We review the 9 best 10in tablets you can buy in the UK today. See also: The 10 best tablets of 2013.

The post-iPad tablet market is truly mature. As well as the iPad itself, you can choose an Android tab at almost any price point, or opt for Windows slates running either full-blown Windows 8 or the cut-down Windows RT. Each had its own merits, but platform and price are not the only choices you must make.

You can buy tablets in a variety of sizes ranging from 6in smartphone to 20in table-top PC. But for a genuine tablet that sits between your laptop and your smartphone there are two distinct groups. The first is 7in tablets - the same size and a similar weight to Kindle eBook readers, ideal for reading and watching moves on the go, but typically not so good for web surfing, working and watching movies on the couch.

If that latter list sounds like your needs, this is the article for you. Here we outline what are in our opinion the best 10in tablets you can buy right now. We've lumped together tablets from around 9in to around 11in, as very few actually have a display that measures exactly 10in from corner to corner. These are typically referred to as 10in tablets: tablets that look similar to the original iPad, slates that are like small laptop screens. See also: Best Windows 8 tablets of 2013.

Best 10in tablet reviews

Best 10in tablet - Nexus 10 (review)

It really is all but impossible to choose between the Nexus 10 and the most recent full-sized iPad. So we're not going to try. If what you want is a 10in tablet for web browsing, watching movies and TV, listening to music, updating Facebook and sending email, the Nexus 10 and iPad will be perfect for you. The choice is between Android and iOS, and both have strong points.

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. And it is cheaper than the iPad.

Best 10in tablet - iPad (review)

And yet Apple's market leader remains the strongest of strong contenders (it's a 9.7in tablet, but let's not split hairs). The iPad 4 is the quickest iPad yet and a solid choice for a tablet in which we can barely find fault. It's more expensive than the Nexus 10, but the iOS app world is probably still marginally better than Android.

Look, it's an impossible choice. Suffice to say that these are two great tablets. Purchasing either will make most tablet fans happy. And you need help making a choice read our Nexus 10 vs iPad 4 tablet comparison review. See also: Best budget tablet of 2013.

Best 10in tablet - Other 10in tablet contenders...

Best 10in tablet - Sony Xperia Tablet Z (review)

Back for its third attempt at a tablet, Sony brought along Xperia Tablet Z, a high-end Android tablet. Sony has made a very desirable tablet in the Xperia Tablet Z. We particularly like its striking svelte design and features that you don't get with rivals such as NFC, its waterproof casing and infrared. However, its slightly lacking performance means the Nexus 10 will save you some money or the iPad 4 will give you a smooth experience for the same price.

Best 10in tablet - Galaxy Note 10.1 (review)

Another Android alternative is the Galaxy Note. Granted, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 lacks the one competitive spec that other top-tier tablets—specifically the Acer Iconia Tab A700, Apple iPad, and Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700—have at the same or lesser price. Samsung's rendering enhancements help lessen the sting of this omission somewhat, but the difference is clear, particularly with text-heavy content. But, when you factor in the handy stowaway S Pen and Samsung's pen-optimized software, and suddenly the Note 10.1 gets an edge all its own. Throw in the Galaxy Note 10.1 Wi-Fi tablet's solid performance, and the Note 10.1 is squarely back in the mix.

Best 10in tablet - Surface Pro (review)

Possibly more interesting because it offers a different proposition is the Surface Pro from Microsoft. The Surface Pro is both a tiny Ultrabook and a bulky Windows 8 tablet. The Surface Pro is the best Windows tablet we've used. It also makes a pretty good laptop. But as a tablet it's not match for the best iOS or Android devices, and as a Windows laptop it can't compete with Ultrabooks. It's portability and performance will be perfect for a few, and okay for most. So that makes it a good but not perfect device. If you need a truly portable Windows 8 PC, this is for you. Otherwise look at the list above.

Best 10in tablet - Kindle Fire HD - 8.9in (review)

On the other hand there's the Kindle Fire, a tablet that is exclusively for consuming books, music and movies purchased from Amazon's own stores. The Kindle Fire HD 8.9" is a good-value tablet for those who are happy to be locked into Amazon's system. For a lot of people, that won't matter at all as it's certainly not a bad system, particularly if you want to use it mainly as an e-reader. The hardware is hard to fault – excepting the hard-to-find buttons – and the screen is great for the money. The app store is lacking compared to Google Play, but undemanding users will find almost everything they need. See also: The top 10 best Android tablets of 2013.

Best 10in tablets: wild cards

Brst 10in tablet - Panasonic ToughPad FZ-G1 (review)

For those who need tech that won't break, here's a toughened tablet from Panasonic. With the Panasonic ToughPad FZ-G1 you are paying quite a premium for a standard Windows Tablet with a rugged design. The ToughPad FZ-G1 lives up to its name and is well suited to outdoor use. It'll earn its keep on building sites and other environments that would be too harsh for a conventional laptop or tablet.

Best 10in tablet - PadFone (review)

Or how about a tablet that is also a phone? The Asus Padfone 2 is a high-end smartphone which comes with a dummy 10in tablet docking station.

For £599 you get both a phone and a tablet in one although this has its limitations. Good hardware and excellent battery life are the standout features while build quality is a bit of a let-down. We really like the Padfone 2 but if you're looking to a smartphone and a tablet on the cheap then we suggest Google's Nexus devices.

Best 10in tablet - HP ElitePad 900 (review)

And for the business person, A 10.1in tablet running Windows 8 and aimed at business users the ElitePad is smart and stylish.

It's no great performer, although battery life is decent. If you need an extremely portable Windows PC for around £600, you could do a lot worse. But you may want to consider adding a keyboard, mouse and stand to your setup.