Tablets replaced netbooks and laptops (in some fields) after the evolution of first modern tablet computer in 2010, the Apple iPad. Since then, tablets have become the mainstream source of everything from entertainment to productivity. As the time passed, many manufacturers stepped into manufacturing tablet computer and eventually lots of tablets were made available for consumers.
Despite Apple iPad being consumer’s favorite choice when it comes to tablet a computers, there are equally powerful and closely competing Android tablet as well. Followed to iPad, Android tablets were also popular as they were a budget-friendly option.
Apple iPad’s cost was a huge bummer to the pocket, and consumers with tight budget preferred an equally powerful Android tablet with same amount of features for comparatively lower price than iPad. With low cost and nearly same features as iPad, Android tablets are considered as real value for money. Although there were users who preferred getting a budget-friendly Android tablet, there was large crowd of people who preferred the classy iPad for its features and robust performance offered by it.
When this was the state of the tablet market, Google unveiled its budget-friendly Nexus 7 in 2012, which totally changed the way of tablet demands. A budget friendly Nexus 7 tablet featuring 7-inch screen evolved with high-performance components and that too at a very low price tag of just $200.
This was a revolution in tablet industry made by Google in 2012, which forced other tablet manufacturers (including Apple) to switch to 7-inch mini form factor. It was regarded that mini tablets are ideal for doing all kinds of work, and they also sported portability, which was the major drawback of full-sized tablet.
This state of tablet market still exist, but with one level up than tablets in 2012. As 2013 evolved, it was a challenge for tablet manufacturers to make the next-generation of its tablets that boast high performance that its predecessor and sport even better components for the same price tag.
Year 2013 was full of anticipated tablets. Google unveiled the next generation Google Nexus 7 and Google Nexus 10. Followed to this, Apple introduced the Retina Display version of its Apple iPad Mini and Amazon came up with Kindle Fire HDX 8.9. These tablets were among the top contributors for the amazing tablet sales that were made this year.
The tablet market is still growing and driven by Android. According to IDC shipments were up 36.7% last quarter compared to the same period last year. A survey also said that the amount of tablet purchases were more than laptops or computers in the last holiday season. With increasing flexibility, availability of cross-platform apps and availability of cheap data rates, tablets are lot in demands. We have compiled a list of top 10 tablets of 2013 that will make it easy for you to make a purchase.
1. Google Nexus 7 (2013)
We decided to kick off the list of top 10 best Android tablets of 2013 with the very popular Google Nexus 7. Like its predecessor it boasts powerful hardware along with a neat price tag. Although there is a price-hike than its predecessor, it is worth the extra bucks.
The first impression of Google Nexus 7 is its price, followed by the powerful specs it houses. When Google first unveiled Nexus 7, it received jaw-dropping reaction from all over the world. Looking the overwhelming demand received by Google Nexus 7, Apple brought iPad Mini and Amazon came up with the Kindle Fire HD.
Google Nexus 7 (2013) boasts a crystal clear screen, robust processor, satisfiable battery life and lastly affordable price tag. The combination of all this makes Google Nexus 7 on position one in our top 10 best Android tablets of 2013.
It houses a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro chip with quad-core architecture. This chip is one of the powerful beast available in the market today, which is capable of running all the latest game titles available in the Google Play Store. Its gorgeous 7-inch screen is razor sharp and boasts a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with 323ppi pixel density.
In addition to the Snapdragon S4 chip there is 2GB RAM on board. This deadly combination is overkill for most of the apps and that’s why Google Nexus 7 outstanding than other tablets in the category. Google priced its Nexus 7 tab with a very neat and affordable price tag. There are three models available, 16GB (Wi-Fi only), 32GB (Wi-Fi only) and 32GB (Wi-Fi + LTE). It costs $229, $269 and $349 respectively.
