Android tablets are about to get new competitors in the near and distant future, some of them running iOS 6 while others will have Windows 8 under the hood. Today I’m specifically talking about Apple’s iPad mini and Razer’s Project Fiona, as both have been confirmed for production.

iPad mini

Of the two, the most important rival for Android tablets, especially budget-friendly ones, is the upcoming 7.85-inch iPad mini that will directly challenge the Google Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire family of handsets.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple suppliers have already begun producing the smaller iPad, and we’re probably going to see it hit stores in the coming months. The publication says that LG Display and AU Optronics started mass-producing LCD displays for the upcoming iPad model last month, although nobody will comment on the record on the matter.

The 7.85-inch display is said to feature a resolution lower than the third-generation iPad, although we don’t have any official specs and features for the device.

Project Fiona

Unlike the iPad mini, and other budget Android tablets that can be used to play a variety of games these days, Razer has a tablet that’s specifically designed for gaming on the go. Called Project Fiona and spotted initially at CES in early 2012, the 10.1-inch Windows tablet features a couple of joystick handles meant to give players better control on the action happening on the screen.

AnandTech reports that Project Fiona has also been confirmed for production, although that doesn’t mean the device will be available to order this year, as initially expected.In fact, it looks like there’s no final design for Project Fiona and hardware details “have not yet been set in stone.”

What tablet are you planning to buy this holiday season and for what purpose? Will you choose iOS, Android or Windows?