GSMArena tablet shopping guide: December 2013

3G/4G midsize tablets

If you want to take your tablet on the go, then being able to rely on a 3G and/or LTE connection is almost a must. This section is for those of us that don't want to have to constantly bounce from WiFi network to WiFi network when we're out and about with our tablets.

First up, comes the latest 8-inch entry from Lenovo, the Yoga 8. While its 1280 x 800 pixel display and quad-core MediaTek 1.2GHz processor may not be the best around, the Yoga 8 is one of the most affordable 8-inch tablets to offer 3G connectivity. Plus, its built-in 3-stage kickstand, 6,000 mAh battery and Dolby Digital Plus sound enhancement make it a great media player.

The Yoga 8 does have fairly limited 3G network connectivity (it supports only HSDPA bands 900 / 2100), so be sure it has the right coverage for your area if you decide to get one. Also, if you get the more popular 16GB model you should get a microSD card as well, since the onboard memory will fill up quickly - especially if you plan on using it as a multimedia player.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 makes our list here thanks in large part to its extensive LTE support. The 8-inch tablet otherwise has mediocre screen resolution of 800 x 1280, and gets beat out by the LG G Pad 8.3 in terms of performance as well, but the LG offering only has a WiFi-only variant available.

The Note 8.0 also has a wide array of connectivity extras, including an IR-port and an USB Host support. Plus, if you don't mind carrying an 8-inch device around there's also Samsung's excellent pressure-sensitive S-Pen for jotting things down or doodling away.

The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9's LTE-enabled variant comes next. When it comes to pure processing power, no other tablet can currently beat its quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor and Adreno 330 GPU alongside 2GB of RAM. The 2560 x 1600 display resolution also provides unparalleled sharpness in the 8.9-inch range. It also features an 8MP primary camera with a front-facer capable of 720p video recording.

Keep in mind, though, that all Kindle Fire's run on a highly customized Android version without support for Google Play, so you'll have to rely on the less-robust Amazon App Store for your app needs. It also doesn't have microSD card support, so we recommend at least the 32GB version if you decide to go for a Kindle.

The Apple iPad mini 2 again brings up the rear for buyers for whom cost is not an issue. Apple's latest mini has a 7.9" Retina display at 1536 x 2048px and a 4:3 aspect ratio. Apple's app store is second-to-none when it gets to tablets.

The LTE-enabled version offers an immensely wide LTE band support. It also has the benefit of having a built-in GPS chip, something with the Wi-Fi only version lacks.

The iPad mini 2 does not come with a microSD card slot, so we recommend you get at least the 32GB version despite its exorbitant markup.