Google's Nexus 7 has become one of the fastest selling tablets in UK history according to stats released by Britain's largest independent mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse.

The chain claims Google's tablet is the best selling Android tablet it has stocked to date, with Nexus 7 having hit said milestone in less than three months after lauching on 27 July.

Setting the pace

"Looking at the sales of the Google Nexus tablet, it's clear that there is a massive demand amongst our customer base for smaller tablets," explained the company's chief commercial officer Graham Stapleton.

"We're seeing a real shift in what customers are using their tablets for, with more and more watching content on the go.

"It's now common to see people using their tablets during the morning commute or catching up on the day's news in a local coffee shop, and smaller devices make it easier to handle."

Apple of my eye

Right now, of course, the industry is waiting to see whether Apple will launch its own smaller-form tablet.

Many commentators believe that the Cupertino company will finally unveil the much-rumoured 'iPad Mini' next week, entering a market that is currently dominated by Google and Amazon.

That possibility is hinted at in the Carphone Warehouse's announcement, although Stapleton is careful not to name names.

"It's impressive that this product is our biggest selling Android tablet, and it will be really interesting to see if other manufacturers will follow suit with smaller tablets over the coming months to spice up the Christmas period."