The mobile gaming industry witnessed staggering growth over the past decade. Though most PC and console gamers only remember the industry’s dark days when it was dominated by games like Candy Crush and other pay-to-play titles, the hardware advancements breathed a new life to the platform.
Popular games like PUBG, Fortnite, and League of Legends entered the mobile gaming world as tablets and phones became more powerful. Competitive scenes emerged with countless mobile tournaments, pushing aspiring players to better their gaming conditions. Most mobile gamers prefer tablets over phones due to their larger screens, which makes spotting enemies and landing skill shots easier. It also gets a bit difficult to look at a tiny phone screen for extended periods.
Though Apple takes great pride in offering the fastest chipset inside mobile devices every year, Android tablets are certainly giving a run for its money. The main reason why Android tablets lagged in the rivalry was that manufacturers were mainly focused on the phone market. Things changed for the better in recent years, and brands like Samsung, Google, and Lenovo filled the market with viable options.
Take note of your favorite mobile game’s system requirements before pulling the trigger on any of the following tablets. Going overboard in terms of specs can help you unlock higher frame rates and serve as futureproof options as mobile games keep evolving.
Here are the best Android tablets you can buy to take your mobile gaming experience to the next level.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7/S7 Plus
The key to staying relevant in the tablet business is keeping up with the latest processor releases. Samsung generally works with Qualcomm, and a new Snapdragon processor release means it may be time to refresh its tablet line.
The Galaxy Tab series mostly consists of tablets with premium specs, and the S7 line can be considered as the best Android tablets that are currently available. You can choose between the six or 8GB RAM versions, and both use a Snapdragon 865+ processor. An 8000 mAh battery powers S7’s 11-inch, 1600×2560 display. The HDR10+ and 120 Hz screen isn’t an AMOLED, however, so you’ll need to splurge for an S7+ if that’s what you’re after.
S7’s IPS LCD screen still offers excellent image quality, and it’s pretty much the only difference between the plus and non-plus model. The other improvement on S7+ is its 10090 mAh battery.
The storage options for both models range from 128GB to 512GB storage. You can also boost your maximum capacity with a microSD card, which is always a plus if you also enjoy consuming content offline. There isn’t a 3.5mm jack on either of the tablets, meaning you’ll need a dongle or wireless earbuds to go along with your tablet to enhance your gaming experience.
S7 and S7+ also support Stylus and Samsung’s DeX technology, which helps them double as a PC alternative whenever you need one. Considering the specs on these monsters, it should be a walk in the park for them.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7/S7 Plus dimensions: 0.25 by 6.51 by 9.99 inches
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6/S6 Lite
The new may look and better, but it may not be the best option for your wallet all the time. The arrival of a new model won’t change the internals of last year’s tablet, meaning it will continue to rock the same powerful hardware that made it the powerhouse it was a year ago. In fact, you’ll now be able to get it for cheaper since there’s a new model out.
The Tab S6 boasts the best that 2019 had the offer. Packed with a Snapdragon 855 processor, you can choose to have six or 8GB of RAM on your S6. Its 9720 mAh battery makes sure that you never run out of juice during intense gaming sessions. The 10.5 inch Super AMOLED is excellent for gaming and content consumption.
The stylus support lets you turn the 1600×2560 screen into a blank canvas that you can run wild with your creativity when you aren’t busy gaming, and it’s also great for taking notes.
The difference between S6 Lite and S6 is much more significant than what it was between S7 and S7+, however. S6 Lite was released almost a year after S6’s release and is completely tailored toward budget users. The lite version comes with 4GB of RAM and is equipped with an Exynos 9611 chipset, the Qualcomm equivalent of Snapdragon 835. The TFT capacitive touchscreen of the tablet gets powered by a 7040 mAh battery. The 10.4 inch screen has a resolution of 1200×2000, and the overall gaming performance is still at an acceptable level.
There’s a chance you may experience some stutters with the lite model while playing the most hardware-intensive games, but it’s still capable enough to deliver you a stable gaming experience in most of the games you can find on the Play Store. Both models have a microSD slot, meaning you can expand your storage as much as you want.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 dimensions: 0.22 by 6.28 by 9.63 inches
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite dimensions: 0.28 by 6.07 by 9.63 inches
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
A tablet that wants to be used for gaming purposes needs to have solid hardware to guarantee a smooth running of games. Samsung’s tablet lineup includes many great tablets with outstanding performance, and Galaxy Tab A8 is one of those. Despite its affordable price, the Tab A8 could be a game-changer. First, it features a big 10.5-inch LCD screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, which is excellent for a perfect gaming experience.
Samsung has used metal for constructing the body of the Galaxy Tab A8. So we have a tablet with a premium build quality. Also, it comes with a 7,040mAh battery that seems enough to support your gaming during the day. But here comes the sweet part. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 uses a Unisoc Tiger T618 processor, and the power it delivers is enough for a lag-free experience. Moreover, 3GB of RAM and three storage options are available to support your gaming.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 dimensions: 246.80 x 161.90 x 6.90mm
Lenovo Tab M10
If your tablet isn’t your primary gaming device and you’re only looking for a place holder, you can certainly do with a cheaper device than the initial options on our list.
Lenovo’s M10 Plus comes with an Helio P22T processor and two RAM options. Though 2GB of RAM will be sufficient for content consumption, you’ll definitely need the 4GB version for any type of gaming.
The tablet carries a 10.3, IPS screen that has a 1200×1920 resolution. MicroSD support also makes up for the low storage options and the 7000 mAh battery is more than enough to challenge its rivals’ screen time.
Lenovo Tab M10 dimensions: 0.33 by 6.66 by 9.57 inches
Fire HD 10 tablet
Compared to some tough competitors like Samsung and Apple, Amazon may not have much of a chance in the tablet market. However, its Fire HD tablet lineup deserves more attention. The Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is an entry-level and affordable tablet that could be an accessible option for entertainment and gaming purposes. For around $150, you will get a tablet with a MediaTek Helio P60T processor that offers improved performance compared to its predecessors.
The Fire HD 10 tablet features a 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display. Also, you can have 3GB of RAM, 32 or 64GB of internal storage, and up to 1TB of microSD support. Amazon claims the battery in this tablet can last for 12 hours.
Fire HD 10 tablet dimensions: 9.73 x 6.53 x .36 inches
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