Barnes & Noble’s tablets are ready to go head to head with Apple’s iPad and iPad mini in the UK. The tablets use the latest version of B&N’s customized version of Android. This customized version of the OS replaces the standard Android, which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your preferences. Either way, these tablets come in at a competitive price point, and they could shake up the tablet market in the UK.

The NOOK video store is not available in the UK yet, but you can still get access to B&N’s books, magazines and apps. The video portion should go live at some point next month. B&N has 2.5 million books available on the service, so you can certainly get your reading on while you wait for the video store to launch.

The NOOK HD, which has a 7-inch display and a 1.3GHz dualcore processor, is priced at £159 for the 8GB version and £189 for the 16GB version. Both price points are available in white or grey. It also comes with an impressive 1440 x 900. For those keeping score, that’s higher than the iPad mini. It also comes with a microSD slot.

The NOOK HD+ has a full HD 9-inch touchscreen and a 1.5GHz dualcore processor. Barnes & Noble is offering a 16GB model for £229 and a 32GB for £269. Like the NOOK HD, it has an expandable memory slot, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, and stereo speakers. Both tablets are available online and at many retailers such as John Lewis, Argos, Asda, Dixons, Sainsbury, Waitrose, Blackwell’s, and Foyles.

[via SlashGear]