The best 8 inch tablet Brief description of touch devices

If you decide to buy a tablet for yourself, then today we will tell you what you need to pay attention to when buying at the beginning of 2014, which specifications worth considering and which ones are not. In general - about everything you need, and nothing more.

A tablet today is a gadget that almost everyone has, and those who do not have it want to have it. Is it necessary, that is the question?

Today, the main purpose of the tablet is related to entertainment: this word includes movies, videos, e-books (in any form - from reading html on the site to specialized file formats), surfing the Internet and, of course, a wide variety of games. Sometimes it is possible to draw normally on the tablet screen, especially if the tablet is specially designed with this possibility in mind - for example, samsung galaxy Note with stylus.

Every year the choice of a tablet is getting more and more difficult.

A tablet is usually very conditionally suitable for creating content. That is, on it you can, for example, record a video for YouTube using the front or rear camera or a post in social network which many people use. But it can still be attributed to the same entertainment. Therefore, formally, a tablet cannot be attributed to a device for creating content, and even more so to an essential item.

Let's start by choosing an operating system.

Part 1. Operating systems

For work, tablets can offer a choice of three operating systems: Apple iOS, Google Android and Windows (not Phone, but also RT). The choice of a particular system is determined by the applications in which you work, the ecosystem and convenience - for you personally.

iOS

To understand this operating system, it is enough to be aware of what kind of devices Apple offers. And their main advantages are simplicity and intuitive understanding of the interface. In fact, both the general ideology and the implementation of these are very similar in iOS and Android: that is, the user sees the main screen with application shortcuts and four constantly used icons at the bottom. But in the case of iOS devices (that is, the iPad and its varieties), the principle “turned on and works” applies. That is, the iPad is more suitable for those who do not want to understand and dig into anything, and who just want a working device from the very first minute. At the same time, we recall that you do not have to have a Macintosh computer: synchronization can also occur with computers running Windows.

We say iOS - we mean iPad

There are far more apps released for iOS than for Android, so if you like downloading and installing something new (whatever the area), take a closer look at the iPad.

In summary, buying an iOS tablet (i.e. iPad) only makes sense if you basically love Apple devices, or want something simple, and don't want to have Windows on all the big electronic devices. In all other cases, there is a choice.

Android

The Google Android operating system is preinstalled on the vast majority of tablets sold today. The most popular version today is 4.1 / 4.2 Jelly Bean (and the most modern one is 4.4.2 KitKat), but you can also find the third one, Honeycomb, and the cheapest versions of the second one are found, but this is already rare - except perhaps in used sector. In fact, there are not so many differences between these two versions, it all comes down by and large to the correction of many annoying errors.

What is good about Android OS? First of all, flexibility and scalability. The main window can be presented as several screens, usually from four to seven, and each screen can contain several icons or scalable widgets of certain applications. In the online store Google Play Store you will find more than 700 thousand applications for every taste (and this is the official figure), both paid and free. Practice shows that most of the user's needs (80 percent) are more than covered by free programs, and paid ones are more likely to be either highly specialized, or they are just serious and fancy, or they are generally licensed games.

Many useful things are preinstalled in the OS itself: for example, a GPS navigator based on Google Maps. Or Google Voice Search, which is used for both voice search and the same typing. In general, listing only those built into any OS android applications will take more than one line (and the description and more than one page). In addition, the manufacturers of "tablets" themselves add their own utilities and shells. And if not, you can always download some free one. Of the free ones, MIUI, CyanogenMod and LEWA OS are the most respected, but in general it’s better not to rack your brains: if a eminent manufacturer (like Sony or Samsung) has implemented its own shell, then use it - everything is already debugged and working.

Google itself does not make tablets, but actively helps

The main drawback of this operating system lies in its ill-conceived work with RAM (until now). And this drawback flows smoothly from version to version, sometimes becoming a very annoying hindrance. It consists in the fact that applications that do not know how to unload themselves after finishing working with them accumulate in RAM until the device stops working normally and starts to noticeably slow down. If the RAM is less than 1 GB, then it feels very fast. Until recently, easy getting rid of unnecessary applications in RAM was available only through some shells and special programs, today Android allows you to do this by default - but the system itself has remained the same. Today, even the presence of a large amount of RAM - more than 1 GB - no longer helps. Because Android has a unique ability to eat more and more memory from version to version. And, unfortunately, there is no getting away from it.

Windows 8

As the name implies, this operating system largely duplicates that for conventional computers, but, of course, it is tailored specifically for tablets, taking into account the features of these devices. Actually, it was originally designed taking into account finger control, that is, for touch displays.

User interaction with this OS is carried out through "live icons" - squares on the desktop, where each can contain one of the many functions. It can be either a simple shortcut to a specific application, or a link to a character from the contact list, to a photo, to a web page, etc., be a widget, dynamic or static, and change its size.

The list of applications is located on the right side of the screen as a list in alphabetical order (by default), regardless of whether they are pre-installed or added by the user (and in the shell from LG for Android, for example, downloaded applications are displayed as a separate list).

Windows 8 is a serious OS for serious tablets

One of the main advantages of this OS is that it is Windows on the appropriate platform and with all the consequences. Including more decent (compared to Android) work with RAM, and a set of applications that is compatible with the desktop version of Windows. There are other advantages that any user living under Windows can find for himself.

If you choose a "pill" on this operating system, then you need to be aware that, firstly, it will be more expensive than Android, and secondly, compatibility with a desktop PC (if it's not an Apple Macintosh) will be orders of magnitude higher - and that is why these devices are a tasty morsel .

Part 2. Characterizing the tablet

Before proceeding to the technical specifications directly, let's talk about the screen size. Today, tablets with diagonals of 7-8 and 10 inches (give or take) are common, and a relatively new subspecies has recently appeared - large, 12-inch tablets. It is from such devices that you will have to choose if you do not want something very large 20-inch "kitchen" for yourself.

Keep in mind that a really adequate tablet diagonal is 7, 8 or 10 inches, since these devices are convenient to carry with you. 12-inch are already almost desktop tablets for those who need a large screen area with high resolution. There are still very few of them, and it is unlikely that there will be many.

