If you're the proud owner of an Android tablet - whether it's a Nexus 9, a Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 or an Nvidia Shield - you're always on the lookout to load it up with the apps that get the most out of your slick new slate. That's why we're always tirelessly trawling the Google Play Store to find the latest and greatest apps out there for you, saving you the legwork of going through the Store's 1.4 million-strong app catalog. Here are the best Android tablets apps we've found for you in 2015 so far.
Movies
Watching movies is probably the single biggest reason most people buy a tablet. There's no better way to pass a boring flight, train trip, or a lazy, lonely Sunday afternoon in bed. But you need a solid movie player that's up to the task, and they don't come any more solid than MX Player - rightly the most popular video player on the Play Store - which not only plays most video formats smoothly, but also has some neat features like pinch-to-zoom and the option to move around subtitles.
Also of note, the PC user's video player of choice, VLC, has been in beta form on Android for nearly two years, but the stable, fully working version 1.0 is now available. VLC is fantastic for playing back video in just about any format.
Office Suites & Productivity
When all that time-wasting has ended, you might find yourself needing to actually do a spot of work on your tablet too. Thankfully, after making us wait for years, Microsoft has finally released well-optimized, beautifully designed versions of its legendary Office tools - Word for Tablet, Excel for Tablet and PowerPoint for Tablet. They're the Office tools that Android's been waiting for, and if you're still using the archaic Microsoft Office Mobile, switch over to the new apps now.
To help with all the typing that you'll be doing, you want the best keyboard app for the job, so get your hands on the free SwiftKey.
Photos & Gallery
If you spend plenty of time admiring your holiday photos, Facebook photos, selfies and sellotapies, then you'll want a photo suite that makes this pastime easier.
Camera ZOOM FX has been with Android since the days of the Android Market, and it's come a long way in that time. As well as offering the filters, time-lapses and other features we've come to expect from our phone cameras, it also has some of its own tricks, such as silly props and famous 'buddies' to add to your photos.
Once you've taken your snaps, you can do some more in-depth editing on them using Pixlr Express, which you can use to adjust color temperatures, contrast and saturation, and even create your own memes.
Finally, you'll want to view your images in a gallery that's worthy of your photos. QuickPic is the best way to keep your photo collection organized and looking good.
Reading
One of a tablet's biggest advantages over a smartphone is that you can spend hours reading on it without getting eye-strain. If you've got an endless library of classic ebooks clogging up your computer or gathering dust on your Kindle, then why not pop them on your new tablet so they're always with you? They take up no space either, so that ''1001 books you must read before you die'' list is going to take up less memory than a Lady Gaga album.
With the plethora of news sources out there, it can be messy keeping them all bookmarked in our browsers. Besides, bookmarks are from a bygone era, Now, it's all about using apps to curate your own collection of news sources.
Feedly is a fantastic way to aggregate all your favorite news sources, letting your read them without having to go to the original site. You can also share news stories across social media, and save your favourite articles to read later.
Just as useful as Feedly is Flipboard. It also holds the edge over Feedly for tablet users because it has an interface optimized specifically for tablets, so swiping between news stories is a cinch.
Gaming
2015 has got off to a great start when it comes to Android games. The stunt-bike game Trial Xtreme 4 builds on its predecessors with great new graphics, competitive online gameplay, and has recently answered its fans' calls to throw in an offline mode too.
A rundown of the best tablet games of 2015 wouldn't be complete without a tablet-exclusive game, so the brilliant Hearthstone deserves a mention. In this compelling card game set in the Warcraft universe, fast reflexes and quick strategic thinking are a must as you use spells and skills to overcome your opponents.
If you enjoyed last year's surreal puzzle game Monument Valley, then you'll warm straight away toSkyward, which has a similar minimalist aesthetic. Aside from that, Skyward has its own unique gameplay and charm, as you control a red disc and a blue disc, trying to keep them from falling off the beautiful disappearing platforms.
None of these tickle your fancy? Then you'll definitely find something in one of our many lists of best Android games:
Any great games missing from our lists? We defy you to tell us!
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