Best High-End Premium 10-inch Tablets Compared

Samuel J Tan Personal Technology, Tablets, Technology 0

Nothing says quality, solid build and premium design more than our 8 best premium 10-inch tablets. From major manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, Amazon, Sony, Microsoft, Google, and Lenovo; these tablets carry the state of art in technology and design with no holds barred.

While most flagship tablets from major manufacturers comes with a 10-inch display, some favours the smaller 8 or 9-inch screens as with Amazon, Apple and Google. Others push the 10 or 10.1-inch limit to settle at 10.5-inch and 10.8-inch as with Samsung and Microsoft respectively.

While there is no real formula when picking a 10-inch tablet, we like to think that a good decision can be reached based on collated information, useful comparisons and a heart for the brand (brand loyalty is a real factor given the many ‘factions’ among the users). Having said that, at the end of the day, it is truly a personal preference, when faced with a great line-up such as one found below.

Table of Contents

Top 8 Best Flagship 10-inch Tablets 2015 Compared

Some of the following tablets are not quite 10-inch but premium nonetheless, here are 5 more tablets for your consideration. Let’s look at the 8 best high-end tablets in the market:

Apple iPad Air 2 9.7-inch Tablet – SLIMMEST
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5-inch Tablet – AMOLED
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9-inch Tablet – HIGHEST PPI, LIGHTEST
Sony Xperia Z4 10.1-inch Tablet – SLIMMEST
Microsoft Surface 3 10.8-inch Tablet – BEST CAMERA PAIR, WINDOWS
Lenovo Yoga 2 10.1-inch Tablet – BEST BATTERY LIFE
Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 10.1-inch Tablet
Google Nexus 9 8.9-inch Tablet

Also consider,

Samsung Galaxy Note PRO 10.1-inch Tablet (similar to Tab PRO but with Stylus)

Let’s look at the spec by spec comparison between the tablets.

DISPLAY

The Apple iPad portfolio have grown since iPad 2. Currently, there are 4 different iPads to choose from, with the latest and fastest being the iPad Air 2 with A8X chip. The others are the original iPad Air, the iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2 and iPad mini. The iPad Air 2 is Apple’s flagship tablet with the latest A8X chip with 64-bit architecture and M8 motion co-processor and Touch ID sensor. If you are after a smaller iPad, check out our comparison between the iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 2 from an education perspective.

Apple iPad Air 2 – 9.7-inch IPS display with LED-backlit 2048‑by‑1536 pixel resolution at 264 ppi (pixels per inch)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – 10.5-inch 2560 x 1600 pixel WQXGA Super AMOLED™ at 288 ppi – AMOLED
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – 8.9-inch 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution at 339 ppi – SMALLEST, HIGHEST PIXEL DENSITY
Sony Xperia Z4 – 10.1-inch 2560 x 1600 pixels resolution display with Scratch-resistant glass + Anti fingerprint coating at 299 ppi
Microsoft Surface 3 – 10.8-inch ClearType Full HD Plus display 1920 x 1280 pixel resolution 3:2 Surface Pen Support at 209 ppi – BIGGEST
Lenovo Yoga 2 – 10.1-inch LED LCD Touch 1920 x 1200 display with multitouch and IPS technology at 224 ppi
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – 10.1-inch Super clear LCD 2560 x 1600 pixels capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours at 299 ppi
Google Nexus 9 – 8.9-inch IPS LCD QXGA 2048 x 1536 pixels resolution 4:3 capacitive multi-touch 16M colours at 288 ppi

CPU

There is a push towards squeezing multiple processors on the same die, such is the case for tablets with Octa-Core processors. These processors carry not one quad-core processors but two with differing clock speed to offer the balance between performance and efficiency. These new generation Octa-Core processors switches between to different cores depending on the computing tasks. We see this on the Samsung Galaxy TabS and TabPRO with their home grown Exynos 5 Octa and the Sony Xperia Z4 with Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Octa-Core processor.

