10. Asus MeMoPad 7
The Asus MemoPad 7 ME572C is the spiritual successor to the Nexus 7 and builds on it without really adding anything new. Clearly the Taiwanese manufacturer knows better than to mess with a winning formula.
Making the new tablet thinner and lighter is a good start but it doesn't feel like Asus has done a whole lot different here.
However, if you're willing to put up a little bit more cash, the Asus MeMoPad 7 ME572C has much to offer. It's got a great Full HD (1,920 x 1,200) screen, quad-core Intel Atom processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage (upgradable via microSD).
Quick verdict
The Asus MeMoPad 7 ME572C is an incremental upgrade from the Google Nexus 7 by Asus that steps up the necessary components while keeping everything else largely the same.
In terms of price, it's not the best deal out there but it is a solid contender. If you can look past Asus' slew of pre-installed apps it's one of the best 7-inch tablets you'll find around at the moment.
9. Samsung Tab Pro 10.1
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 arrived with an impressive 2560 x 1600, slim build and a decent chunk of power and this saw it top Samsung's tablet tree for a short while.
It has since been overthrown with the arrival of the Galaxy Tab S, but that doesn't mean the Tab Pro 10.1 isn't still worth a look.
A slightly lower price and powerful innards still make it a decent Android tablet, although the typical plastic build quality is evident again.
Quick verdict
If you're not concerned with owning the best of the best, and would rather save yourself a few pennies then the Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 should definitely be on your radar.
With a high-res screen, punchy processor and a huge array of features the Tab Pro 10.1 has a lot to offer, including a more attractive price tag.
8. Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4
A direct rival to the iPad Mini 3, the 8.4-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro sports a stunning display in a portable size with the option of LTE connectivity if you want to spend a little extra cash.
Back to the 8.4-inch display though and you're treated to an eye-popping 1600 x 2560 resolution and the Super AMOLED technology ensures colours are vibrant.
It does suffer from some poorly placed speakers, and the jury's still out on Samsung's faux leather plastic design, leaving the Tab Pro 8.4 feeling a little on the cheap side.
Quick verdict
A recent price drop has made the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 a slightly more attractive offering, and design aside it does well to match the iPad Mini 3 in terms of power, performance and features. It doesn't quite match the overall quality of Apple's package though.
7. LG G Pad 8.3
What's this? LG in the top ten for smartphones and tablets? Could the brand be on a rebound?
Well, when you make an Android tablet with a design language like this one, perhaps it's time to quietly worry at Samsung. In place of plastic, it's got a lovely aluminium shell, and connectivity with other Android phones makes it a viable option for a wider range of users - you can receive and reply to texts direct from the G Pad 8.3.
Some might question whether the Snapdragon 600 chip is too low-power, but it allows for a sleeker design according to the Korean brand.
Quick verdict
We really liked the G Pad 8.3, and it was only lower down in our list thanks to a slightly higher battery drain than we were expecting - plus the overlay can take some getting used to.
It's the closest competitor to the iPad Mini out there, in terms of design, and it's a tablet we're not ashamed to pull out of a stylishly slim bag. Perfect if you like the size of the iPad mini 3, but can't afford it or prefer the Android OS.
6. Lenovo Yoga 10 HD+
Lenovo's Yoga tablets took a little time to get off the ground, but the Chinese company has really upped the quality in these flexible slates.
The bulbous cylinder at one end of the tablet holds a massive 9,000mAh battery and also houses a small kickstand. It means you can position the Yoga at almost any angle, which is great for watching movies.
The 1920 x 1200 pixel screen resolution is rather nice, has plenty of brightness and is a major upgrade on the old model. Similarly, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC with four cores all clocked at 1.6GHz is also a serious upgrade from the weak processor used last time.
Quick verdict
The shape and size of the Lenovo Yoga 10 HD+ is not going to appeal to all. Portability isn't as good as other tablets, but if you're looking for a media device this has a lot to recommend it. The massive battery life and handy kickstand are both unique features that give this tablet its appeal.
