The best Android tablet you can buy today, is the Amazon Fire HD 8, an 8” Android tablet that’s running a custom skinned version of the OS. What that means is Amazon has modified the way the system looks and operates. It offers some excellent hardware specs for an affordable price, with a user-friendly platform. Runner up, is the Dragon Touch K10, a 10” Android 9.0 tablet with 2GB of RAM and a Quad-Core processor.

The Android tablet market is flooded with a huge list of models, devices, and brands, but not all of them are worth your money. So, weeding out the best Android tablets is no small feat. That’s why we spent over 15 hours researching the top models. Some of the more prominent features we looked for when choosing devices include an HD-quality display, adequate memory or RAM, and one of the later versions of the Android OS, at least 8 and above. Most devices are running Android 9.0 Pie and above. Keep reading to learn more about the rest of our top picks!

Top 7 Best Android Tablets

#1 Amazon Fire HD 8 (8th Gen) Android Tablet

Award: TOP PICK

WHY WE LIKE IT: For most, these tablets will be an excellent all-purpose option, with this one offering a slightly larger display. It comes in several colors, has a 1.3GHz quad-core processor with 1.5GB of RAM, and has an easy-to-use interface.



Pros

Excellent battery life

Excellent battery life Alexa built-in

Alexa built-in Supports dual-band WiFi Cons No native access to Google Play

No native access to Google Play Amazon shows ads



This tablet is one of the best universal and all-purpose options, especially for families. The 8” HD display is perfect for visual media like movies, TV shows, cartoons, YouTube, books, and much more. It offers plenty of power for most games and apps thanks to a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 1.5GB of RAM. Plus, it comes with either 16GB or 32GB of storage, and there is a variety of colors to choose from.

Additional features include dual-band WiFi — for 2.4 and 5G networks — 2MP front and rear-facing cameras, a microSD slot for expandable storage, and direct access to all of Amazon’s services like Instant Video, Audible, Kindle books, and more. Perhaps most promising is that it has Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant built-in for hands-free use. The OS is built on Android, but it’s a custom skinned version designed by Amazon and it prioritizes the company’s services, including its mobile app store. That means Google Play is not installed out-of-the-box, but it can be added to the device. If you want to make sure this tablet is easy to display, you might want to also consider the best car tablet mount.

#2 Dragon Touch K10 Android Tablet

Award: HONORABLE MENTION

WHY WE LIKE IT: This tablet offers the perfect blend of power, quality, and price. It has a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, with a 10” IPS HD display and Android 9.0 Pie. Plus, it has 32GB of internal storage, a micro HDMI port, a metal body, and supports dual-band WiFi.



Pros

Excellent high def screen (1280×800)

Excellent high def screen (1280×800) Vanilla (no bloat) Android 9.0 Pie

Vanilla (no bloat) Android 9.0 Pie 2GB of RAM Cons Bulky



While it would be an excellent option for anyone on a tight budget, this affordable tablet also has some powerful hardware inside too. The 1.3GHz processor supports 64-bit applications, coupled with the 2GB of RAM, you’ll run into few performance issues even with many games. The 10 IPS HD display — 1280 x 800 resolution — is ideal for streaming media and video content. Netflix, Hulu, and even YouTube lovers will be more than happy with this device. Plus, the 5000mAh battery will last for 5 to 8 hours at a time even with the screen continuously on.

Additional features include dual-band WiFi, 32GB of storage built-in with support for microSD cards up to 128GB, micro HDMI out to TVs and monitors, a 2MP front-cam, and an 8MP rear camera. Most importantly, it’s running a vanilla version of Android 9.0 Pie with access to the Google Play store. With a tablet this nice, you’ll definitely need one of the best tablet cases too.

#3 Vankyo MatrixPad Z4 10” Android Tablet

Award: BEST VIEWING ANGLE

WHY WE LIKE IT: This tablet offers one of the best pure Android experiences, as it’s running vanilla Android 9.0 Pie. It also offers a 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The stunning 10” IP HD display is also great for movies and online content.



Pros

A very affordable machine with some premium features

A very affordable machine with some premium features Vanilla (no bloat) Android 9.0 Pie

Vanilla (no bloat) Android 9.0 Pie 2GB of RAM Cons Plastic body



This budget-friendly tablet running vanilla Android 9.0 Pie — with Google Play access — has a competitive price and a lot of the same features found in comparable models. It’s powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, and 2GB of RAM. The 10” IPS HD display operates at a resolution of 1280 x 800 with excellent brightness settings and true-to-life colors. Dual speakers round out the media support, offering a better overall experience when streaming via Netflix, Disney+, and other services.

