The
two major tradeshows of 2013--CES and Mobile World Congress--have seen
the debut of many new slates, all of which are hoping to get a piece of
the rapidly expanding tablet pie.
The majority of them remain Android-based models, with a handful of
Windows 8 devices.
Besides Android and Windows tablets, you can probably expect Apple to
update its iPad lineup sometime this year. The next version of the iPad
mini is rumored to come with a Retina-quality screen,
while the 9.7-inch iPad may be slimmed down to keep up with its smaller sibling.
To help you keep track of these tablets, we have compiled a list of
models along with their announced (or rumored) launch dates and prices:
The Android wave
What we know: Archos will undoubtedly be accused of
apeing Apple with its latest tablets. The screen on the Archos 97
Platinum matches the size of the iPad's 9.7-inch display--it even has an
identical 2,048 x 1,536-pixel "Retina" screen resolution. Meanwhile,
the smaller 8-inch Archos 80 Platinum is a mere decimal point away from
the iPad mini, down to its underwhelming 1,024 x 768-pixel screen.
It probably doesn't help Archos that these two Android 4.1 slates
come in white with an aluminum back. Consumers will probably not mind
the comparisons, especially as the 9.7-inch version comes with pretty
good hardware, such as a quad-core processor, for its price.
Price and availability: US$199 for the Archos 80 Platinum and US$329 for the 97 Platinum, available from March.
What we know: The Fonepad is what happens when you
invert Asus' PadFone device--a handset that fits within a tablet
hull--and have a slate that's able to make phone calls, too. It's not
terribly exciting--we have had that capability on some tablets for a
while now--while the Fonepad moniker seems like a recipe for confusion.
That aside, the Fonepad resembles the Asus-built Nexus 7,
but with an Intel Atom processor instead of Nvidia's Tegra 3. The
chassis is now aluminum, an upgrade from the plastic body of the Nexus.
It still runs Android, albeit 4.1 Jelly Bean instead of the version 4.2
on the Nexus 7.
Price and availability: US$249 for the 8GB version, available in March.
Asus MeMo Pad tablets (7- and 10-inch)
What we know: Asus announced the 7-inch MeMo Pad 172V
at CES, a budget offering that's cheaper (US$149) than the Nexus 7.
These specifications, of course, aren't as good as the Nexus, which is
also made by Asus. However, the expandable microSD slot is a useful
feature not present on the Google-branded slate.
Price and availability: US$149 for the Asus MeMo Pad 172V, ships in April.
HP Slate 7
What we know: HP's first consumer tablet since the Touchpad
fiasco, the Slate 7 goes for the mainstream small-tablet segment
popularized by the Amazon Kindle and the Nexus 7. The Slate 7 wades into
a pretty crowded field--the company's best chance is to play up its
integrated ePrint app, and the promise of better audio (via Beats).
Price and availability: Starts at US$169, ships worldwide in April.
Lenovo's Android trio
What we know: Lenovo announced three tablets at
Mobile World Congress--two 7-inch models (A3000 and A1000) and a
10.1-inch offering (S6000)--though they don't really stand out due to
their modest hardware. The company does have a trick up its sleeve--an
optional HSPA+ mobile broadband feature on the S6000 and A3000, dubbed
Lenovo Mobile Access, that's valid (and free) for a limited period.
Users have to sign up with a wireless provider subsequently to continue
using the service.
Price and availability: No prices yet, worldwide availability from Q2.
What we know: Arguably the biggest tablet launch at
Mobile World Congress, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 brings the S Pen
stylus into iPad mini territory. While it isn't the most
original-looking design--resembling a supersized Galaxy Note 2--we
believe the proprietary software, which tackles multitasking and stylus
input on tablets, has much potential.
Price and availability: No prices yet, available worldwide in Q2.
What we know: We haven't been this excited by a Sony
tablet since the dual-screen Tablet P. In fact, the conventional design
of the new Xperia Tablet Z probably means it's more likely to be a hit.
The sleek, sexy design, along with high-end specifications, are
certainly some factors. You can read our impressions here.
Price and availability: US$499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, US$599 for the 32GB version--available globally from Spring 2013.
Unnamed Vizio Tegra 4 tablet
What we know: We don't know a lot about the
10.1-inch tablet that Vizio showed off at CES 2013--the name, for one.
From what we have seen of the prototype, however, it should be pretty
impressive: It's powered by Nvidia's next-generation Tegra 4 processor, and has a 2,560 x 1,600-pixel screen resolution that rivals that of the Nexus 10.
Price and availability: Not yet announced.
The Windows 8 contingent
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S
What we know: Taking the compact design of its
ARM-based 11-inch Yoga convertible and adding a Core-i variant seems
like a good move for Lenovo. The company announced the Yoga 11S at CES,
which also features Intel's brand-new, enhanced Ivy Bridge processors.
Personally, the 13-inch Yoga is just too large for our liking--the
11-inch version seems like a better fit. You can check our preview here.
Price and availability: US$799, sometime in June.
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix
What we know: Another Lenovo convertible that
debuted at CES, the Helix is targeted at enterprises which require
Ultrabook-class hardware and Intel vPro support. A full-HD IPS display,
stylus support, and a keyboard dock accessory that doubles the battery
life, are other attractive features. Our detailed write-up about this
device can be found here.
Price and availability: US$1,499, launching in the US in early March.
What we know: Razer's Project Fiona, which was first
shown at last year's CES, is all grown up now. Revealed at CES 2013 as
the Razer Edge, the key feature of this Windows 8 tablet is its
accessories, which converts the slate into a handheld gaming console, a
clamshell laptop, or even a desktop machine. While we felt that the
handheld concept is too heavy to be practical, the Edge seems like a
suitable device to bring Steam's Big Picture to the living room.
With its Core-i processor and a discrete Nvidia GPU, the Razer Edge
shows promise as a portable alternative for PC gamers. In fact, the
Razer Edge impressed both CNET editors and readers at CES to take home two awards.
Price and availability: Starts from US$999, US preorders available from March 1, ships in late March.
ZTE V98
What we know: Chinese manufacturer ZTE's Windows 8
slate runs on a standard Intel Atom (Clover Trail) platform. It benefits
from an aluminum chassis that gives it a solid, premium feel. It also
comes with cellular radios, and optional 4G LTE, features not commonly
seen on Windows tablets.
Price and availability: No prices yet, launching in China in Q3.
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