Best Android Tablets On The Market

Apple's iPad has been dominant in the tablet market since its release. In 2010, it grabbed 85% of the market share. However, Google's Android platform is gaining momentum, apparently stealing 20% of that share away from the iPad in the past 12 months. Although there hasn't be a clear standout among the hundreds of Android-powered tablets, there have been five units that vastly outshine the competition. In terms of features, accessories, battery life, processing speed, and display quality, these tablets are hard to beat. Listed below are the top five Android tablets currently on the market.

5. HTC Flyer - Although this compact tablet runs at an expensive $700, its expansive feature set, unmatched portability, and aluminum body construction make it too impressive not to list. Packaged with the device is an electronic pen that can be used to draw on-screen annotations for notes on pictures, web pages, etc. Beyond that, the tablet boasts a 5 mega-pixel camera to take detailed photos and supports the latest edition of Adobe Flash for enhanced Internet browsing. Currently, the Flyer runs on an older version of Android, but an update is promised in the near future.

4. Motorola Xoom - Like the Flyer, Motorola's Xoom is an expensive tablet; however, it's also one of the fastest and nicest looking units on the market. Surprisingly, the battery life is excellent, so users can look at the beautiful display for hours without needing to stop for charging. Since the Xoom runs on Honeycomb, the latest installment of the Android OS, it does not have any external buttons, meaning all of the commands can be executed from the touch screen. It's a little bulkier than other tablets currently available, but that doesn't stop it from being one the best options out there.

3. Acer Iconia Tab A500 - The Iconia Tab is very similar to the other Honeycomb tablets, particularly the Xoom. However, it's cheaper and a tad bit faster than Motorolla's previously listed tablet. Buyers looking to run gaming applications will be interested in the Iconia Tab over the Xoom because of its superior color rendering and slightly quicker speed.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - Apple fanboys are known to brag about the unbeatable display found on the iPad 2, but Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 is indisputably on the same level and possibly even a step above it. Since its display is so vivid and elegant, the Galaxy Tab is easily the best tablet on the market for watching TV shows, movies, and online videos. Boasting the same price tag as the iPad 2, the Galaxy Tab is intended to directly compete with Apple's tablet. The thin, light body and quick, responsive interface means that it will undoubtedly steal some of Apple's market away.

1. Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 - Arguably the most unique tablet on the market, Asus's Eee Pad Transformer features a detachable keyboard/mouse unit, essentially providing the user with the option to use either a tablet or Android powered net book. The specs read almost identical to the other Honeycomb-powered tablets, but the Transformer manages to be lighter and more responsive than its competition while still remaining more affordable. Purchasing the 32GB iteration of the tablet with the detachable keyboard will cost buyers $530. The versatility, functionality, and affordability of this tablet make it the biggest competition to the iPad to date.