Best tablets: From 10 to 6
What's the best tablet for 2015? Today's latest tablets compared and rated - constantly updated
The tablet is now a thing - from the days when nobody thought a laptop without a keyboard to a good thing to today, where a slate full of more power than some games consoles is nestled in bags across the world.
And with that popularity comes the dreaded notion of choice. Do you eschew Apple's high prices, join the Android brigade and find the best iPad alternative? Or jump on board Cupertino's lovetrain, and use one of the most popular tablets on the planet?
We've made it easy for you and pulled together the top 10 tablets of the moment available in the UK.
It's a difficult process divining which place each of these excellent tablets should occupy in our list, so we take into account multiple elements including performance, battery life, screen quality and more.
Price plays a part, as does age: a tablet that's been replaced by a sequel will tumble down the rankings as you can get all the great features on a better slate.
If none of the top 10 tablets here take your fancy then head on over to our tablet reviews pages, where you'll find in-depth reviews for many more models.
Let us know your thoughts on the top 10 (and whether you think we've got the order wrong) in the comment box below.
10. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
Samsung throws everything into the fledgling maxi-tablet category
Weight: 753g | Dimensions: 295.6 x 204 x 8mm | OS: Android 4.4 | Screen size: 12.2-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1600 | CPU: Quad-core 2.3 GHz | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32/64GB | Battery: 9500mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 2MP
Thankfully the 12.2-inch display is not all this slate has going for it, as the Note Pro 12.2's 3GB of RAM and quad-core processor give it superior performance, while the S Pen becomes truly useful in combination with the slate's large, bright screen.
It's an obvious choice for digital artists or anyone else who wants a device they can be productive on, but the bigger screen makes it great just for web browsing and watching videos too.
On the flip side the increased size makes it a little unwieldy and the build quality is a touch creaky thanks to the larger chassis, but is offset by the sheer expanse of screen to play with.
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
9. Lenovo Yoga 10 HD+
A Lenovo tablet that can do a little bit of yoga
Weight: 615g | Dimensions: 261 x 180 x 8.1mm | OS: Android 4.3 | Screen size: 10.1-inch | Resolution: 1200 x 1920 | CPU: Quad-core 1.6 GHz | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16/32GB | Battery: 9000mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 1.6MP
The cylindrical spine of the Yoga 10 HD+ serves as an easy way to grip in portrait or as a stand for watching media in a lonely hotel room and the 1920 x 1200 pixel screen resolution is rather nice.
While its sharpness won't compare to an iPad Air 2 or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S, it is still very nice to use and has plenty of brightness, a major upgrade on the old model.
Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 10 HD+
8. Nvidia Shield Tablet
The perfect tablet for gaming on the go
Weight: 390g | Dimensions: 221 x 126 x 9.2 mm | OS: Android 5.0 | Screen size: 8-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | CPU: quad-core 2.2GHz | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16GB | Battery: 19.75 Wh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 5MP
If you're looking for a new tablet and top notch gaming performance the Shield Tablet is easily the top contender today.
If may not have the looks of the iPad, or the buffet of features of the Samsungs and Sonys, but the Shield focuses on its gaming core very well.
The controller is an optional extra, which is slightly annoying, but considering the price of the tablet has now dropped to it's less of an issue.
- Shortlisted: for "Best Value Tablet" in the 2015 TechRadar Phone Awards
Read the full review: Nvidia Shield Tablet
7. Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Lighter, faster, waterproof… this is a real iPad Air 2 rival
Weight: 389g | Dimensions: 254 x 167 x 6.1 mm | OS: Android 5.0 | Screen size: 10.1-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1600 | CPU: octa-core | RAM: 3GB of RAM | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 6000mAh | Rear camera: 8.1MP | Front camera: 5.1MP
Sony's Xperia Z4 Tablet is one of the best Android tablets available on the market and it's one of the few capable of putting up a fight against the iPad Air 2.
It's got a lovely screen, lightweight design, all the Sony elements you'd look for and the right power combination to keep it on the front foot.
The waterproof design makes it a more attractive proposition over the less robust slates on the market, although the UI isn't the slickest and the price tag is one of the highest.
- Shortlisted: for "Best Tablet" in the 2015 TechRadar Phone Awards
Read the full review: Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
6. Nexus 9
Google's Nexus tablet is bigger in size and price
Weight: 425g | Dimensions: 228.2 x 153.7 x 8mm | OS: Android 5.0 | Screen size: 8.9-inch | Resolution: 1536 x 2048 | CPU: Dual-core 2.3 GHz | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16/32GB | Battery: 6700 mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 1.6MP
The Nexus 9 is a bit of a weird one - it's both the replacement for the Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10, without really being a sequel to either thanks to the all-new 8.9-inch screen.
