Top 5 Android Tablets for December 2012

Not everyone wants an iPad.  Those who prefer Google's Android OS and are looking for a new tablet should look over this list of best available, compiled by the reviewers and editors of TabletPCReview.

The order was determined both by the rankings the original reviewer gave each model, but also by the opinions of the editors, who have years of experience with a wide range of mobile devices.

#1 Google Nexus 7

One of the best Android-based tablets on the market today is the recently-released Google Nexus 7, which was put out by Google to demonstrate what a tablet running its operating system could be. It has a 7-inch display, and it runs the latest version of Android on a quad-core processor.

The Google Play store offers movies, ebooks, and music for sale, as well as all types of software. Of course, that's true of all these Android-based tablets.

For all its fine qualities, the Nexus 7 is surprisingly inexpensive -- the 8GB version is just $200, and the 16GB one is only $50 more.

Read the Google Nexus 7 Review

#2 Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Samsung is now the world's largest smartphone maker, and it makes some of the best Android tablets too, which includes the Galaxy Tab 7.7.

The highlight of this tablet is its 7.7-inch display, as it uses technology that gives it unusually vivid colors, even when used out of doors. It's also exceptionally thin, and also offers decent performance, although it's not the speediest tablet around.

A version of this device can connect to Verizon's 4G LTE network, but there's also one that just uses Wi-Fi for Internet access.

Read the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 Review

#3 Acer Iconia A510

Those who like the Android OS but want something larger than the Nexus 7 can turn to the Iconia A510, which has a 10.1-inch touchscreen. It also has a quad-core processor which gives it outstanding performance.

This model also has a very long battery life -- although that's a given in this class of device. It also has a front-facing camera for video conferencing, another feature common on good tablets.

Read the Acer Iconia A510 Review

#4 Sony Tablet S

Sony is working hard to break into the tablet market, and the Tablet S fits easily into the category of "good first try". It was a bit buggy when it was introduced, but an upgrade to Android 4.0 smoothed things out a bit, so it probably deserves a slightly higher Reviewer's Ranking. Still, the device is a bit thicker than some might like in a tablet.

Read the Sony Tablet S Review

Reviewer's Ranking: 7.0*

#5 Samsung Galaxy Note

The Galaxy Note is a bit of an odd duck simply because its 5.3-inch screen makes it so much smaller than most other tablets. Still, it's bigger than what many consider a smartphone, and it offers many of the features of a tablet plus something they don't: pocketablility.

This device has sold by the million, and it's the only model on this list to come with a stylus and the software to make it useful. If you like the concept but want something larger, the Galaxy Note 10.1 is expected soon.

This device is available from AT&T and T-Mobile.  It can also be purchased unlocked.

Read the Samsung Galaxy Note Review

* Average score based on individual review ratings