What's the best tablet PC?

The best tablets you can buy in the UK today

By | PC Advisor | 26 April 13

What's the best tablet PC? PC Advisor reviews the best tablet PCs you can buy in the UK today, including iPad, Nexus 7, and Samsung Galaxy. See also: Group test: what's the best iPad? and Group test: what's the best Android tablet?

5. Amazon Kindle Fire HD

Amazon Kindle Fire HD
  • Reviewed on: 14 November 12
  • RRP: £159 inc VAT
  • Rating: Rated 7 out of 10

If you're after a 7in tablet that's very easy to use, you don't need GPS and don't want to stretch your budget to £200, the Kindle Fire HD is a good buy. However, although Google's Nexus 7 has half the storage for the same price, it's more versatile and has a better range of apps and games and is faster, too.

4. Google Nexus 10

Google Nexus 10
  • Reviewed on: 6 December 12
  • RRP: £319 for 16GB; £389 for 32GB
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

The Nexus 10 is easily the best 10in Android tablet we've seen to date. It has a fantastic screen, decent cameras and software features all for a more than reasonable price. Those looking for an alternative to the full-sized iPad needn't look any further.

3. Apple iPad Mini

Apple iPad Mini
  • Reviewed on: 27 February 13
  • RRP: Wi-Fi: £269 (16GB), £349 (32GB), £429 (64GB)
  • Rating: Rated 8 out of 10

The iPad mini is a premium small tablet, with a price to match. It's a shame Apple couldn't have included a Retina screen and newer processor - expect the next iPad mini to get those updates. This Wi-Fi only model also lacks GPS. It's not cheap by any stretch, especially if you want more storage spare or the 3G/4G cellular version, but it's great value compared to a full-size iPad. You can save £80 by buying a Nexus 7, which has double the storage, GPS and NFC, but if you must have an iDevice, it won't disappoint.

2. Google Nexus 7

Google Nexus 7
  • Reviewed on: 16 July 12
  • RRP: £159 inc VAT
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

Google has set a new standard for budget tablets with the Nexus 7. It's an unbelievably well-equipped device for such an affordable price. The silky smooth performance and high resolution IPS screen are the highlights for us. If you're looking for a tablet under £200 then look no further than the Nexus 7.

1. iPad 4

iPad 4
  • Reviewed on: 29 January 13
  • RRP: WiFi only: £399 (16GB); £479 (32 GB); £559 (64 GB); £639 (128GB)
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

Current iPad 3 owners needn't bother upgrading unless you desperately want 4G connectivity. For everyone else, the iPad 4 is the quickest iPad yet and a solid choice for a tablet in which we can barely find fault.

Share this article




Comments

nic tomnuss said: most android tablets are cheaper and offer the same experience for less I prefer the android experience over apple because I can customize my everything with it My user experience with android is better tan my user experience with apple I have used both iphone 4 and nexus 4 and I preferred the android experience plus my android was just as fast as the iphone 4 Tablet wise I had an ipad mini and a nexus 7 I liked my nexus 7 for the reasons stated above as well as it is the better bang for my buck If you prefer apple go with apple If you like android go with android ps nexus 10 is better than ipad imo

Chinit Heng said: where surface pro

Mike said: OTG cable plus 32Gb drive doubled mine to 64Gb for a tenner Anyway who uses a small tablet for their storage capabilities

Paul Haverson said: Google nexus no way to extend memory its rubbish

Paul Haverson said: Never understand the Apple appeal They cannot have their memory upgraded You have to buy all your gubbins from Apple or it wont work Talk about Kings New Clothes

Jimmy Fix said: How much are you paid by Samsung

Mike Williams said: 1 is the Samsung Ativ Smart PC It blows the iPad away Full USB port hdmi port expandable memory with micro sd and it has a real full pc operating system

Jasonm1982 said: The iPAD is the best tablet on the market for leisure simple If you want business class functionality with HDMI USB memory expansion capability I like the new Win8 devices such as The Latitude 10 by Dell

