Watch CBS News

Gift Guide For Shoppers Seeking High-Tech Tablets

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Some of the top high-tech items this holiday season are tablets but which one should you choose? Well, it really depends on who you are buying it for.

Shoppers looking to purchase a tablet should know which ones are best for play, productivity, and whether it's good for young children.

For many shoppers, Apple's new ultra slim iPad Air and iPad mini are the default choice and with good reason- they're easy to use, gorgeously designed and according to Eric Franklin, Senior Editor of CNET, they have the most and best apps.

"The Apple iOS version will look and be even better, more features sometimes, it will run smoother," said Franklin.

The iPad, especially the mini, is a favorite among gamers, but you'll pay a premium. The Air starts at $500 for a 16 gig model, the mini with the sharper retina display starts at $400 for the same amount of storage.

If productivity is a priority, the Microsoft Surface 2, starting at $450 for 32 gigs, is pre-loaded with Microsoft Office and has a generous 10+ inch screen.

"I would say the Microsoft Surface 2 is the more laptop replacement type of tablet," said Franklin.

On the more affordable end, there's the Kindle Fire HDX and the Nexus 7. Both start at $230 for 16 gigs.

The seven inch Nexus, an android tablet, has improved greatly since it debuted two years ago thanks to more offerings in Google's app store, Play.

The Kindle Fire HDX is the go-to choice for bookworms and the Amazon faithful. Prime members have the added benefit of access to thousands of movies, TV shows and book titles.

Other key selling points is that it has strong kid controls. Parents can set time limits on tablet use and restrict what they watch and play, and then there's Amazon's mayday feature.

"Within 15 seconds it connects you with an Amazon service rep," said Franklin.

And you know what that means; you don't have to play tech support.

If you follow some of these tips and really do your research before buying a tablet, it can be a win-win for everyone.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.