CES 2011 Best Tablets at CES 2011

As expected, CES 2011 was dominated by tablets of all shapes and sizes. Depending on who you ask there were 50 to 100 tablets on show, but only a few were worth close inspection.

Across all the tablets at CES 2011, some trends were obvious. Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), which made its debut at the show, featured heavily and there were even more tablets touting the older 2.2 (Froyo) version of Google's operating system as well. Nvidia's Tegra 2 chipset, announced this time last year, also featured heavily. It offers Full HD 1080p video, near-console quality graphics and a fast dual-core processor.

Most tablets came in 7-inch and 10-inch screen sizes, but there were one or two exceptions. Android might have been the dominant operating system, but others were present too. Sharp and BlackBerry had their own Linux-based operating systems, and there were one or two notable Windows tablets as well.

For more you can read our Tablets at CES 2011 report, but here's our look at some of the best tablets at CES 2011.

1.  BlackBerry PlayBook

Nearly all the tablets at CES 2011 were running some form of Android, except the BlackBerry PlayBook. Research in Motion, the company behind BlackBerry, has its own Linux operating system – dubbed QNX – that's specifically tailored to its device.

It’s not just the software that’s different, either. The PlayBook is one of the few tablets not to use the Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset, though its dual-core 1GHz processor is equally fast and adept at 1080p video playback.

The 7-inch screen has a 1,024x600 resolution display, and supports the full-range of multi-touch gestures. What sets the PlayBook apart, however, is that elements of the bezel surrounding the display also respond to touch. This allows for additional gestures where you swipe from off-screen, which the PlayBook uses to switch instantly between applications in the background.

The result is an interface that’s very slick and flexible. You can be watching a video and quickly switch to the web browser while the video continues to play, and then switch back again. Flash video is supported as well, which helps make the PlayBook our favourite tablet at the show.

Read our full BlackBerry PlayBook first look review

2. Motorola Xoom

Of all the Android 3.0 tablets on show, the Motorola Xoom was the most complete and polished, and it ably demonstrated that Android could become a great tablet operating system. Of course Google must take some of the credit here, but Motorola gave it the best platform on which to shine.

First there’s the design, which is simple and sophisticated – we particularly liked the soft touch back.

Then there’s the hardware, which relies on the excellent Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor and graphics chip – ensuring it can cope with 1080p video and near-console quality gaming graphics.

Finally, the 10.1-inch screen has a sharp 1,280x800 resolution – perfect for HD video and viewing websites.

Read our full Motorola Xoom first look review

3. Samsung TX100 Sliding PC

We might have marked the Samsung Sliding PC higher had Samsung allowed people closer to it, but in concept and design it’s a winner.

Essentially it's a netbook and tablet hybrid and it shares much DNA with the Dell Inspiron Duo – it’s got an Intel Atom processor and runs Windows 7 – but its sliding mechanism is much slicker and the design more practical. If Samsung can nail the touch interface on it, the TX100 could be a winner.

Read our full Samsung TX100 Sliding PC first look review

4. Asus Eee Pad Transformer

Perhaps the most innovative tablet on show was the Asus Eee Pad Transformer. Like many, it boasts an Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset, a 10.1-inch 1,280x800 display, and an HDMI output for connection to an external display - such as an HDTV.

Where it differs is in the clever docking design. It can be used as a pure touchscreen tablet, or docked into a keyboard – effectively making it an Android-based netbook. 

Questions do remain: is it the best of both worlds, or the master or none? Either way, Asus earns kudos for innovation – a precious commodity among tablets at CES.

Read our full Asus Eee Pad Transformer first look review

5. Asus Eee Slate EP121

Asus’ second entrant in our list is the Windows 7-based Eee Slate EP121 – the self-claimed ‘fastest tablet in the world’. Why is it so fast? Because it’s effectively a laptop without a keyboard – an Intel Core i5 processor and a 64GB SSD put it on a par with most ultra-portable laptops.

One thing it lacks is a DVD drive, but then it does weigh only slightly more than one kilo. Whether its battery life is long enough remains to be seen, but if you like the idea of a tablet with the power of a laptop, the EP121 is one for you.

Read our full Asus Eee Slate EP121 first look review

Best of the rest

Lenovo IdeaPad U1

An innovative Windows and Android tablet, the IdeaPad is another tablet to feature a detachable screen section – effectively creating a tablet and netbook in one.

It could be a rather expensive solution to your laptop/tablet needs if reports prove correct, but Lenovo is another company to think a little more creatively in its tablet design.

Read our full Lenovo IdeaPad U1 first look review

Asus Eee Pad Slider

Based on the same hardware as the Transformer, the Slider – as the name suggests – opts for a slide-out keyboard instead.

Read our full Asus Eee Pad Slider first look review

Asus Eee Pad MeMo

The smallest of the Eee Pad family, the 7-inch MeMo features a stylus for creating diagrams and notes, but is equally useable without it. 

It's only got a single-core processor, but the MeMo is no less fast and capable as other tablets on the market and can play HD video.

Read our full Asus Eee Pad MeMo first look review

Dell Streak 7

Following the success of the Dell Streak 5, the Streak 7 opts for Nvidia Tegra 2 and a larger 7-inch screen. 

Its low 800x480 resolution and use of Android 2.2 is a sticking point though, which is why it doesn’t feature in our top 5 despite a slick custom interface.

Read our full Dell Streak 7 first look review

Panasonic Viera Tablets

Panasonic took a slightly different approach to the tablet craze, basing its efforts on integration with its Viera TV range. 

Available in 4-, 8- and 10-inch versions, and running Android 2.2, the tablets act as remotes and can receive streamed TV from compatible TVs.

Read our full Panasonic Viera Tablet first look review

Toshiba 10-inch Tablet

Toshiba, like Samsung, was reluctant to openly display its as yet unnamed tablet. 

It has a good basis, though - Android 3.0, a 1,280x800 display and Nvidia Tegra 2 give it the hardware to compete well. Hopefully Toshiba has learnt from the mistakes of the much-maligned Folio 100.

Read our full Toshiba Tablet first look review