Top 10 Best Apple iPad Tablet Alternatives to Use

Apple has become quite a trend-setter when it comes to design. First the “iPod” gave birth to a whole new world of portable music players, then the “iPhone” emerged a new generation of mobile phone devices, and recently came the “iPad”, which started turning heads towards touchscreen mobile computing (that already existed).

Although it’s almost guaranteed that the Apple iPad will sell well, there are still many complaints about the lack of various features such as multitasking (which might appear later this year), and the lack of flash support, pen input amongst other things.

It happened with the iPhone and it looks set to happen again with the iPad; consumer electronics manufacturers are rushing to bring out their own touch-screen tablet computers, with the latest being the WePad from German company Neofonie. Here, we round-up some of the most likely ‘iPad killers’!

So wait! The iPad isn’t the only game in town. Sure, it might have a fancy-pants interface, but each of the follow ten tablets win the hardware fight, which is just as important to a lot of consumers. As interesting as the iPad is, no matter what Apple wants us to think it’s by no means the first tablet. What better way to share the tablet love than to give you 10 alternatives to the iPad, which could easily be deemed as serious iPad Killers.

Leaked Asus New 10.1 ME301T Tablet Rumored to be Out in February

The past 2012 could be said as a star-studded year in the electronic and communicational industry. With the coming of 2013, especially the upcoming of the CES 2013, the product exposures of various electronic manufacturers are becoming more and more frequent. With the great popularity of Nexus 7 and creative products just like Transformers, Asus has gradually built its own fame in the world. As reported, just for the coming CES 2013, a new device of Asus, the ME301T tablet, has been exposed online.

As reported, this new Asus ME301T tablet would come with a 10.1 inch screen display with 1280x800 pixels screen resolution, NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB RAM and 16GB inner memory storage. The new tablet would run on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS in both Wifi only and WiFi+3G versions. The Asus ME301T tablet is possible to be officially released this February at €300. The first appearance of this tablet might be in the CES 2013.

Sony VAIO Duo 11 Windows 8 Notebook-Tablet Leaked with Multiple Pictures

As the approaching of Windows 8 official release, there’re more and more reports on Windows 8 devices. From the exclusive report of an unnamed PocketNow source, Sony is gearing up to give Microsoft Surface a run for its money with a new convertible tablet hybrid of its own running on Windows 8, reportedly named as Sony VAIO Duo 11. There’re some pictures regarding this new convertible notebook-tablet hybrid leaked online.

Though we couldn’t get very detailed and precise specs about this new tablet, the pictures leaked do show us some features of Sony VAIO Duo 11. First of all, PocketNow predicts that the new device is supposed to feature an 11" touchscreen with convertible keyboard and supporting stylus. We can also see Microsoft Office running on the tablet in one of the images. The keyboard also appears to be backlit, and PocketNow points out that the keyboard isn’t detachable – it’s on there for good. That, when coupled with the office setting of the images, leads us to believe that the VAIO Duo 11 will be aimed more at business people than mainstream consumers.

Another obvious thing is the use of stylus. We can see from the leaked pictures a stylus is attached. From the pictures leaked there, we may take a guess that the stylus might play a great role on the new notebook-tablet hybrid. But for the price and release date, the PocketNow source mentioned nothing. The following are two more pictures leaked:

Sony Xperia Tablet Pictures Re-leaked to Show More Features

More pictures of Sony’s rumored Xperia branded Android tablet have been leaked online to provide a better and much clearer view of this device for the curious. Rumored named under Xperia brand, the new tablet looks very similar to its predecessor Tablet S, but much glossier. As labeled in the Xperia brand, the tablet steps closer to Sony's smartphone family with a texturized backing likely to keep fingertips happy. The tablet would own preset wallpapers of Xperia smartphones and come with Timescape UI, which seems to indicate Sony is going to union the design style of its tablet and smartphone.

The Xperia Tablet features a Magnesium-Aluminium tablet body, thus helping to reduce its weight to 570 grams. The 9.4-inch display with 1280x800-pixel resolution remains unchanged from the Tablet S, producing amazing video experience for users to watch HD videos on Xperia tablet. Different from its predecessor, the new Xperia tablet is said to rock Nvidia's Tegra 3 SoC, probably running at 1.3GHz. Besides, this new tablet is a dual-camera device, which features an 8MP main camera for video shooting and a 1MP front camera for video chatting.

