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Best Tablet?
- Thread starter Trackr
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heatlesssun
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Agreed, you really don't need much in the way of hardware to play tablet oriented games on any of the major platforms. Windows devices and the wrinkle of being able to play some desktop games locally. There are a good number of older games that run pretty well even on cheap Windows tablets at the lowest settings, however modern Windows desktop games will struggle on even the most powerful Windows tablets as they all use Intel IGPs. Except the Razor tablet I believe if that's still available.
What's your budget?
From those definitions, you're most likely looking at an iPad Air 2 or the original iPad Air, although that means paying $400 to $500 (more if you want above 16GB of space). The Nexus 9 is fast and generally well-done for $400, but it's juuuust at the edge of the 9-inch space. I'd steer clear of Samsung for now, since the Galaxy Tab Pro is old, and the Tab S is slower than that -- maybe there'll be refreshes in February.
One thing to remember: it's still true that iOS tends to get more of the nicer tablet-native games first. The gap isn't always huge, but it's there. It took several weeks after the iOS release for Monument Valley to hit Android, for example. You'll also occasionally run into quality iOS exclusives like Revolution 60 or Vainglory.My main concern is just what you mean by gaming. You'd want something like an iPad Air 2 or Nexus 9 if you want something that's great for the latest 3D games, but basic 2D stuff can easily be handled by cheaper hardware.
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I'd rather have the biggest screen possible. That's why I'm considering getting the Yoga 2 or a different 2-in-1 tablet/laptop.
Do I have to choose? I mean, can't I just get an Android tablet and install Windows 8 on it? I thought Windows 8 supported any ARM CPU.
Not sure which one to choose if I was forced to. I've got a Nexus 5, so I'm kind of covered on the Android side, but I don't really need more Windows 8.. I've got it on every device I own.
I'm just doing the usual survery right now. That way I'll know whether I should spend $300-400 now or save up for somethiing better.
Oh, wow. That's a good piece of advise right there.
I was actually considering the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, since it meets all my criteria (or at least seemed to); 10.5", 2560x1600, Octo-Core, etc.
I don't know if I can go back to iOS after using Android phones for the past 3 years..
I mean, I loved my iPhone 4 when it came out, because it was the best.. but I've kind of outgrown the simplistic interface, expensive build quality and ever since the iPhone 6, the lackluster design choices.
Maybe it's because I haven't used iOS in such a long time that I don't know what I'm missing out on..
Though, it would be kind of silly to get a Nexus 9 when I already have a Nexus 5, I guess.
Maybe I can find a cheap used iPad Air 2 on eBay.
heatlesssun
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Windows 8 on ARM really isn't user installable. However if you were to go with a more powerful x86 Windows device like the Yoga, you can install any number of Android emulators that on good hardware will give you very good performance overall. If you want it all on one device then something like a Windows 8.1 Core M device or better and an Android emulator.
I tried fiddling with an Androind emulator years ago.. didn't work out too well. I'll give it another go, I suppose. Nice to see they can work without ARM.
In regards to Yoga - isn't Core M a huge disappointment? I was actually thinking of just getting a good deal on a Yoga 2, instead of the Yoga 3 Pro. I also don't see the point of 4k on a 13" screen.. especially with games. Even old games will require massive amounts of vRAM.
Galaxy Tab Pro might be old in the Android world but it's equivalent to the new iPad Air 2 in specs with 2GB DRAM and real world game and app performance (ignore misleading benchmarks) so it's better to spend $200 vs $500. For $500 I'd start looking at laptops with discrete graphics that run PC level games and not toy apps.
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Well, I'm looking for a touchscreen. I don't think many PC games would support that. I mean, a touchscreen is fun, but it lacks the precision and depth of a mouse and keyboard, or even a game controller.
Vengance_01
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Nvidia shield tablet?
Er, no, the Galaxy Note Pro (and Tab Pro) is not equal to an iPad Air 2 in performance. There's literally no questioning that. It's a bit funny to tell someone to ignore the objective, universally accepted tests, especially when performance is a major concern.
