Buzz
When it comes to work, you might rely on a laptop. But for convenient mobility, a smartphone or even a phablet suffices. However, tablets offer unique advantages incomparable to laptops or smartphones.
1. Discover the best budget-friendly tablets of the moment
For productivity, a laptop is your go-to. But for on-the-go convenience, opt for a smartphone or even a phablet. Nonetheless, tablets boast advantages that neither laptops nor smartphones can match.
Since tablets aren't essential for most people's lives, you wouldn't want to spend excessively on one. Fortunately, apart from the 'top-tier' tablets like iPad Airs and Galaxy Tabs costing over $400, there are reasonably priced tablets available around the $200 mark.
Consider the Asus ZenPad S 8.0
Price: $199.99 USD
Rating: 7/10
You can purchase the Asus ZenPad S 8.0 at Best Buy.
Inheriting from its predecessors Asus Memo Pad and Asus Nexus 7, the ZenPad outshines its 'modest' price tag. Without an aluminum frame design, its faux leather material on the thin bezels provides a smooth feel for a tablet under $200.
The device features a 7.85-inch 2K resolution display (2048x1536 pixels), which while not top-tier, offers sufficient sharpness and vibrancy.
The Asus ZenPad S 8.0 is powered by a 64-bit Intel Atom quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, and 32GB of internal storage with microSD card support. Its battery life averages 5-6 hours on a full charge.
The device runs on Android 5.0 operating system with Asus's ZenUI interface. And you can still comfortably use apps from Google Play.
The upgraded version of ZenPad S 8.0 features a more powerful configuration with 4GB RAM, 64GB storage capacity, USB Type-C port, and faster WiFi 802.11ac support. However, you'll have to pay an additional $100.
Apple iPad Mini 2
Price: $269 USD
Rating: 9/10
The gray iPad Mini 2 is priced at $269.99 USD on Best Buy.
The iPad Mini 2 remains the least powerful tablet in Apple's lineup today. Nevertheless, it proves to be anything but outdated after 2 years since its release. The Mini 2 features a high-resolution display of 2048x1536 pixels for crisp and vibrant images. Its metal frame combined with sturdy glass provides a comfortable and sleek feel. Moreover, it can still be updated to the latest iOS 9 version from Apple to access all desired apps and games, including those designed for larger screens.
In terms of performance, the iPad Mini 2 is not far behind the latest Mini 4 version from Apple at all. The A7 chip still runs smoothly from watching videos on YouTube to playing the most modern games.
The Mini 2 battery cannot achieve the same level of endurance as its 'successor' when upgraded to iOS 9. However, hitting 8 hours or more per charge is still a significant figure.
Finally, with the price slashed nearly in half, from $400 down to $270 currently, the iPad Mini 2 is truly a steal.
Amazon Fire HD 8
Price: $149.99 USD
Rating: 7/10
The black Amazon Fire HD 8 is currently priced at $149.99 USD on Amazon.
Finding apps for the Amazon Fire HD 8 can be quite challenging, especially games. But even with its low-resolution display of 1280x800 pixels, plastic shell design, and mid-range specs,... the $150 price tag for a tablet is incredibly fitting. Of course, with its specs, the Fire HD 8 still runs well if not handling too heavy tasks, sufficient for watching videos and browsing the web. The Amazon Fire HD 8 comes with fairly good speakers and supports microSD cards. While the plastic casing material may not provide the feel of a premium product, it is still smooth and offers various color choices.
Amazon's operating system remains confined to the ecosystem of Amazon services (books, videos, music, shopping, etc.). If you invest in and utilize the Amazon ecosystem, you'll enjoy seamless services and integration. Otherwise, you won't have as many options for apps and games as iOS and Android.
Note that the Amazon Fire HD 8 does not receive support from Google, so you won't have Gmail, YouTube, or Google Play apps.
Ultimately, the Fire HD 8 is a sensible choice if you can make use of Amazon's services.
Lenovo Tab 2 A10
Price: $198 USD
Rating: 8/10
The Lenovo Tab 2 A10 (Ocean Blue) is priced at $198 USD on Amazon.
At the moment, the Lenovo Tab 2 A10 could be the top choice for a tablet under 200 USD.
The Tab 2 A10 features a 10.1-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1920 × 1200 pixels for vibrant colors. While the soft plastic material doesn't provide the premium product feel, it looks quite sophisticated for an affordable tablet. With 16GB of storage expandable up to 3 times with a microSD card, the device boasts Dolby ATMOS 3D Cinema speakers and an impressive battery life of 11 hours per charge.
In terms of performance, the Lenovo Tab 2 A10 houses a MediaTek 64-bit quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, and 2GB of RAM. While it may not excel in heavy gaming and demanding apps, it handles web browsing and everyday tasks well.
The Lenovo Tab 2 A10 runs on Android 4.4 KitKat, but you can upgrade it to 5.0 Lollipop.
What about Windows tablets?
We've just discussed budget-friendly Android and iOS tablets without mentioning Windows. That's because there are no inexpensive Windows tablets that meet the criteria mentioned above.
Windows tablets with powerful configurations and/or stylus pens for efficient use with this operating system often come with high price tags. Windows 10 will handle media tasks better, but newly released Microsoft tablets are all exorbitantly priced. Opting for something from Android or iOS is usually more affordable and better.
Lenovo Yoga 2
If you truly prefer Windows and don't want to spend a fortune, the Lenovo Yoga 2 could be a good choice at around $300.
The black Amazon Fire Tablet priced at $49.99 USD is available on Amazon.
A super cheap tablet?
At a super low price point, the Amazon Fire could be an option.
The Amazon Fire is a 7-inch tablet with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, powered by a quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage, and support for microSD cards. It features a 2 MP rear camera, VGA front camera, and connectivity options including WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, and mono speaker. The Fire's battery lasts for about 7 hours on a single charge.
This tablet would be a suitable choice if you're looking for a tablet for kids or if you don't want to invest much in a tablet.
Source: vietnamnet
