Source: Hayato Huseman
Best Android Tablets Android Central 2021
There aren't a ton of great Android tablets out there, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 offers the best overall Android tablet experience of the bunch. It has a big screen, high-end specs, tons of features, a stylus, and support for a full keyboard. It's expensive, and not the right pick for anyone who wants a smaller and more portable tablet, but as an all-around device, it can't be beaten. For those who have different needs (or budgets), there are a few other picks that work well as media consumption devices and won't break the bank.
Best Overall — Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Source: Hayato Huseman / Android Central
The most important things to have in a full-size Android tablet are a great screen, loud speakers, robust build quality, and software that makes use of the extra screen size. That's what makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 the best Android tablet — it has a combination of everything.
Its spec sheet leaves little to be desired, with a super-fast Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB of RAM, plenty of storage and well-optimized software. And because it's a Samsung product, you're getting a best-in-class display — coming in at 10.5 inches — and a fantastic metal build. You also now get an in-display fingerprint sensor, which was missing on prior models.
Beyond the specs, you get extras like great quad speakers, a microSD card slot and a stylus included in the box that attaches to the back of the tablet when not in use. And despite being thin and light, it gets great battery life. You can add a tremendous first-party keyboard cover to get some work done, and then jump into the DeX desktop-style interface for a more laptop-like experience.
If you want a do-everything Android tablet and you're willing to spend the money, there's nowhere else to go but the Galaxy Tab S6.
Pros:
- Best screen available on an Android tablet
- S Pen stylus included in the box
- Robust and beautiful hardware
- Long battery life
- First-party detachable keyboard support
- High-quality quad speakers
Cons:
- Expensive if you're only a casual tablet user
- Not suited for portrait or handheld use for long
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
The best all-around Android tablet for most people
This is Samsung's best-ever tablet, and it can do it all. Solid specs, a great display, and long battery life are selling points.
Productivity for Less — Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy Tab S6's capabilities — and price — are a bit overkill for most people. That's why Samsung makes the Galaxy Tab S5e. It's built on the same tenets as the Tab S6, but takes strategic cuts back to be more affordable — and that makes it extremely enticing.
You get the same 10.5-inch AMOLED display, which is a huge plus, as well as 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and high-quality quad speakers. The battery is a little smaller, and the Snapdragon 670 processor isn't going to blow you away with performance, but those are fine trade-offs for a solid price drop.
The entire body is a sleek metal rather than glass. It may not feel quite as high-end but helps the Tab S5e be extremely light for its size at just 399 g (0.88 lb). That makes it great for media consumption and handheld use in ways the Tab S6 isn't. But you can still attach a hardware keyboard and jump into DeX desktop mode to get some serious work done just as well.
Pros:
- Super light for its size
- Large high-quality screen
- Quad speakers
- Optional hardware keyboard cover
- Productivity features including DeX Desktop
Cons:
- Not as powerful as Galaxy Tab S6
- No stylus support
Productivity for Less
Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e
Get a high-quality tablet with productivity features for less.
If the Tab S6 looks appealing but is too pricey, this is for you. It gets the job done and trims in the right areas.
Cheap as it Gets — Amazon Fire HD 8
Source: Phil Nickinson / Android Central
Amazon also makes the best super-inexpensive Android tablet available, the Fire HD 8. At this price and with 16GB of storage, it's a fantastic deal. The smaller size makes it easy to toss in a bag and carry around or give to a child. And it's also light and easy to hold in one hand, making it suitable for reading.
Like the Fire HD 10, it doesn't have the Google Play Store or Google apps. But you're even more likely to look past that when you're spending this little on a tablet. This is an excellent choice for media consumption, browsing, or handing to your kids.
Pros:
- Small enough for kids to use
- Fun colour choices
- Gets all of the basics done
- Almost unbelievable price
Cons:
- Low-quality screen
- Cheap-feeling plastic build
- No access to Google Play apps
Cheap as it Gets
Amazon Fire HD 8
Solid, budget-friendly tablet that gets the job done
A light and portable tablet at a great price — there isn't much you can complain about in that equation.
Bottom line
The number of great Android tablet options is limited (Apple has cornered the tablet market with the iPad for years) but there are a few that are worthy of recommending. The best possible Android tablet experience comes from Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 with its high-end materials, great screen, capable software, and hardware keyboard support.
There are plenty of different use cases for tablets that might influence which one you should buy. Yes, the Galaxy Tab S6 is the best overall option with the most horsepower and even the capability to replace your laptop, but you don't need all of that if you just want to stream videos and play casual games on occasion. Know your needs and don't overpay for a tablet that does more than you need.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Kennedy Maring is a freelancer who loves playing games, her little animal family along with her husband, and the great outdoors. Although she is a nerd through and through, she is looking to complete her cosmetology certificate in the next year.
Andrew Martonik is the Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central. He has been a mobile enthusiast since the Windows Mobile days and covering all things Android-related with a unique perspective at AC since 2012. For suggestions and updates, you can reach him at andrew.martonik@androidcentral.com or on Twitter at @andrewmartonik.
Jerry Hildenbrand is Mobile Nation's Senior Editor and works from a Chromebook full time. Currently, he is using Google's Pixelbook but is always looking at new products and may have any Chromebook in his hands at any time. You'll find him across the Mobile Nations network and you can hit him up on Twitter if you want to say hey.
Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he's writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there's a correlation.
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