Now, it'd be a more convincing argument to suggest going for the Tab Pro 10.1 if you can get a good deal on it (Best Buy has it for about $400), but arguing that its speed is similar to an Air 2 is like bringing the proverbial knife to a gunfight... you're always going to lose.
Now, it'd be a more convincing argument to suggest going for the Tab Pro 10.1 if you can get a good deal on it (Best Buy has it for about $400), but arguing that its speed is similar to an Air 2 is like bringing the proverbial knife to a gunfight... you're always going to lose.
Tab Pro 8.4 is already hitting 60 fps limit @ 2560x1600 on a real game engine Epic Citadel. If you think iPad Air 2 can do better post a video. Until then it still stands that Tab Pro 8.4 is the best bang for the buck.
http://youtu.be/alrEbq62U0A
http://youtu.be/alrEbq62U0A
Microcenter had it for $131 while it was in stock. Some people have had luck with price matching.
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=73302094&postcount=561
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=73302094&postcount=561
I have a Tab pro and it is fairly nice. I mostly bought it because it was the first tablet that had the kind of screen size (8.4") and dpi (360) that I wanted. I think it would be a great deal if you can get one at $200 (I paid near double that).
But I agree it is in no way in same performance league as an an iPad Air 2.
Also in some ways I regret not getting an iPad Mini. Android is still quite Kludgy IMO.
But I agree it is in no way in same performance league as an an iPad Air 2.
Also in some ways I regret not getting an iPad Mini. Android is still quite Kludgy IMO.
Tyler-Durden
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I can't comment on games with the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, but movie playback has been a disappointment, IMO. Playback on Netflix and movies on local storage has been choppy. Colors are washed out, too. I'm probably going to return mine. 
I can't comment on games with the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, but movie playback has been a disappointment, IMO. Playback on Netflix and movies on local storage has been choppy. Colors are washed out, too. I'm probably going to return mine.
I don't bother with netflix, but local storage video playback is one area it hasn't disappointed. Colors are solid and realistic as well. on mine.
Tyler-Durden
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Maybe I got a dud? For $200, it's quite a deal. I like the size and thin form. My main use is media consumption, so video/TV performance is important to me.
Nvidia shield tablet. Hands down. Stream pc games, grid game service, android and amazon apps galore a kick ass stylus and game controller to really round out the experience. For gaming the air 2 and galaxy pro can't toutouch it at all.
Epic Citadel also doesn't have characters, gameplay or any significant physics tests running, and its last update was in 2013. It's as much a "real" modern game test as trying a two-year-old version of 3DMark on your PC -- I've seen reports of Citadel nearing 60FPS on a Nexus 4, for goodness' sake. My original iPad Air doesn't break a sweat.
The Tab Pro 10.1 (not 8.4, the OP ruled out tablets under 9 inches) would do well for a lot of gaming, but there would still be a difference for particularly intensive titles. It depends on whether he wants to buy a tablet that's good for what's out now, or whether he's willing to pay extra for something that's more futureproof.
I've got the new Venue 11 Pro w/ a Core M. Great tablet, 1080p 11" screen, Core M processor and the best part: 100% fanless, unlike the Yoga 3 Pro.
I don't run many games on there but I do have a steam install on a MicroSD card that works great for some of the titles in my library. (Luftrausers runs great for example)
To be honest, I'm actually more interested in the tablet side to the gaming side. The nVidia Shield is just a glorified console that is much thicker (and for some reason smaller) than other tablets.
Also, it uses Android, no? So, it's not like it can play PC games outright.
Though, it is nice to see Tegra K1 being used. I guess it's too hot for mainstream tablets.
So, you're saying iPad Air 2 is definitely more powerful than Galaxy Tab S/Pro?
Apple must have really done a good job on the A8, considering it's a triple-core processor that beats octo-core processors on Android devices.
Well, is there anything that compares to the iPad Air 2's performance?
