Amazon Kindle Fire
Price: $239
While an impressive enough device 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.
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 or32GB 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 first, and
a tablet second. Cheap though.
Apple iPad Mini
Price: $404
Website: 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 1 GHz dual core
·
GPU PowerViR SGX543MP2
·
Memory 512MB
·
Storage 16/32/64GB
·
Camera 5MP rear facing, 1 .2MP front facing
·
Video 1920x1080 (1 080P HD) at 30fps. Video
stabilized
·
Wireless SM-Fi 80211 a/b/g/n, dual-band,
Bluetooth 4.0
·
Ports 3.5mm audio jack,
·
Apple Lightning port (USB 2.0)
·
Size 200x 134.7 x 7.2mm
·
Weight 308g
·
Verdict: little more than a shrunken ipad 2 with
4g. Disappointing.
Apple iPad 3
Price: $599
Website: apple.com
The
new iPad boasts the highest-resolution display of any tablet, as well as an
improved 5MP camera and better connectivity.
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 iOS 5
·
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-FL Bluetooth 4.0
·
Ports 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple
connector
·
Standby time 720 hours
·
Use time 9 hours
·
Size 241 x 186 x 9mm
·
Weight 662g
·
Verdict: there’s simply no contest - the new
ipad is the best tablet in the world.
Apple iPad 4
Price: $599
Website: apple.com
Resolution
1536x 2048 pixels at 264 ppi pixel density
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 iOS6.OE1,
·
Screen 9.7 inch LED
·
Resolution 1536x 2048 pixels at 264 ppi pixel
density
·
CPU Apple A6X, Dual-core
·
GPU PowerVR SGX554MP4,
·
Memory 1GB RAM
·
Storage 16/32/64 GB storage
·
Camera 5MP rear facing, 1.2MP front facing
·
Video 1080P HD at3Qfps
·
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 241.2x 185.7 x 9.4 mm
·
Weight 662 g
·
Verdict: the best tablet money can buy.
Archos 101 XS
Price: $450
Website: archos.com
Archos
101 XS
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 HDTV connectivity and
decent usability mean it’s a good choice for media fans.
Specifications
·
OS Android 4.0 CS
·
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.llb/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.
Gemini JoyTAB GEM9212
Price: $300
Gemini
JoyTAB GEM9212
Despite its nice build and reasonable
performance, the 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 ICS
·
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.
Google Nexus 7
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.
Screen
7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD
Specifications
·
OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
·
Screen 7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD
·
Resolution 800x1280 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.
