[General Topics] Android Optimizer:
What should be my next tablet?

I have an old Archos Titanium 80 tablet that is extremely slow and unresponsive when doing almost anything these days. I'm thinking its time to get a new tablet. Looking at whats out there (and coming out) the Asus ZenPad z580CA, Google Pixel C, Acer Predator 8, and maybe even one of the old Nexus 9 tablets are all things I'm considering. I'm open to other suggestions as well.

(I'd post links to each of the ones I've mentioned above for those unfamiliar with the features of each that I listed, but I don't have my ten posts yet. :o)

Here is what I see about the positives and negatives of the ones I mentioned above:

Things I like(d) about the Asus Z580CA:

2048x1536 (exceeds minimum resolution desired) (324 ppi)

Supports pens (Z Stylus)

Asus Tru2Life+ (increases refresh rate to reduce blur and potentially create smooth detailed motion) (and apparently better looking contrast)

Two front speakers (better than a single or back speaker(s) when watching videos).

Micro SD slot (for external micro SD cards up to 128gb)

Asus software that can allow the tablet to control a PC (I could remotely start videos on my notebook and have them play on my tv without having to get up and use the PC), and visa versa control the tablet from the PC (I can't think of why I'd necessarily do that).

Drawbacks I see to the Z580CA:

short(er than average?) battery life (from what I read in a few reviews)

Asus bloatware (from what I read some can/can't be disabled)

May end up with legacy/obsolete software (OS) after some time if Asus doesn't keep the OS up-to-date (but that's true of anything Android that isn't a recent Nexus or Pixel system).

Things I like(d) about the Pixel C:

Google - they say they'll put out software (Android?) updates for it every six weeks. (Unlike my current tablet I will not be stuck with an old OS that has problems with updated apps).

2560x1800 (308 ppi)

Stereo speaker on both sides

Optional keyboard (magnetic Bluetooth keyboard that has long battery life)

long battery life

Drawbacks I see to Pixel C:

expensive $499/$599 for tablet plus additional $149 for keyboard

(totaling $648-$748 - roughly the price of some laptops/pc)

No SD slot (I'm not familiar with USB type-C, but would it plausibly work to connect and power the external hard drives I mentioned previously - assuming I had a wire that could connect to the drive on one end and the tablet type-c port on the other. Even if it could be done I'd have to wonder how quickly it would drain the battery, and how troublesome it would be to have a hot external drive likely dangling from the tablet)

Nexus 9:

Has many of the benefits of the Pixel C being a pure Android software device, but its an older tablet whose hardware is older than the other models being considered, and Android software updates will probably not be released for it for as long a period of time as some of the newer units. (Paying a higher price than for many of the other newer units for older hardware?)

Predator 8 :

Same price as the Asus z580CA ($299),and is scheduled to be released (November 6th?). It has both a decent screen (1920x1200) with 100% NTSC color gamut, and a powerful processor (Intel Atom X7-Z8700). Its also got 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi, and it apparently runs on an almost pure Android OS. Unfortunately the only reviews/previews out there about it are from a gaming standpoint. I'd like to read how it compares to other tablets in its price/parts classes. I'd like to read about how its screen compares to other screens, how its battery lasts in general activities (browsing the web, watching a view videos, etc), what ports it has (from the pictures) it has a headphone/audio port and a USB or HDMI port (I'm guessing USB). I'd like to read if web browsing is faster than on other tablets on account of the MIMO 2x2. Unfortunately no one has done a review of the device (which should have been out in Europe by now) from those perspectives.

For reference my current devices are : Sager NP9750 notebook, HTC One M8 phone, Archos Titanium 80 tablet, and an Asus ZenWatch 2. Here are breif details about each.

Sager NP9150 notebook running Windows 10 (the best computer I've owned and used to date. Its never crashed/blue screened or had any component failures).

HTC One M8 phone running Android 5.0.1 (the best phone I've owned to date. Its been fast, responsive, I haven't had any significant app crashes (ex: browser shutting down for no known reason), and it doesn't spontaneously turn off/restart on me (like my previous model phone used to do).

Asus ZenWatch 2 running Android Wear 1.3.0.2176821, Google Play 8.1.20, and Android OS 5.1.1 (I got it very recently, but I'm liking it so far).

Archos Titanium 80 tablet running Android 4.1.1 (This is the device I'm looking to replace). Most of the time it seems to take a long time for apps to launch. Many of those times the apps become unresponsive. Its wifi connection speed is much slower (and takes longer to connect) than the wifi with all of my other devices. (Granted I don't have a way to speed test the ZenWatch's wifi). The Titanium 80 has a 1024x768 pixel resolution, and I was never really happy with that screen quality. I'm looking for my new tablet to have a higher resolution (I'm thinking 1920x1280 or above).

I would appreciate any suggestions, recommendations, or information anyone has to contribute. What should I replace my old Archos Titanium 80 with?