Shop for handheld devices

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 63 reviews

The Bottom Line: With its excellent design, useful software features, and low starting price, the Nexus 7 is the cheapest way to experience the best that the Android OS has to offer. Read review

Specs: 7 in, TFT active matrix - LED backlight, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 1 GB, 1300 MHz, NVIDIA Tegra 3, Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, 7.8 in x 0.4 in x 4.7 in, 12 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 18 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Nexus 10's superior design and swift performance make it one of the best Android tablets to date. Read review

Specs: 10.055 in, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, 2 GB, A15, Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 263.9 mm x 8.9 mm x 177.6 mm, 603 g

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 29 reviews

The Bottom Line: The latest iPad adds several tweaks and improvements to secure its position at the top of the tablet heap. It's better all around, but third-gen owners need not apply. Read review

Specs: 9.7 in, TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Yes, Apple iOS, Apple A6X, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 4.0, 7.31 in x 0.37 in x 9.5 in, 1.44 lbs

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 58 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you want the full, polished Apple tablet experience in a smaller package, the iPad Mini is worth the premium price. Otherwise, good alternatives are available for less money. Read review

Specs: 7.9 in, TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Yes, Apple iOS, Apple A5, Bluetooth 4.0, 5.3 in x 0.28 in x 7.87 in, 0.68 lbs

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a pure media consumption experience, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 delivers better than any tablet before it. People looking for something more utilitarian, however, will want to look elsewhere. Read review

Specs: 8.9 in, - Yes, OMAP4470 1.5 GHz, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, 6.4 in x 0.35 in x 9.4 in, 20 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 8 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Nook HD+ is a low-price, quality entry point into the world of tablets, especially now that it has full Google Play support. Read review

Specs: 9 in, TFT active matrix - Yes, Android 4.0.3, 1 GB, Texas Instruments 1.5 GHz, OMAP4470, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6.4 in x 0.45 in x 9.45 in, 1.13 lbs

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 13 reviews

The Bottom Line: With a beautiful screen, refined interface, and huge coffer of media consumption options, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD is the Kindle Fire as it should have been. Read review

Specs: 7 in, - Yes, Amazon Android, Texas Instruments, OMAP4460 1.2 GHz, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, 5.4 in x 0.4 in x 7.6 in, 13.9 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 18 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 combines an already proven design with a better camera, a faster processor, and a beautiful screen. Read review

Specs: 10.1 in, TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Yes, Android 4.0, 1 GB, 1.5 GHz, NVIDIA Tegra 3, Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 10.4 in x 0.3 in x 7.1 in, 21.1 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 15 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 offers an excellent value and a full Android 4.0 experience that no other tablet can currently match for the price. Read review

Specs: 7 in Plane to Line Switching (PLS) - Yes, Android 4.0, 1 GB, 1 GHz, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, Bluetooth 3.0, IEEE 802.11g, 4.8 in x 0.4 in x 7.6 in, 12.1 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.3 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 15 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 comes up short in performance, features, and value compared with competing tablets. Read review

Specs: 10.1 in, Plane to Line Switching (PLS) - Yes, Android 4.0, 1 GB, 1 GHz, IEEE 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0, IrDA, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 10.1 in x 0.4 in x 6.9 in, 20.5 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 82 reviews

The Bottom Line: With a host of improvements--faster graphics, 4G wireless options, a better camera, and a gorgeous high-res screen--the latest iPad cements its position at the head of the tablet pack. Read review

Specs: 9.7 in TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Yes, Apple iOS 5, Apple A5X, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 4.0, 7.3 in x 0.4 in x 9.5 in, 23 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is the best Samsung tablet yet. If you can get over its somewhat high price, it's a sound Android tablet investment. Read review

Specs: 10.1 in, TFT active matrix - Yes, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 2 GB, 1.4 GHz, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, 10.11 in x 0.35 in x 6.9 in, 1.29 lbs