Additional features include 32GB of internal storage with support for microSD cards up to 128GB, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, a 2MP front-cam, an 8MP rear camera, and a 4500mAh battery offering up to 6 hours of use. It also has Google Assistant built-in for hands-free use. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have dual-band WiFi — just 2.4GHz — and the body material is hard plastic. If you’re looking for a second tablet for one of your kids, take a look at the best kid’s tablet too.

#4 Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD 10” Android Tablet

Award: BEST FORM FAMILIES

WHY WE LIKE IT: This tablet has Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant built-in and was designed specifically for media use. There is an optional dock that truly extends its support as a family device, turning it into more of a smart display or smart home hub.



Pros

Excellent speakers

Excellent speakers Alexa built-in

Alexa built-in Optional dock converts it into a smart display Cons Dock not included



This tablet is one of the best for watching media, and for interfacing with smart home devices through Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant — which is built-in. It comes with an optional dock that both charges the tablet and turns it into a smart display. The screen is a 10” HD IPS panel with a resolution of 1280×800, paired with two dual-front speakers with Dolby Atmos. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 429 2.0GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Moreover, it has 16GB of internal storage, with support for up to 256GB microSD cards.

Additional features include dual-band WiFi, 3 far-field microphones, a 2MP front camera, a 5MP rear camera, and Bluetooth 4.2 wireless connectivity. The tablet shell is made of hard plastic, not metal, and the dock, although integral, is sold separately. To personalize your tablet, take a look at the best tablet cover too.

#5 Samsung Galaxy Tab SM-T290NZKAXAR A 8” Android Tablet

Award: BEST DISPLAY

WHY WE LIKE IT: This tablet continues the trend of the company’s beautiful, vivid displays. It’s also one of the most responsive with excellent system optimization. Even though it’s not running vanilla Android, it’s still pretty close.



Pros

Minimum bezel

Minimum bezel Supports microSD up to 512GB

Supports microSD up to 512GB 13 hours of battery Cons Has micro-USB



This tablet is a little more expensive than some of the other models on the list, but it certainly won’t empty the wallet. The price to performance ratio is worth it, as it’s equipped with a 2.0GHz Snapdragon 429 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It also has a MicroSD slot that supports cards up to 512GB in size. The 8.0” HD display has a resolution of 1280 x 800 at 188ppi that offers fantastic brightness and saturation — it’s hands down one of the best displays when stacked up against comparable models. The screen and minimal bezels offer an excellent visual experience, especially while watching media.

The 8MP rear camera is more than adequate for snapping quick pictures. Plus the 5100mAh battery offers up to 13 hours of use, on average. Additional features include dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth, integrated Adreno 504 graphics, and a 2MP front cam. It does have a micro-USB charging port, which is unfortunate to see in a 2019 model tablet — USB Type-C would be the preferred option. If you want to use this tablet within your home, take a look at the best tablet floor stands as well.

#6 HAOQIN H7 7” Android Tablet

Award: BEST PORTABLE

WHY WE LIKE IT: The 7” compact size is perfect for on-the-go use whether you want to read a book in the open air, or take a peek at some online resources — like cooking recipes. The sharp 146 PPI display offers crisp, colorful visuals, ideal for media streaming and casual gaming.



Pros

Very compact and lightweight

Very compact and lightweight Supports microSD up to 64GB

Supports microSD up to 64GB 146ppi vivid display Cons 1GB of RAM



This tablet comes in a variety of colors, offering a degree of personalization most others do not — Amazon Fire tablets are some of the few that do come in multiple colors. It has a 7” HD IPS display with a 1024 x 600 resolution, at 146 pixels-per-inch. It’s powered by a Rockchip 3326 1.5GHz quad-core processor, which is plenty powerful to handle most modern apps and media. Unfortunately, it only has 1GB of RAM, below the optimal threshold. It’s running a vanilla version of Android 9.0 Pie with access to Google Play.

Additional features include a 0.3MP front-cam, a 2MP rear camera, 16GB of storage with microSD support, Bluetooth, single-band WiFi, and a 2800mAh battery that offers about 5 hours of battery life on average. The tablet case is made of hard plastic, which is not quite so durable but if you add a case it should do just fine, even around kids.

