While the iPad has made a name for itself in the tablet space, there are plenty of good Android options as well if you’d prefer something outside of Apple. In addition to being affordable, these tablets have some features not available on Apple devices.
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Android tablets can suit any professional or casual need, whether you want to use one for word processing, illustrating 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 Android's operating system as a whole, it makes perfect sense to go this route.
So if you’re looking for a premium tablet to serve as a laptop substitute, or an affordable one to stream entertainment, here are our picks for the best tablets running the Android operating system. And if you’re shopping on a budget, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Cyber Monday tablet deals for major savings this holiday season. We update this list periodically, so keep checking back.
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Best for basic media consumption
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)
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Expert Take
Amazon has come a long way from the first Kindle Fire tablet. The Amazon Fire HD 10 is Amazon’s biggest tablet with a 10-inch screen size and powerful speakers. Just like its smaller 8-inch sibling, the Fire HD 8, the tablet is packed with benefits for Prime subscribers making it easy for members to stream and download movies, TV shows and games. Amazon’s Fire tablets don’t use a pure version of Android, but instead Amazon’s Android-based Fire operating system, which pulls apps from the Amazon App Store. You can still get apps from Google Play, but you’ll have to install the store yourself — meaning gaming enthusiasts have access to all of their favorite mobile games for an excellent gaming tablet experience. Also, this is probably the closest thing we have to a budget tablet on this best Android tablet list. This model typically retails for around $150.
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Premium Android tablet for work and play
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
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Expert Take
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus tablet might be in the middle of the Tab S8 lineup but it is our top pick. The 12.4-inch AMOLED display is bright with excellent color. It’s a great size for entertainment and gaming, while big enough for light productivity tasks and still small enough for travel. Updates to Samsung’s DeX software even makes the Tab S8 a possible laptop substitute, letting you connect to a mouse and even an external display. A keyboard cover isn’t included but one of Samsung’s fantastic S Pens is, so you can use the big screen for note-taking and content creation right out of the box.
Joseph Kaminski
A great Galaxy Tab for less
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
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Expert Take
Despite its more attainable price compared to some other tablets, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE retains an upscale feel. The S7 FE is the same size as the Plus, with a 1.3-pound aluminum body and slim bezels around its 12.4-inch display that has a 2,560×1,600-pixel resolution. Samsung carefully trimmed the features of the Plus, such as going from four stereo speakers to two and switching from an AMOLED display to an LCD screen. The result is a big-screen Android tablet that still performs well and has a premium look and feel for significantly less money. It’s currently being sold on Amazon for $400.
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Part Android tablet, part smart display
Lenovo Smart Tab P10
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Expert Take
The Lenovo Smart Tab P10 combines a tablet and a smart display into one 10-inch device. This Lenovo tablet comes with Android Oreo, front and rear cameras, fingerprint scanner and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor. When you set it on the dock, the Lenovo Tab becomes a smart display a lot like the Amazon Echo Show.
