Android Tablets that Rock in 2012!

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The following is a list of what we think are the  android tablets that are available in 2012. We will regularly update and change this list as new tablets are released and we get more time to test these tablets to the extreme.

The iPad may be the tablet that gets all the press, but it’s definitely not the only game in town. There are already plenty of Android tablets on the market, and some of them can beat the iPad at least with raw technology specifications.

The interfaces on these Android tablets are all user friendly (especially if you have used an android phone), so you won’t be faced with mystification when you unpack it from the box. You can get various models in full-sized 10 inch versions, as well as 7 inch and 5 inch sizes. They also come with different data-crunching capabilities, battery types, and amounts of RAM. Since there’s no one Android tablet that’s right for everyone. Here is our current list in order of greatness.

Feel free to add your own experiences in the comment section at the end of this article!

1. ASUS Eee-Pad Transformer

If you’ve been impressed with the low cost / high functionality of ASUS netbooks, you’ll like the new ASUS Eee-Pad Transformer. The Eee pad is one of the best value android tablets due to the fact that it comes with a easy detachable keyboard.  The Transformer has a 10.1 inch 1280 x 800 touch screen and is powered by Nvidia Tegra processors running Android 3.0. The Transformer has a docking option with a full QWERTY keyboard while the Slider has, surprise! A sliding keyboard. Both come with a 5 MP LED flash camera on the back and a 1.2 MP camera on the front.

The Detachable keyboard is awesome and even comes with a trackpad that works with the tablet screen! If you are ever going to do any amount of work on your tablet then this is the perfect option for you. You can even set the options to “desktop” mode and you will view websites in their full glory as you would with your laptop (including flash!)

The current verion runs Honeycomb 3.1 so has support for both PS3 and Xbox 360 controllers so portable gaming is a possibility. On the downside it’s a little weighty but if your looking for a “computer” like experience then this tablet beats the iPad handsdown!

Read the full: Asus EEE-Pad Transformer Review

More information from Asus.com

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Updated!)

UK price £400

US Price $500

The story doing the rounds at the moment is that Samsung engineers were locked away from their loved ones until they produced a tablet just like the iPad. If this story is to be believed it looks like they took their instructions literally and copied everything including the decision to leave out USB ports and a HDMI connection. Having said that Samsung have produced a smooth stylish minimal product that will certainly turn the heads of those who believe apple are miles ahead when it comes to aesthetics. Under the hood the Galaxy 10.1 boasts a 1GH Nvida Tegra 2 dual core processor, Android 3.1 Honeycomb OS, 3MP rear camera with LED flash, 2MP front, 3G (optional), Wifi and GPS with an impressive 9 hour battery life. The tablet itself is thinner and lighter than the iPad but all this comes at a cost as the graphics and controls can seem a little sluggish in comparison.

3. Motorola Xoom

The Motorola Xoom has two times the processing power of the iPad, cameras front and rear, Flash support, and the ability to make video calls. Does Motorola envision this as the iPad killer? That’s definitely what Motorola is gunning for here. The iPad does have a larger selection of apps, but how long that will be the case is uncertain. Android apps are catching up handily these days.

If the Android fans coalesce around the Xoom (which will run the latest Android OS, called Honeycomb), it could give Apple a real challenge. The fact that it won the Best Gadget award at the 2011 CES can’t hurt. Any new iPad will definitely have to live up to the hardware specs of this tablet to compete. The Xoom was released Feb. 17, 2011 and costs $800. The Xoom will operate on Verizon’s network and will be upgradeable to 4G in the second quarter of 2011. Later units will be 4G by default. It doesn’t look like a WiFi-only version will be available, since all photos show a Verizon logo on the device.

Read the full: Motorola Xoom Review

More information from Motorola.com

4. Acer Iconia A500

The Acer Iconia tab is a big  Android 3.0 contender and feels very Xoom is in it’s look and hardware. It has been released with a 1GHZ Tegra 250 Dual-Core and has 1GIG of RAM.  The Iconia has full flash support but we have still heard of a few glitches with the operating system that we hope will be ironed out in future updates.

Acer is supposed to put out a 7 inch version too, which will also support Flash, but it will use the Qualcomm dual core CPU. Early reviews indicate that these offerings will be big on media and game play, so they will likely rival the iPad as a media consumption device for the game or video fan.

Overall the Iconia A500 is not perfect but it’s one of more tasty tablet offerings for 2011.