And is it really important anymore? I haven't played mobile games in a while, but are they that much more intensive than they used to be? I think I read that A8's GPU is ~200 times more powerful than the GPU in my iPhone 4. Does anything really utilize that?
heatlesssun
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You need to nail down what you want the device to do. There are three viable tablet OSes, iOS, Android and Windows. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. iOS with iPads are the best overall, no hassle, well supported software ecosystem. Android give the most hardware and software variety with touch only. Windows devices are the most complex and flexible overall with the least amount of touch only software.
It's actually kind of insulting to think that someone on [H] can assume I don't know the difference between iOS and Android.
iOS is like the kid version of Android - it works out of the box and has a very shallow learning curve.
It took me days to jailbreak and reconfigure my iPhone 4 to be half as functional as my various Android devices.
As for Windows Mobile, not a big fan. I used the Lumia 920 for about a week. It was more difficult to get used to than iOS and had (seemingly) less functionality.
If I could get straight up Windows 8 to work on a tablet, I'd need to carry around a pen because the interface would be too complicated to control with touch.. also, wouldn't it be a serious resource hog?
Seems like Android is the best option if I'm going with a simple tablet.
However, since I'm going to get a Yoga 'X' at some point and I already have a Nexus 5, it seems like iOS is the only experience I'm missing out on.
In which case, the sole fact that I'd possibly miss out on an iOS exclusive is reason enough to get the iPad Air 2. Coupled with the alleged performance boost, it seems like a good buy, no?
heatlesssun
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I never meant to insult, I was simply trying to provide a non-controversial and concise synopsis of the three major tablet OSes. Apparently I failed to do so in this case.
That said, Windows 8 on tablets is no problem for a lot of people. Using the desktop might present a challenge but it's also the reason why some like Windows on a tablet. Not even Android is as flexible as the Windows desktop on tablet. Windows 8 is complex on tablet, but not hard to figure out.
That said, Windows 8 on tablets is no problem for a lot of people. Using the desktop might present a challenge but it's also the reason why some like Windows on a tablet. Not even Android is as flexible as the Windows desktop on tablet. Windows 8 is complex on tablet, but not hard to figure out.
I'm confused now to your requests. You want a tablet for gaming but now you just want a tablet. You bounce back and forth between android and iOS but them talk about installing PC games. If you want PC games them you need a windows tablet running windows 8. The surface pro lines or the Yoga would best be suited for those. The shield tablet can play PC games off the Grid service or stream them from your home PC. Also the shield hub store has a lot of great PC games half life 2, portal, oddworld, as well as a lot of bioware RPGs.
The air 2 and galaxy tablets can play a lot of those games but would be unable to stream from your PC or use the Grid service for ota streaming. I don't find the shield tablet bulky or heavy at all but of course it is under your 9" requisite but it is hands down the best tablet overall. It is just under the air 2 in power but has a better screen, more flexibility due to being almost a pure android experience, and has more gaming features. The stylus is better than any of my previous tablets and excels in note taking and sketching when bored.
I currently own a galaxy pro s, surface pro 2 & 3, wife has an air 2, and I've got a couple hdx kindles, Venue 8 pro, and a nexus 7 and hands down I'd recommend the shield tablet over all of them. If you still feel the same about it then the air2 would be next unless you can spring the cash for a surface pro then I'd grab one of them.
The air 2 and galaxy tablets can play a lot of those games but would be unable to stream from your PC or use the Grid service for ota streaming. I don't find the shield tablet bulky or heavy at all but of course it is under your 9" requisite but it is hands down the best tablet overall. It is just under the air 2 in power but has a better screen, more flexibility due to being almost a pure android experience, and has more gaming features. The stylus is better than any of my previous tablets and excels in note taking and sketching when bored.
I currently own a galaxy pro s, surface pro 2 & 3, wife has an air 2, and I've got a couple hdx kindles, Venue 8 pro, and a nexus 7 and hands down I'd recommend the shield tablet over all of them. If you still feel the same about it then the air2 would be next unless you can spring the cash for a surface pro then I'd grab one of them.
limitedaccess
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I'm curious why you find the Shield Tablet to have a better screen than the Ipad Air 2?
