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The best Android tablets you can buy in 2021! Apple's iPad isn't the only tablet in town, although it sometimes feels like it. While major vendors have scaled back on new tablets in recent years, there are several great tablet options Android available.
If you're integrated into the Android ecosystem and trust Google apps, an Android tablet is a sure bet for you.
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We present the best Android tablets available for 2021 so you can decide which one best suits your needs.
Looking for some sweet tablet deals? Check out all the best deals we found on Samsung tablets. Or, if you prefer another brand, consult all of our favorite tablet deals.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
Best Android tablet overall
Pros
- Powerful
- Beautiful hardware
- Gorgeous display
- Great speakers
- Productivity Power
Cons
- Keyboard case not included
- Some software issues
Why should you buy this? If you want a tablet that can work and play with you – and you want it to run Android – this is the best one out there.
Who is it for? This is a tablet that business professionals will be proud to pull out of their briefcase, thanks to a design that exudes premium quality.
Why we chose the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus: The tablet is a home run, with superlative design and build quality. It's absolutely beautiful and comes equipped with a large 12.4-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel with 1752 x 2800 resolution.
This screen has sharp contrast and color reproduction, is covered in Gorilla Glass 5 for protection, and offers great viewing angles to boot.
The tablet also has a fingerprint sensor on the right side for when the tablet is in landscape orientation. The Armor aluminum frame is durable with a premium look and feel.
Inside, there's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 128GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. It comes with an S Pen, a great device that's easy to hold and write on.
The combination of high power and S Pen means this tablet lets you write, video conference, and get things done with ease. The front camera is a 12-megapixel, 120-degree ultra-wide-angle lens that looks good during video meetings, with a wide field of view that captures plenty of the background.
The tablet is powered by a 10,090mAh battery that can be charged at 45 watts. Battery life is very good, with 20% to 25% left in the tank after a full day of work.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
Best Android tablet overall
Lenovo Yoga Smart Guide
Best Android multimedia tablet
Pros
- Built-in support
- You can hang it
- Functions as a smart home hub
- Integrated Google Assistant
Cons
- YouTube dashboard is glitchy
- Unbalanced weight
Why should you buy this? The Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab delivers a great cinematic and music experience and is so versatile that it can serve as a screen-enabled smart home hub at the same time.
Who is it for? Anyone looking for a versatile multimedia and smart home device.
Why we chose the Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab: This tablet looks ultra-refined thanks to its fine finish, and this is backed up by its iron-gray aluminum construction, with an elegant soft-touch color finish. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor, while the dual JBL Hi-Fi speakers get a boost from the tablet's Dolby Atmos smart power amplifier, which is optimized for a superlative audio experience. It weighs 1.28 pounds (581 grams) and the 10.1-inch Full HD IPS display provides clear, vibrant visuals from any angle. The tablet also reduces harmful blue light that causes eye strain, so use is safe and comfortable.
In addition to its viewing and listening qualities, you can use this tablet to turn on the thermostat or make a hotel reservation thanks to Google Assistant functionality. With Google Assistant's Ambient Mode, the tablet serves as a screen-enabled smart home hub. The sensitive 360-degree far-field voice recognition feature picks up voices even from across the room.
Lenovo Yoga Smart Guide
Best Android multimedia tablet
Amazon Fire HD 10
Best budget Android tablet
Pros
- Bright and beautiful display
- Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos
- Supports multitasking
Cons
- Does not work with Google Play Store
- Lower camera specs
Why should you buy this? The Amazon Fire HD 10 has a nice big screen, has enough processing power to satisfy most users, and works excellently within the Amazon ecosystem.
Who is it for? Anyone who wants a big screen for basic video streaming and social media.
Why we chose the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021 release): The Amazon Fire HD 10 has a beautiful screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels at 224 pixels per inch. It's flanked by stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, making it ideal for watching movies.
The updated version of the Fire HD 10 has 3GB of RAM on a quad-core processor and offers a split-screen feature for Fire OS that shows two compatible apps open side by side for multitasking. Other specs include a 2MP front and 5MP rear camera with 720p HD video recording. The Fire HD 10 also features dual-band Wi-Fi for connecting to 2.5GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi bands for fast download speeds.
