Tablets to look forward to this fall

Now that summer's over, school's back in, and the colder weather is keeping you indoors more, a shiny new tablet just might be the thing you need to keep the SADS away. Click through the slideshow to check out the tablets you can expect to drop later this year.

If you simply can't wait and need one now, check out our list of best tablets here.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

Price: TBD

Availability: October

The outlook: Mid-size tablets in the 8- to 9-inch range have seen a meteoric boost in popularity over 7-inch slates, and Sony is throwing its first competitor into the ring. The 8-inch Xperia Z3 tablet is a more compact version than the 10-inch Xperia 2 -- as its name suggests -- yet it still boasts a clever waterproof build and sleek design.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

Price: $199

Availability: It's expected to hit stores in September.

The outlook: Lenovo is offering a compelling mid-range option in the mid-size tablet category. The 8-inch Tab S8 most notably packs an Intel processor, 2GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera, and Dolby powered speakers, all in a slim and thin design. With a competitive $199 price tag, it's one of the most promising upcoming tablets for budget conscious shoppers.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

Price: $199

Availability: In stores now

The outlook: The Toshiba Encore Mini is one of the smallest full Windows 8.1 running tablets you can own. This is great for students or anyone who needs to take their work on-the-go. However, those with weaker eyesight might want to bust out the prescription glasses to compensate for the smaller screen.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

Price: TBD

Availability: TBD

The outlook:Apple notoriously keeps new devices under wraps  -- even though leaks and rumors build anticipation months before Apple is ready to let us in on its secrets.

A refresh to the iPad and iPad Mini are to be expected, however an exact timeframe is still up in the air. With a recently rolled out iPhone, we can only assume that Apple now has its eye planted on keeping the iPad at the top of the tablet charts.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

Price: TBD

Availability: TBD

The outlook: Google is overdue for a new tablet. The Nexus 10 is more than two years old and, though the Nexus 7's 2013 reboot still places high on our top tablets list, Google is slowly losing the strong presence it once had in the tablet scene.

We have high hopes for Google's next series of slates and expect the company to jump onto the mid-size (8- to 9-inch) tablet trend while it's hot. Check out CNET's Nexus 8 rumor blog here, which chronicle the possibility of an 8-inch Google branded tablet here.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.