And if the diagonal figure is even larger (20 inches, say), then this means that you are dealing with a so-called “kitchen” tablet, which is not suitable for mobile work due to its rather large weight. And he usually lives in the kitchen or just on the desktop without unnecessary movement.

The choice of the diagonal of the tablet screen is important like nothing else

Technical specifications are the most important parameter of the tablet after choosing the appropriate ecosystem. And today we will talk about the most important of them in this section, because the performance characteristics can, in principle, be divided into two groups: important and not very important. The important ones include the screen and its resolution, the type of processor and its power, the amount of different types of memory and support for its expansion.

And these general details are true for everyone, regardless of the software platform. And these include, first of all, the main working tool of the tablet - the screen. The most modern and at the same time adequate type of screen matrix today can be called IPS, and the resolution is FullHD (1920x1080), you can already find WQXGA (2560x1600 pixels) in top models. And the difference, of course, is noticeable to the naked eye. But there are also very inexpensive devices with HD - 1280x720 pixels and less. Comfort will be less, but the price will be lower.

As for the processor, there is a simple rule: the more powerful, the better. But with one caveat: a larger number of cores does not mean more power, simply because these cores are not always used. Therefore, in reality, x86 processors from Intel with a single core can easily overtake ARM processors with multiple cores, not only in terms of performance, but also in terms of power savings. In reality, we emphasize, and not in synthetic tests like AnTuTu.

In addition, if you choose a Windows tablet, then its criteria are generally somewhat different, although in particular, for example, in the platform: if for an Android tablet, for example, 2 GB of RAM today can be considered such a good norm (and 3 - and quite well), then for a device based on Windows 8 this is a necessary minimum. Well, the chipsets themselves are different: Windows tablets today are mainly based on the Intel platform, while Android tablets are produced most of all on NVidia Tegra 3 or 4 ARM processors, Samsung Exynos, Qualcomm Snapdragon and so on.

The treasured number will announce the verdict to the processor

A separate question concerns both Intel processors for Android systems and processors with 64-bit instructions. You don’t have to worry about the latter for now, since according to the earliest forecasts, they will go on sale (and we are talking about Intel Bay Trail) at the end of this year, so there is still time. In general, today there are several models of Android tablets on the Intel Clover Trail (Atom Medfield SoC class processor)

Let's also touch on the issue of user memory. It can be either internal (from 8 to 64 GB) or with support for external resources - SDXC / SDHC memory cards, etc. up to 64 GB. Practice shows that today users love 32 GB (total) the most, but it’s better to count on the future with a margin. Of course, it is cheaper to take a large memory card than a tablet with a large amount of internal. But - for data storage. Because the speed of the card will obviously be lower than that of the built-in memory.

The iPad 1 didn't have cameras. Now even a budget tablet cannot afford this.

One last thing to say about the cameras. Almost all tablets today have rear and front cameras, most of them have both. Some models are only one of them (the most budgetary, as a rule), but this is rather an exception. The resolution of the rear camera today reaches 13 MP, and many manufacturers equip it with various additional functions, since the rear cameras are supposed to shoot something (and even Full HD video). But such a medal has back side: holding such a bulky device as a tablet in your hand (especially try it with large diagonals like 12 inches) and trying to take a picture is very inconvenient. The front camera is more useful, it is designed for video communication, but usually it is not paid attention at all, the resolution of this module today does not exceed 2 MP (with rare exceptions), and one can only dream of additional functions.

Part 3. Additional features

An important parameter of not vital, but convenient features is the support of wireless communication protocols. Tablets today can be of two types: only with Wi-Fi, and also with Wi-Fi and a module mobile communications(either 3G or 3G/LTE - the latter is preferable in terms of speed, but not in terms of existing coverage, and not in terms of energy efficiency). The second option involves the use of a SIM card and, accordingly, an additional fee for the Internet, but you will have the latter wherever your mobile operator has coverage.

The factor of using the navigation capabilities of devices also plays a role here, since almost all tablet models are equipped with GPS modules today. But in the absence of a SIM card, their use becomes less convenient. On the other hand, if you have offline maps, then it becomes less noticeable.

In addition, weight is also an important parameter: try the tablet before buying in the conditions in which you will use it, and if it turns out to be too heavy for you, do not think that then its weight will decrease.

Of the additional functions, the stylus can also be noted: but this is more typical of “drawing” tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Note; with others, the pen is not yet very popular. Buying a tablet with a stylus makes sense if you really intend to draw or take handwritten notes.

Well-organized handwriting is a huge help in business and entertainment

In addition, the models last year increasingly produced in accordance with IPX standards for dust and moisture resistance, not to mention impact resistance. Fujitsu's current tablets are famous for this, first of all: with a stylish and modern appearance, you can actually work with them underwater. However, “army tablets” are even cooler.

I must say about the tablets-transformers. Transformers (or hybrids) are called tablets with an integrated or clip-on keyboard (in the latter case, there is also a docking station), in which an additional battery is usually hidden, which increases battery life. These are the two main advantages of such structures, which usually greatly increase the price. However, such tablets are usually considered competitors of ultrabooks, and not "simple" tablets, so we will not dwell on them in detail.

In principle, separate Bluetooth keyboards can be easily connected to the tablet and used like regular, full-fledged QWERTY keyboards. Except in a smaller size.

Conclusion

In general, despite everything, you should choose a tablet according to one single factor: the convenience of a particular model for you personally. Let's say if you like Android and are satisfied with the default shell, you and Nexus are in your hands. If Windows, then a Windows tablet on Intel Atom will do. Be sure to make sure that the power is exactly what you need. A tablet that is too powerful will be expensive if you do not use all its resources all the time. Too low power will ruin your nervous system slow work and greatly constrain the choice of applications.

Well, if you don’t want to think about all this, then, of course, the iPad will help. It is only necessary to think about the size of the internal memory and the presence of a mobile communication unit. Agree, this is less than the processor, operating system, number of applications and all sorts of additional parameters.

What is the best tablet of 2014? Today's trendy tablet PCs are compared to the top-rated models of the past.

Tablets are taking the world by storm. Just a few years ago, they were unknown to most people, but now we have a wide choice that can confuse even the most sophisticated buyer.

The need for choice creates decisions—hard decisions. You will forgo Apple's high price tag, join the Android brigade and find the best alternative iPad? Or will you prefer the best products from Cupertino and become the user of one of the most popular tablets on the planet?

