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APPLE’S IPHONE MAY
face some stiff competition—
according to Nielsen, the leading smartphone
platform in the U.S. is Android—but in the tablet
arena, the iPad has reigned supreme. This should
come as no surprise: Until recently, most Android
tablets were generic, me-too bores with access to a
mere fraction of the kinds of apps that make the
iPad compelling.
In the past few months, however, several manu-
facturers have upped the ante by introducing tablets
with significant differentiating features—some prac-
tical, some stylish. These gadgets tend to cost the
same or less than their Apple counterpart and offer
cu ing-edge specs (superfast dual-core processors
and USB 2.0 ports, the ability to play Flash videos
and animations) and head-turning looks. Here are the
early winners in a showdown that’s only just begun.
Tired of row a er row and screen a er screen of
app thumbnails? You’re in luck: Amazon’s
Kindle Fire
($199, amazon.com) features a “Cover Flow”–style
Touch
and Go
The latest generation
of Android tablets
just might give the iPad
a run for its money
BY TOM SAMILJAN
54
MARCH 2012
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