Out in the market to find the best tablet for gaming running Android OS to get in on the highflying action? Here’s a quick buyer’s guide on which Android tablets are best suited to satisfy the gamer in you.
The inception of the Android came out of the dire need to bring about a mobile operating system that could keep up with the technological revolution. Ever since Google has taken Android OS under its wing, the mobile platform has evolved into something that has redefined the way we communicate with our loved ones all over the world. In addition to reshaping the communication industry, Android has been incremental in connecting mobile devices with the gaming industry.
The earliest mobile devices did cater to the gamer inside all of us users, by bringing the most basic 8-Bit games. After all, who doesn’t remember playing Snake II on the legendary Nokia 3310? But ever since Android OS, in combination with the high-end processing hardware that mobile device comes packed with today, users can enjoy graphics-intensive gaming on a portable machine like never before. The growing popularity of portable gaming has compelled the biggest names in the gaming industry to funnel millions into developing mobile-specific game titles, and the investments have mostly paid off.
Best Tablet for gaming – Big screen gaming
Owing to the massive success of game titles such as PUBG and Grand Theft Auto on mobile devices, there are millions of mobile gamers active each day on Android devices. Ever since mobile screens have become larger, the graphics-intensive gaming experience has improved tremendously. However, when it comes to enjoying the best game titles on a larger screen, while still enjoying portability, nothing comes close to the experience on an Android tablet.
Albeit the popularity of Android tablets or tablets, in general, has been dwindling for a few years now, with sales dropping to a record low each year. Despite the lower number of offers available this year, there are a handful of Android OEM brands that continue to stand by large-screen tablets. We’ve handpicked the offering available in the market right now to help you choose the best tablet for gaming and multimedia entertainment, so you can have a surreal gaming experience on the big screen, even when you’re on the go.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Specs:
- CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
- Display – 5-inch Super AMOLED display (2560 x 1600)
- Battery – 6,840mAh
- RAM – 6GB
- Storage – 128GB (Expandable up to 1TB)
- Camera – 13MP+5MP rear + 8MP front
- Operating System – Android 9 Pie
Google may have raised the white flag in front of Apple over the tablet war, but Samsung is holding down the fort for Android with the Galaxy Tab series. Keeping the dream of premium Android tablets alive, the Galaxy Tab S6 is possibly the most overpowered Android tablet of 2019, hitting the top spot on the specs sheet all over. From the premium quality build materials used for crafting, to the versatile accessories included for business use – the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 hits all the right spots.
Drawing focus on the gaming aspects of this oversized beast, you get a fantastic AMOLED display with QHD resolution for an immersive gaming experience. With the latest Snapdragon 855 processor and 6GB of RAM under the hood, you will be able to enjoy a buttery smooth experience while gaming, no matter how demanding the game title may be. Thanks to the support for Samsung DeX Mode, you can hook up the device to any computer monitor and create a full-blown PC-style gaming experience at any time.
Pros:
- Blazing fast performance, thanks to the top-end processor and plenty of RAM to keep games running smoothly at all times.
- A powerful speaker system and a high-quality front and rear camera are a great addition to a social gaming experience.
- Integrated S Pen and the BookCover with its integrated touchpad offer an almost laptop-style experience, which is great for use in the work environment.
Cons:
- Missing headphone jack means that either need to connect wireless headphones to keep the single USB Type-C port free for charging.
Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro
Specs:
- CPU – HiSilicon Kirin 960
- Display – 8-inch IPS LED (2560 x 1600)
- Battery – 7500mAh
- RAM – 4GB
- Storage – 64GB (Expandable up to 256GB)
- Camera – 13MP rear + 8MP front
- Operating System – EMUI 8.0 (Android 8.0 Oreo)
The Chinese tech giant may have fallen out of favor among the top markets such as the United States and Europe due to its deep ties with the Chinese government, but it hasn’t stopped its growth in the Asian markets. Keeping one foot deeply rooted in the Android tablet market, Huawei has released a follow-up of its flagship tablet series in the form of the MediaPad M5 Pro. With no attention to detail spared in terms of build quality and hardware, it still manages to be a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than its closest competitor.
In comparison to the slim bezels and sleek design of the Galaxy Tab S6, the MediaPad M5 Pro looks dated with the regular bezels with no design changes over the years. Under the hood, the tablet is rocking the latest Kirin 960 octa-core processor, which is paired with the ARM Mali-G71 MP8 GPU to keep you surfing easily through the most action-packed game titles. The MediaPad M5 Pro has the largest display with support for 2K resolution, which adds to the reason why it is among the best gaming tablet list everywhere.
