There’s no mistaking it; tablets are big business. They’ve taken over from laptops in terms of sales and popularity, with hundreds of tech companies jumping on the bandwagon to launch a tablet computer of some description.
Right now choosing a tablet can be a confusing affair, with different sizes, shapes, operating systems, features and more making choosing one something of a minefield. There’s a huge range of tablets out there, but here are five of the best you can buy right now.
ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity – £549
The undisputed king of Android tablets is this beast – a 10.1-inch Full HD tablet which docks into a netbook-sized QWERTY keyboard (comes bundled) to transform (get it?) the tablet into a laptop. Its super IPS display is ultra-bright and offers great viewing angles, whilst the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor provides plenty of power for playing the latest games and multitasking.
Apple iPad 4 – From £399
If you prefer the simplicity of iOS over Android then Apple’s latest iPad is the one. Boasting a slim and sleek design, Apple’s latest iOS 6.1 software and a gorgeous 9.7-inch Retina display that brings games, movies and photos to life, the iPad 4 is a great choice. You’ve also got the option to use the latest 4G mobile technology with certain models, which will get you super-fast internet on the go. Many feel that Apple’s is one of the priciest tablets, but if you look around its easy to find some great iPad deals.
Microsoft Surface Pro – From £719
If you want a tablet but don’t want to sacrifice full PC applications then luckily Microsoft built the Surface Pro for just that reason. It might be thicker and heavier than an iPad but the Surface Pro offers full PC processing power, a Full HD display and support for stylus input which makes it excellent for applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Google Nexus 7 – From £159
Larger tablets aren’t for everyone and some favour the smaller 7-inch form factor purely for portability. When it comes to 7-inch tablets the Nexus 7 is king, offering a HD screen, powerful processor and guaranteed access to the latest version of Android as Google launches it. The design is slick and well curved to fit your hands comfortably, too. The low price tag really belies what the Nexus 7 offers.
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 – From £229
If you’re not fussy about customising your tablet and you want something simple but cheaper than an iPad then Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD is a great choice. Based on the Android system, the Kindle Fire HD offers over 22 million Android apps, Kindle books, movies from LOVEFiLM, songs from Amazon MP3 and more all in one simple and easy to navigate place. You also get a great quality HD display, stereo speakers with Dolby Audio, fast dual-band Wi-Fi and a HD camera for video calling.