I currently have a Samsung Tab S3 on pre-order and was puzzled to read that there are no plans to release an 8" version of the device. I owned the S2 in both sizes and have owned every IPad Mini ever released plus a bunch of junk tablets in between.
There have been rumors about a new Nexus 7 (built by Huawei) but so far that has been it, rumors. I was never a huge fan of the Nexus 7. I owned 3 separate units and had touch accuracy issues with all 3. Still they were pretty much the most powerful 7" tablet ever released.
So what is available?
Samsung:
The Tab S2 8". Great device but being discontinued
The Tab A... 7" and 8". I have one of each, low end junk.
Tab 4 series, low end junk
Apple:
Apple IPad Mini 4 which came out in September of 2015... (The Mini 2 is still available in a 32GB version as well). Great 8" tablet if you don't mind a lack of storage expansion, complete reliance on ITunes, and of course the price...
LG:
Ugh, they make low end junk...
Acer:
See LG comments...
Lenovo:
See Acer comments...
Nvidia:
Shield K1 - Discontinued but still stock available with a number of etailers. Popular for gamers and great specs but issues (primarily Wi Fi connectivity and battery issues) never got fully resolved.
Google:
Nexus 7: Discontinued years ago, still stock available at boosted prices. Issues with touch screen accuracy
Asus:
The Zenpad and the Memopad are both low end junk... (and mostly discontinued but again online availability varies), the Z580 (8") has decent specs but again sub par to the Samsung S2, it is cheaper though.
Huawei:
A few different models, Mediapad T1 (7"), low end junk, M3 (8") pretty decent specs but sub par to the Samsung S2 from a screen perspective. Also there are complaints about a lack of a dedicated back button (either on screen or physical). Also the EMUI interface is ugly and there are performance hiccups in the various reviews.
So what are we left with?
Pretty much the best in each OS are the IPad Mini 4 and the Samsung Tab S2 at 8"
At 7", there are literally no high end units available other than a long discontinued Nexus 7. Maybe it's the growth in the Phablet market or that phones are gigantic or it's just that people don't use tablets much with the dominance of the high end phone market.
There have been rumors about a new Nexus 7 (built by Huawei) but so far that has been it, rumors. I was never a huge fan of the Nexus 7. I owned 3 separate units and had touch accuracy issues with all 3. Still they were pretty much the most powerful 7" tablet ever released.
So what is available?
Samsung:
The Tab S2 8". Great device but being discontinued
The Tab A... 7" and 8". I have one of each, low end junk.
Tab 4 series, low end junk
Apple:
Apple IPad Mini 4 which came out in September of 2015... (The Mini 2 is still available in a 32GB version as well). Great 8" tablet if you don't mind a lack of storage expansion, complete reliance on ITunes, and of course the price...
LG:
Ugh, they make low end junk...
Acer:
See LG comments...
Lenovo:
See Acer comments...
Nvidia:
Shield K1 - Discontinued but still stock available with a number of etailers. Popular for gamers and great specs but issues (primarily Wi Fi connectivity and battery issues) never got fully resolved.
Google:
Nexus 7: Discontinued years ago, still stock available at boosted prices. Issues with touch screen accuracy
Asus:
The Zenpad and the Memopad are both low end junk... (and mostly discontinued but again online availability varies), the Z580 (8") has decent specs but again sub par to the Samsung S2, it is cheaper though.
Huawei:
A few different models, Mediapad T1 (7"), low end junk, M3 (8") pretty decent specs but sub par to the Samsung S2 from a screen perspective. Also there are complaints about a lack of a dedicated back button (either on screen or physical). Also the EMUI interface is ugly and there are performance hiccups in the various reviews.
So what are we left with?
Pretty much the best in each OS are the IPad Mini 4 and the Samsung Tab S2 at 8"
At 7", there are literally no high end units available other than a long discontinued Nexus 7. Maybe it's the growth in the Phablet market or that phones are gigantic or it's just that people don't use tablets much with the dominance of the high end phone market.