For the eagle eyed among you, you may notice it's jumped up a place in our rankings. That's because it can now be picked up for around £210, making it super affordable. It'll likely be replaced in the next month when Google launches a new slate - but for now it's a steal.
It's mimicking the iPad range by going for a 4:3 screen ratio (which means wider viewing for web browsing, but annoying black bars above and below when watching movies) so you've got a wider device that's not quite able to be gripped in one hand.
But that doesn't mean it's not a great tablet, helped by the fact it's made by HTC. The brand has brought over its Boomsound speakers for greater front facing audio, and the screen is certainly high resolution too.
- Shortlisted: for "Best Tablet" in the 2015 TechRadar Phone Awards
Read the full review: Nexus 9
Number 5: iPad Mini 2
5. iPad Mini 2
A great tablet that still costs a little too much
Weight: 331g | Dimensions: 200 x 134.7 x 7.5mm | OS: iOS 7 | Screen size: 7.9-inch | Resolution: 1536 x 2048 | CPU: Dual-core 1.3GHz | RAM: 1GB | Storage: 16/32/64/128GB | Battery: 6470mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
Hey, it's the iPad Mini 2... right next to the Mini 3? There's a reason for this: they're pretty much identical, apart from last year's model not having TouchID and now only coming in 16GB and 32GB flavours.
It's also has a substantial price drop, which is why it's hanging around so high in the list - in fact, we'd advise most people go for this older model if they're hankering for a smaller iPad, as it's got all the same power and display specs as the current model, for less cash.
Plus it has access to all those lovely apps and Apple's brilliant-for-tablets iOS 8 - not a bad choice at all.
Read the full review: iPad Mini 2
Number 4: Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
4. Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Small but perfectly formed
Weight: 439g | Dimensions: 266 x 172 x 6.4mm | OS: Android OS, v4.4.2 | Screen size: 10.1-inch | Resolution: 1200 x 1920 | CPU: Quad-core 2.3GHz | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 16GB | Battery: 6000mAh | Rear camera: 8.1MP | Front camera: 2.2MP
Sony's gone a bit crackers in the naming department, but the Z3 Tablet Compact is still a pretty decent device despite the obvious attempts to shoehorn the word 'tablet' into the title to align it with the smartphone.
Let's get the main issue out of the way first: the screen isn't as high res as the competition, with Sony essentially sticking a stretched out smartphone display on the front. And the price isn't as palatable as some of the other options here.
But that looks past the fact Sony is pretty darn good at making these here tablets. Using its Bravia technology it makes the screen still look sharp and colourful, and the thin design makes the Z3 Tablet Compact easier to hold than you'd expect.
It's also waterproof, which is useful given its ebook-like dimensions, so you can happily use it next to the pool.
- Shortlisted: for "Best Tablet" in the 2015 TechRadar Phone Awards
Read the full review: Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Number 3: iPad Mini 3
3. iPad Mini 3
A small upgrade over the iPad Mini 2
Weight: 331g | Dimensions: 200 x 134.7 x 7.5mm | OS: iOS 8.1 | Screen size: 7.9-inch| Resolution: 1536 x 2048 | CPU: Dual-core 1.3GHz | RAM: 1GB | Storage: 16/64/128GB | Battery: 6470mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
The iPad mini range is still a brilliant proposition, offering the best of the iPad but squishing it down into a smaller package.
Well, that's what happened last year - this year Apple has basically rebooted the Mini 2, put TouchID on the front, made it gold and called it a new tablet.
It's only ahead of the older version (a cheaper option while offering the same specs minus the biometrics) due to this being a list of the best tablets, and this is the best mini tablet from Apple, but it's not offering a lot more than last year's model.
What it does bring is good though: iOS 8 works very well on the mini 3, and the overall speed and compact size is still a very good combo, even at the higher price.
Read the full review: iPad Mini 3
Number 2: Samsung Galaxy Tab S
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S
If you're after a tablet with an impossibly great screen...this is it
Weight: 467g | Dimensions: 247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6mm | OS: Android 4.4.2 | Screen size: 10.5-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1600 | CPU: Quad-core 2.3 GHz | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 16/32GB | Battery: 7900mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 2.1MP
Samsung has been pouring a lot of effort into making a really decent iPad rival, and that strategy has seen some hare-brained decisions (such as launching the Tab Pro in January 2014, and then replacing it a few months later with the Galaxy Tab S).
But, apart from annoying anyone that's already bought into the Tab Pro range, this strategy has finally yielded a brilliant tablet in the shape of this Super AMOLED-shod Tab S duo. Available in both 8.4- and 10.5-inch screen sizes, Samsung has taken the best of its OS and technology ability, fused them with the best display on a tablet and created something pretty special.
