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So, where can one go for a well-made Android tablet these days? Is Samsung the only game in town? The Amazon tablets aren't that great. A few years ago, my par

So, where can one go for a well-made Android tablet these days? Is Samsung the only game in town? The Amazon tablets aren't that great. A few years ago, my parents bought Nexus 7 tablets to use as e-readers and for games. At the time, they were obviously the best small Android tablets and the purchase was a no-brainer. If they broke today, I'm not sure what I could recommend as a replacement.

sarcher 9y ago
I am also interested in a Nexus 7 replacement recommendation.
- wpietri 9y ago
  Me too! I have the Nvidia shield and it's ok. But it's getting to where I need to replace it and I keep not finding any good options.
- mlvljr 9y ago
  Mine would be Huawei Mediapad m3 lite 8 (just ordered, to pick up tomorrow).
- Macha 9y ago
  The Nvidia shield tablet, but thats also discontinued (and won't be replaced as it's too close to the switch they're making the SoC for for Nintendo now).
- arunc 9y ago
  Me too! I just returned Amazon Fire HD as it was not even close to Nexus 7!
- izacus 9y ago
  I'm using an ASUS ZenPad 3 8.0. It has a decent screen, USB-C, front speakers, SD card slot and LTE. The 625 CPU and 2GB of RAM kinda limit the performance (3GB version is only available in US), but it's a pretty good upgrade for Nexus 7.
  - icebraining 9y ago
    I can find the 4GB version in my European country (regular shops, not imported stuff).
    - izacus 9y ago
      Nice, I couldn't find anything on Amazon.de and similar. :/
      - icebraining 9y ago
        Yeah, seems like only my country got it for some reason. If you're interested, it's the Z581KL-1A042A model, there are a few shops selling it, but I don't know if any ship to other countries.
revelation 9y ago
How are they still using the Nexus 7? I mean, mine didn't outright break, but it sure as hell doesn't have a remotely usable performance. Something with the storage in them degenerating to the point of a cassette drive.
- twblalock 9y ago
  They are still working perfectly. I haven't heard any complaints. My parents are probably nowhere close to filling up the storage, though.
- pricechild 9y ago
  The original model (2012) was pretty terrible as you mention. The 2013 (with rear facing camera) is still more than usable. I'm more than happy and have bought several over the years. (Rough environments, but £50 used on ebay is doable)
- krzyk 9y ago
  Yes, it slows down quite a bit (2012 model), but it still is the best tablet I've seen. I don't want any manufacturer "features" on Android, I just want a pure Android experience. And also looking for a replacement for my parents aging Nexus 7.
- frou_dh 9y ago
  I had a Nexus 7 (2012) that was barely ever used. Even that became comically slow as dirt. Was really an eye-opener about how bad a lack of attention from a vendor can be. They'd moved onto the next thing and evidently did not care one iota.
- Keyframe 9y ago
  I have that last model of Nexus 7 and it still works wonderfully. I love that thing to death. If it had SD slot, it would be perfect. However, there's OTG - so, until it breaks it's wonderful.
lighttower 9y ago
Likewise here. We use it for recipes in the kitchen and baby video monitor. Want a stock Android tablet.
meneame2 9y ago
Plus, the Pixel C had so much potential for a dream portable Linux machine. It was designed as a ChromeOS device, with Coreboot. But they locked the bootloader before launching with Android.
wvenable 9y ago
I have a first gen Samsung S 8.4 tablet and it's miles better than my Nexus 7. I wouldn't hesitate to get another one if my current one broke. It doesn't get anything in the way of OS updates anymore but that hasn't been a problem. Everything works as well as when as I bought it.
chucky_z 9y ago
Lenovo's tablets are quite solid. I've been using a Lenovo Yoga Tab 2 for a year or two now quite happily.
- hsitz 9y ago
  In particular the Lenovo Yoga Book is excellent design and build quality. You can get new ones with Android (rather than Windows) on ebay for about $230. The device is a 2-in-1 with keyboard permanently attached, which some will find a plus and some a con. 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 1.5 lbs, premium build, upgradeable to Android Nougat: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/12/lenovo-yoga-book-review-a-keyless-keyboard-that-will-get-you-talking-not-typing/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/12/lenovo-yoga-book-rev...
DrScump 9y ago
I'm quite happy with my Samsung Galaxy Tab A.
- SyneRyder 9y ago
  I'm also really happy with my Tab A 8.0 with S-Pen. I thought a smaller tablet with active pen features & microSD slot for ~$225 USD was a bargain, definitely made the iPad Pro look ridiculously overpriced. Unfortunately it seems Samsung never sold the 8" S-Pen model in the US, and have discontinued the S-Pen on the 2017 8" models. It's still on the 10" model though.
notatoad 9y ago
The amazon tablets aren't great, but if you're just using them for games they're plenty good enough. Especially at $50-80.
- rplnt 9y ago
  I was finally about to buy one this week, and the price was double from a week ago. For me it was from 59EUR to 109EUR.
LeoPanthera 9y ago
Asus ZenPad 3S 10
nickysielicki 9y ago
a Samsung Chromebook Plus. Runs all the familiar Android apps.
- jacksmith21006 9y ago
  Gave my wife a Samsung CB plus and she loves it for Animal Crossing with the stylus.
jo909 9y ago
I recently bought a Lenovo Tab 8 Plus as a Nexus 7 replacement, and am fairly happy with it. The screen is excellent and sound is good. It's slightly bigger, but I got used to that quickly. I disliked the slippery glass back, but a homemade skin (plastic stickyback film) worked great.
- mschwaig 9y ago
  I did the same thing. Totally agree with your comment. The glass back is ridiculously impractical and makes the Tab4 8 Plus slip down from furniture a lot. If anyone wants to get that tablet make sure to get some sort of case for it. Otherwise it's a decent device and Android feels very close to stock except for a few unnecessary Lenovo apps you can't remove and the software update app which seems to be customized unnecessarily and a little poorly as well.
- joekrill 9y ago
  Also a Nexus 7 user, moved to a Shield, and more recently I bought the regular (not "Plus") variant and I'm also fairly happy with it. It's no gaming tablet (maybe the Plus is?) but I mostly just use it for reading - be it ebooks, websites, or news.
russdill 9y ago
I'd pay an absolute premium for a vanilla Android LTE tablet with up to date hardware.

