 10-inches but still doesn’t feel cramped, this is one to look for.
Available from Amazon, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is an excellent option.
02. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition
It’s been available for a while now, but the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition offers an all-round experience with some bells and whistles, like the S-Pen which is great for getting things done on the move and also very good for games. It’s portable enough to carry around like say, a notebook, and it’s also large enough to deal with sizable documents and boring work stuff. An excellent tablet that those looking for a great stylus experience will love, Samsung’s bizarrely named Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition is a great choice, especially if you’re not into Super AMOLED and don’t want a 12-inch giant.
You can purchase this guy from Amazon.
01. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5
The 10.5-inch version of the Galaxy Tab S offers a genuinely stellar alternative to the iPad if you’re looking for an all-rounder that has an excellent display and all the software features you want and then some. Moreover, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 has added extras like a fingerprint sensor which will help keep kids away from your Google Play account and that Super AMOLED display is vibrant and bright. It’s larger than the 8.4-inch version, making it better for movies and the occasional desk type stuff, but it’s also nice and portable as it’s thin and light, too. Samsung’s tablet offerings might be a little too much for a lot of people, with too many options available, but the Galaxy Tab S line do a great job of bringing everything Samsung has to offer.
The 10-inch Galaxy Tab S is available from Amazon.