15 best Android tablets in the world
Updated Lots of movers and shakers in our top 15
If you're looking for a tablet and don't fancy an iPad, then Android is currently the way to go. (Don't know what an Android tablet is? Check out: what is an Android tablet?)
There are other options out there; Windows 8 tablets are incoming, the BlackBerry PlayBook is on sale and the HP TouchPad has come and gone in a flurry of £99 ($150) panic-buying. But Android Jelly Bean is currently the main OS rival to the iPad, and products using that OS are slowly making their way onto the shelves.
We saw the launch of Nvidia's next-generation Tegra 3 chip, which takes 2012's quad-core Android tablets to new heights. The likes of the Google Nexus 7 and Transformer Pad Infinity are beckoning in the new era, and the iPad is starting to feel the heat.
- Are you wondering what the iPad rival to the Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HD is like? Check our hands on: iPad mini review to find out!
1. Google Nexus 7
Packing a Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 12 core GPU, 8GB and 16GB internal storage and 7-inch 1280 x 800 screen, the Nexus 7 certainly has the skills to pay the bills, but at a highly attractive price point.
Laughing in the face of its closest rival, the Amazon Kindle Fire, it looks like Google has got the budget end of the tablet market all wrapped up. Until the Kindle Fire 2 and iPad Mini come to the fore, at least.
It's now been shoved up in capacity without a jump in price; this means you can get 16GB of storage for £159 and £199 for the full 32GB version - plus we're getting a 3G version too.
Quick verdict
A quad-core processor, beefy GPU and the first device to run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and now it's already been upgraded to Android 4.2 with raft of new fancy features. The Nexus 7 certainly packs a punch and while it may not tread a lot of new ground, the Nexus 7 is a solid performer and easily the best tablet a couple of hundred pounds can buy.2. Google Nexus 10
It's a great performer too. Other than taking a while to process panoramic photos we never felt like it was struggling to keep up. It's fast and smooth whatever you throw at it.
Sure it may not be as stunning to look at, or as well built as an iPad, and the lack of expandable memory will irk some, but overall the Nexus 10 gives you a quality, big-screen Android experience which is not to be sniffed at.
On top of that, the tablet has already been updated to Android 4.2.1, which brings back the month of December in some calendar apps (well done, Google) and adds support for some security issues too, showing this is the tablet to buy if you want a larger screen that Google won't give up on.
Quick verdict
The Google Nexus 10 is easily one of the best Android tablets on the market and while it's not quite as fantastic value for money as the Nexus 7, it certainly gives Apple's high-priced iPad 4 a run for its money. For the price you're paying, you won't be disappointed.3. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity
With the latest version of Android on the way, a simple interface and more ports than you can poke with a stick, the Infinity is the tablet that can handle anything you can throw at it.
Add in the Super IPS panel with a tremendous resolution, and you can see why this is a tablet to rate very highly - especially if you're fond of typing on the go but crave the simplicity of a slate too. New firmware updates in some territories have brought features like Wi-Fi Direct to the Infinity, and Android 4.2 will be landing soon too.
Quick verdict
Everything we'd look for in a high-end tablet is present and accounted for with the Transformer Pad Infinity.While power is always welcomed, it was the improved screen that really caught our attention. Given that we use our tablet mostly for browsing the web and watching video, we couldn't help but marvel at the resolution, either. if you're looking for a top Android tablet (and have the cash to splash), then the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity should be at the top of your list.
4. Amazon Kindle Fire HD
Coming in at 16GB and 32GB flavours, the Kindle Fire HD is sure to be a big hit, bringing the simplicity of the e-book range to the tablet arena, with dedicated space to access your movies, games, apps and music too. A recent update has added a camera app for the front-facing camera and Swype support, so there are even more (admittedly tiny) reasons to shell out.
It's a little simplistic for some, but for others it's the perfect mix of curated content and easy to use interface - and despite the price, it's got a decent build quality too.
Quick verdict
For casual tablet users or those already knee-deep in Amazon's digital media abyss, the Kindle Fire HD is a fantastic option, especially at the low entry price. It offers a simple and uncomplicated experience through and through, and is built to support the digital media it aims to sell you, with an excellent screen (for a seven-incher) and surprisingly ample speakers.5. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
Well, not just a stylus - with many levels of pressure sensitivity and the ability easily sketch and annotate on a wide range of items, the Galaxy Note 10.1 offers so much more than your average tablet.
We're huge fans of the alternative choice here, and it even comes with a microSD slot to boot. Android 4.1 is landing at the moment, and comes with a Premium Suite update, designed to make multi-tasking and general use that much easier.
Quick verdict
Sure, it's a mite expensive, the screen quality is lower than we've seen from Samsung in the past and the build quality somewhat lower than the competition, but this is still a fabulous tablet that many workers constantly forced to use a paper and pen will love to try out.Best Android tablets for 2012: 6-10
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9
Apart from these physical attributes, the internal components are basically the same. So you get the same slick performance and overall tablet experience. We've put this above the 10.1 because of the increased convenience owed to its slightly smaller size, but that shouldn't put you off going for the 10.1 if you're after a bigger screen.
