Polled readers say this core Google feature matters most to Android tablet buyers

In early October, Amazon ruffled the feathers of the Android tablet industry with its Alexa tablets. Unlike previous slates from the firm, the new trio will all come with Google Play Store access, bringing them more in line with their direct rivals.

Taking the devices’ entire packages into account, including pricing and hardware, they’re shaping up to be excellent additions to the Android tablet space. My colleague Harish Jonnalagadda even believes that Amazon’s bested Google at its own game:

With this lineup, Amazon has finally cracked the code on something Google couldn’t figure out in the last 15 years: how to make an Android tablet that everyday users actually want to buy.

But to truly understand what consumers want in their slates, we polled readers: “What matters most to you when choosing an Android tablet?” The poll results can be viewed below.

This poll garnered over 1,400 votes, and there’s a remarkably even spread across the four options. This suggests that all of the options can be considered important to our readers in some capacity. However, one particular feature matters a little more than the others: Google Play Store access.

Amazon called it! 28.1% of respondents consider this the most important factor when choosing an Android tablet. It’s worth viewing the poll through Amazon-tinted glasses, but it also highlights the general importance of apps in the Android ecosystem. Arguably, it’s its broad array of apps that gives Android its identity.

It’s important to remember that the Play Store isn’t the be-all and end-all for apps on Android — you can easily grab apps from other sources, including F-Droid. You can even access Play Store apps via Aurora Store if you absolutely need to. Purchasing a tablet, at least for me, doesn’t hinge solely on access to the Play Store.

Remarkably, there’s a tie for second place. Both “good hardware and display quality” and “price and value for money” scored 24.4% of the vote, or 359 votes each.

Coming in last but not too far behind is “software updates and long-term support,” with 23.2% of the vote.

The Amazon Alexa series ticks all four of these boxes, but will they sell? Will you consider buying one of the slates instead of a tablet from another Android OEM? Let us know in the comments section below.