5. Google Nexus 7 (2013)
The Nexus is no longer king in the Android tablet world, but if you're looking for a 7-inch slate with an incredibly attractive price tag you don't need to look anywhere else.
The screen is to die for and the form factor, while taking some getting used to, is ideal for media consumption. It's light, it's bright, it's fun and it's thin.
The battery life is really impressive, and the sheer diversity on offer, be it through the uprated CPU, screen, or GPU, mean that we struggled to put it down at times.
Quick verdict
We really like the Nexus 7. We really, really like the Nexus 7. Google has taken what made the original such a belter, corrected almost every niggle with it, bumped the price up ever so slightly, yet also made the Nexus 7 feel so much more premium.
If you're looking for a 7-inch tablet, we'll put it like this: there is no better alternative on the market, right now.
4. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
Sometimes bigger can be better - and Samsung will certainly be hoping that's the case with the huge Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 which sports a - yup you've guessed it - 12.2-inch display.
As you'll see from the name, this slate falls into Samsung's "Note" series, which means it comes equipped with an S Pen stylus, and with such a large canvas to work with it can be genuinely useful.
Unsurprisingly the Note Pro 12.2 isn't a small tablet, so it's not something you'll be carry around with you everyday, but with a meaty octa-core (yes, eight!) processor, 3GB of RAM and Android 4.4 KitKat OS it's a serious powerhouse capable of some very heavy lifting.
Quick verdict
The sheer size of the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 will put many off, but the appeal of an expansive, 2560 x 1600 12.2-inch display will attract a small crowd - if you are one of those you won't be disappointed. Big screen, big power and big price.
- Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 review
- It's been a while since we last had a large Nexus slate and even longer since HTC went anywhere near a tablet, yet here we are with the HTC made Nexus 9.It was worth the wait too, thanks to a powerful 64-bit processor, BoomSound speakers, a long lasting battery and Android 5.0 onboard.It's found itself a fairly unique size point too at 8.9 inches. Too big to be considered a small or even medium sized tablet, but some way smaller than the 10.1-inch Android slates that there are so many of. Whether that's a good or bad thing is subjective but it certainly helps it stand out.
Quick verdict
The Nexus 9 is powerful and a good all-rounder. It's not the biggest, smallest or best in any one area but nor does it make any major missteps and at $479 it doesn't quite have a top tier price tag either.
2. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
In second place... the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet, and to be honest it pushed the Galaxy Tab S all the way to the finish, but it was just pipped at the post.
If you haven't realised yet, the Xperia Z2 Tablet is a really good Android tablet, with a slim build and waterproof design ensuring it'll survive a trip into the bath or a bake off in a really messy kitchen.
The screen isn't quite as good as the Galaxy Tab S, nor is there a smaller version available for those who don't want to lug around a 10.1-inch offering every day - but these are minor points in what is still a very good device.
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S
The exterior design of the Tab S is nothing to write home about but it's thin and it's light and that counts for a lot when it comes to tablets. It helps the frame get out of the way of the screen, which is the real winner here.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S boasts "the best screen we've seen on a tablet" - which is no small feat. If you want to watch movies or play graphically intensive games they won't look better on any other tablet.
Available in 8.4- and 10.5-inch variants, the Tab S range packs in a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, microSD slot, 8MP rear camera, 2.1MP front snapper and Android 4.4 KitKat.
Both tablets have fingerprint scanners for added security, but the plastic body may put a few off with Apple's slates sporting a more attractive design. But with more power and superior screens the Galaxy Tab S duo are working the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 hard, really hard.
Quick verdict
The ultimate Android tablet experience comes courtsey of the Galaxy Tab S, offering a portable 8.4-inch slate and a larger 10.5-inch tablet which is great for movies and gaming.
From the eye-catching screen to the raw power under the hood, Samsung couldn't have done much better with what could be a final attempt to compete with Apple at the top-end of the market.
A solid, lightweight slate with a decent amount of power, the Xperia Z2 Tablet won't disappoint and the waterproof chassis is certainly a bonus.
The design is slightly more attractive than Samsung's, but with just one screen size and a display which lacks the vibrancy of its closest rival it takes second spot.
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