Best Android tablets of 2015
When deciding upon which Android tablet to buy, there are a lot of things to consider: display quality, processing power, size, weight, battery life etc. As with any investment, it's important to do some research before you purchase to make the most informed decision possible. Here are what we consider to be the best Android tablets that you can buy in 2015.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) has it all. / © Samsung
Design, power and portability: these three deciding factors are the reasons why this Samsung jewel has landed at the top of our tablet food chain. It measures less than 8 mm thick, and is capable of running any game or app you throw at it. Crucially, it comes with an S Pen stylus (making it an ideal tablet for students or artists who are likely to be taking notes and/or sketching) and has a great "multi-window" feature, which lets you have up to four windows open at any time.
It's safe to say that the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 is the best the world of Android tablets has to offer at the moment. This, however, comes at a cost; the Galaxy Note 10.1 price currently sits at around 549 USD. But if you consider that most of today's mobile technology has been crammed into one singular device, you’d understand why Samsung charges such big bucks: its Note-specific functions (S Pen, Air Gesture, etc), connectivity, performance, and portability puts this tablet in direct competition with laptops.
| Display | 10.1-inches, 2,560 x 1600 (WQXGA) TFT, Super Clear LCD |
| Processor | WiFi/3G : 1.9 GHz Quad + 1.3GHz Quad Exynos 5400 LTE : 2.3 GHz Quad |
| RAM/Interal Memory | 3 GB / 16/32/64 GB + microSD up to 64 GB |
| Camera | 8 MP (rear) with flash, 2 MP Full HD (front) |
| Connectivty | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, GPS |
| Dimensions | 243.1 x 171.4 x 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 540 g (Wi-Fi) / 547 g (3G / LTE) |
| Battery | 8,220 mAh |
| Operating System | Android 4.3 Jelly Bean |
| Price | 549 USD (32 GB, black), 278 GBP (16 GB, 4G edition) |
2. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
If you want a laptop experience with a tablet, check out the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 with its Bluetooth keyboard. / © Samsung
The first place runner up is yet another large Samsung tablet. The Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 comes with the same powerful performance, plus it has its own Bluetooth keyboard which can act as a cover.
The Note Pro 12.2 is an all-encompassing tablet – in addition to its many features, it has a huge visual impact thanks to its huge screen (multi-window mode is also available here). But there are some disadvantages, namely its 750 gram weight large size, which makes handling a bit more cumbersome than the 10.1-inch model.
Still, with the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 price set at around 550 USD, you can expect laptop-standard performance from this beauty.
- Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 review
| Display | 12.2-inch Super Clear LCD, 2560x1600, 247 ppi |
| Dimensions and weight | 295.6 x 204 x 7.95 mm, 750 g |
| Internal storage | 32GB/64GB + microSD slot up to 64 GB |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM |
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 5 Octa (SM-P905). 1.8 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (SM-P900), 2.3 GHz |
| Battery | 9,500 mAh |
| Cameras | 8 MP + LED (back); 2 MP (front) |
| Connectivity and networks | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 3.0 port with microUSB 2.0 compatibility, NFC, GPS |
| Operating system and UI | Android 4.4 KitKat with TouchWiz UI |
| Price | 547.99 USD (32 GB, black), 399.99 GBP (32 GB, black) |
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5
This tablet deserves massive props because of its sleek design which combines slick plastic with luxurious and unique copper edges. The Galaxy Tab S, besides being the lightest 10-inch tablet produced by Samsung, has hardware which ensures top-class performance; you’ll be able to run resource-hungry applications with minimal delay.
But all of this is peanuts next to what really took our breath away: the Tab S is bestowed with a seriously incredible Super AMOLED screen, which according to DisplayMate, one of the most reliable sources when it comes to screen quality, is the best display on the market. (You can also find a similarly awesome 8.4-inch variation of the device with almost the same specs, only differing in the dimensions and pixels-per-inch.)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 price is currently floating around the 350 USD mark, and this makes it one of the best tablet choices on Android.
| Display | 10.5-inch Super AMOLED 2560x1600 (288ppi) |
| Dimensions and weight | 177.3 x 247.3 x 6.6 mm, 465 g |
| Internal storage | 16 GB/ 32GB + microSD slot up to 128 GB |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM |
| Processor | octa-core Samsung Exynos 5 Octa, 1.9 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 2.3 GHz |
| Battery | 7,900 mAh |
| Cameras | 8 MP (rear); 2.1 MP (front) |
| Connectivity and networks | Wi-Fi, HSPA, LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0 port |
| Operating system and UI | Android 4.4.2 KitKat with TouchWiz UI |
| Price | 349.95 USD (16 GB, dazzling white), 339.99 (16 GB, dazzling white) |
Sony cracks the otherwise Samsung-laden list with the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet. Immediately drawing attention with its high class OmniBalance design, this tablet is beautifully weighted and also incredible thin (just 6.4 mm). In addition, Sony is on the ball when it comes to making waterproof devices: the Tablet Z2 has IP58 certification which makes it resistant to dust and water, and its hardware specifications are hard to beat.
