A great variety of tablets is available. Use our expert tablet reviews and tablet buying advice to find the right one for you
Tablets are this year's must-have tech toy, and the choice is endless. Fortunately, PC Advisor is here with tablet reviews and tablet buying advice.
Are tablets just a fad? That's the question we're often asked by readers looking to justify the expense of yet another pricey gadget. After all, they've already got a smartphone, a laptop, a desktop PC and possibly even a netbook, too. Two-and-a-half years after Apple blew wide open the tablet market with its iPad, we can safely say otherwise: tablets are a phenomenon. (See also: What tablet should I buy? iPad, Kindle Fire HD, Nexus 7...)
The next time you get on a train, count the number of people using a tablet to browse the web, watch an HD movie, fire off an email, play a game, listen to music, read a book or get on with some work. And it's not just adults and commuters taken in by these highly portable, always-on devices: my four-year-old nephew can barely read or write, yet he's more in tune with the ins and outs of Android and iOS than his thirty-something parents.
In fact, tablets have become so popular with the younger generation that a whole new category of devices has sprung on to the market. Children's tablets such as the Fuhu nabi 2, Leapfrog LeapPad 2 and VTech InnoTab 2 are not only brightly styled and come with tough designs, helping to prevent the inevitable in the whirlwind that is a child's tantrum, they're safe to be left unsupervised with your kids. What's more, the preloaded educational activities can keep them quiet for hours. We review all these children's devices and more. See also: Kids' tablets buying advice: choose a tablet PC for your children.
Tablet buyers' guide: no longer just the iPad
Despite what some Apple loyalists would have you believe, the incredible success of the iPad isn't the only factor in the rise to popularity of tablets.
Google, with its Android tablets, can offer a much cheaper entry point to ownership, and with its latest Jelly Bean update it closes the gap on iOS. (See also: Best place to buy a tablet PC.)
The fact is Apple's products are expensive. Given that you usually get what you pay for, and the iPad is a premium device, that's understandable. But price is an important consideration when choosing a tablet, and in recent months we've seen exceptional devices from Google, Amazon and B&N that cost less than half the iPad's ticket. These are subsidised, of course, designed to encourage content sales and uptake of the Android platform, but we're easily bought. See also: Nexus 7 vs Kindle Fire HD vs Nook HD tablet comparison review.
Up your budget a little and there's the Nexus 10 from Google. For the first time, whether the iPad is the best tablet money can buy is a question for debate. The Nexus is not only much cheaper, and faster in our lab tests, it bests Apple's unique selling point: that awe-inspiring Retina display. Eventually, Apple stands to face competition from Microsoft, too, with its burgeoning Windows RT platform, and upcoming Windows 8 Pro tablets.
Whichever tablet platform or form-factor you desire, and whatever your budget, our tablet reviews and tablet buying advice will be your expert guide. (See also: Tablet or laptop for family: which is best?)
Comments
Killerdog21 said: Getting rid of my iPad since I can not revert to OS 511 Without Steve Jobs Apple BLOWS
Matt Egan said: That really is a personal thing Clearly the 10in device is a better experience for movies but its not catastrophic and the Nexus is easy to hold and great at widescreen
Dandy said: What about the difference in screen size - an iPad is 10 and the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire are both 7 - does it make a huge difference - this would be her main worryThanks
Matt Egan said: It depends your mum really But if she already uses your iPad and web browsing is key personally Id go Nexus 7
Dandy said: My Mum really wants an iPad for Christmas as shes always using mine but its a bit above my pricerange So Ive been considering either the Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire but not too sure if the screen is too small Shed be using it mainly for the internet online food shopping emails etc - which one is the best alternative
Wright30 said: Android tablets are the way forward there an amazing device with so many to choose from the list is endlessWith there ability to work in a similar way to that of a pc they are the real portable computer in every wayNo restrictions means more freedomLoads of apps nowadays so you get the best of both worlds
Dhomer24 said: I brought an iPad mini too Had an Android tablet but it was not an enjoyable experience I know people keep going on about being locked in with Apple but after getting malware on my Android device I prefer it that way
Len Derby said: Nexus7 here running stock Android Jelly Bean Also bought a Nextbook Premium7 SE as a gift for 99 running Ice Cream Sandwich looks like a good inexpensive entry-level tablet optionStill getting a lot of use out of my HP Touchpad running CM10 in the 10 inch factor Oh and probably a Window Surface Pro for my wife in the New Year when theyre released for access to the Wintel apps
ML4 said: I have already paid and waiting for delivery of a wifi and cellular iPad mini