sarcher 9y ago

I am also interested in a Nexus 7 replacement recommendation.

wpietri 9y ago
Me too! I have the Nvidia shield and it's ok. But it's getting to where I need to replace it and I keep not finding any good options.
mlvljr 9y ago
Mine would be Huawei Mediapad m3 lite 8 (just ordered, to pick up tomorrow).
Macha 9y ago
The Nvidia shield tablet, but thats also discontinued (and won't be replaced as it's too close to the switch they're making the SoC for for Nintendo now).
arunc 9y ago
Me too! I just returned Amazon Fire HD as it was not even close to Nexus 7!
izacus 9y ago
I'm using an ASUS ZenPad 3 8.0. It has a decent screen, USB-C, front speakers, SD card slot and LTE. The 625 CPU and 2GB of RAM kinda limit the performance (3GB version is only available in US), but it's a pretty good upgrade for Nexus 7.
- icebraining 9y ago
  I can find the 4GB version in my European country (regular shops, not imported stuff).
  - izacus 9y ago
    Nice, I couldn't find anything on Amazon.de and similar. :/
    - icebraining 9y ago
      Yeah, seems like only my country got it for some reason. If you're interested, it's the Z581KL-1A042A model, there are a few shops selling it, but I don't know if any ship to other countries.

revelation 9y ago

How are they still using the Nexus 7? I mean, mine didn't outright break, but it sure as hell doesn't have a remotely usable performance. Something with the storage in them degenerating to the point of a cassette drive.