Despite the lower screen resolution and battery capacity compared to other tablets on the list, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 achieved this position thanks to its beautiful looks and water-friendliness, as well as great performance. The Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet price is set at 500 USD.
- Xperia Z2 tablet review
| Display | 10.1-inch, IPS, 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Dimensions and weight | 212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm, 294 g |
| Internal storage | 16GB + microSD |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, Quad-Core, 2.3 GHz |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh |
| Cameras | 8.1 MP (rear); 2.1 MP (front) |
| Connectivity and networks | LTE, UMTS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, MHL 3.0, USB 2.0, Wi-F |
| Operating system and UI | Android 4.4 KitKat with Xperia UI |
| Price | 499.99 USD (16 GB, black), 329 GBP (16 GB, black) |
5. Sony Z3 Tablet Compact
The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is currently the world's "most powerful and lightest waterproof tablet". It houses an impressive Full-HD screen, making use of Sony's Triluminous and X-Reality technologies. In real terms, this means is that it looks more vibrant than it otherwise would, but it's more than just some marketing terminology, the screen is bright with great color depth.
The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact will also be able to take advantage of Sony's PS4 remote play feature, turning your tablet into an alternative screen for all your PS4 games.
The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact won't last quite as long as the fantastic Z2 Tablet in terms of battery life, but if you're looking for something a little smaller, without a huge sacrifice in quality, this is a great option. Plus, it still retains some of the neat features of its big brother such as water-resistance, Snapdragon 801 processor, and expandable memory up to 128 GB.
The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact price is sitting at around 418 USD on Amazon right now.
- Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact review
| Display | 8-inch, LCD, 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, 323 ppi |
| Dimensions and weight | 213 x 123 x 6.4 mm, 280 g |
| Internal storage | 16 GB + microSD up to 128 GB |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, quad-core, 2.5 GHz |
| Battery | 4500 mAh |
| Cameras | 8.1 MP (rear); 2.2 MP (front) |
| Connectivity and networks | HSPA, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Operating system and UI | Android 4.4.4 KitKat |
| Price | 418 USD (16 GB, black), 299 GBP (16 GB, black) |
6. Nvidia Shield
The Nvidia Shield is a tablet for those who want a high-performance gaming device - in this regard, it's currently the best Android has to offer. You'll never encounter the frustration of not being able to download your favorite game due to hardware restrictions, and games you do play wont stutter or a crash, the device runs smooth like butter even when playing the most demanding of titles.
If you consider the gaming performance, as well as the attractive Nvidia Shield price (299 USD for the base model), this is a solid tablet that won’t swoon when the going gets tough.
| Display | 8-inch, IPS 1,280 x 800 pixels, 283 ppi |
| Processor | Nvidia Tegra K1, 64 bit dual-core, 2.2 GHz |
| RAM/Interal Memory | 2 GB / 16/32 GB + microSD up to 32 GB |
| Camera | 5 MP / 5 MP |
| Connectivty | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, GPS |
| Dimensions | 221 x 126 x 9.2 mm |
| Weight | 390 grams |
| Battery | 5.200 mAh |
| Operating System | Android 4.4.2 KitKat |
| Price | 299 USD (16 GB, Wi-Fi), 239.98 (16 GB, Wi-Fi) |
Coming in three size variations, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro has you covered, whatever your preference. / © Samsung
Another superb Samsung tablet stemming from the ‘’older’’ Tab series, this edition of tablets was released a few months before the new Tab S devices, and thus is much more attractive when it comes to price, which has fallen drastically since its release.
The Tab Pro exists in three versions boasting different screen sizes: 12.2, 10.1 and 8.4 inches. The 12.2-inch version comes with 1 GB of RAM more than its siblings, also with increased battery capacity, but otherwise the hardware is the same, and all offer excellent performance.
