Best tablets of 2015: No. 6 – 10
The best tablets of 2015 have maximized the mobile experience, from Apple's dominating iPad to Google's Nexus series of slates.
And it's more than just iOS 8 and Android devices, unlike the best smartphones. Windows often plays a limited role with its larger laptop-replacements if that's what you need, often from Lenovo and Asus.
All of our top picks posses even more versatility. Tablets for work by day have to be able to turn into tablets for kids by night, whether they're 7 or 9.7 or 12.2 inches.
Just as important, they feature wider price ranges, more efficient processors, longer battery life and thinner and lighter designs for 2015 than years past.
iPad Air 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab S, and Google Nexus 9 get that right more than ever, especially as iOS 8 and Android 5.0 Lollipop make the best tablets even better.
10. iPad Air
Apple's pencil-thin tablet was spectacular a year ago and it's still one of the top tablets to own even though it's been usurped by the newer iPad Air 2.
It's no slouch in performance thanks to the one-step-behind A7 processor and its 9.7-inch screen boasts the same 2048 x 1536-pixel resolution at 264 ppi. It's just not laminated.
That may be an okay compromise for a price that's $100 cheaper compared to the iPad Air's Touch ID-enabled and sub-pencil-thin successor.
In fact, you can find it iPad Air on sale for even cheaper at major retailers like Walmart. With the iOS 8 upgrade in place, there's no shame in going the "cheaper" $400 route.
Quick verdict
"It's not just Apple's best tablet, it's the only tablet you should be considering if you're keen on a larger screen." That's what we said in the verdict of our in-depth iPad Air review. While the Galaxy Tab S is a brilliant tablet, the Air just took things to the next level.
It may not quite be a match for the iPad Air 2, but the original iPad Air is still one of the very best tablets around and it's not even among the most expensive any more.
iPad Air review
9. Google Nexus 7
The smallest tablet worth buying right now is the 7-inch Nexus 7 that came out in 2013. It's a small tablet that made big improvements over the Nexus 7 2012.
Even at just 0.57 lbs. (260g), it packs reasonable specs like a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and either 16GB or our suggested 32GB of internal storage.
The ASUS-made Nexus 7 barely fits into our American-made non-skinny jeans pocket, unlike its successor, the larger and Nexus 9 that has a boxier 4:3 aspect ratio.
Nexus 7 is 16:9, making its widescreen 1920 x 1200 display with 323 ppi ideal for everything from movies to games while on the go.
Update: It's not being sold by Google anymore, but you can buy Amazon's Nexus 7 deal for under $200 makes it compact in more ways than one.
Quick verdict
If you're considering a tablet now and are already dabbling in the Android ecosystem, we see no reason why shouldn't take the plunge with a Nexus 7, especially if you don't like the size (or price) of the Nexus 9.
If you haven't invested at all with Android, you're still in a good place to start. You could check out the iPad mini 2, which is advisable for those who have racked up a lot of App Store purchases, but it's still not as affordable as the Nexus 7.
Nexus 7 review8. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
From small to really, really big, the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 maximizes the display size spectrum among tablets, and too big for some people is just right for others.
The specs don't compromise either. A 2.3GHz quadcore processor, 3GB of RAM and S Pen make it productive for business as well as digital artists who values bright screens.
As the biggest tablet we've reviewed, the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 comes up short on build quality due to the larger chassis. But that's offset by the expanse of screen to play with.
Quick verdict
Its big screen and S Pen support make the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 an extremely useful productivity tool – if you're a fan of the Note range, there's very little better on the market and Samsung seems to be successfully convincing the world that the stylu… sorry, S Pen is still relevant to today's gadget fans.
Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 review7. iPad mini 2
There's hardly a gap between the iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3 features, and that's reflected in our best tablets of 2015 list, as both Apple two smaller slates are right next to each other.
What's the difference? Aside from the Touch ID, gold color and the lack of a 32GB model, the iPad mini 2 with a Retina display is identical, all the way down to iOS 8.
There's actually one other major "feature" increase: mini 2 is $100 cheaper than the mini 3. Most people can live without Apple's handy, but luxury fingerprint sensor on a tablet for that price.
Plus, you're more likely to find an iPad mini 2 $20 discount below the new $400 price. That's not going to happen for the iPad mini 3 until the iPad mini 4.
Quick verdict
The iPad mini 2 is almost flawless in so many ways. The rich App catalog mean it's a device that will grow with you, and the 64-bit A7 chip and Retina display are certainly future-proofing users from an outdated device.
