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6 iPad Air 2 alternatives worth the sweat of your brow

posted by Luis D. / Oct 20, 2014, 9:59 AM

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

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49 Comments

1. ArtSim98

Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

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

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:02 AM 15

6. hmd74

Posts: 540; Member since: Jan 31, 2013

Nope...

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:17 AM 1

13. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Yup...

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:43 AM 3

21. jaytai0106

Posts: 1888; Member since: Mar 30, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 11:52 AM 3

2. Tritinum

Posts: 471; Member since: May 06, 2014

All Hail Nexus!

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:08 AM 19

3. Twisted247

Posts: 282; Member since: Oct 12, 2012

Great article, well researched. And well presented.

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:12 AM 1

7. sipha

Posts: 440; Member since: May 12, 2012

Seemed pretty average to me!!

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:30 AM 7

24. The-Sailor-Man

Posts: 1095; Member since: Mar 25, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 12:37 PM 4

4. hmd74

Posts: 540; Member since: Jan 31, 2013

Nexus for me!

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:14 AM 5

5. ihavenoname

Posts: 1693; Member since: Aug 18, 2013

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

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:17 AM 2

8. Napalm_3nema

Posts: 2236; Member since: Jun 14, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 10:40 AM 0

14. alumoyo

Posts: 391; Member since: Aug 26, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 10:55 AM 1

33. slh163

Posts: 140; Member since: May 19, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 1:55 PM 1

41. Napalm_3nema

Posts: 2236; Member since: Jun 14, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 3:15 PM 0

9. WHoyton1

Posts: 1635; Member since: Feb 21, 2013

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

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:40 AM 6

20. bucky

Posts: 3783; Member since: Sep 30, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 11:33 AM 2

42. newbey123

Posts: 701; Member since: Mar 19, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 3:26 PM 0

10. HTCOE

Posts: 650; Member since: Nov 20, 2011

Nexus 9 FTW

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:42 AM 4

11. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

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

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 10:43 AM 6

18. shuaibhere

Posts: 1986; Member since: Jul 07, 2012

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

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 11:14 AM 0

27. The-Sailor-Man

Posts: 1095; Member since: Mar 25, 2014

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

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 12:42 PM 1

37. HTCOE

Posts: 650; Member since: Nov 20, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 2:50 PM 1

38. The-Sailor-Man

Posts: 1095; Member since: Mar 25, 2014

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

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 3:06 PM 1

12. greenelektron

Posts: 537; Member since: Sep 10, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 10:43 AM 3

16. jack123

Posts: 278; Member since: Jan 07, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 11:10 AM 0

40. The-Sailor-Man

Posts: 1095; Member since: Mar 25, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 3:13 PM 0

43. jack123

Posts: 278; Member since: Jan 07, 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 Oct 20, 2014, 4:10 PM 1

44. bob_monkeywarts unregistered

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

posted on Oct 20, 2014, 7:02 PM 0

15. shuaibhere

Posts: 1986; Member since: Jul 07, 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....