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Sure, most people’s go-to tablet will likely be an iPad but there are plenty of reasons why an Android-based tablet might make for a better fit, and we’ve rounded up range of options worth considering.
Android tablets vary in size and quality, but some are exceptionally good value and can make very superb iPad alternatives for those with smaller budgets. In the chart below we rank the best Android tablets available to buy in the UK in 2022.
If you don’t specifically need an Android tablet, be sure to check out our list of the
best tablets for any operating system, including the latest iPads and the occasional Windows tablet.
Best Android Tablets 2022
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra – Best overall
Pros
Stunning 120Hz display
Stellar performance
Included S Pen
Cons
Price
Middling software optimisation
No charger in-box
Provided you’re not put off by the Tab S8 Ultra’s sheer size or sizeable asking price, it stands as the most capable Android tablet available right now.
On the front, you’ll find an expansive, crisp and colourful 14.6in 120Hz AMOLED display with support for the included S Pen stylus. Performance is top-notch, thanks to the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and when paired with the dedicated keyboard cover (sold separately) the Tab S8 Ultra is equally at home as a killer multimedia machine or a productivity slate.
Samsung has done well to tailor its user experience to the Tab S8 Ultra’s large display, but Android has its own native quirks that present a few challenges to any tablet running on Google’s mobile OS.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra review
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ – Superb performance
Pros
Stunning display
Stellar performance
Great speakers
Cons
Middling software optimisation
S-Pen charging is awkward
While the Galaxy Tab S8 series is expected to be right around the corner is the obvious choice at the top end of the Android tablet market, 2020’s Galaxy Tab S7+ is still a superb slate worth considering, especially as its price continues to fall.
As with its successors, it’s so capable that what the S7+ really highlights is the disparity between the hardware and the underdeveloped nature of Android as a tablet OS.
Samsung has worked hard to optimise the user experience on its Tabs and it’s also helped in no small amount by the slate’s raw power and excellent S Pen stylus.
This also makes for a superb media slate, thanks to its stunning screen and excellent speakers.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ review
3. Xiaomi Pad 5 – Great value
Pros
Stunning display
Good performance
Slim design
Cons
Lacklustre selfie camera
MIUI not for everyone
It’s been a while since Xiaomi offered up a slate on the global stage but its return to the tablet space – in the form of the Xiaomi Pad 5 – is pleasingly compelling.
The tablet boasts a thin design that’s fronted by a gorgeous 2.5K 120Hz display and comes backed up by great stereo speakers and solid performance to boot.
Just as with its phones, Xiaomi’s tablet-optimised take on its MIUI user experience won’t suit everyone but it’s wholly usable, and while the added connectivity found on the Chinese models doesn’t make it to most markets internationally, there’s still little else on the Android side of the fence we’d recommend around the Pad 5’s asking price.
Read our full
Xiaomi Pad 5 review
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021) – Most affordable
Pros
Nice design
Good battery life
Impressive audio
Cons
Underwhelming display
Limited internal storage
Slow charger in-box
The Galaxy Tab A8 makes a welcome return to Samsung’s tablet range, sporting an attractive design and other standout qualities, including impressive audio chops.
The display and the limited internal storage are its biggest shortcomings, holding it back from being an instant affordable media player recommendation, but it still offers respectable battery life and offers an otherwise balanced all-round experience, especially for the price.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 review
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE – Great for productivity
Pros
Nice design
Great battery life
Stylus in-box
Cons
Underwhelming display
Middling performance
Pricey
MSRP:
499 € (Wi-Fi), 549 € (5G)
The Galaxy Tab S7 FE is definitely more of a basic productivity and entertainment slate, rather than a laptop replacement, like the full-fat entries in the Tab S7 family that it followed, but that means its talents lie in its featherweight design and as a brilliant tool for note-taking, with Samsung including its S Pen stylus in-box, for good measure.
A 60Hz LCD panel is the biggest upset, as displays are an area where Samsung’s tablets – particularly within its Tab S family – usually excel.