Quick verdict
It's ideal for anyone who thinks 10.1 inches is just slightly too big for a tablet, but also finds 7-inch options a tad too small. A great screen, and premium features across the board make it a superb option.However, we're a bit disappointed that Samsung doesn't seem as bothered by this device as other tablets in its stable, as it's only just getting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, when the next level of Android is landing on other devices.
7. Asus Transformer Pad 300
A big plus point for the 300 is the fact that it comes running Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box – keeping it bang up to date with the Android OS – and it's even better news as Asus is keeping up with its reputation of being one of the bset to support its older devices, with Jelly Bean landing soon.
However, the price difference is noticeable when it comes to the materials used to build the 300, with its plastic body not feeling as premium or solid as the more expensive Prime – that said, the Transformer Pad 300 is still a great tablet.
Quick verdict
Individual needs and budget will determine if the Asus Transformer Pad TF300 is right for you, but we applaud Asus for marrying value and performance, and the TF300 comes highly recommended.8. Asus Transformer Prime
The Transformer Prime packs a mighty 1.3GHz quad-core processor into a super-slim 8.6mm chassis and although it shipped with Android 3.2, the Prime was the first Android tab to receive the upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich, and it's now been confirmed to be getting an update to Android 4.2 in the near future.
That huge processor means using the Transformer Prime is a breeze, with it able to process Full HD movies and multiple apps with ease.
You also get a super-crisp 10.1-inch IPS display (1280 x 800), a surprisingly good 8MP camera capable of recording 1080p video, and 32GB of internal storage, with a microSD card slot available if you need more space.
Quick verdict
It's a close run battle for the top Android tablet accolade, but the Transformer Prime just pips the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with its super fast Tegra 3 quad-core processor, slender style and additional keyboard dock.It's starting to age compared to the newer versions, especially the Transformer Prime Infinity, but it's still one of our favourite tablets around... here's hoping the price drops soon to match that.
9. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Sporting the Tegra 2 dual-core CPU, it's both marginally thinner and lighter than the iPad. This was some achievement, especially when you consider the fuss Apple made about how thin and light the iPad 2 was on launch.
It's also had a tasty price drop to less than £300 in some stores, which means that while it might not have the specs of the top-table lot, it's still got a decent amount of grunt and a quality screen, making a strong proposition as a present for someone that 'just wants a tablet'.
Quick verdict
As an out-and-out tablet, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is still great tablet with decent performance and good portability. This tablet is lighter and thinner than the iPad, so unless that keyboard dock of Asus' Transformers is a serious draw for you, this is one to consider.10. Asus Eee Pad Slider
And that's why the Slider is such a compelling option - it's not a straight iPad competitor, it offers something different. The slide-out keyboard offers flexibility and functionality not on offer elsewhere.
It's a different prospect to the Transformer Prime above, in that it cannot be disconnected from its keyboard, nor does it pack the Tegra 3 innards.
But what it does do is make it easier to work on the train, type emails and documents with the convenience of not needing a dock or peripheral. What's more, the screen is the best we've seen on a 10-inch Android tablet, and it's also the most responsive.
Quick verdict
It's not for everyone, but it's one of the best tablets for showing off everything that Android can do.Best Android tablets for 2012: 11-15
11. Sony Tablet S
Quick verdict
It's a very decent and refined tablet, and has the unique feature of having access to original PlayStation games. The only issue is that it's not as tidy as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and not as versatile as the Transformer. Apart from that, it's one of the best Android tablets out there.12. Toshiba AT200
You get a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 TFT display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and a decent array of ports including microSD, USB and HDMI.
Toshiba has also dropped the price of the AT200 just a few months after launch to keep it competitive in the market, but it's exclusively at Carphone Warehouse in the UK for the time being.
Quick verdict
The Toshiba AT200 is a good, solid and portable device, delivering everything you'd expect from an unfussy Android slate. If you're looking for a standard tablet experience, the AT200 is certainly worth a look.13. Acer Iconia Tab A510
Quick verdict
There are cheaper tablets out there running Android Ice Cream Sandwich, but these budget offerings do not offer the sheer power of the Tegra 3 platform, and the lightning-fast Android 4.0 experience.14. Huawei MediaPad 7
Huawei made much of this being the first Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet, but that's not much of a big deal now that Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), has landed.
Quick verdict
Admittedly, tablets aren't quite there yet as a full-blown work tool, but the Huawei MediaPad 7 takes a big step forward towards convincing us this is the form factor of the future. If it has a challenger it would be the easier to hold and even smaller - but no less capable and considerably more costly - 5.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Note.15. Motorola Xoom
Current prices are starting at about £300 ($470), which is great value for a 10-inch tablet of this calibre, and it's thus worthy of your attention.
Thanks to Google taking over Motorola the Xoom was one of the first devices to get upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean when it launched, making it a great device even today. However, Android 4.2 isn't going to be making an appearance, so best think about whether you want an outdated device in a year's time.
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