Remember, the new iPad Mini 3 (or iPad Mini Retina 2, to be precise) is about to go on sale, so it's probably worth holding off on buying a new Apple tablet for the next few weeks to take a look at the manufacturer's new offering. Perhaps the new Apple tablets will make the price tags of Android devices fall.

Well, for the most economical, of course: Tesco.

We decided to make it easier for you and collected the top ten best tablets 2014 available today in Russia.

It's a complex process, one might even say prophetic, to allocate space for each of these beautiful tablets, so we take into account several elements, including performance, battery life, screen quality, and more.

Price plays a minor role, as does age: a tablet that gets a replacement with a new model will go down in the rankings, as new opportunities open up to you with a new device.

If none of these ten tablets strike your fancy, head over to the "" section of our website for an in-depth analysis of many other models.

10. iPad Mini

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs famously shrugged off small tablets a few years ago, leading many to believe that Cupertino would never enter the budget tablet market, but this model proved otherwise.

In terms of Apple's tablet market consistency, the Mini's position isn't consistent, as the device still claims the top spot on the list, even though the iPad Mini is no longer the crown jewel of the collection. The throne is taken over by the Google Nexus 7 and its successor.

However, the new iPad Mini 3 is about to hit the market. Don't buy the Mini now, it will soon be out of production. If this is the tablet you want, waiting a little longer will save you money as prices are about to drop.

Brief verdict

When it first hit the market, we dubbed the iPad Mini the best Apple iPad ever made. And while Apple has proven it can do better, this small tablet remains a bargain on a budget, but don't buy it right now.

9. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7

Smaller, meaner and more powerful than its predecessor, Amazon has rocked its Kindle Fire HDX 7 to keep pace with the new Nexus 7.

On paper, one of Amazon's latest 7-inch tablets looks good with a 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a Full HD panel, up to 64GB of internal storage, and a price tag of under $14,000.

In reality, of course, the tablet doesn't live up to the Nexus 7 offering, as it runs a heavily modernized Fire OS 3.0 that strips away much of Android's functionality to bring the manufacturer's services to the fore.

Brief verdict

If you're willing to set it up properly, you'll get a simple and easy-to-use Kindle Fire HDX 7. We'd like to call this a device that you give away to users with less tech savvy, but those devices have simpler hardware.

Whether you have a premium account or significant funds in the Amazon ecosystem, the Kindle Fire HDX 7 is a smart buy. For those who need full functionality, the Nexus 7 is worth a look, and if you have deep pockets, take a look at the iPad Mini 2.

8. LGGPad 8.3

Well, when an Android tablet hits the market in a design like this, it looks like it's time for Samsung to get nervous. Instead of plastic, the tablet gets a beautiful aluminum body, and the ability to connect with other Android smartphones makes it a viable option for a wider range of users.

Some might wonder if the Snapdragon 600 chip isn't too simple for a $150 tablet, but it's enough to run a Korean-branded device smoothly.

Brief verdict

Looking for the best tablet of 2014 in an affordable yet attractive form factor? Well, perhaps. We love the G Pad 8.3, even though it ranks low in our rankings. The tablet's battery life could have been longer, and the design may take some getting used to.

The tablet remains one of the iPad Mini's closest competitors in terms of design. We are not ashamed to pull the tablet out of a thin case.

7. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2

A manufacturer that leaves no market niche unexplored, Samsung, has pushed tablets to new heights with the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2.

Thankfully, that's not all that's changed for the tablet, as the Note Pro 12.2 comes with 3GB of RAM and a quad-core processor that promises powerful performance, while the S Pen becomes a really useful addition to the big, bright screen.

It's the obvious choice for digital artists and anyone who wants a productive device, but the big screen promises a great web and video browsing experience.

On the other hand, the increase in size makes the tablet bulky, and the build quality is lame due to the large case, which is partly offset by the sheer gaming screen area.

Brief verdict

Its large screen and S Pen support make the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 an extremely useful productivity tool - if you're a fan of the Note series, there are quite a few best products on the market and Samsung seems to have convinced the world that its S-Pen is still a go-to solution for fans of modern hardware.

6. Tesco Hudl 2

The first Hudl was good - but the new tablet is much better.

A quad-core Intel Atom processor running on fast four cores, a Full HD screen and a common interface will have something to offer.

The price tag is the most interesting offer of the Tesco Hudl 2, which will cost no more than 9,000 rubles, and if you are a Tesco Clubcard holder, it can cost you even less.

Okay, the tablet is slowly waking up, the battery isn't as good as the flagships on the market, but for the money, you get a great tablet as a Christmas present for your loved one.

Brief verdict

Great tablet, even if you increase its price tag. It offers more premium features, great sound, and all at a great price tag - if you're not looking for the best tablet, but the best value for money, you should check out the Tesco Hudl 2.

5. Google Nexus 7

The new Nexus 7 takes on the positive features of the original 7-inch Google tablet that came out in 2012. The device is equipped with a quad-core processor with a clock speed of 1.5 GHz, 2 GB of RAM and comes with 16 or 32 GB of internal memory.

Weighing in at 260g, the tablet is the perfect mobile device for your bag and shopping trips, and the perfect travel companion on long journeys, as it includes a huge selection of apps, decent battery life, and all this with a new 7-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1200 and 323 pixels per inch.

The Asus tablet is a bit more expensive than the previous model, with prices starting at Rs 11,000 for the 16 GB variant and Rs 13,000 for the 32 GB variant. It is also worth remembering that the operating system takes up part of the existing memory. There is also a model with 4G.

On the other hand, the Nexus 7 (2013) holds the title of "Best Tablet of 2014" in multiple IT publications because despite its budget price range, it offers some high-end features, along with a low-risk upgrade policy and a premium-like design. This is a great combination of positive aspects, in our opinion.

Brief verdict

If you're looking to buy a tablet right now and are intimately familiar with the Android ecosystem, we see no reason why you should avoid buying a Nexus 7 tablet.

If you haven't had anything to do with Android before, this is still a good starting point. You can also take a look at the iPad Mini 2, which is recommended for users in the Apple ecosystem, but Apple's tablet isn't as affordable as the latest Nexus 7.

