14 best Android tablets in the world
Updated Lots of movers and shakers in our top 14
By TechRadar from 
Let us help you chose the best Android Table to use
Our list of the best Android tablets in the world - updated regularly with the latest and greatest
If you're looking for a tablet that isn't an iPad, then Android is currently the way to go. (Don't know what an Android tablet is? Check out: what is an Android tablet?)
There are other options out there; Windows 8 tablets are incoming, the BlackBerry PlayBook is on sale and the HP TouchPad has come and gone in a flurry of $150 panic-buying. But Android Jelly Bean is currently the main OS rival to the iPad and its iOS 6, and products using that OS are slowly making their way onto the shelves.
1. Google Nexus 7
Packing a Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 12 core GPU, 8GB or 16GB internal storage and 7-inch 1280 x 800 screen, the Nexus 7 certainly has the skills to pay the bills, but at a highly attractive price point.
With respectable specs and a price that turns heads, it's prepared to give its closest rival, Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, a run for the money. With the Nexus 7, it's looking like Google has got the budget end of the tablet market all wrapped up. However, for those willing to drop more coin, and wanting to be within the Apple ecosystem, the iPad mini now presents a compelling 7-inch solution.
2. Google Nexus 10
The 10.1 display is one of the biggest talking points on the Google Nexus 10. At 300 pixels per inch it's the highest resolution tablet display on the planet - take that, Apple and your Retina displays.
It's a great performer too. Other than taking a while to process panoramic photos we never felt like it was struggling to keep up. It's fast and smooth, no matter what you throw at it.
Sure it may not be as stunning to look at, or as well built as an iPad, and the lack of expandable memory will irk some, but overall the Nexus 10 gives you a quality, big-screen Android experience not to be sniffed at. On top of that, the tablet has already been updated to Android 4.2.1, which brings back the month of December in some calendar apps (well done, Google) and adds support for some security issues too, showing this is the tablet to buy if you want a larger screen that Google won't give up on.The Nexus 10 is a WiFi only tablet.
3. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity
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Everything we'd look for in a high-end tablet is present and accounted for with the Transformer Pad Infinity. While power is always welcomed, it was the improved screen that really caught our attention. Given that we use our tablet mostly for browsing the web and watching video, we couldn't help but marvel at the resolution, either. if you're looking for a top Android tablet (and have the cash to splash), then the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity should be at the top of your list.
4. Amazon Kindle Fire HD
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For casual tablet users or those already knee-deep in Amazon's digital media abyss, the Kindle Fire HD is a fantastic option, especially at its low entry price. It offers a simple and uncomplicated experience through and through, and is built to support the digital media it aims to sell you, with a good screen and surprisingly ample speakers.
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
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What's better than a tablet with a big screen? A tablet with a big screen, a quad core processor and the might of the S Pen... known as a stylus to me and you. Well, not just a stylus - with many levels of pressure sensitivity and the ability easily sketch and annotate on a wide range of items, the Galaxy Note 10.1 offers so much more than your average tablet.
We're huge fans of the alternative choice here, and it even comes with a microSD slot to boot. Android 4.1 is landing on it at the moment, and comes with a Premium Suite update, designed to make multi-tasking and general use that much easier.
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9
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In at number four is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 - and it's a funny little thing. It's essentially the same as its older brother, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but with an 8.9-inch screen. It's slightly thinner and lighter, and consequently more convenient for anyone wanting to stuff it in a bag.
Apart from these physical attributes, the internal components are basically the same, providing the same slick performance and overall tablet experience.
7. Asus Transformer Pad 300
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The Transformer Pad 300 offers up the power of a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, a 10.1-inch display and 12 hour battery life in a device that's cheaper than the Transformer Prime. Running Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, it's a bit behind the times, but Asus is keeping up with its reputation of being one of the best to support its older devices, with Jelly Bean landing soon.
However, the price difference is noticeable when it comes to the materials used to build the 300, with its plastic body not feeling as premium or solid as the more expensive Prime – that said, the Transformer Pad 300 is still a great tablet.
8. Asus Transformer Prime
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Asus wowed us when it launched its Eee Pad Transformer TF101, and with the Transformer Prime it managed to go one better.The Transformer Prime packs a mighty 1.3GHz quad-core processor into a super-slim chassis and although it shipped with Android 3.2, the Prime was the first Android tab to receive the upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich, and it's now been confirmed to be getting an update to Android 4.2 in the near future.
That huge processor means using the Transformer Prime is a breeze, able to process Full HD movies and multiple apps with ease.You also get a super-crisp 10.1-inch IPS display (1280 x 800), a surprisingly good 8MP camera capable of recording 1080p video, and 32GB of internal storage, with a microSD card slot available if you need more space.
9. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
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Back in the day the Galaxy Tab 10.1 offered a direct alternative to Apple's iPad 2 - however times have moved on since then and this Samsung slate can no longer compete at the top. Sporting the Tegra 2 dual-core CPU, it's both marginally thinner and lighter than the iPad. This was some achievement, especially when you consider the fuss Apple made about how thin and light the iPad 2 was on launch.
It's also had a tasty price drop to less than $400 in most stores, which means that while it might not have the specs of the top-table lot, it's still got a decent amount of grunt and a quality screen, making a strong proposition as a present for someone that 'just wants a tablet'.
10. Asus Eee Pad Slider
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The Apple iPad is the king. It doesn't matter what the arguments for Android are, the fact is that the iPad is still just about the best out-and-out tablet out there. And that's why the Slider is such a compelling option - it's not a straight iPad competitor, it offers something different. The slide-out keyboard offers flexibility and functionality not on offer elsewhere.
It's a different prospect than the Microsoft Surface or the Transformer Prime above, in that it cannot be disconnected from its keyboard, nor does it pack the Tegra 3 innards. But what it does do is make it easier to work on the train, type emails and documents with the convenience of not needing a dock or peripheral. What's more, the screen is the best we've seen on a 10-inch Android tablet, and it's also the most responsive.
11. Sony Tablet S
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As a veritable mega-giant in the consumer tech universe, Sony's landing on planet tablet was always going to be interesting. Blasting off alongside the fold-in-half Sony Tablet P, the Sony Tablet S has a unique wedge-shaped design and top-end specs.
12. Toshiba AT200
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The AT200 is extremely thin, clocking in at a super slender 0.30-inches, which means you can slide it into your bag without issue - and at 1.23 pounds, you probably won't notice it's in there.
You get a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 TFT display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and a decent array of ports including microSD, USB and HDMI.
Toshiba has also dropped the price of the AT200 just a few months after launch to keep it competitive in the market.
13. Acer Iconia Tab A510
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For your financial outlay, the Acer Iconia Tab A510 represents a shrewd investment, especially for people willing to accept a few minor flaws. There are cheaper tablets out there running Android Ice Cream Sandwich, but these budget offerings do not offer the sheer power of the Tegra 3 platform, and the lightning-fast Android 4.0 experience.
14. Motorola Xoom
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The Motorola Xoom was the first Honeycomb tablet to hit the shelves, and is thus the grandfather of the Android stable. Current prices are starting at about $300, which is great value for a 10-inch tablet of this caliber, and it's thus worthy of your attention. Thanks to Google taking over Motorola the Xoom was one of the first devices to get upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean when it launched, making it a great device even today. However, Android 4.2 isn't going to be making an appearance, so keep that in mind before taking the plunge.
Solid build quality, decent battery life, good performance and the Xoom is fast enough to keep pace, so gets our nod over some other Android tablets. Beware though, the Motorola Xoom 2 is already here, but it's not as good.
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