Apple iPad Air 2 – A8X chip with 64‑bit architecture and M8 motion coprocessor, Triple-core 1.5GHz
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – Exynos™ 5 Octa (Cortex-A15 1.9Ghz Quadcore + Cortex-A17 1.3Ghz Quadcore) – OCTA CORE
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.2GHz quad-core CPU, with Adreno 330 GPU
Sony Xperia Z4 – Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 2GHz Octa-Core (Quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2GHz Cortex-A57) 64-bit with Adreno 430 – OCTA CORE
Microsoft Surface 3 – Intel® Atom™ x7-Z8700 Quad-Core processor (2MB Cache, 1.6GHz with Intel Burst™ technology up to 2.4GHz)
Lenovo Yoga 2 – Intel Atom Z3745 Processor 1.33GHz 1066GHz 2MB Quad-Core 64bit with Intel Burst technology up to 1.86GHz
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – Exynos 5 Octa 5420 (Quad-core 1.9GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A7) with Mali T628 MP6 – OCTA CORE
Google Nexus 9 – NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual core, 2.3GHz, Denver, 64-bit Processor with Kepler DX1 GPU

MEMORY & STORAGE

Apple iPad Air 2 – 2GB RAM and 16/64/128 GB Storage – MORE STORAGE
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – 3GB RAM and 16GB Storage with MicroSD expansion slot supporting up to 128GB – MORE MEMORY
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – 2GB RAM and 16GB/32GB or 64GB of Storage – MORE STORAGE
Sony Xperia Z4 – 3GB RAM and 32GB Storage with MicroSD expansion slot supporting up to 128GB – MORE MEMORY & STORAGE
Microsoft Surface 3 – 2GB RAM and 64GB Storage or 4GB RAM with 128GB Storage – MORE MEMORY & STORAGE
Lenovo Yoga 2 – 2GB RAM and 16GB/32GB Storage with MicroSD expansion slot supporting up to 32GB – MORE STORAGE
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – 2GB RAM and 16GB/32GB Storage with MicroSD expansion slot supporting up to 32GB – MORE STORAGE
Google Nexus 9 – 2GB RAM and 32GB Storage – MORE STORAGE

CAMERAS

Apple iPad Air 2 – 8MP rear facing (with 1080p HD video capture), 1.2MP front facing (720p HD video capture) face detection, HDR, FaceTime over WiFi or Cellular. Still features: Autofocus, Face Detection, Backside Illumination, Five-element lens, Hybrid IR filter, f/2.4 aperture, HDR, Panorama, Burst mode. Video features: Video Stabilisation, Face Detection, Backside Illumination, 3x Video Soom, Time-lapse Video, Slo-mo video.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – 8MP rear auto focus facing camera with 4x digital zoom and flash, 2.1MP front facing camera. Shot Modes: Auto, Beauty Face, Shot & More, Panorama, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Dual-Camera – FLASH
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – 8MP rear facing camera, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash Front-facing HD camera + 720p front facing HD camera
Sony Xperia Z4 – 8.1MP auto focus rear facing camera with 8x digital zoom, 5.1MP front facing camera, Full HD video recording 1080p, HDR for pictures and movies, Image stabiliser, Geotagging, image captured in JPG, image playback supported format: BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP. Video capture supported format 3GPP, MP4. Video playback supported format: 3GPP, MP4, WebM, MKV.
Microsoft Surface 3 – 8.0MP rear-facing camera with auto-focus, 3.5MP front-facing camera – BEST CAMERA PAIR
Lenovo Yoga 2 – 8MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus rear facing camera, 1.3MP front facing web cam.
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – 8MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash rear facing camera(with 1080p HD video capture), 2MP front facing camera (1080p HD video capture) , Geo-tagging, face/smile detection – FLASH
Google Nexus 9 – 8MP Rear camera f/2.4 aperture Auto-focus, LED flash, 1.6MP Front camera, f/2.4 aperture – FLASH