From what I have seen generally reviewers consider the Shield display rather sub par (especially due to limited color space, Red/Blues) while the Air 2 is generally rated among the top.
This was actually why one of the main reason's I decided against getting the Shield despite originally being somewhat excited about it.
Actually hoping, with the announcement of Tegra X1, that a new Shield device will make another good improvement here (like the Shield Tablet made over the original Tegra Note).
The "octo-core" SoCs are a bit misleading in terms of marketing. Currently they fall into two categories -
big.LITTLE (eg. the Exynos). Basically it's 4 large (performance) cores and 4 small (efficient) cores where only each set of 4 cores are in active usage at a time. The large cores are used for demanding workloads while the small cores are for power savings.
8 "small" cores (eg. Mediatek). All 8 cores are small cores. These can be active all at the same time.
Even the "large" stock ARM cores individually do not match the ones in Apple's SoCs.
It also isn't so much that Apple necessarily did a "good job" but also that their design philosophy differed. Although in terms of smartphone workloads I think you can argue that their stance makes more sense, less but faster cores versus more but slower cores. When even desktop workloads and application still struggle to fully leverage 4 cores you can probably imagine how well 4 cores are actually leveraged on smartphones.
From what I have seen generally reviewers consider the Shield display rather sub par (especially due to limited color space, Red/Blues) while the Air 2 is generally rated among the top.
This was actually why one of the main reason's I decided against getting the Shield despite originally being somewhat excited about it.
Actually hoping, with the announcement of Tegra X1, that a new Shield device will make another good improvement here (like the Shield Tablet made over the original Tegra Note).
The "octo-core" SoCs are a bit misleading in terms of marketing. Currently they fall into two categories -
big.LITTLE (eg. the Exynos). Basically it's 4 large (performance) cores and 4 small (efficient) cores where only each set of 4 cores are in active usage at a time. The large cores are used for demanding workloads while the small cores are for power savings.
8 "small" cores (eg. Mediatek). All 8 cores are small cores. These can be active all at the same time.
Even the "large" stock ARM cores individually do not match the ones in Apple's SoCs.
It also isn't so much that Apple necessarily did a "good job" but also that their design philosophy differed. Although in terms of smartphone workloads I think you can argue that their stance makes more sense, less but faster cores versus more but slower cores. When even desktop workloads and application still struggle to fully leverage 4 cores you can probably imagine how well 4 cores are actually leveraged on smartphones.
No harm done. There are many facets to this site. You can't assume everyone's been here since the Vec4 architecture.
My main concern with Windows 8 is performance. I've got an i5-520M/2GB laptop that struggles with a bunch of tabs open.
It seems you're reading my posts out of order.
I'm essentially looking for a thin, light tablet that is powerful enough to play modern mobile games that could fit somewhere between my (futuristic) Yoga laptop and my Nexus 5.
Since I already have an Android device and a Windows 8 device, it only seems logical to get the iPad Air 2 since it is the best of all categories - it's iOS, thin, light and the most powerful.
The only reason I'm still considering getting an Android tablet is because I don't like iOS as much as Android OS.
As for playing Half Life 2 on a tablet.. I don't even know where to begin. No offense.
If I can stream it from my main PC, why not just play it on my main PC?
The reason I want a tablet is to play all the mobile games that are supposed to be awesome on tablets. They exist, right?
The Shield is smaller, thicker and less powerful than an iPad Air 2. Why is it the best?
To be honest, I'm still not seeing the appeal of the Shield.
On the one hand, you've got PC games to play on it but how many of those work well on a touchscreen? Not to mention that even a Tegra K1 is around as powerful as an Intel HD 5300 (if memory serves me).
On the other hand, you've got Android games to play, but if Tegra K1 is only available in the Shield and most games are rendered to meet the lowest common denominator, I don't see how the experience can be better than any other tablet.
Actually, it sounds exactly like Apple did a good job.