The Sony Xperia Tablet will come in various versions, including 16/32/64GB variations. Also, the memory storage is expandable via MicroSD card slot. The 6000mAh battery will keep the slate going for 10 straight hours of use. Expected to be unveiled at Sony's pre-IFA event on August 29 and launched later in September, the Xperia Tablet is said to cost $399.99, $499.99 and $599.99 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB model respectively.

Top 5 most popular and powerful Android 4.0+ tablets so far

So far, there’re many excellent Android 4.0 ICS tablets in the market. With the release of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it’s certain most tablets would get updated to the latest Android OS. Here I would like to share some wonderful tablets that feature with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or the updated Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700

The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700's high-resolution screen rivals the new iPad's display in sharpness and clarity, which produces extraordinary video experience just like to watch full Blu-ray movies on the new iPad. Also, apps launch quickly, GPS works well, and its rear camera is the best among all Android tablets. The tablet's body has the same great thin and light design as the Prime. The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 is one of the fastest Android tablets out there, combining an already proven design with a better camera, a faster processor, and a beautiful screen.

Google Nexus 7

When talking about Android 4.0+ tablets, we must mention Google Nexus 7, as Android 4.1 Jelly Bean firstly updated on Galaxy Nexus 7. And besides that, with a beautiful screen, fast performance, a comfortable design, and overall great media options, the Nexus 7 is easily the best 7-inch tablet available and one of the top tablets on the market. It comes with quad-core Tegra 3 processor and a beautiful and responsive screen. Also, it's comfortable to hold and Android 4.1 brings a surplus of welcome additions. At only $200, the Nexus 7 is a steal.

Asus Transformer Pad TF300

Though it isn't as thin or as sturdy, the Asus Transformer Pad TF300 delivers Prime levels of performance at a more affordable price. The Asus Transformer Pad TF300's Tegra 3-induced performance more or less matches the Transformer Prime's and goes a step further with a better rear camera, faster Wi-Fi performance, a more responsive screen, and an actual (and official) GPS feature. Micro-HDMI and microSD return, as does the keyboard option. The $380 entry price makes the TF300 the best full-Android tablet value currently on the market.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 has always been a first choice for users who prefer to watch videos on tablet due to its beautiful AMOLED screen, which provides gloriously deep blacks and superbright colors, and fast performance, though the price is somewhat higher than that of other tablets. The tablet is the thinnest small-form tablet yet and includes expandable memory, impressive games performance, and an IR sensor that turns the tablet into a smart remote control.

Sony Tablet S

The Sony Tablet S goes above and beyond the typical Android tablet experience by offering exclusive apps, ergonomic design, PlayStation certification for mobile gaming, DLNA video and music streaming, and an integrated IR universal remote control. The industrial design is smart, and the software refinements are both practical and restrained. 

Samsung officially released Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and 10.1 tablets with Android 4.0 at lower cost

Just yesterday, the long talked and anticipated Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 tablets have been officially released in US, with detailed information on price and shipment availability first unveiled to public. The Galaxy Tab 2 tablets come in both 7.0 inch and 10.1 inch version. The former tablet is priced at $250, with pre-order on April 12 and shipment available for 10 days later since the pre-order. While the latter one is priced at $400, being available for pre-order on May 4^th and shipment since May 13. A light refresh of earlier tablets, the Tab 2 Series comes in 7.0 and 10.1-inch versions and features similar specs, with a few differences.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 features dual camera: 3MP rear camera and the VGA resolution front-facing camera. It adopts 1GB dual-core TI OMAP processor. The device is capable of full 1080p playback at 30fps. Still, the 1024 x 600 TFT LCD display which delivers wide viewing angles and richer color produces you excellent user expeirence to freely watch HD movies on Galaxy Tab 2. It also includes a microSD slot to enlarge memory storage to its internal 8GB memory space and IR blaster. It's a puzzling hardware refresh ushering in modest tweaks to a proven design, with the biggest change of all being the move to Ice Cream Sandwich (with TouchWiz, of course). It all comes down to price, and at $250 this WiFi-only tablet could give consumers with Kindle Fire ire something to talk about. It includes support for GPS, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 3.0.

Most of the update is very incremental, and honestly, not much of an update at all. The processor is the same (dual-core 1GHz) as the Galaxy Tab, as are the displays (1024x600 for the 7.0, 1280x800 for the 10.1), and the camera (3-megapixel on the back, VGA on the front). As for the improvements, you might miss them if you blink. These are the first Galaxy Tabs to roll out with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, though Samsung has promised the OS will also come to older devices. The addition of front-facing stereo speakers on the 10.1 and a microSD port for both helps Samsung pitch the Tabs as "entertainment" devices. A new infrared port lets you control your entire home theater, including devices from other manufacturers, using your tablet with the Smart Remote app. The app itself is not new.

