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Tablets with special features (pictures)

It's getting harder and harder to stand out as a tablet in a saturated market. However, these slates manage to make their mark, thanks to some special and distinctive features.

Xiomara Blanco
Xiomara Blanco is an associate editor for CNET Reviews. She's a Bay Area native with a knack for tech that makes life easier and more enjoyable. So, don't expect her to review printers anytime soon.
Xiomara Blanco
lenovo-yoga-tab-3-pro-1650-005.jpg
1 of 9 Josh Miller/CNET

Unless you're a tablet expert like me, most models look similar -- if not the same. Tablets tend to blend in together, with monotonous rectangular designs and redundant features. However, the slates in this slideshow offer a few unique characteristics to help them stand out in the pack.

Click though the slideshow for an introduction to a few slates that offer something unique, in addition to the usual offerings.

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2 of 9 Josh Miller/CNET

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro

Ever wanted a tablet with a built-in projector? Me neither. But now that I've used one, I admit, it's pretty dang cool.

The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro is one of my favorite Android tablets around thanks to its smart design, sharp screen, loud speakers and, last but not least, its built-in pico projector.

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3 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Apple iPad Pro

Apple's largest tablet offers an optional Pencil accessory that's a creative weapon for artists and graphic designers who want a powerful, portable canvas for their creations.

4 of 9 Sean Hollister/CNET

Asus ZenPad S 8.0

This Asus tablet features custom settings you'd otherwise have to download an app or hack into your Android to modify.

You can change the font (and its color) on your menus and homescreen, your scrolling animation and even the saturation and color balance of the screen itself.

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5 of 9 Xiomara Blanco/CNET

Amazon Fire Kids Edition

Parents can have peace of mind knowing that if their kid breaks this tablet, they can get a new one, no questions asked.

The Amazon Fire Kids Edition comes with a two-year guarantee that promises to replace the tablet if it ever breaks, no matter how or how many times it breaks.

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6 of 9 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Galaxy S2

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 isn't on this list just because it's a stone cold stunner that could be easily mistaken as an iPad. It's also one of the only Android tablets to offer a fingerprint scanner for extra security.

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7 of 9 Josh Miller/CNET

Sony Xperia Z4

The Sony Xperia Z4 gives new meaning to the term "skinny dipping." In addition to its status as one of the thinnest and lightest tablets available, it's also waterproof! Not to be outshined by its slick design features, the Xperia Z4 tablet is also a top slate thanks to its zippy performance and pixel-packed screen.

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8 of 9 Josh Miller/CNET

Dell Venue 8 7000

The Dell Venue 8 7000 houses an impressive depth-sensing camera and useful software for creatively editing your photos. Its slim 8.4-inch frame is also one of the thinnest in all the land.

We've seen 3D cameras on tablets before, but the quality and extensive abilities of the Dell Venue 8 7000 surpass any tablet before it. Early adopters and photography fans will enjoy getting to know their way around the stereoscopic camera.

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9 of 9 Screenshot/Xiomara Blanco

Amazon Fire HDX 8.9

The 2014 update to the 8.9-inch HDX includes one very cool feature: Firefly.

After aiming the rear camera at an artifact for a few seconds, the item recognition software can quickly recognize TV shows and movies -- and pull up a list of IMDB pages for the actors in the scene -- as well as a song, or item (that's conveniently found on Amazon.com, of course). It's far from perfect, but there's nothing else around quite like it. Best of all for a lucky few, Firefly can only be found on the Fire HDX 8.9 and Amazon's Fire phone.

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