Yes, it's older, but it's still a very usable device and offers access to a brilliant ecosystem for a lot less cash than before.
iPad mini 2 reviewNumber 6: iPad mini 36. iPad mini 3
One space up on the best tablets comparison and one generation newer among the iPad mini series. That's how much the iPad mini 3 hasn't changed for $100 more than the iPad mini 2.
Touch ID fingerprint sensor replaces the normal home button and Apple's offering a new gold color option to match that new iPhone 6 or iphone 6 Plus of yours.
Even with this marginal improvement, it's one that was already in a brilliant position thanks to offering the best of iPad Air 2, but squishing it down into a smaller package.
Quick verdict
The iPad mini 3 isn't a bad tablet. It's got a great OS, new features and is still attractively designed. It's just that all these features are available on the mini 2 for a lot less money.
Touch ID is a nice feature, but it's not enough to recommend this tablet. This year, it hasn't matched the Air 2 in tech spec, yet the price hasn't dropped. And you can get nearly all the good features cheaper on the iPad mini 2.
Buy the iPad mini 2, or wait a few months and see if Apple Pay and Touch ID-enabled apps start to roar in popularity unless you really want to make sure you've got the best iPad mini on the market.
iPad mini 3 reviewNumber 5: Nexus 95. Nexus 9
Fresh of the HTC assembly line is the Nexus 9 tablet that is Google's best attempt to answer the iPad Air 2. It's successful in a lot of ways, and leaves us wanting in others.
Its 8.9-inch IPS LCD display, for example, sports a QXGA-level 2048 x 1536 resolution, but a bit of backlight bleeding around the edges keep it from being a sight to see.
It doesn't matter that the screen is a few tenths of an inch smaller than similarly priced iPad Air 16GB at $400 for the Nexus 9 32GB version. It's bigger than the Nexus 7 and smaller than the Nexus 10 – just right for productivity on the go.
Nexus 9's 4:3 aspect ratio is better for reviewing documents and web surfing than watching 16:9 movies with letterboxing, though the sound is excellent with HTC BoomSound speakers.
It's the best tablet running Android 5.0 Lollipop, though that won't last long once the Samsung Galaxy Tab S gets the forthcoming update.
Quick verdict
Google's Nexus 9 tablet has display size and price that's indicative of everything you need to know about how it stacks up against the iPad Air 2. It's just a little less.
Android 5.0 Lollipop gives Google's slate a software facelift, even if the hardware construction isn't exceptional. Material Design sets the right tone and lockscreen notifications and priority mode add overdue functionality to make this a very usable tablet.
If you're looking for a naked Android tablet, the Nexus 9 performs well and comes with some really premium touches to make it one of the best around.
Nexus 9 reviewNumber 4: Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet4. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
Sony's done it again in the tablet world, making an amazing large-screened device, and while it hasn't nabbed the top spot, it's still given us a jolly good tablet.
The Xperia Z2 Tablet – so named to tie in more neatly with the phone version – brings a massively uprated Snapdragon 801 CPU, 3GB of RAM and an all-new Live Color LED screen that brings vibrancy and contrast to what you're watching.
Video is also improved thanks to the dual front-facing speakers, meaning you can ditch the headphones when watching in a hotel room and still get a decent experience.
Like its predecessor it's also water and dust resistant, so kitchen-based misdemeanours and reading an ebook in the bath are all on offer for you.
Quick verdict
If you're invested in the Sony ecosystem, you could do a lot worse than the Xperia Z2 Tablet, as it comes fully-loaded with access to Sony's music, movies and Playstation platforms. Well, you have to download an app to properly get gaming, but we'll overlook that for now.
There's an IR blaster on top to make this a great tablet for controlling the TV, and the speed and sheer weight (or lack thereof) make this a real sofa-friendly choice.
The screen could do with being sharper and you'll still be paying top dollar for this 10.1-inch tablet, but what you're getting is a really nifty, well-packaged slate.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet review3. Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Sony's gone a bit crackers in the naming department, but the Z3 Tablet Compact is still a pretty decent device despite the obvious attempts to shoehorn the word 'tablet' into the title to align it with the smartphone.
Let's get the main issue out of the way first: the screen isn't as high res as the competition, with Sony essentially sticking a stretched out smartphone display on the front. And the price isn't as palatable as some of the other options here.
But that looks past the fact Sony is pretty darn good at making these here tablets. Using its Bravia technology it makes the screen still look sharp and colourful, and the thin design makes the Z3 Tablet Compact easier to hold than you'd expect.
It's also waterproof, which is useful given its ebook-like dimensions, so you can happily use it next to the pool.
Quick verdict
It might not balance properly in terms of price to spec, and the screen resolution is lower than the top contenders, and this shows up when web browsing and in the interface.
