It’s tough to choose the best tablets of 2015 out of everything that is on the market, but we've tried our best to give you our top picks:
Apple iPad Air 2
It’s even thinner and noticeably lighter than last time Apple introduced a new product to the 'Air' series. It hosts great power with the A8X processor, enabling great speed quality and battery life. The screen has been improved and viewing content has never been so good with the improved vibrant colours.
Of course, just like the smart phones Apple offer, there is also the benefit to have features such as Touch ID and Apple Pay. iPad Air 2 is the complete package for a tablet - if you’re not 'anti-Apple' that is! You can almost always find a fault in devices, but with the iPad Air 2 there are no significant flaws.
Since releasing the original iPad Air, everything else is still struggling to match it and yet Apple have raised the benchmark once again. Technology is forever changing but Apple are definitely ahead of the game.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Personal view: Being a user of the Apple smart phone operating systems for almost 8 years it would be best suited to stick with a device I would know and love, especially with the ability to connect to other Apple devices and again it is the best tablet on the market at the moment which is a huge bonus.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2
The tablet industry is very competitive and it’s well known that Android tablets are always pitted against Apple. Samsung have shifted a lot of effort into making a great iPad rival by releasing the Galaxy Tab S2. There was a strategy to getting there, with Samsung putting the Galaxy Tab Pro out on the market in the beginning of 2014 and then replacing it a few months later with the Galaxy Tab S; they have been able to gain a lot of experience in how to get the best out of their tablets.
But the strategy finally yielded a brilliant tablet with super AMOLED screen tech. The battery life on the Galaxy Tab S2 is fantastic and its available in 9.7” and 8” inch screen sizes which is a great variety to offer. Samsung have never been short in their ability of creating great technology and operating systems and this year they fused all these abilities together to deliver the best display you can find on a tablet.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Personal View: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is one of the biggest rivals for the iPad Air 2 and is offered in two different sizes which is beneficial as I think the 8” size is great to hold.
Samsung have proven themselves with technology and reliability of their products.
As mentioned, the tab S2 has a great display so with a passion for photography and movies I would definitely consider this tablet.
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Another great rival to the iPad, the Xperia Z4 offers better qualities than any of their previous range. The Brilliant 2k display provides breath-taking sharp detail and the screen can be adjusted brighter than any Sony tab series before it. The Live colour LED technology also allows natural colours.
A great aspect of the Z4 is the speed; a Qualcomm Snapdragon offers 50% faster speed than any of its previous processors. Another of the biggest talking points in the Sony Xperia series is the waterproof and dust tight feature, a real WOW factor in tablet technology.
Sony is well known in the world of sound quality and the Z4 also offers crystal clear sound for all your music. One of the most awesome features of the Z4 is the remote play option for those who have a PlayStation 4; for example, if your partner is watching TV and you want to play some games, you can use your PS4 DualShock controller and play straight from the tablet.
Finally, another feature worth mentioning is the one touch connectivity - you can mirror your screen to a WiFi enabled TV! There really are so many features on the Sony Xperia Z4 which is why it is a big competitor on the tablet market.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Personal view: I have always been fascinated by the waterproof tech that Sony offer. Though to put a tablet under a tap is surely a fairly daring process. I think I would avoid doing that and stick with options like remote play for PlayStation 4; on a brilliant 2K display that can be used anywhere in the house.
Sony products are brilliant and very reliable which would make this a top choice.
Google Nexus 9
The best yet from Google, which offers a soft grip back and subtle curves. The Nexus 9 tablet strikes a slim profile that’s light and comfortable for work and play. It has a high construction with a thin bezel, brushed metal sides, clean lines and unique colours; the Nexus 9 tablet is sleek and sturdy.
It is available in an 8.9” display with 16GB or 32GB capacity and a 64bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor which allows you to do a lot at once without things slowing down. There are dual front-facing HTC BoomSound speakers which offer crisp, clear sound.
On top of all of this, the screen is made from Gorilla Glass 3, which is robust yet responsive for peace of mind when using the Nexus on the move. The Nexus 9 is a great rival to other tablets on the market which puts it on our list for top choice tablets of 2015.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Personal view: Just like many smart phones and tablets the Nexus 9 is protected with Gorilla Glass, which is great for peace of mind as there is less likely to be any scratches.
Designed with front facing speakers, as this offers the device to send the sound of your music and movies to your ears; much better than if the speakers were placed underneath like most tablets are.
The 32 GB version is the most likely choice as 16 GB is just not enough for a tablet.
Compared to a lot of tablets the Nexus 9 is available at a great price which makes this one of the best choices.
iPad Mini 3
The iPad Mini range is still great, offering the best of the iPad but sized down into a smaller device. The iPad Mini 2 was a great success and there isn’t much difference when looking at the newer model.
The iPad Mini 3 is slightly ahead of its predecessor, with Apple adding the Touch ID fingerprint sensor (which allows you to unlock your iPad with just the touch of a finger!). They've also created a stylish new gold version, and the Mini 3 generally works better with Apple's new operating system for smart phones and tablets; iOS 9. If you look at the overall speed and compact size, it is a very good combination, even at the higher price.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Personal View: Just like the iPad air 2 I think the mini 3 is a great option, the size is great for taking it everywhere you go, I vision myself traveling on a plane to go on holiday and the mini 3 being a huge benefit as it would be lighter and easier to carry and therefore can watch my movies, play games and read during the long journey.
I believe out of all the tablets mentioned in this article I’m taken by the mini 3 and would therefore make this my top choice purely because of the size and ease of the device.
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