Key specifications
- 7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD touchscreen display
- 1920x 1200 pixels screen resolution
- 323ppi pixel density
- 1.5 GHz quad-core processor
- Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chip
- Adreno 320 graphics
- 2GB of RAM
- 16 GB/ 32 GB of internal storage
- No microSD slot
- 5 MP primary camera
- 1.2 MP secondary camera
- Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (KitKat update available)
- SIM card support for data only
- Supports LTE
- 3950 mAh Li-Ion battery
- Weight: 299 grams
- Dimensions: 200 x 114 x 8.7 mm
Pros
- Robust performance
- Gorgeous display
- Sleek design
- Value for money
- Strong battery life
Cons
- Poor camera
- No microSD card slot
2. Google Nexus 10
Following to Nexus 7, Google brought the 10-inch version of its Nexus tablet for those who feel 7-inch is slightly insufficient for their needs. Called as Nexus 10 – it is manufactured by Samsung rather than Asus.
Nexus 10 arrived with a higher price, but with a distinctive point: a very good resolution. This 10.1 inch tablet has an eye catching 2560 × 1600 resolution, same as that of 13 inch Macbook Pro, but in a smaller package. Nexus 10, Google’s second Android tablet is completely different from its previous one, since it is made from an entirely different manufacturer. Its design is much like Galaxy Tab 10.1.
On the face of device there are stereo speakers. Inside upper bezel of display there is a 1.9 MP camera and in bottom bezel a RGB notification LED. Nexus 10 is powered by a dual core 1.7 GHz chip of A15 along with Mali T604 GPU and 2GB of RAM alongside. There isn’t a cellular model available and so the Nexus 10 should be connected via Wi-Fi all the time.
The display of Nexus 10 is truly awesome with great resolution, protected beneath Corning’s Gorilla Glass 2. It features a 9000 mAh battery that offers superior battery life. Considering all these features at such a low price tag; Nexus 10 is one of the great competitors in tablet market, especially for Android lovers.
Key specifications
- 10.1-inch Super PLS TFT touchscreen display
- 2560 x 1600 pixels screen resolution
- 299ppi pixel density
- 1.7 GHz quad-core processor
- Samsung Exynos 5250 chip
- Mali-T604 graphics
- 2GB of RAM
- 16 GB/ 32 GB of internal storage
- No microSD slot
- 5 MP primary camera
- 1.9 MP secondary camera
- Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (KitKat update available)
- No SIM card support for data
- 9000 mAh Li-Ion battery
- Weight: 603 grams
- Dimensions: 263.9 x 177.6 x 8.9 mm
Pros
- Gorgeous display
- High resolution
- Powerful processor
- Latest Android update
Cons
- No SIM card slot
- Poor camera
- No microSD slot
3. LG G Pad 8.3
After a serious hiatus in 2012, LG still decided to come up with a new Android powered tablet. LG not only made it successful but also managed to place it in the top ten tablets of 2013. Named as LG G Pad 8.3 – it is one of the superior Android tablet available in the market.
What makes it draw our attention? LG G Pad 8.3 comes with innovative features on its software part. Features like QPair – which allows you to pair with a smartphone, to get text messages and phone call notifications. It also offers the same gestures that come from the LG G2 smartphone.
In addition to this, there are other features ranging from QSlide apps to Slide Aside, which are actually useful, even if the interface doesn’t look great. These features make LG G Pad 8.3 very easy to use. LG G Pad 8.3 is a powerhouse when it comes to performance – thanks to its powerful hardware. It houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chip, which is clocked at 1.7GHz and has quad-core architecture. Alongside, there is 2GB of RAM. This combination handles most of the power-hungry games as well as apps very well.
The 8.3-inch screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1200, same as that of Nexus 7, but the pixel density is slightly less (273ppi) because of its large display size. Internally, it has 16GB storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card. This is where LG G Pad 8.3 sets apart than Nexus 7.
It has a pretty good price tag of $349.99 for the features it offers, but you’ll find it expensive as compared to Nexus 7. With the clear 8.3-inch display, powerful processor, better camera, expandable storage and longer battery life LG G Pad 8.3 takes third position in our top ten tablets of 2013.