Competition in the mid-range tablet space is also finally hotting up, with Xiaomi’s Pad 5 trumping it at practically every turn, for less.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE review
6. Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 – Great all-rounder
Pros
Versatile design
Sharp display
Good battery life
Decent value
Cons
Average performance
Android quirks
Lenovo Yoga Tabs have often experimented with unusual designs, embodied most obviously by their versatile integrated kickstands.
The Tab 11 might not be the most powerful slate on the block but it delivers a great audiovisual experience, strong battery life and convenient usability, thanks to that signature kickstand; all at a compelling price.
Android on tablets still isn’t brilliant but that’s not an issue unique to the Yoga Tab 11.
Read our full
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 review
7. Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 – Great for entertainment
Pros
Large display
Convenient kickstand design
Decent performance
Cons
Only 60Hz LCD panel
Android quirks
Overpriced
If the Yoga Tab 11 is too small for your needs, Lenovo also released a 13in model, which boasts superior performance and even better audio output from its quad-speaker setup.
It shares in the Tab 11’s standout design, complete with an integrated kickstand, although build quality isn’t quite as polished as we’d like and we would have loved an OLED panel in place of the LCD that features.
A bigger form factor also means a larger battery, helping with its strengths as a media player, while its ability to function as a second screen is a neat party trick too.
Like the 11in model, it falls foul of Android’s inflexibility on tablets and it’s more expensive than its hardware would suggest, which might be enough to put some off.
Read our full
Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 review
8. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (2021) – Best for kids
Pros
Stylish & lightweight
Good warranty
Well-designed case
Cons
No Alexa in kids profiles
Lacks Prime Video content
Overpriced
Both a big tablet for kids and a tablet ideal for bigger kids, this is the first time Amazon has taken one of its child-centric slates ‘Pro’.
The HD 10 Kids Pro runs on the same underlying hardware as its general-purpose alter ego but comes with a protective case, one year’s access to Kids+ (which includes entertainment, apps, books etc.) and a two-year warranty that includes a no-questions-asked replacement if your little ones manage to decommission the slate the first time around.
The included case is a little more grown-up looking than the conventional Kids bumper, as is the UI that shows up on-screen. The user experience is closer to that of stock FireOS but makes for easy activity monitoring and leaves out access to certain age-gated content or apps (like Netflix), which have to be approved by a parent before being installed.
It’s a shame the kid-friendly version of Alexa isn’t supported – even though the tablet itself does facilitate such functionality – and certain kid-suitable Prime movies just don’t make an appearance without reason.
Read our full
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro review
9. Lenovo Tab P12 Pro – High-end with bundled stylus
Pros
Superb 12.6in AMOLED display
Crisp sounding quad speakers
Responsive stylus included
Well-considered software
Cons
Expensive
Performance solid but not top tier
Sub par battery life
Those looking for an alternative to the iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab S8 range should consider the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro.
There’s a lot to like about this stylish Android tablet, as long as you like the Storm Grey option as it’s the only one. For starters, it has a large 12.6in AMOLED screen with excellent colour performance and, combined with the Dolby-Atmos supporting quad speakers, make the P12 Pro suitable for a wide range of tasks.
You also get a stylus included making it even more versatile; buy the optional keyboard and you’ve potentially got yourself a laptop replacement. Software is useful for different use-cases and the tablet should be one of the first to get Android 12L, too.
Lenovo’s asking price is a tad high and it’s worth noting that the older Snapdragon 870 processor means this isn’t as well future-proofed as some rivals. Battery life is also not as good as we’d expect for a premium device.
Read our full
Lenovo Tab P12 Pro review
10. Nokia T20 – Highly versatile
Pros
Good display
Solid battery life
Highly affordable
Cons
Underwhelming performance
Basic cameras
No productivity accessories
MSRP:
219 € (Wi-Fi), 249 € (Wi-Fi+4G)
For the money, there’s little else in the stock-Android space we’d recommend, tablet-wise.
Nokia’s return to the tablet market looks to fill a space that’s littered with poor quality unknown brands by offering the T20 up with many of the sensibilities that make its budget smartphones so appealing.