You can buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 with 32GB or 64GB of storage, but it also supports microSD cards (sold separately). It should last a respectable 12 hours on a single charge. This tablet runs Amazon's Fire OS – an operating system based on Android – so any future software and security updates, guaranteed for more than four years after the date of purchase, will come from Amazon. Alexa is built in for hands-free voice commands, but since it's not a traditional Android tablet, there's no Google Play Store. Instead, you need to download apps directly from the Amazon App Store.
Amazon Fire HD 10
Best budget Android tablet
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
Best midrange Android tablet
Pros
- Solid performance
- Clear and bright screen
- Thin and light
Cons
- Standard internal memory is limited
Why you should buy this? This tablet offers high-end processing with a modern design at a moderate price.
Who is it for? Anyone who wants a decent tablet for web browsing and social media without having to spend a lot of money.
Why we chose the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: If the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is a little too expensive, you might be tempted by the more affordable Galaxy Tab A8. It's light and thin, offers excellent battery life, and has a beautiful high-resolution screen.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers more than enough to enjoy work and play on the tablet. The Unisoc Tiger T618 can handle the most demanding tasks in the mid-range – without any problems. The 10.5-inch TFT screen is clear and crisp, and it's light and thin, so it won't weigh you down. While 32GB of storage is a bit limited, the 64GB model is ideal – although there's also room for a microSD card if you need extra space.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
Best midrange Android tablet
Amazon Fire HD 8
Best small screen Android tablet
Pros
- Amazon Integration
- Ultra-affordable
- Good battery life
- alexa
Cons
- The software may look like an advertisement
- Slow performance
- Below average display
Why should you buy this? The Amazon Fire HD 8 has all the same features offered by the Fire HD 10, but in a smaller, more portable package.
Who is it for? Anyone who wants the cheapest Android tablet on the market that's also portable enough to take on the road.
Why we chose the Amazon Fire HD 8: The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) has a USB-C port and a faster processor, but its real advantage is that it's cheap and offers a small, portable design. The screen has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, and while it's not the sharpest, it's good enough for watching movies.
The Fire HD 8 is also available in a range of different colors, and you'll get Dolby Atmos speakers that deliver decent audio quality. And, as you'd expect, the tablet integrates deeply with Amazon services like Amazon Prime Music and Prime Video. Alexa also works great on the device.
The battery life is impressive. You'll get up to 12 hours of mixed use, which can include reading, gaming, and streaming. The Fire HD 8's Fire OS software, a customized version of Android, isn't for everyone. But people immersed in the Amazon ecosystem will like the For You interface, a recommendation engine that puts videos, apps, games and movies from the retailer's library on their home screen.
You won't find a perfect tablet for less than US$$100, but the Fire HD 8 is a solid package.
Amazon Fire HD 8
Best small screen Android tablet
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro
Best Android tablet for kids
Pros
- Full annual access to Amazon Kids+
- Child-friendly design
- Colorful Stand Case
Cons
- Relatively limited choice of games
Why should you buy this? The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro has built-in parental controls and comes with a ton of great content for kids.
Who is it for?Anyone who wants a solid tablet for their kids that lets them track their activities on the device.
Why we chose the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro: This model is a superlative tablet for parents and guardians who want something to entertain and educate their children. It's perfect for storing books, games and other media. There's a microSD card too. It has the same 10.1-inch screen and hardware as the non-Pro model.
Amazon has updated its offerings for kids and now offers this Pro model. Designed specifically for kids ages 6 to 12, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro comes with a year of free access to Amazon Kids+, a comprehensive warranty, and a colorful case. Without access to the Google Play Store, the number of games available is limited, but there is still plenty to choose from in the Amazon App Store.
It's great for videos and apps as well as games, making it a strong choice if you're looking for a big-screen device. Kids can even make video and voice calls over Wi-Fi to pre-approved contacts and install apps like Zoom or Minecraft.Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro
Best Android tablet for kids