Top five tablets with octa-core processors
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4
To kick off our list of tablets with octa-core processors, let's talk about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4, probably the best mid-sized Android tablet that money can currently purchase. The Tab S 8.4 is based on the Exynos 5 Octa, a mobile chip developed in-house by Samsung that integrates an octa-core processor which actually consists of four power-efficient ARM Cortex-A7 cores clocked at 1.3GHz and four high-performance ARM Cortex-A15 cores clocked at 1.9GHz. Depending on the use-case scenario, the tablet will go one or the other core group. This is possible thanks to an ARM technology called Big.LITTLE.
The Galaxy Tab S series was launched with Android 4.4 KitKat, but the Wi-Fi only models have been updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop in the meantime.
Aside from the Exynos 5 Octa, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 also comes with a bright and vivid 8.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1600 by 2560 pixels, 3GB of RAM, either 16GB or 32GB of integrated storage space, a microSD card slot, an 8MP primary camera, a 2MP secondary camera and a 4900 mAh battery. For more details, read our Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 review.
The Wi-Fi only Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 with 16GB of integrated storage is priced at $399 at Amazon.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5
If the 8.4-inch version of the Galaxy Tab S leaves you wanting for more Super AMOLED screen real estate, then the 10.5-inch version is probably the octa-core tablet you're looking for. Like its smaller brother, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is based on the Exynos 5 Octa, comes with 3GB of RAM, an 8MP primary camera, and a 2.1MP secondary camera. To make up for the higher power consumption ratios of the larger display, Samsung fitted in a larger 7900 mAh battery. For more details on the tablet, head on to our full Galaxy Tab S 10.5 review.
The Wi-Fi only Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 with 16GB of internal storage is priced at $479 at Amazon.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014)
Back when it launched in October 2013, the 3G and Wi-Fi only versions of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) were the first octa-core tablets in the world. The processor is the same Exynos 5 Octa that you can find inside the 8.4 and 10.5 versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, meaning that customers get a four ARM Cortex-A15 cores clocked at 1.9GHz, and four additional ARM Cortex-A7 cores clocked at 1.3GHz. The Exynos 5 Octa is paired with 3GB of RAM.
The Note 10.1 2014 launched with Android 4.3 on board, but has since been updated to Android 4.4 KitKat.
Other specs include 3GB of RAM, a 10.1-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 1600 by 2560 pixels that also comes with stylus support, 16GB/32GB/64GB internal storage options, a microSD card slot, an 8MP primary camera, and a 2MP secondary shooter. All of these components are powered by an 8220mAh battery. Learn more about this tablet by reading our full Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review.
The Wi-Fi only version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with 16GB of internal storage is priced at $494.99 at Amazon.
Moving on to tablets from other manufacturers, the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet deserves a spot on our list. At the moment, the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is the only tablet that comes with a Snapdragon 810 chipset, which is the same chip that you're going to find powering flagship smartphones such as the HTC One M9. The Snapdragon 810 comes with four power efficient ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.5GHz, as well as four additional high-performance ARM Cortex-A57 cores clocked at 2.0GHz. According to benchmarks, the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is one of the fastest tablets currently available. The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet runs Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Moving on to tablets from other manufacturers, the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet deserves a spot on our list. At the moment, the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is the only tablet that comes with a Snapdragon 810 chipset, which is the same chip that you're going to find powering flagship smartphones such as the HTC One M9. The Snapdragon 810 comes with four power efficient ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.5GHz, as well as four additional high-performance ARM Cortex-A57 cores clocked at 2.0GHz. According to benchmarks, the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is one of the fastest tablets currently available. The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet runs Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is not currently available for purchase in the United States. In Europe, pre-order prices range at about €559 for the Wi-Fi model without a bundled Bluetooth keyboard.
Cube Talk 9X
Although all of the previous four tablets mentioned above come, in theory, with octa core processors, you've likely noted that there are four speedy cores and four less powerful cores. In other words, you can think of these octa-core processors as two separate quad-core processors that work together to process tasks depending on the required level of performance. This changes with the Cube Talk 9X, an iPad Air clone that's powered by MediaTek's MTK8392, a true octa-core chip that integrates eight ARM Cortex-A7 cores clocked at 2GHz.
Other specs include a 9.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1536 by 2048 pixels, 2GB of RAM, either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 3G connectivity, an 8MP primary camera, a 2MP secondary sensor, and a large 10000mAh battery. The Cube Talk 9X runs Android 4.4 KitKat.
While the four previous tablets are widely available in both the US and Europe, the Cube Talk 9X is a Chinese tablet that you'll have to import. Prices range at about $170 for 16GB model.
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