The 4 best Android tablets in 2022 for all ages and budgets

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

The Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is Samsung’s strongest answer to Apple’s iPad Pro series with powerful performance, a sleek design, and an unbeatable display.

Operating system: Android 12Display: 12.4-inch; 2,800 x 1,752 AMOLED; up to 120Hz refresh rateProcessor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1Memory: 8GB (up to 12GB) Storage: 128GB (up to 256GB)/Micro SD (up to 1TB)Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, 5G (optional)Dimensions: 11.2 x 7.28 x 0.22 inchesWeight: 1.25 pounds

Pros: Beautiful design, gorgeous OLED screen, fast performance, S Pen stylus included, S Pen incredibly responsive  

Cons: iPad Air is $300 cheaper with better performance, palm rejection for S Pen still needs work 

For the best Android tablet, look no further than the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus. It oozes premium vibes with its sleek metallic design and narrow display borders. 

The display is second-to-none in the tablet world, thanks an OLED (organic-light-emitting-diode) panel that can create stunning contrast. OLED panels can turn off individual pixels to create a true and total black color, which helps make everything with brightness pop on the screen.  

The screen also has a 120Hz refresh rate, which means it can refresh itself 120 times per second. That makes animations on the screen appear much smoother than a more traditional 60Hz panel. 

Running on the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor that drives the top Android phones of 2022, like the Galaxy S22 series and OnePlus 10 Pro, the Tab S8 Plus delivers the best performance among Android tablets. With that said, I can’t talk about tablet performance without mentioning Apple’s latest 2022 iPad Air, which runs on the same M1 processor that runs the 2021 iPad Pro series, 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini. If raw power and value are what you seek, nothing beats the 2022 iPad Air, which costs $300 less than the Tab S8 Plus.  

It’s nice that Samsung includes the S Pen, one that rivals Apple’s second-generation Pencil, too. 

If its $900 price tag is concerning, you can check out the regular $700 Tab S8 with a smaller LCD screen instead of OLED.

Amazon

Amazon’s Fire HD 10 (2021) provides a large, sharp display on a budget. It’ll allow you to enjoy media or browse the web without charging extra for features you might never use.

Operating system: Fire OSDisplay: 1,920 x 1,200 10.1-inch IPS displayProcessor: Octa-coreMemory: 3GBStorage: 32 or 64GB Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5Dimensions: 9.72 x 6.54 x 0.36 inchesWeight: 1.03 pounds

Pros: Bright and clear display, fairly smooth operation, comparatively inexpensive

Cons: Underwhelming design, custom OS, weak cameras, no access to Google or Android apps

The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) is a simple but trusty tablet for just $150. For the price, you’re effectively getting a capable device with a decent screen for entertainment and web browsing. The Fire HD 10’s 10.1-inch IPS panel has a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution that isn’t incredibly sharp compared to some of the competition, with some noticeable softness on fine details. But that shortcoming isn’t distracting and we only notice it when actively looking for it.

The display is bright but can also get dim for surprisingly comfortable use in the dark. Though the display may be big enough for shared viewing, the viewing angles are limited for an IPS panel; the perceived brightness drops considerably when viewing at an off-angle from the center. But for solo use, it’s more than adequate, and the stereo speakers pump out decent volume while remaining clear.

With 3GB of RAM and an eight-core processor, the tablet runs smoothly. There are occasional, minor stutters, but nothing that disrupted our use in testing. Even browsing the web and loading up lots of videos and GIFs didn’t cause major issues while using Amazon’s built-in Silk browser. 

The main compromise with Amazon’s inexpensive tablets is that they don’t run Google or Android apps, despite running a version of Android. You have Amazon’s app store instead, which is fairly comprehensive, but not suitable for everyone. You can check out Amazon’s app store before buying a Fire HD tablet to ensure it has the apps you want — there’s no YouTube, which is a must-have for many users. If it doesn’t, you’ll regret buying this tablet.

Amazon

The Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 has an 11-inch OLED screen for watching videos — for the price of Apple’s least expensive iPad with a smaller and lesser display.

OS: Android 12 (upgradable to Android 14)Display: 2,560 x 1,536 11.2-inch OLED displayProcessor: MediaTek Kompanio 1300TMemory: Up to 6GBStorage: 128GB Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6Dimensions: 0.26 x 10.38 x 6.56 inchesWeight: 1.05 pounds

Pros: OLED screen and four speakers better for watching videos than 10th-gen iPad, under $400

Cons: Unimpressive performance specs

For the same price as Apple’s 9th-gen 10.2-inch iPad with a pretty good display, Lenovo’s P11 Pro Gen 2 offers a larger 11-inch screen with a superior OLED panel for better contrast and richer colors. Its screen also has a more traditional aspect ratio for video content, so you’ll get a bigger picture with smaller black bars on the top and bottom. 