A tasteful design, nice 2K display and great battery life are the main highlights, while cameras and general performance are less capable than we’d hoped (although not entirely surprising, considering the T20’s affordable nature).
Read our full
Nokia T20 review
What to look for in an Android tablet
Android tablets are much like iPads. The main difference is the operating system (or OS) on which they run: Google’s Android platform. Android, as you’re likely to find it on most devices, comes with an app store all its own, called the Play Store.
Chances are all the popular apps you’d find on an iPad running iOS will also be available to Android users too, however, there are the odd exceptions or those times where an Android version of an app takes a little longer to appear than it does on iPadOS.
As for Amazon’s Fire tablets, things are a little different, as they run on a forked version of Android that’s heavily customised, locked down and employs Amazon’s own app store in place of the Google Play Store. Fire tablets make for good kids’ tablets, so if you’re after a tablet for a child, check out our list of the
best tablets for kids.
What size tablet should I buy?
The first thing to consider (apart from budget) is screen size. This ranges from around 7in to 13in, although for most people, an 8in or 9in tablet represents the best compromise between usability and portability.
With bigger screens comes more weight. Aim for a maximum of around 450g, as anything heavier can be uncomfortable to hold for long periods, such as when watching a film. That said, if you intend for your new slate to spend most of its life propped up on your lap or on a desk, weight isn’t likely to be so much of an issue.
How much storage do I need?
Ideally, you should aim for 32GB of internal storage as a minimum, but more is better for downloading media.
Many, but not all, Android tablets feature a microSD card slot, so you can add more storage when you need it. If you’re going for a tablet with no slot, make sure you buy the biggest capacity you can afford, as videos and some apps can use up an awful lot of storage in a single hit.
And don’t forget that the big number on the box – 32GB, say – is the total amount. The usable amount, i.e. the amount which is empty and available for you to use after the Android OS itself is installed, can be quite a lot less than that headline figure.
What about the screen?
Few tablets these days have poor-quality screens, but some do. Look for an IPS LCD or (better yet) OLED/AMOLED screen and avoid anything with a ‘TN’ screen as these have poor viewing angles.
In terms of resolution, higher is better, but the more important number relates to pixel density. Aim for 300 pixels per inch (often abbreviated to ‘ppi’) or higher, as this will ensure a sharp-looking image that’s not jagged or blocky.
What features do I need?
Most Android tablets feature WiFi and Bluetooth as their primary means of connectivity, and some have NFC as well. NFC may come in handy for pairing to other compatible devices quickly, but it’s by no means essential.
What’s more useful is a video output so you can connect your tablet to your TV (usually via HDMI). However, you can use most Android tablets with
Google’s Chromecast for watching catch-up TV, YouTube and other internet video services that are supported.
Some tablets have GPS – which makes them useful for navigation – but not all do. Another thing to watch for is a SIM slot. This is useful if you want to get online when you’re travelling or out of WiFi range.
However, you’ll usually pay more for a cellular (3G/4G/5G) tablet, and you will need a
dedicated SIM card with a data-only plan to enable in. In truth, it’s better to
tether your tablet to your smartphone, if your mobile plan/carrier allows this.
Performance, battery life and cameras
If you want to know if a particular model is great for gaming or too slow for web browsing, then read our reviews, which include benchmark results for a more empirical comparison; you can’t rely on specifications such as processor speed or number of cores it possesses to guarantee good performance.
We also test battery life, to give you an accurate idea of how long each tablet should likely last between charges. The best tablets last around ten hours or more, while the worst only manage four to five hours on a charge.
The same applies to cameras, and as with performance, you shouldn’t judge by the number of megapixels. Instead, check out our test photos in each review to see whether you’re happy with the quality on offer. Few Android tablets have great cameras, and quite a few have awful ones, so if photos, videos and video calls are important, don’t buy before you’ve read our reviews.
Once you’ve got your Android tablet, you might do yourself a favour by investing in one of our
best tablet stands, to make usage more comfortable, reduce neck strain, and improve your posture.
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