LONDON, December 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

We've had iPods, Nintendo Wiis, laptops and now tablets as the items appearing at the top of the Christmas wish list. Laptop and PC sales have seen a sharp decline that's coincided with the rising popularity of tablet computers - more tablets are sold now than PCs, and by quite a margin. This is due to the ease of use of tablets and their superior portability. So, what are the options for tablets this Christmas?

Right up there with the best of them is iPad mini. Tasked with creating a scaled down iPad, Apple created the beautiful iPad mini. Thinner than even iPhone 5, it is truly a design masterpiece. With all the apps, functionality and style of the traditional 9.7" iPad, but with added portability and ease of use, it's a winner for young and old alike.

The main reason Apple even created a smaller version of iPad is the smaller 7" tablets powered by Google's Android operating system - there was no guarantee that iPad 3 was going to be able to compete if people started to want lighter and smaller tablets. One of the most advanced, yet least expensive, is the Nexus 7 by Asus. The HD screen is sharper and of higher quality than iPad mini's, and inside it has a state of the art quad core processor. With the latest Android software it's also packed with features and is getting people all over the world excited.

Talking of getting people excited all over the world, the Amazon Kindle Fire is also a much sought after tablet. With a 7" display it's small and light, and the dual core processor is pokey enough to deal with 3D games and running multiple apps at once. Now that it's come to the UK, many have realised it offers great hardware and content for a great price.

Another great 7" tablet is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. With typical Samsung design it's light, sleek and shiny, and the display is very response with a high contrast, ideal for movie watching. It's also got lots of unique features and content thanks to Samsung's top programmers, so you'll be able to do things on this that you can't on other tablets.

If you're not a mini-tablet fan, a really top end tablet that's getting a lot of traction is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. The 10.1" screen is perfect for media watching, although it doesn't quite compare with the sharpness of the display on iPad 3, but with the S Pen stylus there's loads you can do that just isn't possible on iPad 3 - hand write notes, draw, annotate pictures, create gesture shortcuts and more. The powerful quad core processor also means you can run a super smooth split screen mode, allowing you to use two apps at once, side by side.

Of course, you can't forget iPad 3. The fantastic 9.7" display pushes 3.1 million pixels, so it's superbly sharp and your HD content will look flawless. Even with this large screen, battery life is still over 10 hours, and with iOS 6 compatibility, the latest and greatest of Apple's features are all there. Don't forget, there are 275,000 tablets-specific apps for iPad 3 in the App Store, so there's content galore.

For the best deals on these tablets and more, head down to Carphone Warehouse or visit online. Currently it's running a UK's lowest priced tablets campaign, so you won't get a cheaper tablet anywhere else.

Notes to Editors

• Carphone Warehouse is the largest independent mobile phone retailer in the UK, with over 800 stores nationwide

• Discover how to get more from your gadgets with eye openers from Carphone Warehouse. Eye openers is a YouTube channel which features videos of Carphone Warehouse team members sharing useful hints and tips on everything from laptops to Sat Navs to the latest mobile phones. With new videos being added each month, users can search through hundreds of videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/eyeopeners.

About Carphone Warehouse and Geek Squad

In 2006 Best Buy established a partnership with Carphone Warehouse to bring its business model and mobile phone expertise to the US market under the banner 'Best Buy Mobile'. Two years later, Best Buy acquired 50% of The Carphone Warehouse's European and US retail interests for £1.1billion, creating Best Buy Europe.  The joint venture now encompasses the following retail and technical support brands: Carphone Warehouse, The Phone House and Geek Squad.

Contact:    
Carphone Warehouse
Alison Gram
PR Manager
GramA@cpwplc.com

SOURCE Carphone Warehouse