The best tablets available to buy today
You're looking to buy a new tablet but are confused by all
the options out there? If you're looking for the best tablets of 2013, then
you've come to the right place. Here we will guide you through the hottest
tablets from 7-inches and up, to help you reach a decision on buying the right
device for you.
Our list of top tablets covers all operating systems, sizes
and price points, so you'll be armed with everything you need when choosing to
buy. We'll be regularly updating this feature with the latest and greatest
tablets we review, so you can see where the smart money is heading.
Run this question through your head: "Which tablet is
best for me?" Think about size first and foremost, what you'll be using
the device for and, therefore, how powerful it'll need to be. Is build quality
your most important factor, or can you settle for a plasticky finish at a more
attractive price point? Each question will impact which tablet best suits your
needs.
The tablets market is vast and not all of it is brand, brand
new. Refreshes are always on the horizon, but many tablets from back in 2012
remain strong in today's market. We’ll be regularly updating this feature with
the latest and greatest tablets that we review - not just the current top 12
that we have listed - but only those we've reviewed and have passed our tests.
That way you can see where your money is best spent.
Let us know what you think is the best tablet in the
comments below - you may have personal preference or advice for others and we
love to hear it.
12. Microsoft Surface Pro 2
The aptly named Surface Pro 2 is a lot like its predecessor
but with
Windows 8.1 on board and different architecture under the hood. That
means a better battery life from this half-laptop, half-tablet device. A
definite plus point, although we're still a little perplexed as to exactly what
Surface thinks it is.
Some might argue that the Surface is more a laptop
replacement than a laptop. It sort of is, sort of isn't. It lives in its own
world, but it's a powerful world and one that fans of full Windows 8.1 will
love.
The 10.6-inch screen has a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution
that's the perfect match for HD movies. Or you can do anything else on it that
you can do with a Windows 8.1 device. It's just like a laptop, albeit minus a
clip-on keyboard like the Asus Transformer Infinity (below) - with Microsoft
that's something you'll have to fork out extra cash for.
Overall there's no denying that it's a solid, well-built
device with a glorious screen. Think of it as a standalone tablet, however, and
it feels a little bit too thick and heavy. Think of it as a boundary-blurrer
that straddles the tablet-meets-laptop category and you'll be a far happier
customer.
Whether that amasses to enough to get you on board and give
the Pro 2 a new home, well, that's going to depend on your point of view. We
find the Surface Pro 2 genuinely decent to use, better built than plenty of
Ultrabooks, but also that it doesn't entirely connect with us as a tablet-like
device. If only it came with the keyboard included for a touch less cash.
PRICE: £719 ("64GB")
QUICK VERDICT: Surface Pro 2 is a subtle push forward for
the device compared to the original, and a necessary one. The second-generation
Pro shows us that Microsoft is listening - from the physical adjustments of the
flip-stand, through to better battery life from Haswell, and the steps forward
in software with the introduction of Windows 8.1. It's positive, but not tablet
perfection in our minds.
11. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity
It might not look like a tablet at first glance, but that's
the Transformer's crowning glory - it's the most complete Android-based laptop
replacement we've seen, yet functions as an excellent standalone tablet too.
Here the Android operating system has evolved to become an
operating system that can cope with removable USB drives and office documents
almost as easily as Windows does. What you also get is strong cloud back-up and
access to a very comprehensive app store, amazing battery life and a great 1920
x 1200 resolution 10-inch screen.
Ok so neither the keyboard nor the mouse are perfect, and
it's pricey, but what you do get is the sort of flexibility that's missing from
most other tablets. For many, it's likely to be a more enjoyable system than
either a Windows or OS X laptop, and it's an easy migration from a smartphone.
Future versions of the Transformer are just around the
corner, which may naturally drive down the price of the Infinity - something to
keep an eye on.
PRICE: £549
QUICK VERDICT: Aside from the high price, and the ongoing
issue of the trackpad being a little bit small, we really like the Infinity.
It's a lovely standalone Android tablet but the keyboard makes it so much more
attractive. It doesn't place higher on account of its high price is all.
10. Samsung Galaxy Note 8
The Note range continues to be a surprise. When it launched,
there was much smirking about the included stylus Pen - something that we love
- but Samsung's skill here has been to make the device work perfectly without
it, but then to offer bundles of extra features if you do want to make use of
the stylus.