CONNECTIVITY & PORTS

Apple iPad Air 2 – Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, Lightning connector, 4G LTE/3G Option
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – Dual-bank Wi-Fi^® 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MIMO, (2.4Ghz + 5.0 Ghz), Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB v2.0
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – Dual-band, dual antenna (802.11AC with MIMO+HT80) Wi-Fi, A-GPS (4G model), microUSB v2.0, 4G LTE/3G Option
Sony Xperia Z4 – Dual-band, WiFi, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1, Native USB tethering, DLNA, microUSB v2.0 (MHL 3 TV-out), USB Host, NFC, 4G LTE/3G Option
Microsoft Surface 3 – Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.0, Full-size USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSD™ card reader, Micro USB charging port, Headset jack, Cover port
Lenovo Yoga 2 – Wi-Fi 802.11abgn dual-band, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro USB v2.0, Micro-SD card, 3.5mm audio jack, Optional 4G/LTE
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB v2.0 (MHL TV-out), USB Host
Google Nexus 9 – 802.11 b, g, n, n 5GHz, ac, dual band (MIMO) Bluetooth 4.1, Tethering, microUSB v2.0 (Mass storage device, USB Host, USB Charging), 3.5 mm audio, NFC, Optional 4G/LTE, Micro-USB 2.0

BATTERY LIFE

Apple iPad Air 2 – up to 10 hours
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – 9 – 12 hours
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – 12 hours mixed use
Sony Xperia Z4 – up to 17 hours of video playback with 6000 mAh and fast charging battery: 60% in 30 min (Quick Charge 2.0)
Microsoft Surface 3 – up to 10 hours of video playback time
Lenovo Yoga 2 – up to 18 hours Li-Ion 9600 mAh battery – BEST BATTERY LIFE
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – up to 10 hours Li-Ion 8220 mAh battery
Google Nexus 9 – up to 9.5 hours, 6700 mAh

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT

Apple iPad Air 2 – 240 x 169.5 x 6.1 mm, 437 grams (WiFi) or 444 grams (3G/LTE) – SLIMMEST
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – 247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6 mm, 456 grams
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – 231 X 158 X 7.8 mm, 375 grams (WiFi), 389 grams (WiFi+4G) – LIGHTEST 8.9″
Sony Xperia Z4 – 167 x 254 x 6.1 mm, 389 grams Wi-Fi only, 393 grams Wi-Fi + LTE – LIGHTEST 10.1″, SLIMMEST
Microsoft Surface 3 – 267mm x 187mm x 8.7mm, 622 grams
Lenovo Yoga 2 – 255 x 183 x 7.2 mm & 619 grams
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – 243.1 x 171.4 x 7.3 mm & 469 grams
Google Nexus 9 – 228.25 x 153.68 x 7.95 mm & 425 g (Wi-Fi) or 436 grams (4G LTE)

SENSORS

Apple iPad Air 2 – A-GPS, GLONASS (3G/LTE model only), Accelerometer, Three-axis gyro, Ambient Light Sensor, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor (Touch ID)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer; Gyroscope, Light Sensor, Geo-magnetic, Hall Sensor, Infrared; Fingerprint Sensor
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – A-GPS (4G Model), Accelerometer; Gyroscope, Light Sensor
Sony Xperia Z4 – A-GPS, GLONASS, FM Radio with RDS, Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Microsoft Surface 3 – Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer
Lenovo Yoga 2 – GPS, Accelerometer, compass
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyro-sensor, Light Sensor, Hall Sensor and Infrared
Google Nexus 9 – Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Compass GPS, Ambient light sensor

COLOUR OPTIONS

Apple iPad Air 2 – Silver/Gold/Space Gray
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – Titanium Bronze/White
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – Black
Sony Xperia Z4 – Black/White
Microsoft Surface 3 – Black
Lenovo Yoga 2 – Platinum
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – Black/White
Google Nexus 9 – Indigo black, Lunar white, Sand (Black/White/Gold)

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Apple iPad Air 2 – iOS 8.1 (upgradeable to iOS 8.3)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – Android™ 4.4, KitKat with Samsung Traditional UI, Smart Pause™, TouchWiz®, Widgets
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – Fire OS 3.0 “Mojito” (Custom Android)
Sony Xperia Z4 – Android 5.0 (Lollipop)
Microsoft Surface 3 – Windows 8.1
Lenovo Yoga 2 – Android™ 4.4 KitKat
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – Android v4.4 (KitKat)
Google Nexus 9 – Android 5.0 (Lollipop)

Most if not all tablets will be getting the Android update up to Lollipop, please check with the manufacturer for further details.

OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES

Apple iPad Air 2 – Built-in apps include: Camera, Photos, Messages, FaceTime, Mail, Music, Safari, Maps, Siri, Calendar, iTunes Store, App Store, Notes, Contacts, iBooks, Game Center, Reminders, Clock, Videos, Newsstand, Photo Booth and Podcasts. Free downloadable apps from apple now include: Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie, GarageBand, iTunes U, Find MY iPhone, Find My Friends, Apple Store and Remote.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S – Business & Office support (Enterprise-Ready; Corporate Email/Calendar/Contacts; Microsoft® Office-compatible; Mobile Device Management; On-Device Encryption (ODE); KNOX; Virtual Private Network; e-Meeting; WebEx; Remote PC) as well Fun & Entertainment features (Downloadable Content, IR Remote Control, S Voice™, Samsung Widget Gallery, Live Wallpapers, WatchON™, Paper Garden, Kids Mode)
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 – Ultra fast silk web browser, personal email client with support for gmail, outlook, yahoo and AOL, social media integration (facebook, twitter and youtube), photo and video backs up to the cloud, access Prime Instant Video (subscription based service), content (film and tv shows) and enjoy features such as x-ray (IMDb information on shows) and Whispersync for Movies (remembering the last scene across all devices), mirror screen via Miracast. enjoy books and magazines in colour, enjoy audiobooks from Audible, enjoy Songs from Digital Music store and Amazon Prime members (subscription based service) access to Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. Features to keep kids safe and to get work done (email, docs, corporate WiFi, VPN, printing), free cloud storage.
Sony Xperia Z4 – Sony X-Reality display for shaper and 40% brighter picture and less noise for breath taking details. 50% faster than previous processor with advanced 64-bit Octa-Core processor and 3GB of RAM, WiFi with MIMO support for twice the speed (300Mbps) and LTE Cat 6. Extended battery life up to 17 hours with Ultra STAMINA Mode, Waterproof (up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 mins) and dust tight (IP65 and IP68), optimised sound with any headset, High-Res Audio. Supports PS4 Remote Play to switch from PS4 console to tablet and continue playing using the DUALSHOCK4 controller. Optional keyboard available.
Microsoft Surface 3 – Windows 8.1 based tablet from Microsoft with latest generation of Intel Atom processor, Atom x7, code-named Cherry Trail. The new generation Atom chip is built on 14 nanometer process, an ultra low power architecture drawing only 2W of power allowing devices to be completely fan less. Microsoft has also chosen the fastest chip in the range, the Intel Atom x7 Z8700 clocking at1.6GHz with burst frequency up to 2.4GHz. Microsoft has also chosen to use a 3:2 aspect ratio for its 10.8″ screen at Full HD Plus resolution. There are two models on offer, the 2GB or 4GB RAM with 64GB or 128GB storage respectively. The signature kick stand is also included here but comes with 3 position only unlike the Surface Pro 3.
Lenovo Yoga 2 – Enhanced 10″ tablet that adapts to you with four ways to use it – Stand, Tilt, Hold, and Hang. Long battery life, rich audio, and speedy processing make Yoga Tablet 2 perfect for music, games, and the web. Front-facing, large-chamber stereo speakers with Wolfson® Master HiFi™ audio processing and Dolby® surround sound
Samsung Galaxy TabPRO – Enjoy high-resolution viewing with a 4 million pixel display, Multitask using two separate windows simultaneously, Get a sleek and stylish look with a stitched leather-like finish for that premium look and feel, Take hold of super-slim and ultraportable design. Access your PC at home or work with Remote PC and control all files and contents through the tablet, supports both Windows and MacOS. Share your contents and files via a serverless and paperless indoor meeting system via E-meeting. Using WebEx make group voice/video calls while sharing documents with up to 8 people.
Google Nexus 9 – Made with HTC, you can be assured of quality built and premium design with HTC’s successes with HTC One super smartphoen, (now HTC One M9). Nexus 9 combines a brushed metal body and soft grip back with the best of Google and Android for virtually limitless entertainment content and business tools. Notable features include front facing stereo speakers, slim profile, crisp and clear immersive sound with HTC BoomSound speakers and powered by NVIDIA’s 64-bit processor. There is also the optional origami cover that allows you to bends and folds its corners to automatically launches the camera app. Also sold separately is the magnetically attached, fully responsive keyboard cover.