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If you want a tablet with a screen that shines bright like a diamond, look no further than this list. A super-bright screen isn’t just another great way to eat up your tablet’s battery life, it’s also useful when enjoying your tablet in a bright environment.
If you’ve ever tried to use a tablet outdoors, or in direct sunlight, the screen can be highly reflective and difficult to see, but cranking up the brightness usually helps — if your tablet’s screen packs that kind of power. We’ve gathered the best of the brightest for your viewing pleasure, but if you’re interested in the best screen –period — check out our list of tablets with the best screens, or best tablets.
| Tablet | Maximum brightness (in cd/m2) | Screen resolution | Pixel density (ppi) | Screen size (in inches) |
| Nokia Lumia 2520 | 676 | 1,920×1,080 | 218 | 10.1 |
| Google Nexus 7 (2013) | 570 | 1,920×1,200 | 323 | 7 |
| Barnes & Noble Nook HD+ | 496 | 1,920×1,280 | 256 | 9 |
| Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 | 472 | 2,560×1,600 | 339 | 8.9 |
Josh Miller/CNET
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9
Bigger and brighter than its 7-inch counterpart, the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 model is a speedy and sharp mid-size tablet. It performs like a smooth operator with a zippy CPU and it boasts the most pixel-dense screen on the list. The HDX 8.9 also rocks a comfortable, utilitarian-chic design to-boot.
James Martin/CNET
Barnes & Noble Nook HD+
It might be a little old, but the the Barnes & Noble Nook HD+ still packs the right (and bright) stuff. Bookworms will enjoy the reading software extras, but bargain shoppers will love its budget price. Within its slightly restrictive OS, unlike the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 above, the Nook HD+ offers full access to the Google Play App store.
Josh Miller/CNET
Google Nexus 7
For an affordable price, the Google Nexus 7 houses a pure version of Android in a compact and comfortable build. It’s great for on-the-go types, also coming in a 4G LTE version, and its screen, though small, is one the brightest around. The tiny but mighty Nexus 7 is also the only 7-incher on this list.
James Martin/CNET
Nokia Lumia 2520
If you simply must have the brightest screen available, buyer beware. Despite being at the top of the list, the Windows RT packing Nokia Lumia 2520 comes with a few downsides; it has the lowest pixel-resolution and PPI, in comparison to the other tablets on the list, and some models have been recently recalled due to electrical issues. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
