Engadget’s summer gear guide 2012: tablets

In the interest of keeping cool this summer, we’ve put together a list of the hottest products out right now. From smartphones to e-readers and everything in between, there’s no time like the present to re-up that post-spring-cleaning stash. So grab a popsicle or a cold one and dive in — the water’s just right.

We’ll call it — in 10 years’ time, tablets are gonna make desktops and laptops niche products. In the three years since the iPad fell from the sky, these humble devices have become ideal ways to surf the internet, play games, and, most importantly, create. Here’s three of the best for you to enjoy over the summer, with the notable exception of the Galaxy Note 10.1. We’re excited to see the stylus-centric slate in action, but it’s still not ready for primetime, so we have to hope it’s here before the new school term. Read on past the break to take a look at our current warm weather selections.