The P11 Pro Gen 2 also features four speakers — two on each side — for stereo sound compared to the 9th-gen iPad’s dual speakers to fire out of a single side. Lenovo says the four speakers support Dolby Atmos for a wider soundstage, too.

For entertainment purposes, it’s an upgrade from the Amazon Fire HD 10, and it uses regular Android with access to more apps via the Google Play Store.   

The P11 Pro Gen 2’s processor isn’t as powerful as the 9th-gen iPad’s, or any current iPad, for that matter. But it’s ideal if you mostly use a tablet for streaming video — something that doesn’t need much power at all.

Amazon

The Fire HD 10 Kids Edition (2021) puts the standard model into a protective case to keep it safe even in a child’s rough-and-tumble hands. It also brings a few extra features for kids and a warranty for peace of mind.

OS: Fire OSDisplay: 1,920 x 1,200 10.1-inch IPS displayProcessor:  Octa-coreMemory: 3GBStorage: 32 or 64GB Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 1.1 inchesWeight: 1.58 pounds

Pros: Ready for growing kids, easy-to-see display, protective case, built-in handle/stand, special warranty

Cons: Added cost, case affects speakers, extra setup to prepare for children 

Amazon makes its tablets in kid-friendly versions, and the Fire HD 10 Kids Edition (2021) is the latest and greatest. You can take everything we liked about the standard Fire HD 10 tablet and apply that to this one. Inside a thick case, it’s the same tablet: You’ll still find an eight-core processor with 3GB of RAM that’s more than ready to keep up with any content and activities your child is likely to pull up.

The case adds extra bulk and weight to the tablet, but it offers serious protection. It’s thick and soft, and it’s shock absorbent in case of accidental drops. We tossed our test unit a few feet away and the tablet didn’t sustain damage. There is a useful handle that doubles as a stand for easy carry and hands-free viewing. Audio at high volumes gets muffled, so it’s better for quiet environments.

For older kids who might not need such a thick case, Amazon also sells a Fire HD 10 Pro Kids tablet.

Amazon supports parental controls on the tablet, though you’ll have to set those up yourself when getting the tablet ready for your child. Though this tablet costs $50 more than the standard model, Amazon includes a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, which provides access to a ton of kid-friendly books, apps, and games. Plus, there’s a two-year “worry-free guarantee” that Amazon will replace the tablet if your kid manages to break it. And, if they grow out of needing the case, you can remove it.

For kids, the lack of Google and Android apps isn’t as big a deal as it is for adults. Amazon has a surprisingly comprehensive kids’ apps and games selection to make up for it. 

Check out other kids’ tablets we’ve tried and loved here.

What is the difference between Android tablets and iPads?

The biggest difference between Android tablets and iPads is the operating system: Android tablets run on Android, and iPads run on Apple’s iPadOS. It’s mostly the same difference between Android phones and iPhones. 

Apps are generally slightly better optimized for iPads, but Android versions work fine. iPads also work with the Apple ecosystem well, which means you can get phone calls and texts from your iPhone right to your iPad. Samsung has been working to improve its ecosystem with Samsung phones, like the ability to take calls from a Samsung phone on a Samsung tablet. However, that functionality doesn’t extend to other Android phones. 

Another benefit of Android tablets is the choice and variety of tablets with different features and price tags. iPads are also available with different features and price tags but to a lesser degree. 

Is it worth it to buy an Android tablet?

Apple’s iPads are the ideal tablet of choice for both Apple and even some Android users — iPads complement other Apple devices, and they’re a fine option for Android users to benefit from the Apple ecosystem. iPads also have limited compatibility with Windows computers.

Still, Android tablets can be worth it if Apple’s iPads don’t offer what you want in a tablet. For example, Lenovo’s Tab P11 Pro used to cost about the same as Apple’s 10.2-inch iPad when it was available, and it came with a better screen for watching videos and streaming than the iPad. Or take Amazon’s Fire HD line of tablets, which offer value that iPads can’t begin to think to compete with. And Samsung’s tablets work well within Samsung’s ecosystem.

How long should an Android tablet last?

Android tablets can last as long as you’ll let them — something decided by how well you take care of them. However, they also last as long as their manufacturer supports them with security and feature updates.

How long a tablet is supported varies by brand. Amazon says its Fire tablets are supported for at least four years, and that they’ll “strive to provide software security updates for as long as we can.” Samsung also says it supports its tablet for up to four years.

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