Where To Buy An Android One Tablet?
The short answer is – nowhere!
There are still no Android One tablets on the market as of 2019. Sorry to burst your bubble if you were looking to find a good and reliable Android One tablet today. This article would look much different if only Google would listen to its prospective customers.
If you are interested in the Android One OS and my experience with an Android One phone, keep reading or skimming the article.
Table Of Contents:
What Is Android One?
What Are The Benefits Of Android One?
Is Android One For Me?
Android One vs Other Android OS
How Many Tablets Are Running Android One?
Conclusion
Top Non-Android One Tablets In 2019
What Is Android One?
Android one is the near-stock version of the Android operating system that was started by Google in 2014.
Google started by focusing on entry-level devices for emerging markets but has since evolved into mid-range and high-end smartphones as well. As of 2019, Android One runs on more than 100 phones. Android One brand promises regular security updates for at least 3 years and Android One OS updates for 2 years.
Before Android One, it often took at least a year before the latest Android update arrived on non-Google devices. In 2014, Android One phones initially rolled out in South Asian countries. Smartphones by the Indian brands Micromax, Spice and Karbonn in September 2014
What Are The Benefits Of Android One?
The Android One moto is; secure, up-to-date and easy to use.
As I already mentioned earlier, Android phones will receive at least two years of updates. With the latest version of Android, you’ll get software that auto-adjusts to your needs, and helps you get things done more easily throughout the day.
- Long battery life
- Android One phones prioritize background activity for your most important apps. Your phone will even reduce power usage as well if it’s in your pocket or purse
- More storage
- Android One phones do not allow bloatware by manufacturers, which means there are no pre-installed apps that take up space and with photo storage from Google photos you get even more space.
- Security
- Android One phones are among the most secure phones because of their monthly security updates and integrated Google Play protection. Play Protect actively scans over 50 billion apps per day and uses Google machine learning to dynamically prevent current viruses and malware
- Stock Android UI
- No bloatware by manufacturers
- Faster updates
- Clean, minimalistic design
Is Android One For Me?
I have only used one Android One phone extensively by now and that was the Xiaomi Mi A1. The biggest benefit of Android One operating system was the extended battery life. It is much better than other phones I’ve used before and also charges super quick. Half an hour charge will get you through another day of mobile phone usage.
The only option item I was missing was the screen mirroring option but I downloaded an app on Google Play Store and that sorted that out. I love the Google Assistant’s easy integration on the Mi A1. It was also a fast phone.
Even after a full year of use it’s still didn’t slow down as my other phones before it. It also basically does what it says on the tin; fast, secure, with longer battery life and it will fit the needs off most of the people.
That is basically what the Android one is; it’s a phone or OS for the people.
Android One vs Other Android OS
I’ve basically outlined the differences between Android One and other Androids. No bloatware, minimalistic design, faster updates, built-in Google apps like Google Assistant, Google photos etc. That also means that you are missing some features as well such as screen mirroring and others. Alas, you can always find missing features in the form of an app on the Google Play Store.
How Many Tablets Are Running Android One?
So, how many tablets are actually running on Android One today in 2019?
The answer is none, zip, zilch, zero. While there are more than a 100 Android One phones on the market (some are discontinued), there is still no Android One tablet on the market. Google: “Is there going to be an Android One tablet” or “when is a tablet with Android One coming” there are only tumbleweeds. Not a single thread about Android One tablets on Google’s very own search engine.
While there are more than 50000 people a month searching for Android One tablet, there is still no response from Google. Only a few Twitter responses or comments from regular Twitter users targeted at @android and other manufacturers.
Is it because tablets are not the buzz word anymore or is it because Google does not have a history of putting out good Android tablets on the market.
So why not offer other manufacturers the option to put the Android One on tablets as they did with the phone OS?
Conclusion
As I already mentioned before, my experience with an Android One phone is that it is a people’s phone. No frills, no thrills, no bloatware, faster updates, more security and more storage space.
That would be the perfect operating system for a tablet. Faster browsing and moving between tabs for watching Netflix and texting with others. Or watching Game Of Thrones on HBO Go and throwing a slew of insults to screenwriters.
I think that is the thing that most people are looking for in a tablet. Too many times has tablet become an unusable piece of junk in only a year because of a lack of storage space and unused and unwanted applications from manufacturers that slow down the phone and cramp the aforementioned storage.
Hopefully, Google will consider putting out an Android One for tablets in the future and market it as a fast and reliable machine with quick updates and no bloatware.
Now let’s take a look at the top 5 Android tablets that DON’T have Android One.
Top Non-Android One Tablets
If you were browsing the internet looking for Android One tablets, you obviously didn’t find any. But what you did find was probably the same five Android tablets that were recommended by EVERYONE! And there’s a reason for that. There aren’t that many good quality Android tablets out there.
What there is, is a LOT of cheap, buggy and slow no-name Chinese tablets. Please, please don’t buy one of them. They may be cheap, but you’ll get frustrated so fast with the user experience. They’re good for your three-year-old or a pet to play those stupid apps for pets (you’ve seen the videos of cats and dogs scratching the screen; yikes). But they are not for a normal functioning adult or even a kid.
Pick one of the below instead and make your life easier.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Pros
- Gorgeous screen
- Fast
- Good battery life
- Charges in under two hours
Cons
- Expensive keyboard
- Awkward stylus storage
Surface Pro 6
Pros
- Bright display
- Black colours look amazing
- Great battery life
Cons
- Windows 10 tablet mode still needs work
Amazon Fire HD 10
Pros
- Exceptional value for this size
- Fun colour options available
- Inexpensive
Cons
- No Google Play apps
- Plasticky body