The idea to have three powerful cores instead of four or eight less powerful cores is a very wise one, indeed.
I remember the only debates of Dual-Core vs. Quad-Core where the obvious answer eventually became Dual-Core because the E5000 series was overclockable to 4.5Ghz+ on air and the Quad-Core CPUs could barely reach 3.2Ghz.
This was a long time ago and on the PC where multiple threads can be far more easily utilized. So, why Android manufacturers have decided to up the cores instead of relying on more powerful but less plentiful cores is beyond me..
Seems like something Apple would do, actually. Increase their CPUs to eight cores and claim that it's the most powerful.
So, in the end, Apple has the most powerful mobile hardware? In which case, their price premium is technically worth it? Damn.
limitedaccess
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That was just a comment regarding my personal opinion of Shield Tablet and not really how suitable it is for you.
The Shield Tablet had a few specific appeals to me at time of release (keep in mind the landscape then was also different than now) -
DirectStylus - Note taking, graphics work and sketching/drawing for me are specific use cases.
Value - Great price (MSRP $300 US) for the hardware specs and feature set
Performance capabilities - Tegra K1 had been reported at that time to have the best capability for 1080p hi10p playback at the time
So a hypothetical update with Tegra X1 for me would hopefully bring two major improvements -
- the display
- even stronger 1080p hi10p capability due to the improved SoC
Also Nvidia actually does have a few more specific titles in Tegrazone that does expand it's native game library above stock Android. The streaming feature is also a slight bonus (particularly since GRID access is currently free).
A phrasing issue. I was wanting to explain that Apple's per core performance advantage was due to both execution (how good the design is) and choice (design criteria) as opposed to purely execution.
The interesting thing related to this is that Nvidia is whom many consider the company to start the "more Cores" race yet they are also the first to go back to a larger core approach via Denver.
Whether or not Apple has the most powerful mobile hardware is really going to rather dependent on both criteria and market timing.
I can't comment on games with the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, but movie playback has been a disappointment, IMO. Playback on Netflix and movies on local storage has been choppy. Colors are washed out, too. I'm probably going to return mine.
Sorry you're experiencing that with your Tab Pro 8.4, I recently got the $200 bestbuy tab pro 8.4 and currently own a 2013 Nexus 7, the Tab Pro has a better screen and netflix has no issues with streaming. I still prefer the Nexus 7's battery life, but I guess that's the price you pay for more screen and brighter. The speakers on my Tab Pro 8.4 also sound better than the 2013 Nexus 7.
Couple small corrections:
There's actually a decent amount of touch software in the store as quite a bit of it works on win phone or win on a tablet.
If you want to invest the time in getting it up and running, BlueStacks is supposed to work great in running quite a bit of Android software on windows.
heatlesssun
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Yes, there is a decent selection of touch software for Windows now but app count and availability of new and top tier stuff, especially games, still lags way behind Android and iOS. I use Bluestacks and on faster hardware it does a pretty decent job, the results will vary from app to app. The more demanding the app the poorer the results are.
I'll say this, shield tablet is definitely a gaming tablet. pc game streaming works well both at home and away. grid is awesome and continues to get better as it approaches full launch. supports USB devices through OTG and charging, and with a connected or bluetooth mouse/keyboard, you can play desktop games and throw them on a big screen through hdmi. also the screen may not be the best but it was plenty bright enough to read ebooks on while i was on vacation at a beach. Also nvidia pumps out updates nearly as fast or faster than google sometimes, compared to other tablets that may get one update or none at all. All great things aside it feels like a developer tablet, so as long as your ok with some quirks here and there, none of them show stopping, its a solid tech person tablet.
Tyler-Durden
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I must have caught Netflix on a bad day or maybe my internet connection was weak. After several more viewings, my Tab Pro 8.4 has performed really well on Netflix. I've not tried any movies on SD card, yet. I'm less inclined to return the tablet, now, especially since my main use will be reading books, newspapers, FlipBoard, Pulse, etc. I had a Nexus 7 2013 which was replaced by this Tab.