2011’s Best Gadgets: Tablets

Among the more impressive rivals to the iPad is BlackBerry’s 7.6-inch PlayBook (pictured; $500; blackberry.com), arriving this spring. However, its rich touch-based experience uses a proprietary operating system that’s likely to keep its price tag high; by adopting the Android 3.0 system, other manufacturers will be able to offer better values. Among the first is Motorola’s Xoom ($600; motorola.com), which sports dual-core 1GHz processors, front and rear cameras and a 10.1-inch screen. Expect even more stripped-down models to appear from a multitude of sources—AOC says it will offer a $200 model—as tablets try to move netbooks to the bin.