10. Amazon Fire HD 6 and 7
Amazon has revamped their tablet line just recently, and it seems the ‘Kindle’ moniker is gone, and we’re left with just ‘Fire’. Replacing the 7-inch models of old is the new Fire HD which comes in 6-inch and 7-inch versions. They both feature 1280 x 800 IPS panels as well as an unknown 1.5 Ghz quad-core CPU which all adds up to a pretty mediocre offering. However, there do start at just $99, which is insanely cheap, and for first-time tablet buyers, the Fire HD pair offer more than enough thanks to Amazon’s ecosystem. There’s also a kids version available for a little more that offers a bulky case and a two-year, no-quibble guarantee that you’ll get a replacement if your little one abuses it one step too far. All you need to do is send it back and receive a refurb. Now that’s a good deal.
09. Sony Xperia Tablet Z2
Sony sure know how to make a good-looking tablet, and the Xperia Tablet Z2 is definitely that. It’s waterproof, looks great, has a Snapdragon 801 and 3GB of RAM running the show and will handle pretty much anything you throw at it. We generally enjoyed the tablet in our review and were very glad to see it on a US carrier. However, it’s a little on the large side when you take a look at those big bezels and while 1080p is great for a smaller tablet or smartphone, a resolution of 2560 x 1600 is really appreciated at 10-inches. Still, the Z2 Tablet is now available through Verizon and if you want a stylish tablet for movies or that sort of thing, then this will work great.
08. Amazon Fire HDX 8.9
As Amazon have done with the Kindle Fire line, the Kindle Fire HDX line is now simply, the Fire HDX. This year’s new guy is the Fire HDX 8.9 and it is a real powerhouse. With an 8.9-inch IPS panel that has 100% sRGB accuracy, and a Snapdragon 805 with 2GB of RAM, this is actually one of the better tablets on the market right now. If you’re in the market for a great display, brilliant performance for games and HD movies, then this really won’t disappoint. The lack of Google services is annoying, but for a consumption device, this is a great option and Amazon’s ecosystem has a lot more to offer than you think it does.
07. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro
The love it or hate it Galaxy Note Pro is one of the largest tablets coming in at 12.2-inches, with a pretty large footprint overall. While Samsung’s giant tablet might not be for everyone, if you want more space for movies or drawing with the excellent S-Pen, then there’s no other way to go than the Galaxy Note Pro. It’s also nice and powerful, with some of the best processing power on the market, but with a hefty price tag and a resolution of 2560 x 1600 stretched to 12.2-inch, it’s not the sharpest out there. This sort of tablet is definitely going to divide folks, but it’s still got a lot going for it, and if you love it – you’ll really love it.
06. Google Nexus 7
While the Nexus 9 – or Nexus 8 – is fast approaching, there’s nothing wrong the Nexus 7 (2013) and if you’re in the mood for a smaller tablet that still has an excellent display, this 1920 x 1200 packing ASUS tablet is for you, The Snapdragon S4 Pro inside of here is aging a little these days, but it’s still a great CPU for everyday use and the overall experience here is stock Android on a tablet at its best. With Android L already available as a preview on the device, the Nexus 7 could be the best chance to get your hands on Google’s bleeding new version of Android without spending a huge amount of cash to do so.
05. Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Sony’s Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact may have a pretty mouthy name, but it’s a smaller affair than normal from Sony, with an 8-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS panel front and center. That’s not the best display we’e seen at this sort of size, but when you consider there’s a Snapdragon 801 and 3GB of RAM underneath that display, things get instantly more interesting. If the 10.1-inch Xperia Tablet Z2 was just too big for you, then finally Sony has answered your prayers. It’s available in a range of colors and is actually a little rounder around the edges, making it a little more comfortable in your hand. It’s also waterproof as usual, making this a decent tablet to take with you wherever you go and now have to worry about getting it wet or whatever. Also, this is a nice option if you’ve always fancied a Sony phone but couldn’t justify the outright purchase, now you can have a tablet instead!
04. NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet
So you like playing games? And you want a tablet that allows you to play games brilliantly and yet is also just, a tablet? Well then the SHIELD tablet from NVIDIA is just that. It’s powered by a Tegra K1 which is frankly one of the best CPUs on the market right now, and it’s a really nice-looking tablet with some quality design cues and some very nice stereo speakers around front. With a stylus and the ability to pair to a specially design controller and even play games from your PC’s Steam library, NVIDIA’s tablet is a mobile gamer’s wet dream. It’s also not too, too expensive so have at it and game on!
03. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4
The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is easily the best smaller-sized Android tablet that you can pick up today, and there are some very good reasons for that. It’s super-powerful with enough processing power and RAM to handle mostly anything and the 8.4-inch 2560 x 1600 Super AMOLED display is stunning, as we noted in our review. For those looking for an all-round tablet that’s still nice and portable, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 doesn’t skimp on specs or anything of the sort. An excellent table that does everything and then some, this is one of the best tablets below 10-inches.
02. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition
While the 2014 Edition of the Galaxy Note 10.1 is actually coming up a year old now, it’s still a great tablet, especially so if you want that little bit extra out of a tablet, The 2560 x 1600 display resolution is nice and dense at this size and the S-Pen offers you some incredible ways to draw, play games and actually get some work done on the move. Plus, docking this with a keyboard or something similar will deliver great results as well. It’s a great all-rounder with the S-Pen the cherry on top, making this one of the best-featured tablets you can buy.
01. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5
The Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is the best Android tablet that does pretty much everything for everyone. Want to play movies? Check? Want to play games? Check. Want to get a little productivity done in between? Anything you want to do, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 will do it. That 10.5-inch 2560 x 1600 is the star of the show here and it really helps makes movies and photos pop, and if you were thinking which of these tablets the iPad would fear the most, it’s this guy.