Gadgets on the go

Smartest smartphone in class
Small enough to be kept in your pocket yet powerful enough to email and browse the web, smartphones are the ultimate gadget on the go.

Every year Which? quizzes more than 8,000 members of the public about their mobile phones and then analyses the data to give each brand a reliability rating and satisfaction score.

Apple came out top in the satisfaction stakes with 84% - its nearest rival was HTC with a score of 73%. The Apple iPhone 4S also scored well with TrustedReviews but was pipped to the post for 'Phone of the Year' by the Samsung Galaxy S2

"This phone has everything most people would need: a speedy dual-core processor, a vibrant screen, a super slim and lightweight design, and is packed full of features," says Cliff Jones, editor of TrustedReviews.
Hot smartphones on Ciao

Top of the tablets
Bigger than a smartphone but with similar touchscreen technology and downloadable apps, tablet computers boast a bright, sharp screen with rich, vibrant colours. Without a physical keyboard they offer a thinner and lighter way to connect to the internet than laptops or netbooks - yet have enough battery power to last when you're on the move.

Apple's iPad set the standard as the first popular tablet but since then many others have come onto the market, including Samsung's Galaxy Tab, the BlackBerry Playbook, the Motorola Xoom and the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, which was named best break-out tablet of 2011 by TrustedReviews.

"Giving users the portability of a tablet and the productivity of a laptop in one thanks to its keyboard docking station, the Transformer was the first to truly challenge the iPad in terms of features and performance," says Cliff.
If you're looking to buy in the next few weeks, it might be worth waiting to get your hands on the iPad 3 (due to go on sale later this month) before making your final decision.
Find more tablet PCs on Ciao

Winning laptops
If you have the money to spend, the Apple Macbook Air gets rave reviews.

"This is an award-winning laptop that's great on both looks and performance, but you do pay for the convenience," says Dan Grabham, deputy editor of TechRadar.

"The 256GB solid state drive gives you fast access to your files and media, and has less chance of failing than a hard drive if the laptop takes a few knocks on the road. Usability is as excellent as always, thanks to the firm isolation-style keyboard and solid glass touchpad."

For a more budget option, TechRadar recommend the Acer Aspire 5742.
"This machine is powerful enough to run all of your applications, thanks to a surprisingly strong Intel Core processor and 4GB of memory," says Dan. "The build quality is also impressive - the 2.3kg frame is solid and slim enough to lug around without too much hassle and if you plan on doing a lot of typing, the isolation-style keyboard is perfect."
More laptops on Ciao

Noteworthy netbooks
If portability and price are more important than performance, a mini-laptop or netbook could be the answer. Weighing less than 1kg and around an inch thick, most are about the same size as a magazine. Just be aware that they won't have a full-sized keyboard and the screen will be smaller too.

One of the first was the Asus Eee PC but many other budget options have come onto the market since then.
The Acer Aspire One Happy 2 scores the highest with Which? - who test netbooks on a variety of performance and comfort criteria, including how long it takes to charge the battery, how long it takes for the battery to drain and even how hot it gets - important if it's going to be on your lap for hours!

Second place in their rating is the Samsung NC110 closely followed by the Asus Eee PC 1015PX.

Before you buy...
Finally, Kieran Alger, editor of T3 has this advice: "When buying new technology the first thing you need to do is work out exactly what you want it to do. Having a clear set of needs cuts down the choice and makes it easier to find the right gadget for you.

"Will you always use your tablet where there's wi-fi or will you need to have 3G? Do you want a laptop for creating or just consuming photos, video and media?

"Is this something you'll want to always use on the move or just at home? Getting your wishlist ready before you start your search means you can be more certain of buying what you actually need and not paying for things you don't."

Compare prices on gadgets on Ciao
The best laptops on Ciao
Follow MSN Shopping on Twitter
Like MSN Shopping on Facebook