No Wi-Fi? No problem. These 4G-enabled tablets can access the Web on the go.
Apple iPad Air
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The iPad Air delivers more performance and comparable battery life in an attractive and impossibly thin-and-light package. An improved front-facing camera makes FaceTime look better, and the Retina Display still looks great.
The bad: The Touch ID fingerprint scanner, introduced on the iPhone 5S, is sadly absent here, meaning you'll still have to type in a passcode with every unlock and a password with every purchase. Starting at $499 for 16GB, it's still expensive compared with the competition.
The cost: $458.99 to $679.99
The bottom line: Functionally, the iPad Air is nearly identical to last year's model, offering only faster performance and better video chatting. But factor in design and aesthetics, and the iPad Air is on another planet. It's the best full-size consumer tablet on the market.
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 is a performance monster that speeds through Web sites and UI navigation at a frantic pace. Its screen is impressively sharp and its body amazingly light for a larger tablet. The Mayday feature gives personal and near-instant customer service. Some small but smart UI additions lead to a simple, welcoming experience.
The bad: The remote video viewing feature wasn't ready at launch, and ad-free versions still cost an extra $15. The 16GB of space runs out quickly when storing HD movies, and there's no built-in storage expansion. Lack of Google Play access means many apps still aren't available. The buttons on the back are sometimes hard to find.
The cost: $379
The bottom line: With everything that was great about the HDX 7 and more, the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 isn't just a great value, it sets the standard for a media consumption tablet.
Google Nexus 7
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Nexus 7's razor-sharp full-HD screen, silky-smooth performance, long battery life, meager weight and affordable price made it the best tablet value on the market at the time of review.
The bad: The back is missing the soft grippy texture of the original, screen colors lack accuracy and there's no microSD support. Android 4.3 has few useful interface improvements.
The cost: $226.48 to $259
The bottom line: Thanks to its stellar performance and affordable price, at the time of its release, the Nexus 7 became the Android tablet to get.
LG G Pad 8.3
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The LG G Pad 8.3 has a crisp full-HD display, a fast quad-core processor and expandable memory.
The bad: At $350, the Wi-Fi variant is steeply priced, and its design lacks a premium feel.
The cost: $279.99 to $349.99
The bottom line: With its speedy and reliable performance, the LG G Pad 8.3 is a solid small tablet, but for non-Verizon customers, the smoother and less expensive Google Nexus 7 is the better choice.