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.5 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Asus Memo Pad ME172V won't set you back a ton, but with much better choices only $50 away, you should simply pay more now and regret less later. Read review

Specs: 7 in, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 1 GB, VIA 1 GHz, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 0.81 lbs

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.2 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: A better tablet now than it was last year, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (Verizon Wireless) is unfortunately still too expensive for most. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 76 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you're an early adopter willing to forget everything you know about navigating a computer, the Surface tablet could replace your laptop. Everyone else: wait for more apps. Read review

Specs: 10.6 in, Color TFT active matrix - Yes, Microsoft Windows RT, 2 GB, NVIDIA Tegra 3, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, 9.3 mm, 10.8 in 6.8 in, 676 g

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Barnes & Noble Nook HD's sharp screen and comfortable body make it an ideal tablet choice, especially for reading books, magazines and watching movies. Google Play now only adds to the allure. Read review

Specs: 7 in, TFT active matrix - Yes, 1 GB, Texas Instruments 1.3 GHz, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 5 in x 0.4 in x 7.7 in, 11.1 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: With its Xperia Tablet Z, Sony offers a thin, light, fully functional premium Android tablet that just so happens to be waterproof. Read review

Specs: 10 in, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 2 GB, Qualcomm, 0.27 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.2 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Kindle Fire (2012) takes it up a notch in value, but is tethered to the same design oversights of the original. Read review

Specs: 7 in, TFT active matrix - Yes, Amazon Android, 1 GB, Texas Instruments, OMAP4430 1.2 GHz, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, 4.7 in x 0.5 in x 7.4 in, 14.1 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 combines an already proven design with a better camera, a faster processor, and a beautiful screen. Read review

Specs: 10.1 in, TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Yes, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 1 GB, NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.6 GHz, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, 263 mm x 8.5 mm x 180.8 mm, 586 g

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: If someone else is footing the bill, HP's expensive ElitePad 900 and its accessory ecosystem cover a lot of bases, but this isn't going to be a consumer crossover product. Read review

Specs: 10.1 in, - LED backlight - Yes, Microsoft Windows 8, 2 GB - LPDDR2 SDRAM, Intel Atom 1.5 GHz, 10.3 in x 7 in x 0.4 in, 22.2 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: With its excellent design, useful software features, and low starting price, the Nexus 7 is the cheapest way to experience the best that the Android OS has to offer. Read review

Specs: 7 in, TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Yes, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 1 GB, NVidia Tegra 3, 1.2 GHz, Bluetooth, NFC, 120 mm x 10.45 mm x 198.5 mm, 340 g

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 13 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though it isn't as thin or as sturdy, the Asus Transformer Pad TF300 delivers Prime levels of performance at a more affordable price. Read review

Specs: 10.1 in, TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Yes, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 1 GB, DDR3 SDRAM, NVidia Tegra 3 1.2 GHz, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, Bluetooth 3.0, IEEE 802.11g, 10.4 in x 0.4 in x 7.1 in, 22.4 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: Imagine a Nexus 7's innards expanded to a 10-inch tablet and you've got the Asus MeMo Pad Smart 10. Now ask yourself: why wouldn't you want something better? Read review

Specs: 10.1 in TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Yes, Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), 1 GB, NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.2 GHz, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, Bluetooth 3.0, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, 9.3 in x 0.4 in x 7.1 in, 20.5 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though it isn't as thin or as sturdy, the Asus Transformer Pad TF300 delivers Prime levels of performance at a more affordable price. Read review

Specs: 10.1 in, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 1 GB, NVidia Tegra 3 1.2 GHz, 10.4 in x 0.38 in x 7.1 in, 1.4 lbs

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: With a host of improvements--faster graphics, 4G wireless options, a better camera, and a gorgeous high-res screen--the latest iPad cements its position at the head of the tablet pack. Read review

Specs: 9.7 in TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Yes, Apple iOS 5, Apple A5X, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 4.0, 7.3 in x 0.4 in x 9.5 in, 23 oz