Matt Egan said: Right now Id say the Nexus 10 runs it close not least on price But iOS remains the best platform For my money Id buy the Nexus For free Id take an iPad

itznfb said: The only way to classify the iPad as the best tablet is if Accessories is the only category you are judging It doesnt have the best display it doesnt have the best speakers it doesnt have the fastest processor it doesnt have the most RAM it doesnt have the most storage there are 256GB Android tablets it doesnt have the best availability It doesnt have the best anything Android 40 has been voted as more user friendly than iOS at every tech conference So how is it the bestNot to mention the number of useful apps on iOS that you have to pay for are free on AndroidThe Transformer Infinity runs circles around the iPad in every way shape and form The Galaxy Note 101 can do things no other tablet canAlso for an Apple product the iPad is pretty poorly made It has some of the worst color accuracy of any tablet

Matt Egan said: Absolutely and we respect TechCrunch and other blogs Of course we do But you appear to be saying that we are wrong because TechCrunch disagrees Im merely pointing out that we reach our own opinions without recourse to newer publications The iPad mini is in the list because it is a great device This is the Top 5 no device here is anything less than great But one factor that counts against the iPad in the modern market is price The Nexus devices and the locked consumption devices from the content providers such as Amazon and BampN have changed the market being subsidised by their makers If - money were no object the Nexus 10 is the only device that can match either iPad in terms of performance features built and - critically - the capability of the platform to which it is locked I really dont see how you could criticise the Minis hardware once youve used it Thats certainly what our tests tell us

Lenin VJ Nair said: Yes you may be older than techcrunch but wisdom has no age would you agree And You havent answered me fully leave kindle fire you said ipad mini isnt brilliantly priced is it brilliant in terms of hardware No then why is it in the list please

Matt Egan said: So we should change our list because TechCrunch disagrees We have been doing this a little longer than themLook the Kindle Fire HD is a great device for consuming media from Amazon But that is all it is Really its not fair to compare it with full tablets because it only does half of what they do and only direct from Amazon You cant install apps from Google or create anything Its brilliantly priced and on the current market the iPad Mini isnt So they are both part of our Top 5 But I am comfortable with the order

Lenin VJ Nair said: Google Nexus 10 is an all right device But how come ipad mini is in the listhttptabletstechcrunchcomThat is the comparison of transformer pad infinity and ipad mini I would say hands down it is infinity that wins Mini has the yesteryear hardware coming in ipad 2 Apple A5 chip is nowhere near the currently available hardware So no put iPad mini downIt is also pricey for a substandard tabletAbout kindle fire HD here is a comparisonhttpwwwamazoncomgpfeatuAlthough kindle fire works well with offerings from amazon they are great offerings as you can see And what about the price 199 vs 329 starting for ipad mini Hands down kindle fire wins So no iPad mini has to go

Matt Egan said: We have reviewed all of them and in our view neither the Note nor the Transformer match up to these devices As to the Kindle Fire - its a very good but very limited consumption device perfect for people who want to readwatchlisten to content from Amazon useless for anything else The Nexus 10 is much more than twice the device at a little less than twice the price

Lenin VJ Nair said: Kindle fire HD should be above google nexus 10 and ipad mini should be at the very bottom or excluded from the list An addition to the list would be samsung galaxy note or asus transformer pad inifnity I wanted to point out how bad ipad mini really is based on the price and uninspiring hardware

Alex Nesbitt said: I would just like to point out that the Nexus 10 should be higher 1 iPad mini is rated 45 and its above the Nexus 10 which is rated 4510 2 Because this review is on the best tablet does this mean best in cost value or performance Onperformancethe Nexus 10 out powers all of the Tablets you have listed as it has a 17Ghz dual coreSamsungexynos 5250 Yes its a dual core but its the best there isFinally id like to add Every review i have read it has marked the Nexus 10 down for not have expandable memory Think What do you store on your Tablet other than apps and possibly movies Music Got google music for that Documents Google docsdrive for that Images Picasaflikr and countless other online storage devicesThe only flaw is not having mobile internet Most people have unlimited internet on their phones just tether it If Nexus 10integratedmobile internet you have to go through the bother of having to pay a monthly tariffPersonallyi like to buy something and not have to pay a single penny for it their on So yeah Nexus 10 Should be the top tablet

Xmascod said: Baffled as to why the iPad4 is 1 - as you say iPad 3 owners neednt bother upgrading unless you desperately want 4G and the Nexus 10 is cheaper with better screen resolution and 4G is not an issue in the UK

Matt Egan said: Fair enough

Mike said: Look you invite comments and Ive commented Clearly we are not going to agree and you see nothing wrong with repeating a six month old review referring to out of date specs and prices Great Do carry on

Send to a friend

Email this article to a friend or colleague:

PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.