Group test: what's the best tablet PC?

The best tablets you can buy in the UK today

By | PC Advisor |

PC Advisor reviews the best tablet PCs you can buy in the UK today. Updated, 24 April 2012.

5. Sony Tablet S

Sony Tablet S
  • Reviewed on: 1 September 11
  • RRP: £399 inc VAT for a 16GB model
  • Rating: Rated 8 out of 10

Sony may be late to the party, but I appreciate that the Sony Tablet S reflects that company tried to differentiate it from the cookie-cutter tablet field. I look forward to using the final product, because this pre-production model certainly shows lots of potential. Now excuse me while I return to steering Crash Bandicoot around the island, and change the channel on my DVR to catch NCIS.

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
  • Reviewed on: 25 August 11
  • RRP: From £399 inc VAT
  • Rating: Rated 8 out of 10

With the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Samsung has patently tried its damnedest to recreate an Apple iPad 2. It’s essentially matched the iPad 2 in size and weight, and can boast a screen at least as good as Apple’s. But the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is demonstrably inferior in overall speed, battery life, materials and build quality, as well as graphics performance. Potential buyers should also be prepared to always keep security in mind. It’s no coincidence that anti-virus software is now being pushed out for Android: Google Market has been home to dangerous malware, against Apple’s larger, curated App Store of screened and digitally signed apps. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 can take on internet Adobe Flash content better than we’ve seen before on any tablet. Otherwise we can think of no persuasive reason why anyone would want a demonstrably inferior copy when the iPad 2 is available at exactly the same price. If Samsung were to price the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from £299, it would be on to something. Until then, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 stands right now as arguably the finest Android tablet available, but an also-ran behind its mentor.

3. Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime
  • Reviewed on: 2 March 12
  • RRP: £499 with keyboard dock
  • Rating: Rated 8 out of 10

ASUS has taken yet another stab at the tablet market, this time with the follow up to its popular Transformer. The Eee Pad Transformer Prime is essentially the same tablet with a decent all round upgrade.

2. Apple iPad 2

Apple iPad 2
  • Reviewed on: 18 April 11
  • RRP: From £329 inc VAT
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

Deservedly, Apple owns this market right now, and it knows it. The price drop is the icing on the competition-killing cake, leaving iPad 2 as statement of the tablet art today. If we had to name a second-place contender, the only device nearing the slickness of operation and natural hardware/software integration is - last year’s iPad. Anyone wishing to explore effortless computing is advised to try Apple's iPad 2.

1. Apple iPad

Apple iPad
  • Reviewed on: 21 March 12
  • RRP: From £399 inc VAT (16GB with Wi-Fi) -
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

At PC Advisor we never recommend a product that we haven't properly benchmarked, but in the case of the new iPad (the iPad HD/iPad 3) we just have to make an exception. The new iPad has an amazing new screen, and it's specifications are significantly better than the iPad 2. Given that it is the same price as its predecessor was, and the iPad 2 is a country mile ahead of all its rivals, how can we not promote the new iPad as the best tablet on the market? If we were looking to buy a tablet today, the new iPad would be the only choice. Barring any hideous bug that becomes obvious during testing, it leaves the rest of the market in its wake.

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Comments

Matt Egan said:  Michael - in what way is it better? I'm looking at both devices right now, I have the test scores to hand, and I'm not seeing it (and I *own* three tablets including a Tab 10.1 but not including an iPad). Also, in what way are we being 'unproffesional'? Explain that please.

michael said: Written by Mr golden delicious from granny smiths cabin in applesville.Never heard so much bias for apple. The tab 10.1 is a great tablet pc and compared to the ipad is way better and faster, when actually compared. Come on be a bit more proffesional.

Kidd69 said: I fully agree with hoggleboggle, I own the iPad 2 and the Galaxy 10.1 and the Galaxy knocks spots of the iPad. The iPad is an oversized iPhone of, which i had the 3G, 3GS & 4 and then went with the Galaxy S2 when apple thought they would dupe everybody with the 4S. I would never go back.

