Holiday 2015: Tablet gift guide (in pictures)

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  • Apple iPad Air 2

    Apple iPad Air 2

    Considered by many to be the flagship tablet, and the device that's set the standards that others try to match up to.

    Pros:

    • Premium product
    • Vast iOS apps ecosystem
    • Excellent range of accessories
    • Powerful hardware
    • Excellent display
    • Ideal for someone who already has an iPhone
    • Touch ID makes accessing it quick and easy

    Cons:

    • Expensive
    • Not particularly robust
    • No microSD card slot

    Alternatives:

    • The First-generation iPad Air for $100 less

    Price: Starting at $499.99

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Google Nexus 9

    Google Nexus 9

    Google's pure Android offering just keeps on getting better and better. This latest incarnation brings high-end hardware to consumers at a reasonable price.

    Pros:

    • High-end hardware
    • Excellent display
    • Competitively priced
    • Access to Android updates and upgrades

    Cons:

    • Flimsy design
    • No micro SD card slot

    Alternatives:

    • Google Nexus 7

    Price: Starting at $299.99

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Microsoft Surface Pro 4

    Microsoft Surface Pro 4

    If you want to run Windows as opposed to Android or iOS, then Microsoft's new Surface Pro 4 tablet is well worth taking a look at.

    Pros:

    • Powerful hardware
    • Runs Window, so you can use all your favorite applications
    • Excellent keyboard (optional)
    • Lightweight

    Cons:

    • Gets expensive at the higher end of the spectrum
    • Microsoft's app store is nowhere near as comprehensive as the one on iOS or Android

    Alternatives:

    • Surface Pro 3 starting at $499
    • Surface Book starting at $1499

    Price: Starting at $899

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Amazon Fire HD 8

    Amazon Fire HD 8

    A middle-of-the-road tablet from Amazon. Ideally suited to those who are more interested in consuming than creating content.

    Pros:

    • High-quality hardware
    • Access to a vast ecosystem of apps and content
    • Wide range of accessories

    Cons:

    • Restricted to the Amazon ecosystem
    • Accessory ecosystem much smaller than available for the iPad
    • No micro SD card

    Alternatives:

    • The larger Fire HD 10 for $199.99
    • The budget Fire HD 6 for $99
    • The super-budget Fire for a mere $49

    Price: Starting at $149.99

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Apple iPad Mini 4

    Apple iPad Mini 4

    Like the iPad Air 2, only smaller.

    Pros:

    • Compact design
    • $100 cheaper than the full-sized iPad
    • Runs the same apps as the full-sized iPad
    • Touch ID

    Cons:

    • Smaller choice of cases and keyboards

    Alternatives:

    • The iPad Mini 2

    Price: Starting at $399.99

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

    Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

    This is a tablet specifically designed for people who like to read ebooks.

    Pros:

    • High resolution e-Ink display
    • Lower eyestrain than traditional displays
    • Perfect for day and night
    • Battery lasts weeks, not days
    • Lightweight

    Cons:

    • No apps
    • Only really useful as an ebook reader
    • Grayscale display

    Alternatives:

    • The 6-inch Kindle ebook reader for $79.99
    • High-end Kindle Voyager for $199.99
    • Kindle for Kids, featuring 2-year accident cover for $99.99

    Price: Starting at $119.99

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S (10.5-inch)

    Samsung Galaxy Tab S (10.5-inch)

    Pros:

    • Strong brand
    • High-quality 10.5-inch display
    • Powerful hardware
    • Thin and light
    • Can be picked up for well under $400
    • Ideal for content consumption

    Cons:

    • System becomes laggy if pushed
    • 2014 hardware

    Alternatives:

    • iPad Air 4

    Price: From about $360

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Amazon Fire Kids Edition

    Amazon Fire Kids Edition

    A 7-inch Amazon Kindle tablet that's been kid-proofed.

    Pros:

    • Kid-proofed tablet
    • No-questions-asked 2 year accident exchange policy
    • Low price
    • Built-in micro SD card slot
    • Easy to use parental controls
    • Access to a wide range of kid-friendly content

    Cons:

    • Expect to spend money on content and apps!

    Alternatives:

    • iPad Mini 2
    • Amazon Fire HD 8

    Price: $99.99

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Sony Xperia Z4

    Sony Xperia Z4

    A slim, waterproof and dustproof tablet that's highly customizable and offers superb performance.

    Pros:

    • Powerful hardware
    • Water and dust proof (ideal for the kitchen or workshop)

    Cons:

    • Expensive
    • Optional keyboard is pretty dismal

    Alternatives:

    • Get a waterproof case for any other tablet

    Price: Starting at $620

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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Microsoft Surface Pro 4

If you want to run Windows as opposed to Android or iOS, then Microsoft's new Surface Pro 4 tablet is well worth taking a look at.

Pros:

  • Powerful hardware
  • Runs Window, so you can use all your favorite applications
  • Excellent keyboard (optional)
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • Gets expensive at the higher end of the spectrum
  • Microsoft's app store is nowhere near as comprehensive as the one on iOS or Android

Alternatives:

  • Surface Pro 3 starting at $499
  • Surface Book starting at $1499

Price: Starting at $899

Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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