Key specifications
- 8.3-inch IPS LCD touchscreen display
- 1920 x 1200 pixels screen resolution
- 273ppi pixel density
- 1.7 GHz quad-core processor
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chip
- Adreno 320 graphics
- 2GB of RAM
- 16 GB of internal storage
- microSD slot
- 5 MP primary camera
- 1.3 MP secondary camera
- Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean (KitKat update available with Google Play Edition)
- No SIM card support for data
- 4600 mAh Li-Ion battery
- Weight: 338 grams
- Dimensions: 216.8 x 126.5 x 8.3 mm
Pros
- Speedy performance
- Detailed screen
- Superior battery life
- Strong design
- Storage expansion
Cons
- No cellular option
- Average camera
- Poor interface
4. Sony Xperia Tablet Z
Sony tried its luck to make its place among the modern Android tablets with Xperia Tablet S, but failed. Looking at the previously made mistakes and correcting them, Sony launched the Xperia Z tablet with a hope to stand out among the challengers.
Sony Xperia Z is a beautiful tablet. Its beauty reflects in the build quality and the aesthetics it boasts. It’s just not dressed to impress, but under its hood it sports not-notch components that contributes to the device’s exceptionally well performance.
It sports a 10.1-inch display with resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and 225ppi pixel density. What makes it screen different from other tablet is the Sony Bravia Engine 2 technology used in it. This engine makes the text and icons look crisp and sharp, and images and video look great than other tablets.
This beast is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with quad-core architecture and 1.5GHz clock speed. In addition to this there is 2GB of RAM on the board. It handles some of the popular game titles available for Android very well. Some lags are encountered, but they can be ignored, as it doesn’t happen often. Camera on Sony Xperia Tablet Z is better than all the tablets that we have seen till now. It features a 8-megapixels rear camera, which is able to take decent photographs. It’s not overkill for camera, but still does the job.
Sony offers Xperia Tablet Z in two models – Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + LTE. After Nexus 10, it is the only full-sized tablet to offer LTE. These models are further classified based on their storage capacity. There is 16GB and 32GB model to choose from. However, if you are on a tight budget we will recommend getting the 16GB, as there is a microSD card that can be used or storage expansion.
Sony Xperia Tablet Z is not just another Android tablet; it seems Sony has really worked hard in making this tablet a market hit. It doesn’t come cheap like the other tablets mentioned above. The price of Sony Xperia Z tablet is equivalent to Apple iPad 4 and comes close to Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1.
For its price tag Sony makes a wise statement – ‘Our products are just as good as Apple’s, so don’t expect them to be cheaper.’
Key specifications
- 10.1-inch LED-backlit LCD touchscreen display
- 1920 x 1200 pixels screen resolution
- 224ppi pixel density
- 1.5 GHz quad-core processor
- Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chip
- Adreno 320 graphics
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB/32GB of internal storage
- microSD slot
- 8.1 MP primary camera
- 2.2 MP secondary camera
- Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean (KitKat update available)
- Supports LTE
- 6000 mAh Li-Ion battery
- Weight: 495 grams
- Dimensions: 266 x 172 x 6.9 mm
- IP57 certified – dust proof and water resistant
Pros
- Brilliant Screen
- Beautiful aesthetics
- Dust and waterproof
- Extremely thin
- Faster processor and graphics
Cons
- Expensive
- Mediocre battery life
5. Kindle Fire HDX 7
Amazon didn’t lie behind in the race of making the best tablet for 2013. Leaner, meaner and more powerful than its predecessor, Kindle Fire HDX 7 is the best challenger for Google Nexus 7.
When it comes to design, Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7’s appearance is subdued for the most part, but the device has a nice feel and a few design traits that set it apart from the competition. It has an excellent IPS LCD with pixel density of 322ppi, which is same as that of Nexus 7 and Apple iPad Mini 2.
