Price: $239
While an impressive enough devices for its
cutthroat-cheap price, the fact that users are locked into Amazon’s App Store
(and locked out of the Google Play Store) means that it is only really useful
for those who want to do little more than watch movies and read books. The
screen isn’t that impressive, and the product is covered in ads to make you
consumer Amazon products. If you can put with that, it might be a good budget
option.
Specifications
·
Size: 193x137x10.3mm
·
Weight: 395 g
·
Screen TFT Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Resolution: 1280x800, 216 ppi pixel density
·
CPU: Dual core, 1200 MHz, ARM Cortex-A9
·
OS: Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1
·
GPU: PowerVR SGX54O
·
Memory: 1Gb RAM
·
Storage: 16 or 32 GB plus
·
Camera: 1.4MP front facing (screen side) only
·
Video: 720P
·
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth
·
Ports: Micro-USB 3.5m jack, Micro HDMI
·
Battery: Li-Ion 4,400mAh
Verdict: A
shopping center for Amazon first, and a tablet second. Cheap though.
Price: $404
Website: www.apple.com
The iPad Mini represents Apple playing it
safe, which is to say: disappointing. This is little more than an iPad 2, with
all its limitations - a low res screen and weak processor power - shrunk down
to an odd 7.9-inch size. It is also overpriced, the Google Nexus 7 offers
superior performance for $150 less. Despite its luxurious design, you really
are paying for little more than 4G support, and Apple’s App Store. Average.
Specifications
·
OS: iOS 6.0.1
·
Screen: 7.9-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD
·
Resolution: 768 x 1024 pixels at 162 pixels per
inch
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
CPU Apple A5 1GHz dual core
·
GPU Power VR S6X543MP2
·
Memory: 512MB
·
Storage: 16/32/64GB
·
Camera: 5MP rear facing, 1.2MP front facing
·
Video: 1920x1080 (1080p HD) at 30fps. Video
stabilized
·
Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band,
Bluetooth 4.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Apple Lightning port
(USB 2.0)
·
Size: 200 x 134.7 x7.2mm
·
Weight: 308g
Verdict:
Little more than a shrunken iPad2 with 4G. Disappointing.
Price: $599
Website: www.apple.com
The new iPad boasts the highest-resolution
display of any tablet, as well as an improved 5MP camera and better
connectivity. Not to mention a high-powered new processor which makes it the
most powerful iPad ever, too. Though some may resist the upgrade path, the
unrivalled Retina display is a subtle but deeply appealing feature which will
become more and more desirable. The new iPad is by far the best tablet around.
Specifications
·
OS: iOS5
·
Screen: 9.7-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 1536 x 2048 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1GHz Cortex-A9
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 16/32/64GB
·
Camera: 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: No
·
Video: 1080p HD
·
Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple
connector
·
Standby time: 720 hours
·
Use time 9 hours
·
Size: 241x186x9mm
·
Weight: 662g
Verdict:
There’s simply no contest – the new iPad is the best tablet in the world.
Price: $599
Website: www.apple.com
A rather cheeky move by Apple to release the
iPad 4 (or “iPad with Retina Display”) just months after the iPad 3. All it
really adds is a new processor (the iPhone 5’s A6X) and Apple’s new lightning
connector. However, this means it remains as the best tablet money can buy and
Apple’s App Store and its 300,000 dedicated tablet apps only make the
proposition more enticing.
Specifications
·
OS: iOS 6.0.1
·
Screen: 9.7 inch LED
·
Resolution: 1536x 2048 pixels at 264 ppi pixel
density
·
CPU Apple A6X, Dual-core
·
GPU Power VR SGX554MP4,
·
Memory: 1GB RAM
·
Storage: 16/32/64 GB storage
·
Camera: 5MP rear facing, 1.2MP front facing
·
Video: 1080P HD at 30fps
·
Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
·
Cellular: 4G, 3G. 2G
·
Ports: Lightning Connector (USB2.0) and 3.5mm
audio jack
·
Dimensions: 241.2x185.7x9.4 mm
·
Weight: 662g
Verdict: The
best tablet money can buy.
Price: $450
Website: www.archos.com
Archos is heading in the right direction
with the 101 XS, as it’s a more premium product than its predecessors. Its
price puts it in a dangerous middle ground, however. Crushed between the Google
Nexus 7 and the iPad 2, the tiny keys and poor screen mean it doesn’t stand out
from the crowd. But the fantastic video compatibility, easy I-IDTV connectivity
and decent usability mean it’s a good choice for media fans.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 4.0 ICS
·
Screen: 10.1-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 800 x 1280 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Keyboard: QWERTY
·
Processor: 1.5GHz dual-core
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 16GB internal, MicroSD up to 64GB
·
Camera: 1.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: No
·
Video: 720p HD
·
Wireless: 802.1 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
·
Ports: Micro USB 2.0, Mini HDMI
·
Standby time: TBC
·
Use time: 10 hours
·
Size: 273 x 170 x 8mm
·
Weight: 600g
Verdict: The
clip-on keyboard is a nice idea but it could have been better executed.
Price: $300
Despite its nice build and reasonable
performance1the Gemini JoyTab remains an expensive proposition especially when
compared to its black label rivals. You can get more, for less elsewhere.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 4.0 CS
·
Screen: 9.7-inch IPS LCD
·
Resolution: 768 x 1024 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1.5GHz dual-core
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 16GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB
·
Camera: 2MP rear-facing, 2MP front-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: Yes
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0, HDMI
·
Battery: 8 hours use time
·
Size: 242 x 190 x 10mm
·
Weight: 672g
Verdict: An
average tablet in a tough competitive marketplace.
Price: $239
Google’s Nexus 7 is a high-quality media
consumption device built for gaming, watching videos, browsing the internet and
catching up on TV shows that you’ve missed. What it isn’t an Apple iPad, but at
this price it doesn’t need to be. Google has picked what it wanted to do and
done it very well and all at a great price. This excellent device is sure to
take tablets to a whole new audience of consumers.
Specicifications
·
OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
·
Screen: 7-inch LED-backlit PS LCD
·
Resolution: 800 x 1280 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1.3GHz Cortex-A9
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 8GB/16GB internal
·
Camera: 1.2MP front-facing
·
Flash: No
·
Video: 720p HD
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Battery: 10 hours use, 300 hours standby
·
Size: 199 x 120 x 10mm
·
Weight: 340g
Verdict: A
fantastic device that delivers all you’d want from a tablet, at a great price.
Price: $479
Finally, the Android tablet everyone’s been
waiting for except Apple. This is a tablet that can go head to head with the
best in the Apple iPad stable - it has a powerful processor, a Retina Display
quality screen, the latest version of Android. Along with the Nexus 7, this is
the best tablet Android users can buy. The only flaws are an uninspired body,
and a dearth of tablet specific apps.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
·
Dimensions: 263.9 x 177.6 x 8.9 mm
·
Screen: 10-inches, Gorilla Glass 2
·
Resolution: 2560x 1600p
·
Input: Super PLS TFT
·
Capacitive: touch-screen
·
CPU Exynos 5, Dual-core ARM Cortex-A15
·
GPU Mali-T604
·
RAM: 2 GB
·
Weight: 603g
·
Cameras: 5 MP (main), 1.9 MP (front)
·
Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, NFC
Android Beam
·
Storage: 16 GB/32 GB
·
Connectivity: Micro USB
Verdict: The
best Android tablet available, slips behind the iPad 4 only due to apps.
