The holidays are quickly approaching us and as tablets become more and more popular, many of us will be asking for one on our Christmas list this year. With Apple’s iPad Air 2 quickly being released, there’s many Android alternatives out there. However, picking that right tablet can be difficult, so we’ve narrowed down our best Android tablets to buy for Christmas 2014 and it’s a pretty decent list.
Google Nexus 9
As the newest Android tablet on the block, being from Google themselves, the Nexus 9 is easy recommended as the flagship Android tablet. It’s the first tablet to come packaged with Google’s brand new Android 5.0 Lollipop. A crisp 2K 8.9 inch screen and a speedy 2GB of RAM make this tablet the best all round experience for users who prefer Google’s “stock” version of Android, in comparison to some of the more cluttered experiences. The Google Nexus 9 is already being hailed as Apple’s biggest competition to the iPad in years, with specs that crush Apple’s offering for this Christmas. Google advertises the Nexus 9 for “movers and makers”, making this the perfect tablet for both work and play.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 inch
Samsung has risen into one of the world’s top smartphone manufacturers, so you can probably imagine that their tablets are more than up to scratch too. Their latest Galaxy tablet range comes in three size ranges and we believe that the 8.4 inch offering is the most refined. Coming in at only a tad smaller than Google’s Nexus 9, the Tab S is considerably more affordable and offers the extra functionality that comes bundled with Samsung’s TouchWhiz. You’ll even be treated to an exciting 3GB of RAM, making work, play etc even more enjoyable. Samsung’s premium build quality will leave you with a device that should last for a good while.
Nvidia Shield Tablet
PC gamers will be fully aware of gaming device giant, Nvidia. However, the Shield Tablet is a completely different approach from Nvidia. The Shield is a device running Android 4.4.4 Kitkat (with Android 5.0 support promised), specifically designed with gaming in mind. Not only that, but the Shield can run several high profile PC titles, including the infamous Half Life. Running on Nvidia’s own beefy K1 processor, gamers can’t go very far wrong with the power that this tablet offers. Even those who don’t have any intention to take part in the device’s gaming capabilities will find a sturdy and powerful tablet in this high performance 8 inch Android slate.
LG G Pad 8.3 LTE (VK810)
Whilst LG’s G Pad is one of the older tablets included in our list, that doesn’t cast it back in performance. The G Pad 8.3 is an extremely affordable and powerful piece of kit. The Korean brand tablet features a beautiful design structure, but is slightly let down by it’s Snapdragon processor, which is running a little behind par. However, the G Pad offers uncompromising screen clarity and pocket sized portability. The device supports Android KitKat 4.4.2.
Google Nexus 7 2013
Coming round in full circle from the start of the article, the Nexus 7 is last year’s tablet offering from Google, whilst it offers a smaller display, it does come in at half the price. The 2013 device is still fully supported by Google, with it’s very own Android 5.0 Lollipop update expected imminently. 2GB of RAM and a Snapdragon processor make for an extremely powerful budget tablet. Google’s Nexus 7 set down a standard for Android tablets and for those looking for something a little cheaper and more portable than the Nexus 9, you can’t go too far wrong here.
There’s our complete list of the best Android tablets you can buy this Christmas – what will you be sticking on your list?
