LG

Optimus G Pro

968,000 won ($897)

Pros

  • Incredibly zippy processor
  • 1080p display is gorgeous
  • Solid build quality and design
  • Good battery life, comes with a spare

Cons

  • Some may lament lack of stylus
  • Limited UMTS and LTE frequencies

Bottom Line

With a beautiful display, super-fast processor and other top-of-the-line features, the Optimus G Pro is a rock-solid Note II competitor sans the stylus.

Google

Chromebook Pixel

$1,299 - $1,449

Pros

  • Beautiful, high-res display
  • Incredible build quality
  • Great keyboard and trackpad

Cons

  • Limited OS functionality
  • Poor battery life
  • High cost

Bottom Line

Google's Pixel is far and away the nicest Chromebook on the market and rivals the best for build quality, but it's far too expensive for a machine with such limited functionality.

ASUS

ASUS VivoTab Smart

$499

Pros

  • Pleasing design
  • Lots of built-in storage for the price
  • Good camera
  • Optional keyboard is easy to pack, comfortable to type on

Cons

  • Middling battery life
  • Optional cover isn't always sturdy when folded up as a stand

Bottom Line

For people who want a relatively inexpensive device running full Windows 8, the VivoTab Smart offers far and away the best value.

Samsung

Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro

$1,200

Pros

  • Strong performance
  • Pen support with S Pen apps
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • Crisp 1080p display

Cons

  • Unsophisticated design
  • Middling battery life

Bottom Line

The Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro is a promising Windows 8 hybrid thanks to strong performance and a comfortable keyboard dock, but we wish it had better battery life.

Sony

Sony Xperia Z

£525 (Around $815)

Pros

  • The most beautiful Sony phone yet
  • Water resistance on a flagship device
  • Strong performance

Cons

  • Disappointing battery life
  • Poor viewing angles

Bottom Line

The Xperia Z proves that Sony has what it takes to make a compelling phone in an increasingly competitive market, but issues like battery life need to be confronted, even at the expense of the design.

Mophie

Mophie Outride

$150

Pros

  • Exceptional build quality
  • Robust mounting kit

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Limits usability of iPhone
  • Muffled audio

Bottom Line

The Outride is an interesting concept that proves remarkably compromised in real-world use.

Samsung

Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch

$800+

Pros

  • Decent battery life for a touch system
  • Attractive design
  • Narrow bezels, responsive touchscreen
  • Comfortable keyboard

Cons

  • Some touchpad issues
  • Heavy, even for a touchscreen Ultrabook
  • Other laptops offer the same or better specs for less money

Bottom Line

The Series 5 UltraTouch is a solid mid-range Windows 8 Ultrabook, with decent battery life, a responsive touchscreen and a tasteful design. If you wanted, though, you could get the same specs for less money.

Lenovo

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2

$579+

Pros

  • Long battery life
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • Allows for pen input
  • Wide viewing angles

Cons

  • Pen support isn't standard
  • Bluetooth occasionally causes typing lags
  • USB port doesn't work with USB hard drives or external optical drives

Bottom Line

The ThinkPad Tablet 2 is the best low-powered Windows 8 tablet we've tested, thanks to its 10-hour battery and an unmatched typing experience.

Tesla

Tesla Model S Performance

$60,000+

Pros

  • Smooth, confident handling
  • Incredible power delivery
  • Plenty of tech toys
  • Best-in-class range

Cons

  • Limited charging stations
  • Occasional lack of attention to interior detail

Bottom Line

Tesla's Model S is light-years beyond the Roadster in terms of refinement, and is the current benchmark for production EVs.

Microsoft

Surface Pro

$899 - $999

Pros

  • Solid-feeling design
  • Great 1080p display
  • Good performance

Cons

  • Poor battery life
  • Noisy, annoying fan
  • Un-optimized experiences

Bottom Line

Microsoft's Surface with Windows 8 Pro is the best tablet running Windows 8 we've yet seen, but still feels like a compromise when used as a tablet or laptop.

Nokia

Nokia Lumia 620

£150 ($236)

Pros

  • Attractively priced
  • Good battery life
  • Performance matches higher-end devices

Cons

  • Middling camera performance
  • Windows Phone 8 lacks app selection of entry-level Android phones

Bottom Line

The Lumia 620 is a budget phone offering good performance and an attractive design. It sets a new benchmark for low-price smartphones.

ASUS

ASUS TAICHI 21

$1,299+

Pros

  • Innovative design
  • Great viewing angles on both displays
  • Fast performance
  • Supports pen input
  • Good sound quality

Cons

  • Short battery life
  • Interior screen doesn't support touch
  • Runs hot
  • Some touchpad issues

Bottom Line

The TAICHI has an inventive dual-screen design with fast performance, wide viewing angles and decent audio. But we'd rather wait for a second-gen model with better battery life.

Samsung

Samsung ATIV Odyssey

$50 (on contract)

Pros

  • Impressive performance for the price
  • Minimal bloatware
  • Expandable storage

Cons

  • Low-res screen
  • Underwhelming camera performance
  • Cheap-feeling construction

Bottom Line

The ATIV Odyssey looks like a budget phone, with its cheap construction and low-res screen, but it performs like a flagship.

HP

HP Spectre XT TouchSmart

$1,275+

Pros

  • Brilliant IPS display
  • Sophisticated, well-built design
  • Good keyboard

Cons

  • Short battery life
  • Expensive

Bottom Line

The HP Spectre XT TouchSmart boasts a great, 15-inch touchscreen and a comfortable, svelte design. The downsides are disappointing battery life and a high starting price.