The new iPad Mini has taken the lead, marking the lead over the Nexus 7, despite the fact that many have been waiting for this battle. If you're looking for a reasonable compromise with a decent tablet, the new Nexus 7 remains an unbeatable option.

4. iPad Mini Retina (Mini 2)

Note that Apple has two places in the top five tablets of 2014. You can be happy or sad about this choice, but we can't deny that Apple offers the best tablets on the market right now.

The iPad Air beats the Mini 2 with significantly more competitive prices and a larger screen for all iPad-friendly apps.

But the Mini is far from being a simple device. The tablet has a great design with an aluminum back, a super-fast A7 chip and this screen... Although we saw the screen last year, it still looks great.

Don't forget that this model is about to be replaced by the new iPad Mini 3, so it's better to wait than to rush shopping.

Brief verdict

The iPad Mini Retina is actually a hasty change in Apple designs, a prime example of how the big tablet has encroached on the portable device market.

However, the Mini 2 offers a huge pixel density in a small footprint, which gives us sharp text and stunning photos, plus you won't find any loss in battery life, which is already a miracle.

If only the Apple tablet was a little cheaper, we would give it a place in the top three. So, if you're looking for the best tablet in a smaller category (and don't worry too much about the cost of the device), nothing beats the Mini 2.

3. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet

Sony has done it again. It entered the tablet market with a surprisingly high-quality device, all at once. And while the Z2 doesn't take the top spot, it's still an amazing quality tablet worthy of being the best.

The Xperia Z2 Tablet - the name carefully separates the tablet from the manufacturer's flagship smartphone series - offers a boosted Snapdragon 801 processor, 3 GB of RAM and a new Live Color LED (LED) screen that provides dynamics and contrast that are hard to compete with.

Video will be enhanced with dual front-facing speakers, allowing you to ditch the headphones while watching in your hotel room while still having a good movie experience.

Like its predecessor, the Sony tablet is water and dust resistant, so things like reading an e-book in the bathroom are forgivable.

Brief verdict

If you grew up within the Sony ecosystem, you shouldn't miss out on the Xperia Z2 Tablet as the tablet is fully integrated into the Sony system, including access to music, movies and the PlayStation platform. You'll need to download an app to transfer games properly, but it's not difficult.

On top of the device, you'll find an IR blaster, making it ideal for controlling your TV, and the speed and weight (or lack of it) make it a very handy couch addition.

The screen could be sharper, and you'll also have to shell out a pretty penny for this 10.1-inch tablet, but what you get for the money is still a great, well-packaged device.

Samsung has gone to great lengths to make a tablet truly iPad-worthy, though that strategy has gone through some reckless milestones (like launching the Tab Pro in January and then replacing it a few months later with the current Tab S).

But, aside from the annoying setbacks that Pro owners have experienced, this strategy has finally given the world arguably the best Android tablet of 2014. Available in two sizes, 8.4 and 10.5 inches, Samsung tablets offer the best of the current operating system, along with hardware technology, superior displays and software. The result is very special devices.

Along with the huge battery life, the display has to be seen to be believed (the picture is gorgeous, no exaggeration, the screen is ideal for web video, which is a characteristic point for a tablet), and the price tag for the device has remained on par with the rest of the devices. Well done Samsung.

Brief verdict

Why didn't the Tab S take first place? Samsung's perennial problem returns with the lack of new tablets: the design is still too simple, although the presence of two sizes brightens the corners.

Android continues to struggle to become a full-fledged tablet OS, which means that the applications are not yet as diverse and good as in the Apple ecosystem, but the release promises a significant step forward for the system.

The difference between the Tab S and the Xperia Z2 Tablet is minimal - it all comes down to design and extra features - but if you're not committed to owning an Apple tablet, these two are a great choice worth considering.

1. iPad Air 2

Users were skeptical when Apple released the first iPad, but the range has grown significantly since the first-generation tablet landed on store shelves and Cupertino has finally cracked the formula.

The impressive design paired with a thin, lightweight body promises a premium look and feel, while the powerful Apple A7 and M7 processors under the hood mean the tablet won't stumble through even the toughest of tasks.

Of course, the price tag is still high, but it's quite comparable to the likes of the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet, which puts the competition on an equal footing...although all things considered, there's no competition here.

Thus, the best tablet of 2014, in our opinion, again belongs to Apple, iPad Air 2 becomes the most prudent choice today, if we are not talking about budget tablets.

Brief verdict

It's not just Apple's best tablet, it's the only tablet you should consider if you're interested in a big screen. This is how we see the new Apple tablet. And while the Samsung Galaxy Tab S remains a brilliant tablet, the Air 2 simply takes it to the next level.

If you are looking for the best tablet on the market then look no further. The iPad Air 2 brings back Apple's top spot, and it will take time to dethrone it.

A few years ago, no one knew about tablets. Tablet boom and rapid development of this category mobile devices began with the release of the first Apple iPad. Only 5 years have passed since the release of the first iPad, and today almost everyone has tablets. During the year, site experts subjected the loudest, most popular and interesting new items of 2014 to rigorous tests. We checked everything important characteristics tablets in a lab to help you decide on a purchase. We will tell you about the best tablets of the outgoing year.

Ultra-powerful and thinnest tablet - Apple iPad Air 2

The Apple iPad Air 2 is arguably the best tablet of 2014 in our tests. He conquered us immediately in many key parameters for tablets. First, thickness and weight. At the presentation, Apple called it the thinnest in the world with a thickness of 6.1 mm. And we, as experts who have tested a large number of similar devices, were forced to agree: iPad Air 2 "beat" our previous champion in thinness - Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet (6.6 mm). At the same time, it is "air" light (444 or 437 grams for the version with and without a modem).

Second, performance. Despite its “airiness”, the Apple iPad Air 2 is incredibly powerful - the performance of the tablet impressed us in all possible tests, despite the modest-sounding characteristics of the filling, competitors simply cannot be compared with it, it is just right for it to compete in performance with laptops. In cross-platform benchmarks, the tablet received scores comparable to the results of many laptops!