The Note 8 doesn't have a super-high screen resolution,
however, with just 1280 x 768 pixels nestled on that 8-inch touch panel. Not
bad, but not as competitive as the likes of the cheaper, higher-resolution
Nexus 7. But then that doesn't come with a pen.
PRICE: £339
QUICK VERDICT: There's lots to love in the Galaxy Note 8.
The only real letdowns are the screen resolution and the fact that, despite
this, it's still quite expensive. If you're after a budget tablet in this size,
then look to the Advent Vega or the Nexus 7, or even the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
- but just don't expect the same breadth of features and usability from the
Amazon offering.
9. Advent Vega Tegra Note 7
The Advent Vega Tegra Note 7 is one of the better affordable
7-inch tablets on the market, particularly if you're a gaming fan or like to
use a stylus. Before you shrug it off as "just another tablet" this
Tegra-4-powered device is well worth a look in.
The £180 price sits it below the Nexus 7, but also sits it
below in the spec department too: the screen resolution is not in the
"Full HD" category, and while that's fine enough for gaming it won't match
up to the panel on the similar-priced Nexus 7. But while that's among the
biggest points against this device, we wouldn't describe anything about the
Advent Vega Tegra Note 7 as bad - except, perhaps, for the bonkers-long name.
And you get that stylus included which is really useful.
PRICE: £180
QUICK VERDICT: A great 7-inch tablet and stylus combo. A
touch less weight, the latest Android OS and a higher resolution screen in
version two and we'll have near perfection.
8. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX does a lot to make itself a
competitive offering. The detail in the display and the power on offer, for the
price, make it a compelling choice.
But the HDX finds itself in the same position as last year's
model: it's fighting incredibly hard, but stuck to the Amazon track. The result
is that, when it comes to content, you can get everything in competition
Android land - aside from Lovefilm. But on those other devices you get more
freedom and you're part of the bigger system, with more choices.
PRICE: £199 (with offers)
QUICK VERDICT: If you're after a good quality tablet that
performs well, with a great display, plenty of power, at a good price and
you're more interested Amazon's content than having the latest apps, then the
Kindle Fire HDX may well make you very happy.
7. Kobo Arc 7HD
There are two reasons why we’re drawn to the Kobo Arc 7HD
over the Amazon Kindle alternative. First, it allows you to access Google Play
without either rooting the device or side-loading applications. You're free to
do as you please, not locked down to shopping in Amazon’s own Appstore as on
the Kindle platform.
Second, the price. At £159 for the £16GB storage model -
it's £189 for the 32GB model - it remains great value for money. It might not
be quite as powerful as the Kindle Fire HDX, but if you want an
"open" experience then the Kobo has a whole lot going for it, and we
rather like the way it offers access to eBook content. If all that scares you a
bit and you want Kindle familiarity, then you'll know exactly where to head: to
the Kindle Fire HDX.
When considered on its own merits, and the price, the Arc
7HD is a great buy that we've enjoyed using a whole lot. Its only real letdown
- and this might be a deal-breaker for some - is there's no possibility of 3G
or 4G connectivity, it's Wi-Fi only.
PRICE: £159
QUICK VERDICT: A great Android tablet with Kobo's eBook
store put pride of place. But you're not locked down to anything - use Google
Play, use Amazon's Kindle store, or Kobo's. It's all wide open here, and for
the price it's a really tempting 7-inch tablet. Just a shame there's no 3G or
4G offering.
6. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
There's something about the Samsung Note 10.1 that
"just works". It comes complete with a Pen which is a brilliantly
useful addition.
If you have any artistic talent, then there's a very real
chance you'll be able to make the Note 10.1 work for you as a creative tool.
The big screen means you can use it for all manner of illustrations and layouts
and it's an ideal companion for throwing together notes in a meeting.
However its 1280 x 800 resolution 10.1-inch screen is more
limited than, say, the Google Nexus 10.1 - which is around the same price
point. If you're into watching movies then the Google device is likely the
preferable choice.
But if you want a tablet with a stylus Pen then there's a
whole lot of good in the Galaxy 10.1 If only it had a higher-resolution screen,
we'd demand everyone rushed straight out to buy one.
PRICE: £349
QUICK VERDICT: We aren't pretending that Samsung has quite
the same build quality as the Apple iPad, and we know people are beholdent to
the iTunes ecosystem, but the Note has so much going for it, particularly the
inclusion of a stylus Pen. That makes it an individual product in a crowded
market.
