The iPad Air 2 has just been unveiled and we know everything about it. In a nutshell: it’s 18% thinner, 40% faster and overall great. It sure will make a good chunk of you happy, but many of us are simply not that into it.
Maybe the device doesn’t convince you. Or maybe you would just prefer not to use iOS! What are the best alternatives for the iPad Air 2? We have put together a very neat list of the best available options out there, so let’s jump into all the juicy details.
Nexus 9
We put the Nexus 9 against the iPad Mini 3, and now we are comparing it to the almighty iPad Air 2. Why? Well, the 9-inch Google tablet sits in a very comfortable area to compete with both form factors. It’s small enough to compete with the Mini, yet large enough to make it a good contestant for the Air.
This tablet is powerful, well built and designed to turn some heads. It’s a great device and you could never do wrong purchasing it instead of an iPad Air 2. It literally sports the same 2048x1536p resolution we see in the iPad Air 2’s Retina Display, but in a slightly smaller size (more PPI).
It’s also quite powerful, sporting an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16-32 GB of internal storage and Android 5.0 Lollipop. It’s a beast, and at $399 it’s also cheaper than the iPad Air 2.
Sadly, the device is not launched yet. We are expecting a November 3rd release, so stay tuned for more details.
Nexus 9 – All the Colors
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)
Samsung may not be known for the best build quality, but in other departments it matches, and sometimes beats, Apple. Its 10.1-inch screen has a higher definition at 2560x1600p, for example.
This Galaxy Note 10.1 also comes with a Samsung Exynos Octa processor, 3 GB of RAM, 16-32 GB of internal storage, an 8 MP camera and more. It’s quite a beast, but it is priced very similarly to the iPad Air 2. It’s not cheap!
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition (32GB, Black)
Price: $280.00
80 used & new available from $280.00
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5
Not a fan of the Galaxy Note 10.1? Let’s take a look at Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S 10.5. Though I am not much of a Samsung fan, I couldn’t help but be surprised by what Samsung did with the Galaxy Tab S line-up this year.
This one is built surprisingly well, considering it’s a Samsung device. It also has specs and power to throw around! Its 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen is no joke, featuring a 2560x1600p resolution.
Other specs include an Exynos 5 Octa 5420, 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage. 8 MP/2.1MP cameras and a fingerprint reader. I believe it may be the closest device you can get to an iPad Air 2, really.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5-Inch Tablet (16 GB, Titanium Bronze)
Price: $395.51
36 used & new available from $395.51
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
It may be a little bigger at 12 inches, but the brand new Surface tablet may be worth the extra load. Unlike Android and iOS, this Windows 8.1 tablet is a full-fledged computer. It can run any PC program and works great as a media tablet – it will offer the best of both worlds.
Its screen is also nothing to scoff at, with a 2160x1440p resolution. You can also make this tablet much more powerful. You can choose between Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, as well as 64-512 GB of internal storage and 4-8 GB of RAM.
This is a full-on computer, so keep in mind it will also be priced like one. This tablet definitely doesn’t start at $500.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (128 GB, Intel Core i5)
Price: $948.35
75 used & new available from $948.35
ASUS Transformer Book T100
Now, if what you are looking for is an affordable Windows tablet, my favorite is the ASUS Transformer Book T100. It will cost you less than an iPad Air 2 and will offer more in terms of functionality.
The specs are not beastly, but you do get Windows 8.1 and an included physical keyboard. Which, by the way, you can also upgrade to have an extra hard drive. This thing is awesome.
Specs include an Intel Baytrail processor, 2 GB of RAM, 32-64 GB of internal storage and a 10.1-inch 1366x768p resolution. The latter spec is probably the main downside here. The iPad Air 2 has a great Retina Display, but the T100 is a great device for those who worry more about other factors. ASUS’ tablet can be both a fun device, as well as a work tool.
ASUS Transformer Book T100TAM-C1-GM 10.1″ Detachable 2-in-1 Touchscreen Laptop, 64GB (Grey Metal)
Price: $374.00
23 used & new available from
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