Yes, the performance and dimensions conquered us the most, but in all other respects, the iPad Air 2 did not want to concede. It's got some of the best cameras we've seen, a solid aluminum body, and we even forgot to add a fingerprint scanner like on the latest iPhones. The display, as always, is clear, it does not hold the record for the density of pixels per inch, but there is no graininess, the screen is bright, contrasting and with excellent rich colors. The reason for worry and concern was the autonomy of the tablet - after all, the case became thinner, the formal battery capacity was reduced by 15%, and the filling became much more powerful. However, as our tests showed, this had almost no effect on the operating time - although it became a little less, it is comparable to the results of such tablets as the Nokia Lumia 2520 or Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1.

In our opinion, the iPad Air 2 is the best thing that has happened in a year. In fairness, we note that many expected the iPad Air 2 to be able to work with the Apple Pay payment system, but this did not happen. Saved for iPad Air 3? Too bulky to replace a wallet? Be that as it may, the prospects for the Apple Pay system are still very vague for Russians.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 LTE with Super AMOLED display

Who else can be called one of the best "full-sized" premium tablets? The second is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 LTE. It came out before the iPad Air 2 and has already managed to surpass "last year's", the first iPad Air in almost everything, except maybe the overall performance. The most interesting thing about the device is the display. Samsung has finally been able to make a large, cost-effective Super AMOLED display and fit it into its tablet. The company already tried to pull off this in 2011, releasing a 7.7-inch tablet with AMOLED display, but the product turned out to be prohibitively expensive. We were pleased with the appearance of branded, bright and energy-saving AMOLED not only on smartphone displays, but also on tablets. In terms of image clarity, it overtook Apple devices with Retina.

The thickness and weight of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 also proved to be better than the iPad Air, and both cameras turned out to be more megapixels. Don't forget the in-display fingerprint scanner, which only appeared on the iPad Air 2. Having a power-saving display "helped" the battery get the highest score in our tablet rankings, on par with Apple's first modest-res iPad mini and the low-res Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8, too. weak filling, but a huge battery in the stand.

Compact, premium Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4

One of the best tablets of the year among 7-8 inch models is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4. If you look at it, and then at the iPad mini 3, you can see that the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is thinner (6.9 vs. 7.5 mm), and holding it in your hands is also lighter (295 vs. 342 grams), - not bad, right? Like the “older” tablet of the S series, the “youngest” also got a Super AMOLED display, but this is the case when less does not mean worse. Firstly, the display has the same resolution (2560x1600 pixels), it gives a very clear picture, the pixel density is higher than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5, iPad mini 3 or even the Apple iPhone 6 itself! Secondly, if we nevertheless “caught” the Tab S 10.5 for small inaccuracies with the color gamut, then the 8-inch version turned out to be in absolute order even with this, not to mention the fantastic viewing angles, contrast and richness of the image in in general. The fingerprint scanner feature will help secure the authentication process, but it is also implemented in the iPad mini 3. As for the battery, the tablet could not get the maximum score here, the smaller case has a smaller battery. Nevertheless, it performed well: 13 and a half hours of HD video viewing is impressive, because it is more than half a day of a video marathon.

Slim, waterproof and durable Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

Not only Samsung or Apple can become the best, this year Sony released two interesting water-resistant (which is still new for tablets) devices with an interval of six months: the 10-inch Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet and the 8-inch Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. If the first one did not impress us so much because of the crisp body, repulsive, wide frames and small flaws, then the compact tablet, in our opinion, looks more attractive. The wide frames are gone, the case no longer crunches after “water procedures”, and the tablet works fine in water: you can read, play in the kitchen, in the shower, in the rain or on the beach, without fear that water will cause damage to the device. Despite being protected from water, it has the thinnest case for its diagonal - up to 6.5 mm versus 6.9 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4, and the iPad mini 3 is even thicker - 7.5 mm. In terms of weight, the Z3 Tablet Compact (272 grams) also turned out to be the leader, not only among 8-inch tablets, but also among 7-inch tablets, so it is lighter than the 290-gram Nexus 7! The tablet battery showed some of best results, overtaking the iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3.

We didn’t like the quality of the pictures on the cameras in it, it seems that the cameras of any Sony devices should be excellent, but as if they don’t want to modify the cameras on some smartphones and tablets, on the other hand, do the tablets really need them? A small drawback is the display resolution - Full HD, not that the image is fuzzy, the pixel density is not so far from the "gold" standard of "Retina", but when all competitors "flaunt" with sharper displays, it already looks "not premium". ".

Tablet with rotating stand and large battery - Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8.0

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8.0 falls short of a premium tablet, with moderate performance, but among small tablets, its performance looks attractive. In fact, there is nothing new in it, Lenovo took last year's Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 (resembling the Apple Wireless Keyboard on the side) with frankly weak characteristics and “pulled” them up a level higher. We added it to the list of the best, rather, because of the very capacious battery and unusual design. The Lenovo Yoga Tablet has a rotating stand that allows you to use the device in various modes - tablet, stand or keyboard mode, which can be convenient, for example, for watching movies or typing. Due to this design, the tablet turned out to be more overall, it takes more space, but the unusual design made it possible to install a battery with a huge capacity for such a diagonal. In terms of other characteristics, the tablet can be called balanced: Full HD display, 8 and 1.6 MP cameras, an average quad-core processor and a standard set of interfaces.

Affordable yet powerful Dell Venue tablets

If we continue to move from large tablets to small and from premium to budget, then the following can be called Dell Venue 8 and Dell Venue 7. They were announced at the end of 2013, but before the release came out, before they got to Russia and they finally had versions with 3G modems, some time passed, so we tested them already in 2014. Back in 2010, Dell released its first tablet, Dell Streak, which did not work out, rather, because of the raw and not ready then for Android tablets. Several years have passed, Android has “matured”, the tablet market has grown at an incredible pace, and the reputable company is in a hurry to “return” to it with 7 and 8 inch models. Both tablets are very similar in appearance and look rustic and unremarkable, plump (up to 1 cm in thickness), not the lightest at all - so what is interesting about them? A distinctive feature of the tablets is good performance for little money, corresponding to many flagships of 2012-2013 in a number of tests. The displays have a typical resolution for state employees - 1200x800 pixels, but they are contrasty and have good color reproduction for their price. At the same time, due to the “gluttonous” filling, batteries noticeably suffer - in some cases, it “sits down” in a matter of hours!