13.3 inch Toshiba AT330 tablet unveiled at Toshiba World 2012 sporting TV tuner on Android ICS OS

What sizes do you think a tablet should be and which size would you like to choose, a 10 inch one or just a 7 inch one? Well, Toshiba has another idea on tablet for you, a larger size tablet which could even be used as a laptop. Toshiba has unveiled a new prototype tablet, the AT330, at Toshiba World 2012 in Germany and it’s a huge 13.3-inch slate sporting the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This tablet had been mentioned early at CES, but rare information was provided then. Beyond the massive screen size, the AT330 also features a Tegra 3 quad-core processor and a TV tuner that includes a pull-out antenna. The folks at Techfokus spent some hands-on time with the tablet, the video of which is posted below.

The tablet also has a bunch of ports, full size ports actually. There's an SD card slot, SIM card slot, and full HDMI port, which could help you to enlarge its memory storage and enhance the digital entertainment with this tablet. It’s not certain what resolution display it has, but it looks to be a 1920 x 1200 LCD panel, which, if confirmed, would make it a No. 1 choice to watch HD movies on Toshiba AT330, together with its large screen display. Other detailed specs of this tablet are still not known, but a 5MP rear-facing camera and 1.3MP front-facing camera have been seen on the tablet body. And we may even guess that there might be another variant of this tablet for a USA release though no word on that by far, since a TV tuner is not a feature we see much on devices that come to USA.

Check on the hands-on video of the tablet from the Toshiba World conference to get some first impression on Toshiba AT330 tablet:

Top 6 Android tablets with 4G network connectivity to compete with the new 4G iPad

On the March 7^th event, Apple announced the new iPad and promised that the new iPad could work on 4G LTE network connectivity either on AT&T or Verizon. This would be quite amazing for the 4G network connectivity would bring totally different experience to users. But the new iPad is only applicable to 4G network connectivity in North America. If you are looking for a 4G capable tablet to use in a place other than North America, you could turn to some wonderful Android tablets with 4G network connectivity. Android has started a long journey with 4G network connectivity on tablets, not only on smartphones, for a long time ahead of Apple iPad with various excellent options for you to choose from. 

With the new iPad accessible with 4G network connectivity, the 4G future we've been promised for years has arrived. And it's not just for smartphones. We've been playing around with 4G Android tablets ever since the T-Mobile G-Slate back in early 2011. Today, I would like to share some best Android tablets with 4G network connectivity which may compete with the new 4G iPad to a certain degree. 

Sony Tablet P

The Sony Tablet P comes with a dual-screen, hinge-based designed 5.5 inch 1024 x 480 pixels screen display that allows the tablet to be closed up, just like a clam shell. The foldable design of this tablet makes it fit into most large pockets. The dual-screen design has made it a quite unique tablet option in the market for users to choose from. Click to check the full specs of Sony Tablet P.

Motorola Droid XyBoard 8.2

The Xyboard 8.2 is a powerful tablet, running on Verizon's robust 4G LTE network. Its 8.2-inch screen strikes a nice compromise between the more common 7-inch and 10.1-inch competitors, making it better for thumb-typing when held in portrait and on-the-go entertainment to watch DVD movies on Droid XyBoard. It doesn't come cheap, though, and the only affordable way to acquire one comes with a two-year contract. For detailed information, check Motorola Droid XyBoard 8.2 specs.

Motorola Droid XyBoard 10.1

To watch HD movies on Motoroal Xoom has been a great enjoyment. Now, as the successor, the Motorola Droid ZyBoard 10.1 would also be a good choice, besides its capability of 4G network connectivity. The excellent video experience also adds extra credit to this tablet. Check Motorola Droid XyBoard 10.1 specs for more.

T-Mobile SpringBoard

The Huawei-designed T-Mobile Springboard harkens back to another early adopter of 4G, the HTC EVO View 4G. This 7-inch tablet offers a beautiful screen, stylish design, and doesn't skimp on the specs, either. Unfortunately, like many tablets on this list, the Springboard comes at a relatively high price, not to mention a two-year contract.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

The Motorola Xoom may have been the first Honeycomb tablet, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was the first to make us swoon. Its iPad 2-matching thickness and lightweight construction make it a great travel companion. Unfortunately, its iPad idolization carried through to its one-port design and an absence of memory expansion.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 packs the full Android Honeycomb tablet experience, along with Samsung's useful customizations, into a compact body. The 8.9 hits a sweet spot of portability, design, and pixel density.