Android Tablet: Android Tablet Reviews

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Android Tablet Reviews

Android tablets had a rocky start, but as Google continues to refine its mobile operating system, we're finally seeing a steady flow of high-quality Android tablets. And that's a good thing, since they provide viable alternatives to the Apple iPad, which has dominated the tablet market since its first release in early 2010. One of the major benefits of Android over the iPad and the never-quite-caught-on BlackBerry PlayBook, is that instead of a single hardware choice, you can access the OS on a number of tablets in different sizes with varied designs.

The only hitch there: There isn't a single version of Android. At Google's last I/O developer conference, the company unveiled Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), which adds so many valuable improvements that it's our Editors' Choice for mobile operating systems. It's the best Android yet, but you can only get it on Google's own Nexus 7 tablet. Admittedly, the Nexus 7 is the best small-screen tablet we've ever tested with high-quality hardware, top performance, and a very affordable $200 price. But there's no word as to when Android 4.1 will be available on other tablets, or whether tablets currently running 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will be upgraded to 4.1. Android has notorious problems with timely OS updates.

Still, even if you don't have the latest OS iteration—or an Android variation à la Amazon Kindle Fire—Android continues to be the most configurable tablet operating system you’ll find. It's a master multitasker with an excellent notification system, and top-notch integration with Google services like Gmail, Google Chat, and Google Maps. There still aren't as many tablet-specific apps as you'll find for the iPad, but slowly, that's changing.