Pros:
- Premium metal unibody along with high-end hardware makes it one of the best tablets on the market today for its price.
- Quad-speaker system in addition to a 2K IPS LED display make the tablet ideal for multimedia consumption.
- Digital Stylus comes included with the device which offers better usability.
Cons:
- The Kirin 960 SoC is good for gaming but suffers from throttling issues under heavy load.
- Missing a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Buy the Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e
Specs:
- CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
- Display – 5-inch Super AMOLED display (2560 x 1600)
- Battery – 7,040mAh
- RAM – 4GB
- Storage – 64GB (Expandable up to 512 GB)
- Camera – 13MP rear + 8MP front
- Operating System – Android 9 Pie
The fact that you have two Samsung Galaxy Tab series devices on the list for the best gaming tablet is a clear indicator of how the South Korean giant is singlehandedly filling up the Android tablet space. Unlike the topper on this list, the Galaxy Tab S5e does not cost a premium, and without making any compromises on the build quality or the hardware fitted into it, you get a tablet that can take on most gaming titles and look good while doing so.
Sporting the identical Super AMOLED display with a 2K resolution, you will always enjoy crisp and vivid colors, whether you’re running to the safe zone in Fortnite, or watching HDR content on Netflix. Although the Snapdragon 670 is not as high-powered as the SD 855 SoC on the Galaxy Tab S6, you will hardly feel the device lagging behind, as we noticed when putting the device under an intense stress test over hours of gameplay.
Pros:
- Lower price point with a very little compromise on the hardware specs makes this the perfect budget gaming tablet.
- Dolby Atmos speakers, an AMOLED 2k display, and a powerful battery add up to a pleasant multimedia experience.
- Additional feature support with Samsung DeX and fast Wi-Fi connectivity make it a great networking device too.
Cons:
- The camera quality is average at best.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e
Lenovo Tab 4 10 Plus
Specs:
- CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
- Display – 1-inch Full-HD display (1920 x 1200)
- Battery – 7000mAh
- RAM – 4GB
- Storage – 64GB (Expandable up to 256GB)
- Camera – 8MP rear + 5MP front
- Operating System – Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Despite the fact that Android tablets have been on the downfall for a few years now, Lenovo continues to dominate what is left of the tablet market, especially in the budget tablet space. The mid-range tablet may not pack the latest processor or even the latest version of Android OS, but when your purchase is dictated by budgetary restrictions, there aren’t other tablets out there that offer the quality of gaming experience that the Lenovo Tab 4 Plus does.
Instead of being built out of aluminum like the premium tablets out there, Lenovo still manages to give its affordable tablet a classy look with the rear glass panel with a glossy finish. In terms of processing power, the Snapdragon processor is not going to rocket you to the moon, but since the display is Full-HD and not 2K or 4K, there are fewer pixels to push. Priced less than half of the best tablet for gaming on the list, the Tab 4 10 Plus offers exceptional value for money.
Pros:
- The affordable price tag is completely masked by the stylish and high-quality all-glass design, with features such as fingerprint sensor included as well.
- The IPS LED display offers great viewing angles and fantastic response time, which makes for an enjoyable gaming experience.
- Even under heavy usage, the glass chassis of the tablet helps keep it cool at all times.
Cons:
- The gaming performance on the Tab 4 10 Plus was found to be mediocre, with the Snapdragon 625 unsuitable for severely graphic-intensive games on full graphics settings.
Final Words
Ever since gaming became a mainstream phenomenon, mobile manufacturers have been trying to find a way to connect the world of portability and high-graphics games. While the early attempts by brands like Nokia in the form of the N-Gage series set off a few sparks, it could never create a fire, until Android and iOS came along. The billion-dollar gaming industry is starting to shift its attention towards the mobile market, and this time, the gaming revolution is here to stay.
The perfect combination of the big screen visual entertainment that gamers enjoy, while being able to make the whole experience portable, is what the best gaming tablet must offer. With the Android OS powered tablets that we have listed above, you can unleash the beast within and get your daily dose of adrenaline from high-speed racing, to all-out battle royale fights with other players online. Be sure to mention which of these top-of-the-line tablets are you going to put your hands on for a phenomenal mobile gaming experience.