#7 Winnovo T10 MTK MT8163 10” Android Tablet

Award: BEST ON A BUDGET

WHY WE LIKE IT: This tablet is one of the cheapest on the list, yet it doesn’t skimp on hardware. It has a Mediatek MT8163 1.3GHz quad-core processor with 3GB of RAM, which combined offer decent performance for a low-cost device.



Pros

Micro HDMI TV out

Micro HDMI TV out Flashy orange color

Flashy orange color 3GB of RAM Cons Plastic back



As one of the cheap tablets, this 10” model may not be the cream of the crop, but the price is unbeatable especially when considering the performance specs. It’s rocking a MediaTek MT8163 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage, with microSD support up to 128GB. Plus, it offers dual-band WiFi, almost unheard of at this price range. The 10” HD IPS display supports a resolution of 1280 x 800 which means video content should look pretty good. Moreover, it’s running a vanilla version of Android 9.0 Pie with access to Google Play.

The body of the tablet is a unique blend, with the mid-frame around the screen composed of metal, while the backing is hard plastic. Although, it would have been better to see metal all the way around. Additional features include front dual speakers, built-in GPS, micro HDMI out to TV, a 2MP front cam, a 5MP rear camera, and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. The 6000mAh battery will last for about 7 to 8 hours with moderate use.

How We Decided

One of the first things we considered when choosing tablets for this list was the price to performance ratio, or rather how much bang-for-buck each model offers. For those on a much tighter budget, the Winnovo, Vankyo, and Dragon Touch models are excellent. They offer quite a bit of power, for an extremely competitive price. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Samsung, which is a little more expensive but includes both power and beauty — the display is unmatched.

We also tried to stick with larger-size tablets, around 8” or above. The exception is the HAOQIN, which is only 7” but the compact and lightweight design coupled with the price is hard to pass up. Usually, the larger screen size offers an HD quality display which is excellent for watching media on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and other services.

Finally, everything on this list offers plenty of power to handle modern apps, games, and content without experiencing a major slowdown. That’s due to a combination of processing power and available RAM. Every tablet on the list has at least 1.5GB of RAM or higher, except for the HAOQIN which only has 1GB. When it comes to the latter, however, the lightweight design, budget-price, and responsive user-interface more than make up for the lower RAM count.

Best Android Tablets Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

Display

The screen or display plays a huge role in the usability and overall experience of the tablet. The tablets on the list have screens that start at 7” and topping out at 10” with suitable resolutions. The brightness level of each screen depends on the technology. Samsung’s AMOLED displays, for example, tend to be much brighter with more vivid colors, sometimes even oversaturated. Memory (RAM)

These days, you want to stick with 2GB of RAM at a minimum as most newer apps will suffer performance issues with less. More RAM also allows for a better experience while multitasking. Games and high-performance apps need more RAM, as well. If the user-experience is optimized well, you can get away with smaller amounts. Storage

Some of the budget tablets come with just 8GB of internal storage, but we recommend going no lower than 16GB if you can help it. Higher amounts like 32GB, 64GB, and even 128GB offer a lot more space for apps, games, media, and more. Some tablets also include support for external media or storage, usually via a microSD card slot, but occasionally they’ll offer full-USB. It’s worth noting that apps cannot be installed to SD, but you can store external data depending on whether or not the app allows it. Some games, for example, will require a massive data patch or download, and some games and apps allow this content to be installed on the external media or SD card. Just be aware that the internal storage is going to limit the number of apps and games that can be installed on the device. Processor

It’s not uncommon to see more powerful processors tucked inside tablets these days. Quad or 4 core processors are quite common, and sometimes even more powerful Octa or 8 core processors are featured. It depends on the tablet and the brand. More processors don’t necessarily mean more power compared to other models, however. Android Version

The latest version of Android is 10.0, which was released in late 2019 for newer smartphones. It’s not available yet for most Android tablets, so Android 9.0 is the best target. When looking for potential tablets, stick with Android 8.0 or above. Any lower and you’ll start running into compatibility issues with the newer apps. Build Quality

Most newer devices have either hard plastic or metal alloy shells with a slightly reinforced display. They’re plenty durable as-is, but even more so if you install a sturdy case and tempered glass screen protector—neither of which are particularly expensive. If you’re most concerned about build quality and durability, go with the metal shell, of course. Otherwise, the hard plastic material should suffice.

Don’t forget about the best stylus for your slate.