twblalock 9y ago
They are still working perfectly. I haven't heard any complaints. My parents are probably nowhere close to filling up the storage, though.
pricechild 9y ago
The original model (2012) was pretty terrible as you mention. The 2013 (with rear facing camera) is still more than usable. I'm more than happy and have bought several over the years. (Rough environments, but £50 used on ebay is doable)
krzyk 9y ago
Yes, it slows down quite a bit (2012 model), but it still is the best tablet I've seen. I don't want any manufacturer "features" on Android, I just want a pure Android experience. And also looking for a replacement for my parents aging Nexus 7.
frou_dh 9y ago
I had a Nexus 7 (2012) that was barely ever used. Even that became comically slow as dirt. Was really an eye-opener about how bad a lack of attention from a vendor can be. They'd moved onto the next thing and evidently did not care one iota.
Keyframe 9y ago
I have that last model of Nexus 7 and it still works wonderfully. I love that thing to death. If it had SD slot, it would be perfect. However, there's OTG - so, until it breaks it's wonderful.

lighttower 9y ago

Likewise here. We use it for recipes in the kitchen and baby video monitor. Want a stock Android tablet.

meneame2 9y ago

Plus, the Pixel C had so much potential for a dream portable Linux machine. It was designed as a ChromeOS device, with Coreboot. But they locked the bootloader before launching with Android.

wvenable 9y ago

I have a first gen Samsung S 8.4 tablet and it's miles better than my Nexus 7. I wouldn't hesitate to get another one if my current one broke. It doesn't get anything in the way of OS updates anymore but that hasn't been a problem. Everything works as well as when as I bought it.

chucky_z 9y ago

Lenovo's tablets are quite solid. I've been using a Lenovo Yoga Tab 2 for a year or two now quite happily.

hsitz 9y ago
In particular the Lenovo Yoga Book is excellent design and build quality. You can get new ones with Android (rather than Windows) on ebay for about $230. The device is a 2-in-1 with keyboard permanently attached, which some will find a plus and some a con. 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 1.5 lbs, premium build, upgradeable to Android Nougat: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/12/lenovo-yoga-book-review-a-keyless-keyboard-that-will-get-you-talking-not-typing/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/12/lenovo-yoga-book-rev...

DrScump 9y ago

I'm quite happy with my Samsung Galaxy Tab A.

SyneRyder 9y ago
I'm also really happy with my Tab A 8.0 with S-Pen. I thought a smaller tablet with active pen features & microSD slot for ~$225 USD was a bargain, definitely made the iPad Pro look ridiculously overpriced. Unfortunately it seems Samsung never sold the 8" S-Pen model in the US, and have discontinued the S-Pen on the 2017 8" models. It's still on the 10" model though.

notatoad 9y ago

The amazon tablets aren't great, but if you're just using them for games they're plenty good enough. Especially at $50-80.

rplnt 9y ago
I was finally about to buy one this week, and the price was double from a week ago. For me it was from 59EUR to 109EUR.

LeoPanthera 9y ago

Asus ZenPad 3S 10

nickysielicki 9y ago

a Samsung Chromebook Plus. Runs all the familiar Android apps.

jacksmith21006 9y ago
Gave my wife a Samsung CB plus and she loves it for Animal Crossing with the stylus.

jo909 9y ago

I recently bought a Lenovo Tab 8 Plus as a Nexus 7 replacement, and am fairly happy with it. The screen is excellent and sound is good. It's slightly bigger, but I got used to that quickly. I disliked the slippery glass back, but a homemade skin (plastic stickyback film) worked great.

mschwaig 9y ago
I did the same thing. Totally agree with your comment. The glass back is ridiculously impractical and makes the Tab4 8 Plus slip down from furniture a lot. If anyone wants to get that tablet make sure to get some sort of case for it. Otherwise it's a decent device and Android feels very close to stock except for a few unnecessary Lenovo apps you can't remove and the software update app which seems to be customized unnecessarily and a little poorly as well.
joekrill 9y ago
Also a Nexus 7 user, moved to a Shield, and more recently I bought the regular (not "Plus") variant and I'm also fairly happy with it. It's no gaming tablet (maybe the Plus is?) but I mostly just use it for reading - be it ebooks, websites, or news.

russdill 9y ago

I'd pay an absolute premium for a vanilla Android LTE tablet with up to date hardware.