3 best Android tablets in the world
Updated: Two new entries in our list of the best Android tablets
Tablets News
December 17th 2011
Let us help you choose the best Android tablet for you
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 7 tablets are available, the BlackBerry PlayBook is on sale now and the HP TouchPad has come and gone in a flurry of £99 panic-buying. But Android 3.2 is currently the main OS rival to the iPad, and the products are still creeping onto the shelves one by one.
We've recently seen the launch of Nvidia's next-generation Tegra 3 chip which is destined to power 2012's quad-core Android tablets to new heights. The likes of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime are already beckoning in the new era, and with next year's full-on release of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the iPad might soon be feeling the heat.
Some tablets have ten-inch screens, others seven, and there are big differences in battery life, processing power and on-board RAM. So while we wait for the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Amazon Kindle Fire, let's see what the current best tablets are...
1. Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime
The first quad-core Tegra 3 tablet smashes its way to the top of our listThe original Asus Eee Pad Transformer is still one of the best Android tablets around, but the Prime is the best of them all.
It's one step better than its predecessor in every respect, and is the first tablet to launch with Nvidia's quad-core Tegra 3 CPU which adds super-powers and increased power efficiency.
Playing 1080p videos is no longer a problem, with high-res clips playing on the Prime's albeit sub-1080p display smoothly and without issue. It's also the thinnest tablet we've yet seen, and comes with a gorgeous keyboard dock which adds an additional 8-hours of battery life to tablet unit's 9-hours.
It's the best Android tablet yet launched, and it'll be unleashed on the UK in January in one single 32GB flavour with keyboard dock and a £499 price tag.
2. Asus Eee Pad Slider
Best Android tablet for: doing things a little differentlyThe Apple iPad 2 is the daddy. It doesn't matter what the arguments for Android are, the fact is that the iPad is still just about the best out-and-out tablet out there. 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. It's not for everyone, but it's currently one of the very best tablet for showing off everything that Android can do.
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9
Best Android tablet for: portability and powerIn at number three is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 - and it's a funny little thing. It's essentially the same as its older brother, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but with an 8.9-inch screen. It's slightly thinner and lighter, and consequently more convenient for anyone wanting to stuff it in a bag.
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.
