TechJunkie Expert Recommendations
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It’s never been easy to shop for an Android tablet, and with Apple’s entry-level iPad ruling the market, it’s more complicated than ever. It’s hard to justify spending a sizeable sum for an Android tablet when iOS has so many exclusive apps, not to mention the incredible library of cases, chargers, and many more accessories that makes the Apple ecosystem so appealing. We at TechJunkie believe that people should cut Android tablets some slack because many are actually excellent to use. Brands like Samsung, Amazon, and Lenovo create tablets that come with different innovative features that make everyone’s lives easier. Tablets are great devices to use around the house, and with many of us spending more time at home, being able to switch away from your laptop during leisure time is a must. Android tablets have been evolving specs-wise over the years, and some models can even go head to head with tablets from Apple. Not everyone is an Apple fanatic, so it’s not surprising that some people would prefer to invest in Android tablets. Looking through the different options on the market can be a hassle, but today is your lucky day because we’re here to show you the best Android tablets on the market in 2022.
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the most premium tablet Samsung has to offer in 2022. It features a large 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display that’s fantastic for browsing social media and watching movies. The tablet comes with Samsung’s S Pen, so you will enjoy drawing, sketching, or taking notes with close to no latency. You shouldn’t worry about losing the S Pen since it can magnetically snap to the back of the tablet. The device looks sleek and modern, and its Armor Aluminum casing adds much-needed durability. Users can expect a snappy and responsive performance because of the device’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and 16GB RAM. It comes with an internal storage capacity of 512GB, which is more than enough for many people, but you also have the option to expand its storage to up to 1TB using a microSD card. The tablet supports Wi-Fi 6, so you can expect the best network experience possible. Its Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity ensures you can connect to your external devices smoothly. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a 13MP wide camera, a 6MP ultra-wide camera at the back, and 12MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide cameras in front. You can use the device to take high-quality footage because it can record 4K video at 60 fps. For those who regularly hop on video calls, you will love the tablet’s Auto Framing feature that keeps you in the center and will even zoom out when you have friends enter the frame. Multitaskers will also love this device because its multi-window toggle can automatically arrange your different opened apps on your screen. This tablet isn’t only for those who work all day because its 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support make it appealing to gamers as well. If there were an area it needs to improve on, it would be its battery life because using the 120Hz refresh rate only leaves you with 6.5 hours of usage per charge. Using the Standard refresh rate, you can get up to 8 hours of playtime. Those with other Samsung gadgets will maximize the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra’s use since you can synchronize all of them and switch between them seamlessly whenever you’d like.
If you like a premium Samsung tablet for a less expensive price tag, you might want to get one of its predecessors: the Galaxy Tab S7+. It’s a high-end tablet initially released in 2020, and the 128GB model would cost you around $850 in 2022. It features a 12.4-inch WQXGA+ Super AMOLED display, and like the S8 Ultra, it features a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+. The device can handle heavy tasks because of its hyperfast Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor. You will only get 6GB RAM on the 128GB model but can expect 8GB RAM if you spend more for the 256GB or 512GB variant. If RAM isn’t too much of an issue for you and you want more storage, you can always use a microSD card to expand your storage. The tablet comes with the S Pen with lower 9ms latency, and you can use it for drawing, writing, or as a remote control. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ has a 13MP wide and 5MP ultra-wide camera, and they can capture 4K footage at 30fps. On the other hand, its 8MP wide selfie camera can only record 1080p videos at 30fps. The device’s audio performance is impressive because it features four stereo speakers tuned by AKG, and you get a Dolby Atmos surround sound experience. The tablet comes with a 10,090mAh battery, and while they say you can get up to 14 hours of continuous video playback per charge, online sources claim that it only lasts around 7 hours and 21 minutes when streaming HD content at full brightness when using Wi-Fi.
The Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 is a unique tablet because it comes with a built-in stainless-steel kickstand that allows you to make the tablet stand on your table on its own. Users will love watching movies or random videos on the tablet because of its large 13-inch (2160 x 1350) IPS display with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support. The device is snappy yet power-efficient because of its Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor. While most tablets come with a single USB Type-C port, the Yoga Tab 13 is a standout because, aside from a Type-C port, you also get a micro HDMI port. This allows you to use it as an extra screen for your laptop. The tablet comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, and it, unfortunately, doesn’t have a microSD slot, so you can’t expand its storage. You also don’t get a rear camera, but it has an 8MP selfie camera that can record 1080p video at 30fps. The device features quad speakers, and since they’re tuned by JBL, it delivers an outstanding audio experience. The Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 might not have a fingerprint sensor, but its front camera features face recognition. Its battery life is decent because you get around 12 hours of video playback on 30–40% brightness. Maxing out the device’s brightness when streaming brings your battery life to less than 10 hours per charge. The tablet is undoubtedly future-proof since it already supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a superb choice for those with a tight budget. The base model of this tablet would only cost you $229.99 when bought from Samsung, but you can find great deals on Amazon. Its processor delivers a decent performance for its price, and its 10.5-inch LCD screen is enough for basic work-related tasks, streaming, or browsing. It features a metal body that looks premium, so people around you can’t tell that you have an entry-level device. The 32GB model will save you the most cash, but you can also get the tablet in a 64GB or 128GB variant. There’s no problem getting the most basic option since users can conveniently expand the storage using a microSD card, but you’ll have to settle for having only 3GB RAM. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes with an 8MP primary camera and 5MP front-facing camera, but you shouldn’t expect too much when it comes to quality and performance. Its camera can only record videos at a maximum resolution of 1080p at 30 fps. Similar to other Galaxy Tabs, the device comes with quad speakers with Dolby Atmos tuning. The tablet doesn’t disappoint with its battery life because you’ll get around 8 hours and 49 minutes of usage on a single charge. The device supports 15W charging, but many say it’s too slow. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is available in Pink Gold, Silver, and Dark Gray.
Lenovo also has its fair share of budget-friendly tablets, and its Lenovo Tab P11 Plus is a bang for the buck. For about $210, you get an 11-inch tablet with a 2K TDDI IPS display. Users can expect a decent performance from the tablet because of its MediaTek Helio G90T Tab Octa-Core processor. Sadly, it only has 4GB RAM, so it might not be the best option if you need the tablet for a heavy workload or regular multitasking. The tablet has 128GB of internal storage, and you can quickly expand it using a microSD card. Like most tablets, the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus comes with cameras. It has a 13MP wide camera and an 8MP selfie camera, but its quality is disappointing because you can only record 1080p video at 30 fps. What’s handy about the front-facing camera is that it allows you to unlock the device using Face Unlock. You will mainly enjoy this tablet if you only plan to use it for browsing through social media or watching your favorite movie/show. The device comes with quad speakers with Dolby Atmos capabilities. In terms of battery life, the tablet will last you almost eight hours on a single charge.
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