It’s been a long time since tablets were the new hot. companies learned years ago that people just weren’t going to buy a new tablet every year, and that led some to ditch the form factor altogether. In fact, some of our favorite tablets from 2015, like the Dell Venture 8 7000, Samsung Tab S2, and iPad Mini 4, didn’t get any updates this year.
Even though the tablet fervor is fading, we still got some fantastic tablets, especially in the 2-in-1 category. So here they are: the 10 best tablets of 2016.
You are reading: Best tablet for reading books 2016
10. large pad g x 8.0
You may not have heard of the LG G Pad X 8.0 (yes, that’s an unfortunate name), but it’s a new mid-range tablet from LG available exclusively from T-Mobile. It works best as an e-reader, with the balance of large screen and portable size you’ll find in an Android tablet. However, Reading Mode makes late-night reading easy on the eyes, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow’s versatility lets you read e-books from almost any digital library, including comics. It probably won’t blow your mind, but at $240 with LTE connectivity, it’s a great value for what you’re getting.
9. huawei matebook
every device maker has a 2-in-1 these days, and huawei’s matebook is the company’s first attempt at one. while the matebook looks great in every aspect, from the beautiful slim design to the brown leather case. as a tablet itself, it’s everything you’d expect from a device priced at $699. It doesn’t hold up as well in terms of the 2-in-1 look thanks to the wobbly case, but if all you’re looking for is a great Android tablet, the Matebook is a good (but expensive) option.
8. asus zenpad z8
At the other end of the price spectrum is the asus zenpad z8, exclusive to verizon. it retails at just $149, making it the most affordable tablet on the list. It won’t impress you with its build quality or performance, but the ZenPad stands out in a market awash with mostly junk mid-range tablets. With no upgrades from budget tablets like the Nexus 7, Dell Place 8 7000, or the NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1, the ZenPad Z8 becomes a budget tablet you won’t want to part with in six months.
7. lenovo thinkpad x1 tablet
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When you think of a tablet, you’re usually not looking in the $1000+ territory, but that’s exactly what the thinkpad x1 tablet is. In other words, it’s obvious that Lenovo didn’t make this device for the average person, it’s for business professionals dedicated to the ThinkPad brand. the truth is that for that niche market, the 2-in-1 tablet x1 is fantastic as a machine to get the job done. Like most 12-inch tablets, the X1 Tablet is a bit large for true tablet use, but with its excellent high-resolution screen, built-in projector, and Lenovo’s proprietary stylus, its potential uses are endless. The x1 tablet may not have many takers, but those who can afford it won’t be disappointed.
6. huawei mediapad m3
We didn’t get an update to the universally loved iPad mini 4 this year, but this Huawei competitor does a great job of filling that gap. the mediapad m3 is impressive for being what it claims to be: a media consuming tablet. This 8.4-inch tablet has a beautiful, high-resolution display, perfect for lounging on the couch with your favorite Netflix show or game. A premium 8-inch Android tablet that isn’t trying to sell you a keyboard is also surprisingly hard to find these days. the mediapad has huawei’s slightly sticky android skin, but installing a google launcher can solve a lot of that.
5. lenovo yoga tab 3 pro
although we’ll be getting the tab 3 plus soon, the yoga tab 3 pro is a great little tablet, as long as you like what lenovo is doing with its tablet design language. In a way, it’s just another 8-inch Android tablet; in others, it’s unlike any other you’ve seen. simply remove the kickstand and you have the ability to project an image onto your blank wall directly from the back of the device. although it doesn’t project at 1080p or even close to 1000 lumens, the result is still impressive and unique in a remarkably small package.
4. amazon kindle (2016)
While having everything on one device is great, there are some things the Kindle can do that a traditional tablet can never do. Battery life, readability, and easy connection to Amazon’s Kindle service make it a standout product for heavy readers, especially travelers. The newer Kindle doesn’t make drastic changes to the formula, but it’s lighter and slimmer than previous models, making it much easier to carry in your bag.
3. lenovo ideapad miix 510
We didn’t get a new Surface or Surface Pro this year, which leaves the window open for a company like Lenovo to offer their alternative. At the end of this year, we got the IdeaPad Miix 510, a 2-in-1 Surface competitor that actually works well as both a laptop and a tablet. With a Core i-series processor, Windows 10, and a unique watch strap-style kickstand, the Miix 510 is built to get the real job done. Starting at just $599 (with an extra $130 for the detachable keyboard), the IdeaPad Miix 510 is the best Windows 10 2-in-1 tablet to launch in 2016.
2. pixel-c
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While technically pixel-c was released in late December, it wasn’t actually available until 2016, hence its position on this list. the pixel-c is google’s first tablet, built from the ground up by google. Replacing the Nexus tablets, Pixel-C is arguably the best designed and built Android tablet ever made. it has an all-aluminum finish, a truly innovative magnetic keyboard accessory, and a beautiful, high-resolution display.
Also, android has finally gotten better at multitasking, which makes pixel-c more useful than ever. hopefully we’ll see google update pixel-c again soon with more performance and battery life, but for now it’s the best android tablet you can buy.
1. 9.7-inch ipad pro
photo by flickr user designmilk.
In almost every way that counts, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is the long-awaited iPad Air 2. It’s the traditional iPad size, but with all the multitasking and power that comes with the massive 12.9 – inch ipad pro that means it works with the apple pencil, the new keyboard cover, and performs well, all to create a product you can maybe work on a bit.
more than any of that, though, the ipad is still the tablet of choice in a more general sense. Apple has pushed for the iPad to be the premier location for dedicated full-screen apps that are built with the iPad in mind. the hardware and design are simply the best, and with the new split-screen mode, it looks like the software is finally catching up too. In many ways, the iPad Pro is Apple following Microsoft’s lead with what it has achieved with the Surface Pro, but when built on the foundation that is the iPad, it only sweetens the deal.
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