Pocket-lint Pocket-lint Pocket-lint Huawei MediaPad M3
There's a lot to like about the Huawei MediaPad M3. It is as much as you might want from a tablet designed to entertain you, a great portal for your browsing, your movies and your gaming.
It offers the performance that will satisfy many and avoids the temptation to encourage you to use it for work. It's well built and a pleasure to use.
Then we come to the price. Drift too high and you get too close to iPad territory – and the iPad mini 4 is £379, Samsung's Tab S 2.0 is around £300 and those are tablets that perform well. The Huawei MediaPad M3 comes in a number of different versions, but starts at £290 with 32GB storage and Wi-Fi, which means it's biggest challenge is the competition.
PRICE: From £289.99
FULL REVIEW:Huawei MediaPad M3
Pocket-lint Apple iPad mini 4
The iPad mini 4 is faster, slimmer and more accomplished than its iPad mini 3 predecessor. This time around the mini succeeds in finding is place, despite not being as altogether powerful as the iPad Air 2.
For most that doesn't mean the mini is a compromise; this is as much iPad as many will need. It's a lovely, compact tablet with anti-reflective screen coating that makes it good for watching movies, playing games, and reading or writing on the go.
If you want to get the most out of Split View multi-tasking or need some extra performance then the larger-screen iPad Air 2 is the one to go for. Otherwise, especially if you are looking for compact, you needn't make tricky compromises - the iPad mini 4 will serve you well as an on-the-go tablet. For those on a slightly tighter budget, you could look at theiPad mini 2, which is a little less at £239.
PRICE: From £379
FULL REVIEW:Apple iPad mini 4
Pocket-lint Asus ZenPad S 8.0
The Asus ZenPad S 8.0 is special because it crams a good, super-sharp screen into a very slim and handy body for a great price.
The £219 iPad Mini 2 is the most alluring alternative to this device, but how much does the extra £50 mean to you? The Asus ZenPad S 8.0 piddles all over the hardware some rivals are bringing out at the same price, but you'll need to spend 10 minutes fiddling with the software to get the most out of it, and the speakers are naff.
That said, if £170 is as high as the budget will stretch and you have the patience for some little software tweaks, the ZenPad S 8.0 is a tablet that is very easy to recommend.
PRICE:£170
FULL REVIEW:Asus ZenPad S 8.0
Pocket-lint Nvidia Shield K1
We loved the original Shield Tablet but were somewhat surprised that Nvidia decided to tweak this year's Tablet K1 model rather than load it with more recent technologies. However, as we realised during use, the older tech still stands up to scrutiny very well.
Indeed, when compared directly to the abilities of peers around the same price point, such as Amazon's Fire HD devices, the Shield Tablet K1 remains a powerhouse of a slate. By focusing on price rather than increased performance, Nvidia has provided outstanding value.
It is still a device most suited to the gaming community, and still the best on the market for that purpose we'd argue, but its capabilities and usability with everyday functionality too might attract others to the party, who find the £170 tag alluring.
PRICE:£170
FULL REVIEW:Nvidia Shield Tablet K1
Pocket-lint Pocket-lint Pocket-lint Pocket-lint Pocket-lint Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro S Pocket-lint Acer Switch Alpha 12
With the Acer Switch Alpha 12, the Taiwanese company's bet is on liquid cooling, affordability, and a full laptop-like experience straight out of the box.
And as a full laptop-replacement it ticks many of the right boxes. The stand is solid, the silent operation from the LiquidLoop cooling system is an obvious benefit and there's as much power on hand as a Microsoft Surface Pro 4.
Pocket-lint Google Pixel C
We love the Pixel C's simple design and think the optional keyboard (£119 extra) has been considerately designed too. For those looking for a lightweight solution to working on the move, this is another contender that's great for productivity, whether crunching through emails or word processing.
That great design is paired with a wonderful display and great Android user experience, also making it ideal for browsing, shopping and gaming. It's got work and play down to a tee.
Overall the Google Pixel C is a wonderful tablet. There's quality and power in abundance, setting it above the experience of Google's previous Android tablet, the Nexus 9. Some software tweaks and it would be just about as pixel perfect as a performance tablet could be.
PRICE:£399
FULL REVIEW:Google Pixel C review
Pocket-lint Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is the most recent slab in the Japanese company's line up and although it is now over a year old, it offers a super-sharp 2K display, along with a number of small tweaks that made a world of difference.
Waterproofing has improved over its predecessors as the Micro-USB port is proofed, making the Z4 Tablet a lot more practical to live with than earlier flap-protected port designs. It's also altogether slimmer and more compact than earlier models, adding to the overall appeal.