However, it's not really a concern for watching video or playing games, where the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact excels.
Add in the thin, light body and you have a great tablet for long trips and boring work commutes, this makes sense a tablet as higher ranked tablet.
Read more in our Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact reviewNumber 2: Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S
Samsung has been pouring a lot of effort into making a really decent iPad rival, and that strategy has seen some hare-brained decisions (such as launching the Tab Pro in January, and then replacing it a few months later with the Galaxy Tab S).
But, apart from annoying anyone that's already bought into the Tab Pro range, this strategy has finally yielded a brilliant tablet in the shape of this Super AMOLED-shod Tab S duo.
Available in both 8.4- and 10.5-inch screen sizes, Samsung has taken the best of its OS and technology ability, fused them with the best display on a tablet and created something pretty special.
The battery life is great, the screen has to be seen to be believed (and is excellent for media and internet viewing, which is really the point of a tablet) and the price is on a par with the rest of the industry. Well done, Samsung.
Quick verdict
Why isn't the Tab S at the top of the tree? Samsung's eternal problem returns to bite it: the design is still too flimsy, although having two sizes does help mitigate this problem.
Android still struggles to be a truly powerful tablet OS yet as well, which means the apps are still poor compared to iOS on larger screens.
The difference between the Tab S and the Xperia Z2 Tablet is minimal – it really comes down to design and extra features, but if you're not wedded to the idea of owning an Apple tablet these two are the choices you should be looking at.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S reviewNumber 1: iPad Air 21. iPad Air 2
The iPad Air was an incredible achievement and yet somehow, remarkably, Apple has topped it with the iPad Air 2.
It's even thinner and lighter than last time around and to a noticeable extent. The screen is better, with more vibrant colors, it's more powerful thanks to its A8X processor and the battery life holds up just as well. It even benefits from Touch ID and Apple Pay and while these features aren't as exciting here as they are on phones they're still nice to have.
In short the iPad Air 2 really is the complete package and while you can always find things to niggle about there are no significant flaws.
In the time since the original iPad Air launched everything else is still struggling to match it and yet Apple has managed to raise the benchmark higher still. Everyone else really has their work cut out if the iPad Air 2 is going to be unseated from the number one spot.
Quick verdict
The iPad Air 2 is a spectacular achievement. Faster, better looking and more feature packed than ever, it's the slate to beat and we suspect it will be for a while yet.
With a starting price of $500 it's moderately expensive, especially since you'll really to want to spend more and get a larger storage size to get the most out of it, but it's worth every penny.
iPad Air 2 reviewAlso considerMicrosoft Surface Pro 3
Microsoft has positioned its Surface Pro 3 as a "MacBook-killer" more than a tablet, but it's really a laptop-tablet hybrid that deserves recognition here as well as the best laptops list.
While we said tablets maximize the mobile experience, most aren't true laptop replacements. Microsoft's entry fills both rolls, and for the most part it's up for the task.
Surface Pro 3 has a whole lot of power, an impressive display and a useful Type Cover for when you need to get some serious work done. It's got the muscle to compete with the best ultrabooks and the portability and ease of use to be an iPad Air 2 alternative.
It's not perfect. The battery life is seriously weak by tablet standards and it's a pricey bit of kit, but if you really want one device to fill both roles then this is the best option out there.
Quick verdict
The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is an impressively powerful and versatile device. There's a sense that it's a jack of all trades, master of none, but it's the best hybrid around and that's reason enough to consider it if you don't want or can't afford both a tablet and an Ultrabook.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1
Samsung is no stranger to tablets, in fact the South Korean giant has flooded the market with more slates than we know what to do with and the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 is arguably the best of them.
It's clad in slightly underwhelming plastic like most Samsung devices, which is a bit of a shame given what a high end machine the Tab Pro 10.1 is, but once you experience its tremendous power and amazing screen it's a disappointment which quickly slips away.
In fact there's very little else to dislike about it. This is a top tier slate through and through and it's versatile enough to comfortably be used for work or play.
Quick verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 might not have the premium build of the iPad Air or the waterproof credentials of the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet but in most other ways it's just as high end and it slightly undercuts them too.
More: Best tablet apps
As with today's best smartphones, applications play a big role on tablets – once you've decided which of these tablets if right for you, check out our top app lists so you can get your fill of Temple Run, update your friends on Facebook and read the latest news, all on a bigger screen.
Top 245 best Android appsTop 265 best iPad apps
Read more on this >> Tecspot Media Blog
Original source: Updated: Best tablet for 2015: our top 10 ranking.
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