Most popular tablets on Yahoo
With so many tablets on the market it can be tough to know which one to invest in. Do you go with an iPad, Android or Windows device? On screen size, should you buy 7-, 10- or 12-inches? Go with Wi-Fi only or support for cellular, too?
By looking at all the tablet queries in Yahoo search, we’ve culled 10 of the most popular devices that our users are looking for. Here’s our countdown to the most searched tablet of the year, so far. Can you guess what’s number one?
10. NVIDIA Shield
Any gamers in the house? Clearly, the answer is yes, as the NVIDIA Shield is on our list of most searched tablets in 2014, thus far.
Under the hood of this 8-inch Android tablet is the powerful NVIDIA Tegra K1 mobile processor, designed to deliver the best gaming experience on the go – including support for the optional Shield wireless controller – or hook up the tablet to your television for big-screen fun.
Other features include loud front-facing stereo speakers, a responsive stylus pen and plenty of handpicked apps and games to get you started.
Search for NVIDIA Shield on Yahoo.
9. Lenovo Tablets
While most people know of Lenovo laptops, the company also boasts a few sweet tablets, plus there’s also Yoga-branded 2-in-1s, such as the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro, which is a laptop that can transform into a tablet by bending the screen back all the way.
What makes the Android-infused Lenovo Yoga tablets cool is the up to 18.5 hours of battery life on the 8-inch model (up to 15.1 hours on the 10-inch), along with an integrated kickstand and expandable memory.
Search for Lenovo Tablets on Yahoo.
8. ASUS Tablets
From only $89.99 for the ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 and from $99.99 for the ASUS-powered Nexus 7 tablet from Google, price might be a factor in the high number of ASUS tablet searches at Yahoo.
And not everyone wants an Android tab, either. ASUS also has the VivoTab Note 8, a Windows 8.1-based 8-inch tablet with 64GB of internal memory, an Intel Atom processor and up to eight hours of battery life between charges.
Fast fact: Aside from the Google Nexus tablet (below), the ASUS Transformer is the most popular among all ASUS tablets searched at Yahoo.
Search for ASUS Tablets on Yahoo.
(See more on Yahoo: Apple Watch Tops List of Hottest Fitness Trackers)
7. Google Nexus Tablets
With a number of different models available, Google’s own Nexus-branded tablets are sought after. For one, you know you’re getting good build quality with Google’s hardware partners, like ASUS, and on the software front, many purists prefer a “vanilla” Android operating system opposed to one bundled with additional extra apps, widgets or a custom interface.
Interestingly, the 7-inch Google Nexus tablet in particular is an extremely popular search query, compared to the newer and larger 10-inch model.
Search for Google Nexus Tablets on Yahoo.
6. Sony Xperia Z Tablets
Don’t try this with your iPad, but go ahead and bring the Sony Xperia Z2 tablet into the tub to watch a movie or read an e-book – as it’s IP67-rated (“waterproof”) for up to 30 minutes and as deep as 3 feet.
This Android device is also billed as the world’s slimmest and lightest 10-inch tablet, includes a built-in IR blaster to control your home theater and can be purchased with support for 4G/LTE connectivity through Verizon.
While there are other models, the Xperia Z2 is the highest searched specific model within the Sony tablet category.
Search for Sony Xperia Z Tablets on Yahoo.
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab
Next to iPad, Samsung’s Galaxy-branded tablets are one of the most-searched at Yahoo.
And there’s no shortage of them to choose from, be it the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3, Galaxy Tab 4, 12.2-inch Galaxy Tab Pro, and the Galaxy Tab S 8.4-inch model. Whew!
These Android tabs enjoy gorgeous screens, tons of Samsung apps and services, and long battery life.
Remarkably, Galaxy Tab 3 and Galaxy Tab 4 yielded the same amount of Yahoo searches, more or less, in 2014.
Search for Samsung Galaxy Tablets on Yahoo.
4. Microsoft Surface
Hey, are you surprised as much as we are that Microsoft Surface was searched more at Yahoo than Samsung’s Galaxy tablets?
As you likely know, Microsoft’s Surface tablets – including its latest flagship Surface Pro 3 -- aim to bridge the gap between laptop and tablet.
These 12-inch devices house a Windows 8.1 platform, fast processor and expandable memory, a full-size USB port, integrated kickstand and support for optional TypePad and TouchPad screen covers with an integrated keyboard and trackpad.
Search for Microsoft Surface on Yahoo.
3. iPad
Since 2010, Apple has ruled the tablet category with its iconic iPad. So, why isn’t it number one on this list? You’ll find out soon enough.
Searches like “iPad 2” and “iPad 3” are still quite high on Yahoo, perhaps among those looking for a less expensive option than the current iPad models.
The iOS-powered tablet – the one that started it all -- offers a simple and intuitive interface; support for many thousands of accessories; an App Store with more than a million downloads; and integration with services like iCloud, iTunes, AirPlay, Siri and more.
Search for iPads on Yahoo.
2. iPad Air
We’re now getting down to the nitty gritty, with the second most searched tablet on Yahoo: iPad Air .
Powered by Apple’s A7 processor, Apple’s fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad weighs under a pound and is just 7.5mm thin. As with the other iPads, iPhones and iPod touch devices, iPad Air benefits from the drop-dead-easy-to-use iOS platform, an App Store with more than a million downloads, iTunes media content, and much more.
Interestingly, even at number two, iPad Air received half as many search results at Yahoo as the number one tablet on our list. Curious as to what it is? Read on.
Search for iPad Air on Yahoo.
1. iPad mini
It’s not even close – Apple’s iPad family remains the most popular type of tablet searched at Yahoo.
The number one search query? iPad mini.
More portable and affordable than the full-sized iPad, Apple's iPad mini is a 7.9-inch tablet that's also lighter (0.6 pounds) and thinner than its big brother. Ideal for on-the-go types and avid book readers, you can slip this into a suit pocket, jacket or purse, to bring with you anywhere life takes you.
There’s an option for a cellular and Wi-Fi model, too, and with storage up to 128GB.
Search for iPad mini on Yahoo.
Honorable mention: Kindle & Kindle Fire
While the Kindle family of e-book readers are not a “tablet” per se, the Kindle Fire products are, and collectively they’re one of the highest searched “tablets” at Yahoo.
The first mainstream e-book reader on the market, Kindle still enjoys market share dominance in this space, and the relatively affordable Kindle Fire HD tablet has done quite well, too – perhaps in part due to the $99/year Amazon Prime service with unlimited music, TV shows and movies, and more than half a million ebooks you can borrow for free.
Search for Kindle & Kindle Fire on Yahoo.