LG, like some others, just got into a new market for them - at the end of 2013 they “felt” the soil with their trial LG G Pad 8.3. After receiving warm responses from users, the company decided to continue what they started. So, in 2014, the LG G pad 7.0 came out - an inexpensive, but good, in our opinion, tablet. In Russia, only a modification without a modem is sold, but in some countries there is a version with LTE support. A tablet won't be pleased with a thin body, a cool design (although it looks cute, especially in orange or blue), or a bright, crisp display. On the other hand, it has excellent performance in tests for operating time, it is well-assembled, which is often a problem for a budget model, and is equipped with an infrared port. In addition, we can note the proprietary interface, in which almost everything has been redesigned, even the keyboard, adding proprietary features, for example, “waking up” the display by double tapping on it. A mid-range processor will allow you to run and play most games, but with graphics limitations. In all other respects, this is a typical budget tablet.

The most powerful tablet may be needed for various purposes: games, watching movies in FullHD, working in graphics or CAD applications ... In a word, for some reason it is needed. You determine why - and we will determine which ones may suit you.

ZOOM Picks: The most powerful tablets in the first half of 2014

In this text, we do not consider specialized tablets priced from 100 thousand rubles with all sorts of various protections against everything that is possible: we will talk about those models that can be bought in a regular mobile equipment store.

Apple iPad Air

First of all, we will tell, of course, about the progenitors of all modern tablets in their current form - iPad tablets Air, which are 20% thinner than previous generation, and 28% lighter (469 or 478 grams depending on the model). As has been customary since ancient times, everything is possible for the progenitor of the tablet segment as such, and it is the iPad Air that today has become the first tablet with 64-bit architecture.

The new 64-bit Apple A7 processor is used as the processor, which became the first commercial Apple ARM processor with support for 64-bit instructions, as well as the new M7 coprocessor, which is used to process data from sensors like an accelerometer and compass, which saves energy. The graphics coprocessor is also new, which also has support for OpenGL WS 3.0.

Under the new architecture, standard applications were recompiled, and the updates became on their own. All this was presented at the presentation of the iPhone 5S, and has now migrated from a smartphone to a tablet. By the way, all the main technical characteristics, except for the price and screen size (9.7 inches), are valid for the iPad mini Retina.

Apple iPad Air

Of course, it is also necessary to say about the new five-megapixel iSight rear camera, where attention was paid to the quality and speed of work more than increasing the megapixels. Autofocus is twice as fast thanks to the new signal processor in the A7. The camera has a new five-element lens with f / 2.2 aperture and a sensor that uses 15% more area, and light sensitivity increased by 33%. Also, the new camera can now shoot slow-motion at 120 frames per second in HD resolution. Continuous shooting can be up to 10 frames per second, and the real-time analyzer will offer the best photo of the captured. The last significant innovation in the main camera is the combination of "cold" and "warm" flashes. This will allow the device to automatically adjust the intensity and color temperature so that the colors appear as natural as possible.

Let's not ignore the front camera FaceTime, which allows you to take pictures with a resolution of 1.2 MP and shoot HD video. It is also possible to conduct video calls over a Wi‑Fi or cellular network. There are also dual microphones for better audibility of the sound background in the video. And if all this may not be in demand today, it will be necessary tomorrow.

As for things more prosaic, the iPad Air has plenty of them. For example, traditionally there are eight different modifications: only with Wi-Fi and with 3G / 4G support, and eight because of the different amount of internal memory, from 16 to 128 GB. The display is the same Retina with a diagonal of 9.7 inches, LED-backlit and a TFT IPS matrix. The resolution is 2048x1536 pixels (with a density of 264 pixels per inch). The display has an oleophobic coating that prevents fingerprints.

In general, despite all this, the iPad Air will be bought because it is an iPad, and it is sad that most of its features are not usually used. And by the way, contrary to forecasts, other manufacturers were not in a hurry to release 64-bit tablets, so this is the only one. For now. And the most powerful among the iPads.

Samsung Note Pro 12.2

After 9.7 inches diagonal of the new iPad 12.2 inches Samsung creations look just gigantic.

But the filling should also contribute to such a diagonal. And it is: for example, the eight-core Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor with 4 Cortex A15 cores operating at 1.9 GHz and four Cortex A7 cores at 1.3 GHz each inspires respect. The graphics coprocessor is matched to the main chip, Mali-T628 MP6. RAM - 3 GB, permanent - 16 or 32, there is a slot for microSD cards, and the OS is Android 4.4 KitKat, the latest.

But the most important thing is the 12.2-inch PLS Super Clear LCD screen with a gorgeous 2560 x 1600 resolution, 247 ppi pixel density and support for the S Pen stylus (based on Wacom): we remind you that this giant tablet belongs to the “drawing” the Note family. And the screen is actually very contrasty, and the viewing angles are close to the maximum, and the brightness is enough for various conditions.

It has, as expected, two cameras, although it is not entirely clear how to use the rear one, given the size of the Note Pro 12.2. Cameras are quite normal for today: 2 MP front, 8 MP rear, there is autofocus, flash, HDR and video recording in 1920 x 1080 at 30fps. There are all protocols Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, DLNA, support for 3G / 4G in some models and A-GPS with GLONASS in them.

Samsung Note Pro 12.2

This giant is equipped with a 9500 mAh battery, its dimensions are 295.5 x 203.9 x 7.95 mm, and its weight is 753 g, which is not so much for such a large tablet. But the price is depressing - for the maximum configuration with 4G they ask 40 thousand rubles.

Apart from the size, stylus and powerful configuration, we have a completely ordinary tablet. As for the battery life, testing showed 11 hours in FullHD-video viewing mode, while in the game mode, 9500 mAh completely pulled 6 hours. About the same amount of tablet and charging, by the way.

Another interesting point is the multi-window mode brought to mind. Now you can work with four applications at the same time, and scale the size of their windows so that the priority ones take up more space. But not all programs support this option, from the pre-installed ones, Hangouts, Gmail and Mail, browser, Chrome, Maps, Video, S Note, S Finder, Music, Messages, Phone and YouTube agreed to this.

Finally, you can see that even a model with a 4G module does not have a speaker, so if you use it as a phone, you always need to use a headset.

Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet

Having released a powerful and, most importantly, protected from the influence of the external environment a year ago, the Z1 tablet, almost according to the maximum parameters of IP standards, did not stop there and went further. Without further ado, she called the new tablet Xperia Z2, thereby hinting that the new product should be expected to be the same as its predecessor, only a little more. True, they still confuse us with names: if you don’t say “Tablet”, then everyone will decide that this is a smartphone. And today, Sony has only one top-end tablet: first it was the Z1 Tablet, now it's the Z2 Tablet, and at first glance, it's just an improved version of the first.

The platform with the processor seems to be modern, but nothing unusual: it is the same quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AB), but with an increased frequency of 2.3 GHz and an Adreno 330 graphics accelerator.

There is more RAM, now it is 3 GB, internal memory - 16 or 32 GB, and there is also a microSD slot up to 64 GB. By the way, here is a slot for memory cards - this is exactly what the iPad Air (and indeed Apple products in general) do not have, with all their advantages. But on the other hand, this allows you to raise the price of the same model with a different amount of internal memory to the ceiling. By the way, today Z2 Tablet is considered the most powerful tablet in synthetic tests. That is, in general. But sometimes inferior to Samsung Galaxy Note, different of them.

The screen is almost the same as it was, 10.1 inches diagonally with a resolution of FullHD (1920 x 1200) and a pixel density of 224 ppi, a TFT IPS matrix, and to improve the picture, TRILUMINOS technology is used with another Live Color LED technology (gives a wider sRGB color gamut). From the world of Sony TVs, the tablet got the X-Reality software engine, which makes the picture more saturated and colorful when processing the image. The maximum brightness is 440 cd/m2.

Sony XPeria Z2 Tablet

But what was completely surprising (we will return to the rest) is the dimensions of 266 x 172 x 6.4 mm and the weight of 439 g. Pay attention to the thickness: 6.4 mm is very inspiring and allows you to call the tablet the thinnest and lightest on the market (the predecessor had almost the same: 6.9 mm). And at the same time, its main trump card is that the Xperia Z2 Tablet can still be called the only popular and protected Android tablet according to the IP58 standard (expensive military toys are not taken into account). This means complete dust protection, and most importantly, the fact that it can be immersed in water for half an hour to a depth of one and a half meters, so you can even try to shoot undersea world or at least not be afraid to drop it in the tub.

Of the interesting points, one can note a single plug for microSIM and microUSB cards and an infrared port for controlling home appliances, which today can already be considered a de facto standard. In addition, Sony claims to have Front Surround technology and digital noise reduction technology. Of course, the NFC module has not gone away, and some modifications (specifically, the 16 GB modification and only) also support LTE communication in addition to Wi-Fi, which, of course, is present in all forms. The battery capacity remained the same, 6000 mAh, while the thickness decreased, and the battery life remained the same.

OS - Android 4.2.2, the shell is almost regular, without any special modifications.

Acer Aspire W700

This tablet has appeared for quite a long time, but still keeps the brand. And therefore, even after a year and a half, it is on sale. In addition, Acer Windows tablets (which is what this instance is, which is confirmed by the letter W in its name) are one of the best-selling Windows tablets in Russia.

But not only Windows is interested in this tablet: its filling is quite suitable for an adult laptop, although it weighs less than a kilogram. This is evidenced, for example, by the Intel iCore processor. And inside this tablet has a 64 or 128 GB SSD drive. Moreover, the SSD here is not simple, but with support for RAID0 technology.

RAID0 is a technology in which several hard drives are perceived by the system as one large drive - to put it simply. Formally, the physical disk in the Aspire W700 is the only one, but it can be divided into two with the help of software utilities and become RAID0 for higher speed: due to the peculiarity of SSD technology, you can write to two streams at once in different places. The solution is interesting and original.

Now you can about the screen. It has a larger diagonal than many on this list: 11.6 inches. matrix - TFT IPS, resolution is 1920x1080 pixels, that is, FullHD. The display brightness is low, only 350 nits, but Acer CineCrystal's proprietary glossy screen technology is used. Pixels per inch - 190 ppi.

The video solution is the already familiar Intel HD4000 from the Intel Ivy Bridge platform (yes, it's not Haswell - so what). Actually, we are dealing with Intel HM77 Express in this unit. 128 MB of system memory is allocated for the video card, but there is no discrete graphics.

Acer Aspire W700

As for the processor, the tablet has one of two options: an Intel Core i5-3317U running at 1.7 GHz (with Turbo Boost overclocking technology that allows you to increase the frequency to 2.60 GHz) and an i3-3217U running at 1.4 GHz . The tablet has as much RAM as the device on the HM77 relies on: 4 GB DDR3.

Well, since this is a tablet, it has rear and front cameras. Front, for video calls, has a resolution of 2 MP and allows you to record video in HD resolution. The rear camera is a five-megapixel one, and can even write FullHD. Both cameras support another proprietary technology to improve picture quality - Acer CrystalEye.

The tablet has a lot of wireless interfaces, but not all: there is Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n with Acer SignalUp proprietary technology, which controls the amplification of the wireless signal due to the fact that the antennas are located above the laptop screen; This technology ensures that you always have a connection when you move your tablet from one Wi-Fi zone to another. Bluetooth - version 4.0+HS. But there is no GPS, that is, absolutely. But there are all the sensors: a gyroscope, a compass, an accelerometer and a light sensor.

It is also impossible not to say about the audio part, which is given close attention in this model. But Acer usually does not make a cult of the speakers of its mobile devices, rightly believing that "super quality" sound with such tiny dimensions of the speakers is still not achieved. Despite this, when using headphones or external speakers, various “enhancers” come into play: Dolby Home Theater stereo expansion technology, which includes a collection of Audio Optimizer, Audio Regulator, Volume Leveler, Volume Maximizer, Intelligent EQ, Dialogue Enhancer and Surround Virtualizer .

The capacity of the built-in battery is 4850 mAh, and the device works autonomously from 7 to 9 hours with an above-average load. Finally, as for the operating system, the Iconia Tab W700 offers 64-bit Windows in regular and Pro versions. It supports proprietary technologies for almost instant wake-up from sleep mode Acer Green Instant On and fast wireless connection Instant connect.