Coming down to the performance, it can be easily said that Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 is a performance powerhouse. It comes with Snapdragon 800 processor; having four Krait 400 CPU cores running at up to 2.3GHz with an Adreno 330 GPU, along with 2GB of RAM. This is the best configuration on can get for such a low-priced tablet.
It stands apart from other Android tablets available in terms of storage. It comes in three storage variants – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Unlike other tablets, it doesn’t offer microSD card slot for storage expansion. Kindle Fire HDX 7 is not meant for photography at all. It features very poor camera specs with 1.3MP rear camera and no front camera. So one can imagine how poor the camera will perform.
Such a powerful tablet has a very affordable price tag for all its variants including the LTE. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 will set you back with pricing that starts at $229 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi only model with special offers, and up to $424 for the 64 GB model with 4G LTE connectivity and no special offers.
Key specifications
- 7.0-inch IPS LCD touchscreen display
- 1920 x 1200 pixels screen resolution
- 323ppi pixel density
- 2.2 GHz quad-core processor
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip
- Adreno 330 graphics
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB/32GB/64GB of internal storage
- No microSD slot
- 1.3 MP primary camera
- No secondary camera
- Android 4.x Jelly Bean (customized)
- Supports LTE
- Weight: 303 grams
- Dimensions: 186 x 128 x 9 mm
Pros
- Great screen
- Very good performance
- Mayday
Cons
- Limiting software experience
- Poor rear camera
- No front camera
6. Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)
Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) back in September along with Galaxy Gear and Galaxy Note 3. The successor of last-generation Galaxy Note 10.1 gives a whole new experience to those who enjoy handwriting and casually drawing.
With Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition, Samsung hopes to deliver a great combination of built-in stylus app support, rock solid hardware, and a trusty Wacom digitizer. When it comes to Galaxy Note 10.1’s design, Samsung borrows design elements from its smartphone. Being a massive tablet and Samsung’s design elements, it is difficult to hold the tablet in one hand for long time.
The Note 10.1 comes with a 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution, which is a whopping amount of pixels to push into a screen. By comparison, the previous model had a 1280 x 800 pixel display, so there’s been a significant improvement.
An additional feature that Galaxy Note 10.1 offers that any other tablet mentioned above is the S Pen stylus. As Samsung has focused this tablet for designers and artists, it comes with a stylus that has a very fine tip as compared to others. The stylus makes it easy to take notes in the Samsung’s S Note app or sketch out doodles or rude drawings in AutoDesk’s Sketchbook.
Galaxy Note 10.1 houses an 8-megapixel camera, which is good for a tablet to take quick pictures. The color reproduction done by the camera is not up to the mark. It is powered by Samsung’s eight core Exynos 5 system-on-chip, which is technically two quad-core ARM chips bolted together – one faster Cortex-A15 running at 1.9GHz and a second, less power-hungry Cortex-A7 running at 1.3GHz. Along with this, it boasts 3GB RAM, which no other tablet in the category offers.
The processor is powerful enough to handle all the tasks that are thrown at the tablet. However, the Exynos chip falls slightly behind Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 and Nvidia’s Tegra 4 when it comes to flat out graphics performance.
Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition looks best on paper, but it doesn’t perform that great when actually used. Unless you need the stylus, it is recommended that you do not prefer this tablet because of the price tag. The Wi-Fi-only version of the new Note 10.1 2014 Edition for 16GB and 32GB models is $549.99 and $599.99 respectively.