Read the full: Acer Iconia A500 Review

5. Samsung Galaxy Tab 4G

The 4G version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab should be coming soon. Right now current Galaxy Tabs are available on Verizon. The ones sold today run Android 2.2, but models to be released later in 2011 will come with the Honeycomb version of the Android OS. The Galaxy Tab has a 1.3 MP camera in front and a 5 MP camera in back. It runs on a 1.2 GHz Hummingbird processor. It also works as a portable WiFi hotspot for up to 5 devices. One drawback is that it can bog down when it’s running Flash apps

Read the full: Samsung Galaxy Tab Review

More information from Samsungmobile.com

6. Dell Streak 7

You’ve been able to get the 5 inch Dell Streak 5 for awhile, but new 7 and 10 inch versions are scheduled to drop sometime this year. The Dell 5 is a little powerhouse that uses a Snapdragon processor. The 7 and 10 inch versions will be powered by dual-core Tegra processors, and they promise to be fast and powerful as well. All Dell Streak sizes are fronted with sturdy Gorilla Glass and come set up with WiFi, Bluetooth, and support for Flash 10.1

Read the full: Dell Streak 7 Review

More information at Dell.com

7. Toshiba Thrive Android 3.0 Tablet

The Toshiba Thrive tablet costing just under $500 is a worth alternative to the iPad 2. This new Toshiba offering looks like it can keep up nicely in terms of technology. It will have a Tegra 2 processor, and a 1280 x 800 10.1 inch display screen. It will also feature just about every slot you can think of: mini USB, full USB, full sized HDMI, and full sized SD. You almost expect it to have a slot to make toast! The Toshiba Android 3.0 tablet should be available through Sprint.

Update: The tablet is now released at Amazon at $479

More information from Thetoshibatablet.com

8. Toshiba Folio

This is another competitor that will keep Apple on its toes in the coming year. Like the Galaxy Tab, the Folio looks like another great iPad alternative. It has a 10.1 inch, multi-touch capacity screen with 1024 x 600 resolution, and 16 GB of internal storage. Powered by the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, which runs at 1 GHz, the Folio will run the Android 2.2 OS. The Toshiba Folio looks like it’s going to be one of the more upscale Android alternatives to the iPad. Some tech people have questioned the use of the Li-ion 1020 mAH battery in this tablet. They claim a 7 hour battery life, but with this scorcher of a processor, is that reasonable to expect? Guess we’ll find out.

More information from Engadget.com

Update – still no word on a release date – but we will keep checking.

9. Archos 7 Home Tablet

This tablet has actually been around for awhile, having been released in June 2010. That means reviewers have had more of a chance to play with it than a lot of the other Android tablets. It’s smaller than the iPad, with a 7 inch screen, but for many reasons it’s a great Android alternate to the iPad. The Archos 7 has 800 x 480 resolution that uses a TFT (thin film transistor) LCD screen. It has a 600 MHz, Arm9 Rockchip RK2808 processor inside and runs Android 1.5. It’s not the latest Android OS, but it’s stable and looks great. It does use resistive single touch technology, which is a bit out of step with the capacitive multi-touch technology that so many devices use today.

You can actually get a smaller Archos 5 (5 inch screen) tablet that uses a Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 processor that runs at 800 MHz. If you’re used to this kind of speed, the Archos 7 may feel a little poky, depending on what apps you’re using. Pricewise, both the Archos offerings are hard to beat. The Archos 5 is about $250, while the Archos 7 is around $200.

Read the full: Archos 7 Review

More information from Archos.com

9. iPad 2

Yes it’s not Android but no list for 2011 tablets would be complete without at least a mention to the iPad 2. Whilst it pains me to say it, the iPad 2 is still the most attractive table to buy today. If you are used to the Apple iPhone then you will find using the iPad a breeze to use. Usability has a been a key force for Apple and the iPad is no exception. However for customization the iPad is really lacking when compared to it’s Android flavoured cousins. With Honeycomb you can adjust all aspects of the operating system with ease. In comparison you are pretty much locked down to the Apple standard. However it is the apps that really puts the iPad above the majority of Android tablets.. there are way more to choose from. In time, the Android app marketplace will catch up but for now.. if your an app fanatic then stick with the iPad 2.

There’s no question that tablets are where it’s at today. Some of these tablets work better for producers of content, while others work better for consumers of content. All have their strengths and weaknesses, but all could seriously ramp up the competition on Apple in 2011 and expand the tablet market into even more hands. If you know of any top Android tablets coming out in 2011 that I’ve missed, please feel free to drop me a line in the comments so I can go check them out. And if you happen to own any of the above models, please let us know your experiences with them.