The battery life is great, the screen has to be seen to be believed (and is excellent for media and internet viewing, which is really the point of a tablet) and the price is on a par with the rest of the industry. Well done, Samsung.
- Shortlisted: for "Best Tablet" in the 2015 TechRadar Phone Awards
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S
Number 1: iPad Air 2
1. iPad Air 2
Apple has taken the perfect tablet and somehow made it even better
Weight: 437g | Dimensions: 240 x 169.5 x 6.1mm | OS: iOS 8.1 | Screen size: 9.7-inch | Resolution: 1536 x 2048 | CPU: Triple-core 1.5 GHz | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16/64/128GB | Battery: 7340mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
The iPad Air was an incredible achievement and yet somehow, remarkably, Apple has topped it with the iPad Air 2.
It's even thinner and lighter than last time around and to a noticeable extent. The screen is better, with more vibrant colours, it's more powerful thanks to its A8X processor and the battery life holds up just as well. It even benefits from Touch ID and Apple Pay and while these features aren't as exciting here as they are on phones they're still nice to have.
In short the iPad Air 2 really is the complete package and while you can always find things to niggle about there are no significant flaws.
In the time since the original iPad Air launched everything else is still struggling to match it and yet Apple has managed to raise the benchmark higher still. Everyone else really has their work cut out if the iPad Air 2 is going to be unseated from the number one spot.
- Shortlisted: for "Best Tablet" in the 2015 TechRadar Phone Awards
Read the full review: iPad Air 2
Tablet apps
As with today's best smartphones, applications play a big role on tablets – once you've decided which of these tablets if right for you, check out our top app lists so you can get your fill of Temple Run, update your friends on Facebook and read the latest news, all on a bigger screen.
Also consider
If the tablets on this list aren't enough for you then a) you're very hard to please, but b) we think we can still help out a little.
We've covered the best above, but if you're after something a little cheaper or just haven't quite seen the slate for you then one of these might do the trick.
Google Nexus 7
A supercharged tablet
Weight: 290g | Dimensions: 200 x 114 x 8.7mm | OS: Android 4.3 | Screen size: 7-inch |Resolution: 1200 x 1920 pixels | CPU: Quad-core 1.5GHz | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16/32GB | Battery: 3950mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
The new Nexus 7 took over from the original 7-inch effort from Google in 2012, packing a 1.5Ghz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and comes with either 16GB or 32GB of storage
Offered up at just 290g, it's the perfect tablet for slinging in a bag and hurtling down to the local supermarket, or is equally adept at being a long-haul saviour, with reams of apps, a decent slug of battery life and that all-new high-res 7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 display with 323 ppi.
Read the full review: Google Nexus 7
Tesco Hudl 2
It's really cheap, but it's really rather nice
Weight: 410g | Dimensions: 224 x 128 x 9.14mm | OS: Android 4.4.2 | Screen size: 8.3-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | CPU: Quad-core 1.83GHz | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16GB | Battery: 5710mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
The first Hudl was good - but this is a much better option. The Intel Atom processor, the quad core speeds, the Full HD screen and the general interface is really something to behold.
The price tag is the best thing though: the Hudl 2 will cost no more than £129, and if you're a Tesco Clubcard holder it can be much, much cheaper.
Read the full review: Tesco Hudl 2
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Is Redmond's latest tablet the laptop killer?
Weight: 790g | Dimensions: 292.10 x 201.42 x 9.14mm | OS: Windows 8.1 Pro | Screen size: 12-inch | Resolution: 2160 x 1440 | CPU: Quad-core 1.70 GHz | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64/128/256/512GB | Battery: 5676mAh | Rear camera: 1080p | Front camera: 5MP
With a whole lot of power, an impressive display and a useful Type Cover for when you need to get some serious work done the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 has got the muscle to compete with Ultrabooks and the portability and ease of use to be an iPad alternative.
It's not perfect. The battery life is seriously weak by tablet standards and it's a pricey bit of kit, but if you really want one device to fill both roles then this is the best option out there.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 3
iPad Air
A five star tablet, now with a lower price tag
Weight: 469g | Dimensions: 240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm | OS: iOS 8.4 | Screen size: 9.7-inch | Resolution: 1536 x 2048 | CPU: Apple A7 | RAM: 1GB | Storage: 16/32/64/128GB | Battery: 8600mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
You've seen the score, and for those keeping tabs you'll realise the iPad Air is TechRadar's first five-star tablet. It's a device with almost no flaws - and even though the iPad Air 2 is out, it's still remains one of the best tablets available today.
Read the full review: iPad Air
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