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6 iPad Air 2 alternatives worth the sweat of your brow

6 iPad Air 2 alternatives worth the sweat of your brow

Posted: 20 Oct 2014, 09:59 , posted by Luis D.

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6 iPad Air 2 alternatives worth the sweat of your brow

The iPad Air 2 might be the best iPad ever, but it certainly isn't the be-all and end-all of tablets everywhere. If you are dead set on buying Apple's hero tab, go ahead - you are making a fine purchase.

But if you'd like to make a better educated decision and possibly save some money, check out these six Android (and Windows)-powered alternatives. They are mostly pleasing to the eye (although not quite as illustrious as the iPad Air 2), have the specs to match, and take photography just as seriously by virtue if their 8-megapixel cameras.

Behold, six fine alternatives to the iPad Air 2:

iPad Air 2 alternatives

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

Xiaomi MiPad

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5

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+ 3 images

iPad Air 2 alternatives

Do you know what was world's thinnest tablet before the iPad Air 2 showed up and wowed everyone with its 6.1mm profile? Yep, it was the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact! With its 0.25-inch (6.4mm) profile at a weight of only 9.52 oz (270 g), it is still the sleekest, lightest Android tablet out there. It has an 8-inch display with a 1920x1200 resolution, flagship hardware (Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, expandable storage), and a 8.1MP rear camera that takes tablet photography just as seriously as the iPad Air 2 does. The waterproofing is the icing on the cake. The price starts from $499.

$210.59 Apple iPad Air 2 on Amazon

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49 Comments

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posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:02 15

1. ArtSim98 (Posts: 3535; Member since: 21 Dec 2012)

Shouldn't the Z2 Tablet be here and Z3 Tablet Compact for iPad Mini 3?

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:17 1

6. hmd74 (Posts: 532; Member since: 31 Jan 2013)

Nope...

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:43 3

13. xperiaDROID (banned) (Posts: 5629; Member since: 08 Mar 2013)

Yup...

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 11:52 3

21. jaytai0106 (Posts: 1888; Member since: 30 Mar 2011)

I think you are right. Beside Z3 Tablet Compact should never get compared to the iPad at all. Let's put both tablets in the water then we can talk :P

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:08 19

2. Tritinum (Posts: 471; Member since: 06 May 2014)

All Hail Nexus!

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:12 1

3. Twisted247 (Posts: 282; Member since: 12 Oct 2012)

Great article, well researched. And well presented.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:30 7

7. sipha (Posts: 439; Member since: 12 May 2012)

Seemed pretty average to me!!

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 12:37 4

24. The-Sailor-Man (banned) (Posts: 1095; Member since: 25 Mar 2014)

The right title should be :
"6 Tab S alternatives worth the sweat of your brow".... if the article was honest.

But the tech media have special tactic and aim.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:14 5

4. hmd74 (Posts: 532; Member since: 31 Jan 2013)

Nexus for me!

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:17 2

5. ihavenoname (Posts: 1693; Member since: 18 Aug 2013)

iPad Mini 2? Great device, and I'd say that pretty decent value now when price is cheaper.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:40

8. Napalm_3nema (Posts: 2236; Member since: 14 Jun 2013)

I had my black Nexus 9 queued up to buy last night until I glanced at the battery spec: 6700 mAH. That's 76% of the size of the iPad Air, with power-hungry 28nm Denver cores under the hood. Battery life is going to blow. I quickly nixed that idea.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:55 1

14. alumoyo (Posts: 388; Member since: 26 Aug 2013)

I was also surprised by the small battery. The difference with the iPad Air 2 is a just too big to ignore.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 13:55 1

33. slh163 (Posts: 140; Member since: 19 May 2014)

but also the screen size is about 1 inch smaller than ipad aire so...
i think we should wait for battery test first

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 15:15

41. Napalm_3nema (Posts: 2236; Member since: 14 Jun 2013)

The .8 will make a small difference, but I don't have any faith that the Denver cores will be anywhere near as efficient as the A7, or else they would have shipped the Nexus 6 with a Denver derivative.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:40 6

9. WHoyton1 (Posts: 1635; Member since: 21 Feb 2013)

Nexus 9 is the only one i would consider to get over an iPad Air 2 i have to say.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 11:33 2

20. bucky (Posts: 3723; Member since: 30 Sep 2009)

I would have to agree and also include the nvidia shield tablet.

My gaming computer is upstairs and I would like to be able to play on the big screen in the family room occasionally. I'm worried about the latency issues though.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 15:26

42. newbey123 (Posts: 678; Member since: 19 Mar 2012)

Yes, the Nexus 9 is really the only serious iPad competitor. Its got best design, build, UI, all around best tablet available if want and android experience. Good job HTC/Google.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:42 4

10. HTCOE (Posts: 650; Member since: 20 Nov 2011)

Nexus 9 FTW

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:43 6

11. xperiaDROID (banned) (Posts: 5629; Member since: 08 Mar 2013)

Nexus 9! The Nex big thing for Us is here!

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 11:14

18. shuaibhere (Posts: 1986; Member since: 07 Jul 2012)

The next big thing is already there in US
...but not here in india...

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 12:42 1

27. The-Sailor-Man (banned) (Posts: 1095; Member since: 25 Mar 2014)

Buying Nexus 9 instead of Tab S is masochism, or ignorance, or dumb patriotism

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 14:50 1

37. HTCOE (Posts: 650; Member since: 20 Nov 2011)

hecky naw!...how about you enjoy your Tab S...the user experience is crappy imo i dont care about all of the bells & whistles i'll never use

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 15:06 1

38. The-Sailor-Man (banned) (Posts: 1095; Member since: 25 Mar 2014)

"the user experience is crappy....(blah, blah)"

ROTFL

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 10:43 3

12. greenelektron (Posts: 537; Member since: 10 Sep 2014)

If you're an Apple fan, ipad mini 2 is really a good deal st $299. Otherwise get the nexus 9. I'll go for thr nexus.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 11:10

16. jack123 (Posts: 271; Member since: 07 Jan 2013)

If you're a fandroid, any high-end android tablets are alternate to ipad Air 2.
If you like jungle then amazon tablet also an option.
If you like the finger print thing maybe ipad Air2 or mini 3.
BTW if it's only you who is using the tablet just go with your preference, but if it's for family use maybe you can pick one that the easiest to use.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 15:13

40. The-Sailor-Man (banned) (Posts: 1095; Member since: 25 Mar 2014)

..... but if you want the best, you can pick Tab S.
And no need to be a rocket scientist to use it. Even you can manage. LOL

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 16:10 1

43. jack123 (Posts: 271; Member since: 07 Jan 2013)

Tab S just ur ideal tablet but not the rest. If u said the best it would be MS surface pro 3, that the fact( if price not a problem), and you should not complain about 4g or LTE because there are many tiny USB Broadband that u can use it on the go.
It's just come consumers preference like availability, prices and customer services.

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 19:02

44. bob_monkeywarts (unregistered)

So what you are saying is that you should get the Nexus unless you are an Apple fanboy?

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 11:08

15. shuaibhere (Posts: 1986; Member since: 07 Jul 2012)

"If you are dead set on
buying Apple's hero tab, go ahead -
you are making a fine purchase.
But if you'd like to make a better
educated decision "
This one made me lol....

posted on 20 Oct 2014, 11:12 1

17. shuaibhere (Posts: 1986; Member since: 07 Jul 2012)

I would like to take either mipad or nexus 9 if it's available in india....
But I'll have to wait....