The 10 best 10in tablets you can buy in 2014

We review and rank the best 10in tablets you can buy in 2014. See also: The 25 best tablets of 2014.

The tablet market is mature but that also means its complex and the amount of devices on offer is somewhat overwhelming. We've whittled the huge market down to the best 10 tablets which have a 10in screen (or very close to that size anyway). Read: Best 8in tablet 2014.

While an onslaught of 7in devices have arrived, and plenty of other sizes too, the 10in tablet remains a strong option. A smaller device is easier to carry around and do simple tasks like reading and social networks. However, if you want to get work done, browse the web fluidly and watch videos without squinting then a 10in is the right size for you.

Apple's iPad remains the full-size tablet to beat with the latest Air model impressive all-round but there are plenty of Android rivals if you're not into iOS. There's also the iPad 4 which is still on sale at a lower price. Windows is still playing third fiddle with Nokia's Lumia 2520 just squeezing into the top 10. See also: Best Windows 8 tablets of 2013.

The 10 best 10in tablets you can buy in 2014

Some caveats still apply to Windows RT devices, but if you want an alternative to iPad and Android for a consumption device, the Lumia 2520 is that. It's well built, a great performer and - in red at least - it offers a stylish difference to the usual black slates.

The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 takes over from its predecessor as the top Android tablet available. You get high performance mixed with high style, and you don't have to make a lot of sacrifices to get both. Other tablets - including the Prime, which is expected to drop in price once this model gets into the market - may provide better value, but no other Android tablet will give you the full package that the Infinity does.

The Kobo Arc 10HD is a sexy tablet that offers a lot for its price tag. Kobo's bloatware is unobtrusive and the fact it gives you full access to the Google Play store is a massive plus. The only real downside to the Kobo Arc 10HD is the weight of the thing, which makes using this device as a eReader while on the move a bit of a no go.

Touchwiz and fake stitching aside the Note 10.1 is a very good tablet with the added S-Pen feature for those who want it.

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 is one of the cheaper 10in tablets around and it has an excellent design. Hardware and task performance are both lacking somewhat but battery life is a strong point. A great Android tablet for those less bothered about top-end specs.

Sony has made a very desirable tablet in the Xperia Tablet Z. We particularly like its striking svelte design and features that you don't get with rivals such as NFC, its waterproof casing and infrared. However, its slightly lacking performance means the Nexus 10 will save you some money or the iPad 4 will give you a smooth experience for the same price.

Still available as the cheapest full-sized iPad, the fourth-generation Apple tablet remains an excellent tablet choice despite only being available in 16GB.

The Nexus 10 is easily the best 10in Android tablet we've seen to date. It has a fantastic screen, decent cameras and software features all for a more than reasonable price. Those looking for an alternative to the full-sized iPad needn't look any further.

The Xperia Z2 is a great looking and well built Android tablet. It is staggeringly thin and light for a 10in device, has a great screen, expandable storage and good performance. We like the OS and the camera. Indeed, our only issues with the Xperia Z2 Tablet is occasionally laggy web browsing, and the fact that the screen is poor under natural light. But priced in line with the iPad Air this is right at the top of the shop.

In many respects a triumph, the iPad Air also introduces compromises to hit the low-weight/thin-case targets. Sound quality through the new stereo speaker has deteriorated, and although a matter of taste we found the iPad mini-style case loses the premium feel of preceding generations of iPad. The iOS 7 interface, not popular with every user, cannot be avoided on this device and it suffers some stickiness in app zooming. Ultimately though the iPad Air will suceed by simple nature of its new weight - the lose of almost 200g is so significant to its handling, and means it could encroach on E Ink ebook readers; only with the power and versatility, not to mention gorgeous colour screen, of a real iPad.

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