Though this tablet serious does come with a sharp LCD screen, it’s no match for the Super AMOLED Tab S display, which is why it has landed further down our list. The Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 price ranges between 350 and 400 USD, so if you're interested in this one make sure you buy at the right time.
| Display | 12.2-inch, Super clear LCD capacitive touchscreen 2560 x 1600 pixels (~247 ppi) |
| Dimensions and weight | 295.6 x 204 x 8 mm, 732 g |
| Internal storage | 32/64 GB + microSD up to 64 GB |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Battery | 9500 mAh |
| Cameras | 8 MP (rear); 2 MP (front) |
| Connectivity and networks | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Infrared, Micro USB 3.0, GPS |
| Operating system and UI | Android 4.4 KitKat |
| Price | From 298 USD, or from 259.99 GBP |
The Nexus 9 finds itself at number eight on our list of best Android tablets, not because of its level of performance, but because of our slight disappointment that we felt after our initial review.
Sure, it was the first tablet in the world to show off Android 5.0 Lollipop, but its performance is not among the best. Nevertheless, it still has some great specs and features, with a brilliant 8.9-inch QXGA (2,048 x 1,536 pixels) LCD display, BoomSound stereo speakers, a killer 64-bit processor Nvidia Tegra K1, plus all of the new features offered by Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The Nexus 9 price is set at 399 USD, or 319 GBP and it still has a lot to offer Android fans, even if it wasn't quite up to our expectations.
- Nexus 9 review
| Display | 8.9-inch LCD 2048 x 1536 pixels, 288 ppi |
| Processor | dual-core Nvidia Tegra K1, 2.3 GHz |
| RAM/Internal Memory | 2 GB / 32/64 GB |
| Camera | 8 MP (rear), 1.6 MP (front) |
| Connectivity | NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, HSPA, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 153.68 x 228.25 x 7.95 mm |
| Weight | 425 g, 436 g |
| Battery | 6,700 mAh |
| Operating System | Android 5.0 Lollipop, stock Android |
| Price | 399 USD (16 GB, black), 299 GBP (16 GB, black) |
The Dell Venue 8 7840 is an extremely capable tablet, new in 2015 and is new to our list. It’s ultra-thin (just 6 mm thick) and metal clad, with Intel Inside technology ensuring it runs silky smooth.
Though it doesn't have a beautiful name, the Venue 8 7840 does have a beautiful 8.4-inch screen with 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution, and 359 pixels-per-inch, making it one of the best looking tablets on Android.
The Dell Venue 8 has four cameras, one on the front and three on the back, which provide height and depth information in pictures. It’s a neat bit of technology, but it’s not the main reason to invest in the 7840; pick up this tablet if you want a sleek device with a quality display and fast processing. But be warned, it only houses around 8 GB of (usable) internal memory (though this is expandable via an external SD card).
The Dell Venue 8 7840 price stands at 399 USD.
| Display | 8.4-inch LCD, 2560 x 1600 pixels, (359) ppi |
| Dimensions and weight | 215.8 mm x 124.4 mm x 6 mm, 305 g |
| Internal storage | 16 GB + microSD |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM |
| Processor | Quad-core Intel Atom, 2.3 GHz |
| Battery | 5,900 mAh |
| Camera | 8 MP (rear); 2 MP (front) |
| Connectivity and networks | Bluetooth 4.0, LTE, HSPA |
| Operating system and UI | Android 4.4.4 Kitkat |
| Price | 399 USD, 312 GBP |
This little tablet has snuck its way onto the list because it might be the best value tablet offering currently on Android. The Tesco Hudl 2 price is just 129 GBP, and for that you get a fast, 8.3-inch tablet, running on stock Android.
Rugged, with bright color options, it’s certainly family-friendly, but the Full-HD display and Dolby sound system ensures it delivers on the user-experience front too. As far as price/performance ratio is concerned, we’re convinced it’s one of the top choices on Android. Go and test one out in-store if you don’t believe us, or buy now from Tesco.com.
- Tesco Hudl 2 review
| Display |
8.3-inch, LCD, 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, 273 ppi
|
| Dimensions and weight | 8.82 x 5.04 x 0.36 in, 14.46 oz |
| Internal storage | 16 GB +microSD |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM |
| Processor | Intel Atom, quad-core, 1.83 GHz |
| Battery | "up to eight hours) |
| Camera | 5 MP (rear) 1.2 (front) |
| Connectivity and networks | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC |
| Operating system and UI | Android 4.4.2 Jelly Bean |
| Price | 129 GBP (all colors, 16 GB) |
What do you think is the best Android tablet? Let us know in the comments below.