The history of tablet computing began in 1956 but only picked up in earnest over the last decade. Not all tablets are created equal. Some lower cost tablets are prone to freezing and still, others won't run certain apps, especially games. If you're just looking to browse the web and social media then any tablet would work, but if you want to play games that's a whole different ballpark.
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There are very few tablets that have the support and capability to run high-end games such as Grand Theft Auto but there are a lot of other great games out there that have been optimized for tablets. Our review of the best gaming tablets is not limited to just Android-based tablets, although android based tablets are best suited to mobile games, we also include other major operating systems like Apple's iOS and Microsoft's Windows. Without further ado let's move on to our top picks.
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The iPad Pro is the most powerful iPad ever created. It’s as if Steve Jobs rose from the grave and instructed the company to create the iPad Pro in memoriam to him, as the late Apple Guru always espoused that when it came to the iPad, that bigger is better. Features are abound in this iPad and it can do things that no other iPad can. The downside is the price, you can always buy the cheaper Wi-Fi only model, but it sort of limits the flexibility of the iPad. If you want to play Apple games on-the-go this is the best option.
Samsung has always been at the forefront of Android-based hardware. They were the first to release a tablet based on the Android OS way back in 2010. This brings us to the newest addition to the Samsung Galaxy Tab Family, the Tab A 10.1”. It’s the largest in Samsung’s A range of Tablets where you can expect 10 hours of nonstop gaming on a high resolution 10.1” screen with smooth gameplay thanks to the Octa-Core processor. You can even connect to any Samsung Smart TV to bring your games to the big screen.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7 is the newest and smallest Samsung Tablet to enter our list. Despite its smaller size, this is still one of the best Android gaming tablets on the market today. The 7-inch high-resolution display is still capable of playing games with clarity. It sports a 1.5 GHz Quad Core processor, slightly faster than the older Tab A 8, 8GB of onboard storage upgradable to 200GB via SD card and support for both Wi-Fi and Cell (4G). The smaller size also means it’s also easier to bring around with you.
The Yoga is another Windows-based tablet that made our list. At 10.1 inches, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and with an Atom Quad Core 2.4GHZ processor, it is slightly smaller and less powerful than the Surface Pro we reviewed beforehand. It’s still capable of playing most PC games, bar the highest specifications ones.
Just like the Surface Pro, the Yoga Book can transform into a laptop and allows the use of a keyboard and mouse for PC games. If you need a slightly smaller and cheaper Windows tablet which can play PC games, this is the one you should go for.
The Huawei Media Pad M2 Premium with 64GB of internal storage and 3 GB RAM is their top of the line Android tablet. The Quad Core 2.0GHZ Cortex A53 processor allows you to play games smoothly on the 10-inch HD screen while the high capacity Li-Po 6660 mAh battery offers longer gaming times. This tab also supports both Wi-Fi and Cell (4G). If you want something different, check out the M2!
Acer is a well-known Taiwan-based brand in the computer industry. So far, their Android offerings have been a mixed bag but the Iconia One 10 might just change things. Their expertise in manufacturing shows, as all the components gel smoothly to provide a superior gaming experience on-the-move in a package weighing less than 500 grams.
The Iconia sports a 10.1-inch HD display with IPS, Quad Core A35 1.3GHZ processor, 2GB of fast DDR3L RAM and 32GB eMMC. It runs on the newest version of Android 7.0 and may just give the other big brands a run for their money.
If you want a slightly smaller Android Tab but with enough power to play the latest Android games, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 is the best. Slightly less powerful than its larger sibling, the A 10.1 but still powerful nonetheless. Boasting a quad-core 1.4ghz processor and 8-inch high-resolution display, games still look good on this tab. Prices have dropped since the Tab A 8.0 was introduced in late 2017 so you can save a little bit to buy extra gaming peripherals if you choose this.
As we mentioned before, very few tablets have the capability to play high specifications PC games. The Microsoft Surface Pro is one of those few. This tablet is a full-featured Windows 10 computer with a high definition 12.3-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Intel HD Graphics and powerful Intel i5 Core processor. The model reviewed here is the 128GB storage version with 4GB RAM, but you can add on up to 1TB of storage space and RAM.
The Surface Pro transforms into a full-featured laptop by opening the kickstand and adding a keyboard and mouse to allow you to play games other tablets simply can’t play. If want the flexibility of a tablet and can’t give up PC games, this is one of the best options.
Disclaimer: The pricing shown is just a good indication of how much these products are worth. The prices could change based on the e-commerce promotions that are going on. If some of the products are not available, do email us at [email protected]. Thank you!
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