Apple iPad Air and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 are no question the hottest tablets at the moment and are the top contenders in terms of popularity in all age brackets. But wben consumers consider their weapons of choice, they're often caught between the tidy, feather-light iPad Air and Samsung's 2014 edition of its Galaxy Note 10.1. Both are flagship tablets for their parent companies and as the biggest names in the mobile industry, Samsung and Apple have made sure they're equipped with the latest and best features money can buy. But how will each device fare against the other? For that, we've compiled a comparison review of Apple iPad Air and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014's features and specs to see how they shape up against each other.

Before diving into the heart and soul of Apple iPad Air and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014, let's talk about appearances first. Design, feel and weight are all important aspects to consider when buying a tablet, especially with these two's price tags. Both slates have their own unique design modeled after old models. iPad Air takes it cue from past iPad tablets which means iPad Mini-style lines and slimmed-down screen bezel. On the other, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1's 2014 edition is a plastic and pleather creation, complete with faux stitching on the back.

Of the two devices, most prefer the iPad's clean and conservative design. Easy to carry and easy to store with a mere 7.5mm thickness and 469g or 478g, depending on whether you choose to go for the Wi-Fi only or cellular version. However, if not encased properly, you could find your Space Grey aluminum finish covered in scratch lines as the metal finish is extremely prone to scratching.

While it doesn't have iPad Air's clean appearance, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition is well put-together for a Samsung tablet, featuring little to no flex and seamless manufacturing. However, the combination of faux-leather and plastic may not be most people's cup of tea and the pleather doesn't have Galaxy Note 3's grippy, soft-touch feel despite having similar designs. It loses on weight saving to iPad Air as well, coming in at around 540g depending on which version you choose. For some however, this gives the Note 10.1 a solid feel and provides a pleasing heft to the device.

The screen category is one that Samsung has put their best foot forward in, providing their latest 10in flagship tablet a 2560 x 1600 screen which easily beats Apple iPad Air's 2048 x 1536, 9.7in screen. This puts Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014's numbers up to 299ppi while iPad Air trails behind with 264ppi. In this category, Samsung made the most of their famous versatility, boasting crisp fonts, wide viewing angles and multiple screen mode options for Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition. But while Apple iPad Air's Retina display may lag behind a little in terms of pixel count, it makes up for it by providing users with true-to-life colors and dynamic imagery every time they watch videos and movies.

For power and performance, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 leaves Apple iPad Air in the dust with its 1.9GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM and 8220mAh battery, not to mention 64GB internal storage capacity. iPad Air's 1.4 GHz A7 processor and 1GB RAM may be good in general tablet standards but it looks unimpressive next to Samsung's stellar specs.

However, many users who have tried out iPad Air find it "delightfully smooth" in terms of performance, getting "zero stutter" even when playing five-minute long HD clips into the iMovie timelines, resizing and rearranging, playing back the preview and adding music. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014, on the other hand, "chews through demanding games like a croc through soft fudge" but still needs some work in optimisation of its software. There is an obvious pause between tapping an app and it opening and often, when several Android apps are downloading to the tablet at the same time, this causes meltdowns and full system crashes.

One major distinction between the two devices is the operating system each uses, with iPad Air running on iOS 7 and Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 boasting Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Samsung loaded its Magazine US with a ton of widgets, including a specially-tweeked version of Twitter, an impressive version of Flipboard and the digital edition of Bloomberg's Businessweek+. And once again Samsung shows its versatility thorugh its Multi Window option which allows users to run Google and Samsung apps side by side. Featuring a much-improved silicon, Galaxy Note 10.1 2014's Multi Window is faster and better than its older versions.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 is also equipped with an S Pen stylus that features a lot of new nifty tricks. Air Command menus lets users scribble down notes, circle details, add them to contacts and even pull up an address in Google Maps. Reviewing notes won't be a problem either as Galaxy Note 10.1's universal search allows you to search for old handwritten notes.

The only downside to having a ton of widgets and apps at your disposal is that it does have a tendency to clutter up the screen and make it look messy. Apple iPad Air's iOS7 doesn't allow users to add homescreen widgets and customize but the tablet's UI design is smooth and stripped-back, featuring intuitive controls. This comes of course with Apple's not-so-secret weapons, iTunes and the App Store which remains "the biggest and best-curated digital shops available, despite fierce competition from Google Play."

It's a close race between the two most powerful tablets available on the market today but each held their own in majority of the categories. While Apple iPad Air may beat Samsung's flagship tablet in terms of looks and weight, Galaxy Note 10.1 makes up for it with impressive performance specs and accessories such as the S Pen stylus. But whether you prefer iPad Air's clean looks and smooth performance or Samsung's heavy-duty performance and solid feel, it all comes right down to personal preference.

If you can afford to invest US$499 for a trendy, nifty tablet, then go for Apple iPad Air. But if you prefer getting an impressive tablet for only half the price, invest in a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition today. Either way, you'll get a device that offers everything you'd need in a tablet and more.