Key Specifications
- 10.1-inch Super Clear touchscreen display
- 2560 x 1600 pixels screen resolution
- 299ppi pixel density
- Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 (LTE model)
- Quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 (3G model)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip
- Adreno 330 graphics (LTE model)
- 3GB of RAM
- 16GB/32GB/64GB of internal storage
- microSD slot
- 8.0 MP primary camera
- 2.0 MP secondary camera
- Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
- Supports LTE
- Weight: 540g (Wi-Fi only) / 535g (3G) / 547g (LTE)
- Dimensions: 243.1 x 171.4 x 7.9 mm
- S Pen stylus
Pros
- Bold display
- Powerful
- Included stylus
- Good speakers
- Beautiful design
Cons
- Expensive
- TouchWiz degrades performance
- Battery not as expected
7. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity
Asus showcased the Transformer Pad Infinity back in March at Mobile World Congress 2013. Transformer family is the jewel in the crown for Asus. It’s the best line-up that is a real challenger for Apple iPad. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity is more than just an update to the Transformer Prime. With its powerful performance components and gorgeous screen it’s the Asus way to show the full potential of its tablets.
Looking at the design, one will not be able to distinguish it from its predecessor. The design is similar to what it predecessor boasted. Just like Apple iPad, Asus Transformer Pad Infinity sports an aluminum casing. It’s solid, sturdy and easy to hold because of its weight, which is even lighter than the new iPad.
It has a 10.1-inch display having 2560 x 1600 pixels resolution and 299 ppi pixel density. The pixels are densely packed that give it a clear and crisp display. The display panel used is Super IPS+ LCD, which adds wider viewing angles and bumps up the brightness up to 600 nits.
It houses Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 4 processor with 2GB DDR3 RAM. The clock speed of the processor has been increased up to a 1.8GHz max with two to four cores active and up to 1.9GHz in single core operation. In addition to this, there is 72-core Nvidia GeForce GPU, which can handle all the high graphics game titles thrown at it. It comes with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean pre-installed with it. The operating system is well optimized to utilize the processor, RAM and GPU, which in turn provides brilliant performance and smooth navigations.
The camera on the Transformer Pad Infinity is impressive when it comes to the quality. Unlike other tablets it houses a powerful camera that is able to take photographs matching the smartphone quality. On the front it has a 1.2-megapixel camera, and on the rear it has a 5-megapixel camera.
Asus doesn’t offer the basic 16GB model of Transformer Pad Infinity. The basic model starts from 32GB model, and there is a high-end 64GB model as well. Also, you can expand the storage using a microSD card up to additional 64GB. The battery life of the Transformer Pad Infinity is slightly bumped-up as compared to its predecessor. With average usage the tablet lasts for around 12 hours and 17 hours for light use.
Key specifications
- 10.1-inch IPS LCD touchscreen display
- 2560 x 1600 pixels screen resolution
- 399 ppi pixel density
- 1.9 GHz quad-core processor
- Nvidia Tegra 4 T40X chip
- ULP GeForce graphics
- 2GB of RAM
- 32GB/64GB of internal storage
- MicroSD card support
- 5.0 MP primary camera
- 1.2 MP secondary camera
- Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
- Weight: 585 grams
- Dimensions: 263 x 180.8 x 8.9 mm
Pros
- Brilliant display
- Powerful processor
- Solid build
Cons
- Slight lag
- Reflective screen
- Weak multitasking
8. Tesco Hudl
There was a time when the term budget tabled was referred to something that is cheap, something that has bad design, poor performance and weathered user experience. This state of the market was changed with the launch of Nexus 7, followed by Kindle Fire.
And not its the time for Tesco to not only bring the best budget tablet in the market but also take over Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire series with its Hudl tablet. It continues to impress with every bit of technology packed into it.
Tesco Hudl is a budget tablet that has a 7-inch IPS LCD display with 1440 x 900 pixels resolution and 242ppi pixel density. The screen quality is decent enough to satisfy the usual tasks. Overall, the screen is not ‘mind-blowing’, but considering the price of the tablet, it’s their best offering.
It rocks a quad-core Rockchip RK3188 processor clocked at 1.5GHz and includes 1GB of RAM plus a Mali-400MP quad-core graphics-processing unit. The performance offered by this chip is not perfect, but is very good for a device at this price.
There is 16GB of onboard storage, which can be expanded further using a microSD card. Although, it is coupled with average hardware, the lag or poor performance is not noticeable. Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean installed on it is well optimized for the hardware, and performs butter smooth.