The Xperia Z4 Tablet is a great tablet to use, offering solid performance and battery life, and a bundled keyboard which is a big nod to the productivity ambitions that this tablet harbours. The unavoidable bundled keyboard means it isn't cheap but the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet was one of the slickest Android tablets out there when it arrived. It has power that will leave many standing, but it comes at a price.
PRICE: From £499
FULL REVIEW:Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet review
Pocket-lint Huawei MateBook
This slim-build Windows 10 tablet is really well made, not a cheap knock-off competitor to the likes of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4.
The MateBook gets lots right as 2-in-1s go: it's slim, well made, has a decent size keyboard and trackpad (if you buy it anyway), plus a built-in fingerprint scanner that helps stand it out from the crowd.
FULL REVIEW Huawei MateBook review: 5-hours of friendship
So you're looking for a new tablet or 2-in-1? If you're looking for the best tablet or 2-in-1 to buy in 2017, then you've come to the right place. We will guide you through the hottest tablets and 2-in-1 devices available today, in order to help you reach a decision on which tablet is the right device for you.
The tablet market is vast and newest doesn't always mean best. Refreshes are always on the horizon and this best tablets and 2-in-1 feature is continually updated to reflect recent launches, price changes, and ensure 2017's latest devices appear alongside the best of previous years, if applicable.
Only devices we have reviewed in full will appear on this list, but it covers all operating systems and all sizes, so you'll be armed with everything you need to consider when choosing to buy your next device.
Of course, the most important factor in buying a new tablet or 2-in-1 is making sure you have the best unit for you, including the best for your budget, the features you need, the size that feels right, the build quality you want and platform that suits you best.
Best 7-inch and 8-inch tablets
Pocket-lint
Amazon Fire 7
Buy the Amazon Fire 7 from around £49 from Amazon.co.uk
The Amazon Fire 7 won't win any awards for its design, but it does offer a solid build, great value for money and seamless integration with your Amazon account. It's one of those devices that you'd probably dismiss based on its spec sheet, if it wasn't for its ridiculously accessible price point. Instead, this tablet is one of the best tech bargains you'll find.
If you want something larger than your phone for browsing and shopping, or watching catch-up TV or movies in bed, then the Fire 7 is an easy choice. It's not as good as its rivals in that its slower and less resolute, nor is its battery life brilliant, but it's a tablet that is so affordable, it's almost disposable. As a bedside companion or travel pacifier for the kids, the Fire 7 should be the among first devices that you consider.
Read the full review Amazon Fire 7 review
Pocket-lint
Amazon Fire 8 HD
Buy the Amazon Fire 8 HD from around £80 from Amazon.co.uk
The Fire HD 8 sits in a sweet spot between Amazon's incredibly good value Fire 7 and the larger Fire HD 10. While the performance and features of the Fire HD 8 betters those of the Fire 7, it also manages to outlast the Fire HD 10, making it a slightly more enticing proposition for those who want to travel with it.
The Fire HD 8 positions itself well for entertainment, especially for those who are Prime members, where the value for money cannot be disputed. Whether you're a globetrotter, looking for a travel tablet, or just something to entertain your kids, the Fire HD 8 is well worth considering. At this price point there's very little else that comes close.
Read the full review Amazon Fire 8 HD review
Apple iPad mini 4
Buy the Apple iPad mini 4 from around £390 on Amazon.co.uk
The Apple iPad mini 4 is faster, slimmer and more accomplished than its iPad mini 3 predecessor. It's not as powerful as the likes of the iPad 2017 or iPad Pro 10.5, but that doesn't mean the mini is a compromise; this is as much iPad as many will need. It's a lovely, compact tablet with an anti-reflective screen coating that makes it good for watching movies, playing games, and reading or writing on the go.
If you want to get the most out of Split View multi-tasking or need some extra performance then the larger-screen iPad 2017 is the one to go for. Otherwise, if you are looking for compact, the iPad mini 4 will serve you well as an on-the-go tablet.
Read the full review Apple iPad mini 4
Pocket-lint
Asus ZenPad S 8.0
Buy the Asus ZenPad 8.0 for around £149 from Amazon.co.uk
The Asus ZenPad S 8.0 is a couple of years old now but it crams a good, super-sharp screen into a very slim and handy body for a great price. At time of launch, the ZenPad S 8.0 piddled all over the hardware some rivals were bringing out at the same price.
You'll need to spend 10 minutes fiddling with the software to get the most out of it, and the speakers are naff but if £130 is as high as the budget will stretch and you have the patience for some little software tweaks, the ZenPad S 8.0 is a tablet that is very easy to recommend.
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