Best budget tablets

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.

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.

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.

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

The $199 Nook Tablet (8GB) matches up well to the Kindle Fire in specs and price--and has the added advantage of offering an expansion slot for additional memory.