The camera module of Tesco Hudl is not an area of discussion. It comes with a 3-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera, and neither of it is good. It is only good to take pictures on the go or for casual video calling. Tesco Hudl is available in 16GB variant for $193 (approximately). If you want a cheap solution for your tablet requirement, Hudl is good to go or else you can settle with Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HDX.
 |
| (COMIO) CT701G 7″ 2160P Touch Screen Android 4.0 Tablet Phone |
| $130.67 |
Key specifications
- 7.0-inch IPS LCD touchscreen display
- 1440 x 900 pixels screen resolution
- 242 ppi pixel density
- 1.5GHz A9 Quad-core processor
- Mali 400 Quad core GPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 16GB of internal storage
- MicroSD card support
- 3.0 MP primary camera
- 2.0 MP secondary camera
- Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
- Weight: 370g
- Dimensions: 128.8 x 192.8 x 9.8 mm
Pros
- Good build quality
- Great performance for price
- Smooth operating system
- Affordable
Cons
- Poor camera
- Sullen display
- Battery life not up to expectations
9. Acer Iconia A3
If none of the above 10-inch tablet fits in your budget, then there is Acer Iconia A3. Acer has mainly focused this tablet at budget buyers that don’t want the 7-inch affordable tablets. However, you should know that since this tablet is budget-centered there would be poor performing components added to it.
The Acer Iconia A3 looks rich and elegant with its simple matte white plastic, having silver trim made out of brushed metal running on its side. Although plastic casing is used, Acer Iconia A3 is heavy as compared to other 10-inch tablets. It boasts a 10.1-inch display with very poor screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels that returns pixel density of 149 ppi (lowest among all tablets seen above). The poor pixel density cripples the text and icons, but if you are planning to use it from a distance it is good to go.
It runs Android 4.2 with stock looks and Acer’s wallpapers bundled with it. The operating system works fine, but there are some lags noticeable at times. Acer Iconia is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek 8125 processor, which has four Cortex-A7 cores.
This chipset is not that powerful, but since the screen doesn’t more pixels it is able to handle most of the tasks very well. It ships with 1GB RAM alongside, which is able to handle the basic multitasking requirements easily.
The tablet is available in 16GB and 32GB models and storage can be expanded using a microSD card up to 64GB. This will suite the best if you are planning to use the massive 10-incher to watch movies or occasional web surfing. It is coupled with a 5-megapixel camera that isn’t accompanied with flash. Photographs taken by it are of average quality for a tablet. It can be used to take casual photographs for uploading on social networking sites. As there is no flash present, the tablet struggles for low-light photography.
It packs a 3540-mAh battery that is able to play video up to 11 hours, which is good for such kind of tablet. On the wrap-up, this tablet comes in our top 10 best Android tablet just because of its price tag that is $342 (rounded off) for the 16GB Wi-Fi only variant. The 3G model costs $411, which is very inexpensive as compared to other 10.1-inch tablets.
Key specifications
- 10.1-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD touchscreen display
- 1280 x 800 pixels screen resolution
- 149 ppi pixel density
- 1.2 GHz quad-core processor
- Mediatek MT8125 chip
- PowerVR SGX 544MP graphics
- 1GB of RAM
- 16GB/32GB of internal storage
- MicroSD card support
- 5 MP primary camera
- 0.3 MP secondary camera
- Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
- SIM card support for data only
- 3540 mAh Li-Ion battery
- Weight: 560 grams
- Dimensions: 260 x 175 x 10.2 mm
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Good aesthetics
Cons
- Very less pixel density
- Average battery life
- Poor processor
- No flash
- Heavy
10. Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) is already rocking on sixth position in our top 10 best Android tablets of 2013. That tablet is exceptionally well in performance and price tag as well. If 10-inch is not your piece of cake, you should look for the cheaper 8-inch version and make the most of the stylus.
