5 best Android tablets in the world

If f you're looking for a tablet and don't fancy 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 with Windows 8 tablets such as the Surface 2, Ativ Tab and VivoTab Smart continuing to creep out - but Android Jelly Bean is currently the main rival to the iOS 7 toting iPad 4 and iPad mini.

Are you wondering what the iPad rival to the new Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HD is like?

Some Android tablets have 10-inch screens, others seven, and some land somewhere in between. There are big differences in battery life, processing power and onboard RAM.
So while we wait for the likes of the Tesco Hudl, LG G Pad 8.3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) to be put through our in-depth review process let's see what the current best tablets are...

5. Archos 80 Titanium

The overall styling of the Archos 80 Titanium is quite some achievement, and its bountiful connectivity is excellent. It performs all of the core tasks of a tablet efficiently and the build quality is as good as anything on the market.
And the price? Well, £150 is so low that we're not convinced the Archos 80 Titanium shouldn't be bought in multiples.
A poor battery and even worse camera hampers its attractiveness to anyone wanting a tablet on the move, while the occasional freeze-ups will also annoy.

Quick verdict

In many areas the Archos 80 Titanium out-performs its heftily priced rival to the extent that anyone thinking of purchasing a small tablet should seriously consider whether spending more than this is really necessary.
And that is quite some achievement; bravo to Archos and its great-looking, awesome value 8-inch Titanium tablet.

4. Nook HD+

he Nook HD+ is now seriously worthy of your consideration as a budget full-sized tablet.
At just £179 for the 16GB version this 9-inch slate matches the price of its closest competitor, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9, while offering the same performance, a slightly superior display, expandable storage and - crucially - access to the Google Play Store.
What brings the Nook HD+ down is the fact it isn't a particularly pretty tablet to look at. Its bulging bezel makes it look like a much sleeker tablet has been slipped into a cheap case.

Quick verdict

The Nook HD+ has carved out a niche for itself as an ultra-affordable full-sized tablet. Its custom UI is clunky, its own media store is a bit of a write-off, and it won't win any awards for its looks. But for HD multimedia kicks on a budget, there aren't many better-value alternatives out there.

3. Amazon Kindle Fire HD

What's better than a modern tablet with a quad core processor? One that costs just £129 (without ads).
Coming in at 16GB and 32GB flavours, the Kindle Fire HD brings the simplicity of the e-book range to the tablet arena, with dedicated space to access your movies, games, apps and music too.
It's a little simplistic for some, but for others it's the perfect mix of curated content and easy to use interface - and despite the price, it's got a decent build quality too.

Quick Verdict

A new, lower price makes the Amazon Kindle Fire HD an even more attractive proposition and if you want a small tablet which doesn't have the confusing stock Android overlay look no further.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

Movie playback on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is decent, with the large 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 screen doing feature films justice and the front facing speakers delivering sound directly at you instead of behind the tablet.
Even though the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 only comes as a 16GB option, the inclusion of a microSD card slot on top of the tablet will keep the majority happy.

Quick verdict

As far as middle of the road Android tablets go, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 hits the nail on the head.
It's doesn't stray too far from the norm, failing to offer anything truly exciting or different, but also ensuring it doesn't fall flat on its face. However, we're loving the recent price drop, meaning we're happy to boost the score on a tablet that brings rich power on top of the latest version of Android for under £240.

1. Asus FonePad

It may be almost identical to the old Nexus 7 when in comes to looks, but the FonePad has a few trump cards including a great price, microSD slot and 3G connectivity which not only allows you to get online but also send/receive phone calls and text messages.
The Jelly Bean interface isn't quite as slick (it's dual-core, not quad-core) and while the call function is cool, it's also a little impractical on a device this size. That said pair it up with a Bluetooth headset and you might as well turf your smartphone out.

Quick verdict

The Asus FonePad is an accomplished Android tablet and offers amazing value-for-money. If you're not planning on spending a fortune, but still want a tablet with a wide choice of apps and features then you could do a lot worse than picking up this one in particular.