The Best Android Tablets

Android tablets had a rocky start, but as Google continues to refine its mobile operating system, we're finally seeing a steady flow of high-quality Android Tablet pc. And that's a good thing, since they provide viable alternatives to the Apple iPad, which has dominated the tablet market since its first release in early 2010. One of the major benefits of Android over the iPad, is that instead of a single hardware choice, you can access the OS on a number of tablets in different sizes with varied designs.

The only hitch there: There isn't a single version of Android. The latest iteration, Jelly Bean, adds so many valuable improvements that it's our Editors' Choice for mobile operating systems. It's the best Android yet, especially with the tweaks in the 4.2.2 update, and you can get it on Google's own Nexus tablets, but it's not yet widely available on other tablets. Android has notorious problems with timely OS updates.

Still, even if you don't have the latest OS iteration—or an Android variation à la Amazon Kindle Fire or Barnes & Noble Nook—Android continues to be the most configurable tablet operating system you'll find. It's a master multitasker with an excellent notification system, and top-notch integration with Google services like Gmail, Google Chat, and Google Maps. There still aren't as many tablet-specific apps as you'll find for the tablet pc android 4.0 iPad, but slowly, that's changing.