Galaxy Note 8.0 boast an 8-inch display like the iPad Mini, but larger than the Nexus 7, giving it around 37% more viewable image area. This 8-inch display has very poor screen resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels that offers pixel density of 189 ppi.
Samsung follows the same design pattern in the Galaxy Note 8.0. This returns the cheap plastic body and makes it feel plasticky. Holding the tab is easy, but there is risk of falling if you don’t have firm grip over the bezels.
There are some really cool features that make it stand apart from other tablet at the price range. Galaxy Note 8.0 can be called as a geek’s Swiss Army Knife of features. One among them is the Wi-Fi direct that lets you share content from two devices without the need of router.
There is an integrated app for screen sharing called Miracast, which can show what’s going on the tablet on a HDTV. It has a ‘Smart Screen’ functionality that won’t dim or turn of the display as long as you are looking at it. Lastly, you can take photos without pressing the camera button. Instead, saying “Cheese”, “Capture”, “Smile” and “Shoot” will do the work.
Although these features look promising, the hardware that backs it up is not as powerful as it should have been. It is powered by low-performer Samsung Exynos 4412 chip having quad-core architecture and clocked at 1.6GHz. In addition to this, there is 1.5GB RAM on the board. Since the screen resolution is average, this combo can handle most of the game titles with ease.
Being a member of the Note family, it is included with Samsung S Pen – the stylus, which is tiny at 5.5mm and extremely uncomfortable to hold while writing.
Talking about the camera, it comes with a 5-megapixels rear camera which performs very good as compared to other tablets in this price range. It is definitely not as great as iPad, but much better than what Google offers in Nexus 7.
Galaxy Note 8.0 is available in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + LTE model (in some markets). These models are further available as 16GB and 32GB variants. The Wi-Fi only 16GB model costs $329. The pricing of other models is subject to availability and market dependent.
Key specifications
- 8-inch TFT touchscreen display
- 1280x 800 pixels screen resolution
- 189 ppi pixel density
- 1.6 GHz quad-core processor
- Samsung Exynos 4412 chip
- Mali-400MP graphics
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB/32GB of internal storage
- MicroSD card support
- 5 MP primary camera
- 1.3 MP secondary camera
- Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
- SIM card support for data only
- Supports LTE
- 4600 mAh Li-Ion battery
- Weight: 338 grams
- Dimensions: 210.8 x 135.9 x 8 mm
Pros
- S Pen
- Good keyboard
- Decent aesthetics
- Cool features
Cons
- Low pixel density
- Dated operating system
- Average processor
Conclusion
These were our top 10 best Android tablets for the year 2013. Compiling this list was very difficult as there are lots of tablets available in the market, which are rivals to each other. This list is compiled according to the performance, features, looks, variants and value for money that the tablet offers.
If 7-inch tablet is all that you need, then you have options like Google Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX 7. Both of them perform exceptionally well and much better than other high-priced tablets. One common drawback that these tablets have is the camera, which is not up to expectations. However, camera is ignored when it comes to tablet as it is used very rarely.
Other major position holders are the 10-inch tablets. People still prefer 10-inch tablet even if it is not so portable as compared to 7-inch. Some people find 10-inch tablet ideal to do most of the tasks. So if you are among them then you have Google Nexus 10, Sony Xperia Tablet Z, Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) and Asus Transformer Pad Infinity.
All these tablets are excellent performers in the 10-inch segment, but they are priced very high (except Google Nexus 10). If you are more inclined towards the budget while choosing a 10-inch tablet, we would suggest Google Nexus 10 as our first choice. Followed to it will be the Acer Iconia A3, which is cheap and offers you the best for its price.
There are 8-inch players for those who feel 7-inch is too small and 10-inch is too big for them. LG G Pad 8.3 is the best among the 8-inch tablet available right now. Following it will be the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 – a budget friendly 8-inch option that performs unexceptional.
We are hoping to see the successors of these tablets in the upcoming year. Let’s see how well they are made and what new features they have installed for us.
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