Trio of Kio's Rivals

Finally, we will talk about the ASUS Transformer Book Trio. It's still hard to put it into any particular category, but since it's also a tablet, and a very powerful one, we decided to put it on our list.

So, the modern "trio" from ASUS. In it, ASUS took a different path. Do you want Android? Get it. Do you want Windows? Please get all in one. the two platforms do not work at the same time. And each with its own operating system.

The first is in the tablet (that is, on the screen), this is the Intel Atom Z2580 with two cores operating at a frequency of 2 GHz each. Connect a keyboard and you can work with the second Haswell platform, dual-core Intel processor Core i7-4500U located inside, with a frequency of 1.8 GHz per core. The processor consumes no more than 15 W of power and is equipped with an integrated graphics solution Intel HD Graphics 4400.

ASUS Transformer Book Trio

Not only the platforms themselves are duplicated, but also the work items. For example, the tablet has a built-in SSD drive with a capacity of up to 64 GB, which is used to work in the Android environment. He is helped by a conventional hard drive built into the keyboard up to 1 TB (depending on the configuration), which is available in Windows 8 and the user who switched to this OS. Batteries - one each in the tablet and in the keyboard dock. Their exact capacity is 19 W / h main, in the tablet, and 33 W / h - the second, in the dock. Opening hours are promised until 15:00.

And there is only one screen, which is logical, but quite inspiring: it has 11.6 inches with a resolution of 1920 * 1080. Matrix type - TFT IPS.

In sum, we can conclude that ASUS Transformer Book Trio is for those who do not want to suffer from the choice and get everything at once in one bottle. True, for this you will have to overpay: the device costs an average of 43 thousand rubles. On the other hand, the savings when buying a powerful tablet and ultrabook is quite significant.

If a desktop computer is designed to perform all the basic tasks of the user, then the tablet cannot be compared with some functions. Below we will try to decide on what criteria it is necessary to choose tablets for games and work, and also compare the characteristics of the best tablets of 2014.

Criteria for choosing a tablet for games

The differences between tablet computers are not only in price, but also in technical properties. Naturally, the choice of model, first of all, is connected with the amount that you decide to spend on this device. If your choice is on a cheap tablet, then it’s better to immediately accept the fact that, due to its low power, it will not allow you to run games from the thematic site on it. For this purpose, you rather need to look closely to more expensive models. The reason for this is that the ability to play on the device directly depends on such a criterion as CPU frequency. It is this parameter that greatly affects the price of the tablet. As a rule, they are equipped with single-core processors and require the highest possible frequency, otherwise the game on such a device will “slow down”. If buying the most expensive tablet computer you can't afford, then choose at least a frequency of at least 1.3 GHz. Compared with a cheap tablet, the latter has a frequency of no more than 500 MHz.

An important criterion to take into account when choosing a tablet for games, is RAM, or rather its quantity. 256MB of memory will allow you to flip through sites on the Internet or watch movies, while the game will require at least 512 MB. In addition, it is also important to have a video card, the memory of which will be 128MB. Otherwise, the device will not be able to display all the graphic elements of the game on the screen. Agree that for fans of games this minus is nothing.

Any game for a child installed on a tablet will work without interference if the device meets all the minimum system requirements. Naturally, the requirements for the appearance of a children's tablet are secondary in this case. Often behind the beautiful view tablet, hiding a device with a very weak system that is not able to please your child with another game. When choosing a tablet for games, first of all, you are guided by technical parameters, taking into account system requirements. This applies not only to children's tablets, but also to computer tablets in general. In order to somehow suggest or recommend this or that model, we have compiled the top 5 best tablets of 2014 among 8-inch devices.

TOP 5 best tablets 2014

This tablet size, which has become very popular in its production, can easily be placed in a pocket or small bag; it is also comfortable to hold in your hand. We list the main characteristics of those devices that this year won the hearts of many users.

In fifth place in our ranking is an 8-inch tablet called. Permission this device equals 1280x800 points, the ARM Cortex-A7 processor is 4-core and it works at a frequency of 1.2 GHz on the Android 4.2.2 operating system. Equipped with "IPS" technology, a viewing angle of 178 degrees and a 5Mp camera, the size of the video camera is 1.5Mp. The body of the tablet is made of aluminum, and the frame is made of metal. Note that Lenovo Yoga 8 is the only device in the ranking that can work for about 18 hours on a single charge.

In fourth place was the "French" Archos80 Titanium 8. He took this place thanks to his affordable price - $ 170. 2-core processor "ARM Cortex A9" operates at a frequency of 1.6 GHz. The resolution of the 8-inch display is 1024x768, and the operating system is Android 4.1 with IPS screen technology. The model has two built-in cameras and 8GB of memory. There are several inputs: USB, micro USB 2.0, mini HDMI and microSD. The device can continuously work 5 hours without recharging. Together with the Archos80 Titanium 8, the firm offers the Archos Media Center firmware for unlimited multimedia possibilities.

The third place is Samsung Galaxy Tab3 with a screen resolution of 1280x800 pixels. The frequency of the model is 1.5 GHz, the 2-core processor is Exynos. The internal memory is 16GB and the RAM is 1.5GB. The Android 4.2.2 operating system controls a 5Mp camera and a 1.3Mp video camera. Battery power - 11 hours. It should be noted that the body is made in a thinner size, and a distinctive feature of the gadget is the ability to simultaneously perform two tasks. This is achieved by dividing the Galaxy Tab 3 screen into two parts, where you can write in cursive with an electronic marker.

In second place among 8-inch tablets - with a 4-core processor. The width of the presented model is 127 millimeters, which makes it easy to hold the tablet in the palm of your hand. 16GB of memory and operating system "Android OS 4.2" work on "HD IPS" technology. The size of the camera is 5 Mp, and the size of the camcorder is 1.2 Mp. The clear sound of the model is achieved by Asus SonicMaster technology.

Finally, in the first place in the ranking is the tablet LG G Pad with a display resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. The model runs on the operating system "Kit Ket Android 4.2.2" with a 4-core processor called "Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600". The frequency of the tablet is 1.7 GHz, the internal memory is 16 GB, the operating room is 2 GB. It is equipped with a 5Mp camera and a 1.3Mp video camera.