5. Sony Xperia Tablet Z
Previous Sony Android tablets were late to arrive to the
party and blighted by quirky design that just didn't quite deliver.
Then Sony flipped that on its head with the Xperia Tablet Z.
It's a stylish, lightweight Android tablet that is also waterproof so you can
take it in the bath. How about that?
The 10.1-inch display isn't quite the best out there,
though, as it's bettered by the Samsung-built Nexus 10 (below), which offers a
more natural colour palette as well as a higher resolution for sharper details,
but at 1920 x 1200 the Xperia is still very good.
The thing that the Xperia Z tablet does deliver is build
quality. It's more luxury than the likes of Google's slightly more affordable
tablets, so if Android is a must have then Sony has a true competitor for the
Apple iPad 4 here.
PRICE: £399
QUICK VERDICT: Excellent design and specification at an
impressive price, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z is a great Android tablet with
plenty on offer. It's got a more luxury design than the Google Nexus 10, but
then it comes in at a price point that's on par with the Apple iPad 4. If
you're not an Apple fan and must have Android, however, then this well built
and waterproof tablet has a whole lot going for it.
4. Google Nexus 10
Another 2012 model in the ranks, the Nexus 10 brings that
pure Android experience, meaning you'll be the first to get updates and it's
free from the bloat of additional apps and services you don't want and that
some manufacturers add.
Larger than the Nexus 7 (see further down the page), it's
the Nexus 10's display that's its real beauty. The sharp 2560 x 1600 resolution
looks fantastic and packs in more pixels than even the iPad 4.
All that res means you can revel in the desktop experience
of websites with less zooming, and it makes for a great, sharp, reading device
too. Or watch movies and play games - there's enough power for that too.
This Samsung-constructed device is well built too, even if
it's not in quite the same league as the iPad 4. But if you're an Android fiend
then this will likely be your preference product, and if you're undecided then
the more accessible price point might help in your decision making.
PRICE: £319
QUICK VERDICT: The Nexus 10 fill our hearts with joy when we
look at that screen. In many ways, this typifies the difference between Android
and iOS. The Nexus is competent and powerful, but it lacks that whiff of
passion and build quality that you get from Apple products. A great buy at a
great price though, Android tablets don't come much better than this.
3. Nexus 7 (2013)
The Nexus device range from Google has always been the
benchmark for an Android device. The clean state in which to deliver an
experience that is pure, that Google owns, before the likes of Samsung, Sony or
LG get their hands on it.
The original Nexus 7 was hot stuff: a 7-inch tablet
experience that just worked. Enter the 2013 Nexus 7 update and we've got a
rip-roaringly good tablet that continues to deliver the goods anew, complete
with a 1920 x 1200 resolution screen that - at this price point - knocks many
other tablets out of contention.
If you're new to tablet land and want an affordable,
portable offering that's got access to the wide range of Google's apps then the
Nexus 7 II is probably the best balance of features to price. Indeed it's one
of the best Android tablets out there.
It's not as luxury in build as the iPad mini, but if that
doesn't both you then save yourself over £100 and invest - Google's got a
winner on its hands here.
PRICE: £159
QUICK VERDICT: It is just an incremental update to the
original Nexus 7 - so existing users may want to stick with what they've got -
but for those who don't have the original, and are keen to get a small and
brilliant tablet, then this is the Android device for you.
2. Apple iPad mini
The Apple iPad mini might not have as good a screen as the
iPad 4 or some other competitors, including the latest Nexus 7, but we love its
size, light weight, portability and top-notch build quality.
This is what tablets should be like. Thin, easy to use, and
with an abundance of available apps for all walks of life - whether it's
watching Netflix or Sky Go from the bath, drawing a picture using apps like
Paper or Photoshop, or playing games like Real Racing 3.
For those who need to actually get some work done, you can
now get a bevy of keyboards for the iPad mini that effectively turn this into
the netbook you owned a couple of years ago.
However, the Retina display model is now available to buy -
and while we anticipate it'll be an excellent slate, we're yet to live with one
for long enough to confirm that it takes precedence. It's likely that you'll
want to wait for the higher-res and more powerful model. But even though the
current mini doesn't have the highest resolution screen out there it's still
eminently usable and, for us, one of the best tablets out there.
PRICE: £269
QUICK VERDICT: It might be mini by nature, but it is mighty
in the things it can offer. We love it.
1. Apple iPad Air
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