Your guide to the latest and best Android tablets of 2018. Check out our latest reviews and buying guide on the top Android tablets for this year.
iPads may get the attention of most tablet owners, but there are plenty of Android options out there.
Android tablets vary in size and quality, but some are exceptionally good value and are typically the best iPad alternatives. In the chart below we rank the best Android tablets available to buy in the UK in 2018.
There are also new tablets launching in 2018 which we haven’t yet reviewed, and 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 Windows tablets.
Android tablets are much like iPads. The main difference is the software they run: Google Android. This has its own app store, but most apps are available for both iPads and Android tablets. There are a few occasions you’ll find apps and games are only available for the iPad, and even then, they usually appear on Android soon after.
Android can be set up quite similarly to iOS, the iPad’s software. The latest version is Android 8.0 Oreo, but Android is a fragmented operating system, and it’s quite likely even brand new tablets will be on older software like 7.0 Nougat or 6.0 Marshmallow.
Amazon Fires are a little different, as they run on Android, but it’s Amazon’s heavily customised and locked down version. They make good kids’ tablets, so if you’re after a tablet for a child, check out our list of the best tablets for kids.
The first thing to consider (apart from budget) is screen size. This ranges from around 7- to 13in, although for most people an 8- 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 watching a film. But if you’ll use the tablet propped up on your lap or on a desk for most of the time, weight isn’t an issue.
Ideally, you should aim for 16GB of internal storage as a minimum, but more is better for downloading media.
Many, but not all, Android tablets have a microSD 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.
And don’t forget that the big number on the box – 16GB, say – is the total amount. The usable amount, i.e. the amount which is empty and available for you to use after Android itself is installed, can be quite a lot less than that headline figure.
Few tablets these days have poor-quality screens, but some do. Look for an IPS or 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 is pixel density. Aim for 300 pixels per inch or higher, as this will mean a sharp-looking image that’s not jagged or blocky.
Most Android tablets have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and some have NFC as well. NFC may come in handy, 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 an Android tablet with a Google Chromecast for watching catch-up TV, YouTube and other internet video services.
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 Wi-Fi range.
However, you’ll usually pay more for a 3G or 4G tablet, and you will need a dedicated SIM card with a data-only plan. It’s better to tether your tablet to your smartphone if your phone’s 3G or 4G provider allows this.
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 – you can’t rely on specifications such as processor speed or the number of cores to guarantee good performance.
We also test battery life, so you’ll find how long each tablet lasts between charges. The best tablets last around 10 hours or more, while the worst only manage 4-5 hours.
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 Skype are important, don’t buy before you’ve read the reviews.