Rotten Apple said: I have an iPad3, never having used any Apple devices before. I won it in a competition and didn't pay for it. Plus points: brilliant screen, control by gestures is smooth and fun, browser is clear but missing flash is annoying, generally very easy to use. Until... Minus points: the moment you try to do something outside the Apple prescribed apps it gets difficult. I want to connect my camera (I can't without buying an adapter), I want to read a memory card (can't), or a USB stick (can't), I want to transfer some iBooks that I already own (haven't found a way yet), I want to load some photos on (loaded on but now can't delete). I want to see what files are loaded into memory (can't). Some things are just about possible via iTunes (a large and cumbersome app focussed largely on music, which I don't want it for). Why are such simple things made so difficult? Maybe I'm just too used to Windows, where I know I can plug in a camera/memory stick/USB device etc and it just works, whereas with the iPad you can only do what Apple say you can. It's like living in a communist dictatorship! Would I get one if I had to pay for it? Absolutely not!

Best Tablet 2012 said: What's the best tablet PC? Apple Ipad 3 now! 

Rapwesolowksi said:  Can you review the Fujitsu STYLISTIC® Q550 Slate PC

Matt Egan said: We are making an exception, as the copy says!

Ademola Osindero said: Provide a better yard stick for the comparison. This is too vague. More so, you cannot rate a product you have not even tested claiming you are a making an exception. That is not in anyway professional.

Maccyroo said: Although I hate to admit that the new ipad is probably the best tablet out there [I'm not an Apple fan]. It is refreshing to see Apple using product development and introducing new features in attempt to keep the ipad at the top. A big improvement over their past attempts to keep the ipad at No 1 spot.  Resorting to legal chicanery and doctoring pictures of popular competitors products like the Galaxy Tab, before submitting them to a judge in an effort to get them banned is the wrong way and has angered many people. Consumers want new cutting edge features like the new Retina Display but also a fair and competitive market place with the widest choice of tablets from different manufacturers.This is both the best and morally acceptable way to keep your product at the top of the pile.I hope Apple continue to go forward in this vein and drop all the recent legal nonsense. Letting us buy the product we want from the manufacturer we want; based on quality, features and value for money is much more preferable than trying to unfairly kill off the main competition and limit the choice for us consumers.

Zombiestephen90 said: Ipad is horrible. Android is so much better. I love my 7" galaxy tab.

Gates said: Because ipads are crap

Bill said: Ipads are crap

Matt Egan said: Actually, the little ones tend to be more expensive, but we are planning a test of low-cost tablets.

cctv camera guy said: Have any reviews of 7in tablets? The ipad is great, but it's super expensive!

sip said: My take on the Adobe Flash issue is this:It's rubbish on my Mac and I'm glad it isn't supported on iDevices because Flash is not ready for handheld devices.More importantly, there are over 130 million iDevices out there and anyone with a modicum of sense is going to migrate to HTML5 to target and grab such a massive audience. As the iDevice market grows, that audience is just going to get to a point where it can't be ignored any longer and Flash will begin to disappear.Letting Flash die is the natural way of things, otherwise we may as well all go back in time and re-introduce the original abacus.Flash proponents are the new Luddites.

Matt Egan said: Thanks Gordon. I’ll take your advice on board!

Condom said: I used to remember the days when PCA was a good magazine with a very good editor who was unfortunately poached by a rival Mag.  Since that day PCA has slowly gone downhill and is really just a mouthpiece for its mother Mag and often as not just reprints its articles without even changing $ to £.  Its lazy journalism repeatedly shows itself.  Matt I really think it is time you looked elsewhere.

Matt Egan said: Also, we'll be updating the review in the next couple of weeks. It's an impressive device, and there is some division over which rules: iPad, Tab or Tablet S. I'm a Tab man, myself, but you'll find PCA editors espousing the other views too. Those three are a cut above.

Matt Egan said: Yes! Scheduled in for next week, but why wait!

Jess Pantinople said: Can the author please update this post and include the Sony Tablet S on the list?

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