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After months of rumors, Apple last month finally unveiled the iPad mini with Retina display, which went on sale in mid-November.
The tablet got a screen resolution boost, from 1,024 by 768 in the original mini to 2,048 by 1536 in the Retina iPad mini, not to mention 326 pixels per inch compared to 163. It – along with the new iPad Air – prompted Apple CEO Tim Cook to boast that it will likely be an “iPad Christmas” this year. In our review, we found that the new iPad mini packs all of the power of the iPad Air into a more portable package, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
For those who aren’t too concerned about a Retina display, the original iPad mini is still available, now starting at $299. But the iPad mini with Retina starts at $399 for a 16GB Wi-Fi model and goes all the way up to $829 for a 128GB cellular plus Wi-Fi tablet.
For the budget-conscious, that might be a bit too pricey, while others might be wary of making the switch to iOS and buying into the Apple eco-system. Fear not, there are a number of affordable Android tablets that will let you watch movies, check email, surf the Web and more. And maybe a few Windows-based choices, too. Check out the slideshow for more.
1. Google Nexus 7
Price: $229 (16GB Wi-Fi), $269 (32GB), or $349 (32GB with LTE)
(Visit Site at MetroFax)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Fast. Well-built. Excellent battery life. Well worth the money.
Cons: Some third-party apps must be updated for Android 4.3.
Bottom Line: Google’s Nexus 7 continues to set the bar for small-screen tablets with a perfect balance between price and performance.
(Visit Site at MetroFax)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Fast. Well-built. Excellent battery life. Well worth the money.
Cons: Some third-party apps must be updated for Android 4.3.
Bottom Line: Google’s Nexus 7 continues to set the bar for small-screen tablets with a perfect balance between price and performance.
2. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7″
Price: $229 (16GB), $269 (32GB), or $309 (64GB).
($179.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Customized Android
Pros: Sharp screen. Fast processor. Extremely easy to use. Amazing live tech support.
Cons: Short battery life. Interface is very geared to buying things from Amazon.
Bottom Line: Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX is the simplest high-quality small-screen tablet you can buy, and ease of use doesn’t come at the cost of performance.
($179.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Customized Android
Pros: Sharp screen. Fast processor. Extremely easy to use. Amazing live tech support.
Cons: Short battery life. Interface is very geared to buying things from Amazon.
Bottom Line: Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX is the simplest high-quality small-screen tablet you can buy, and ease of use doesn’t come at the cost of performance.
3. Amazon Kindle Fire HD
Price: $139 (8GB) or $169 (16GB).
Rating: Not yet reviewed
Operating System: Customized Android
When Amazon released its new Kindle Fire HDX lineup, it also gave its Kindle Fire HD a more powerful, 1.5GHz processor and a price cut to $139. Other than that, it’s not too much different from the 2012 version of the Kindle Fire HD, so check out our review of the earlier model.
Rating: Not yet reviewed
Operating System: Customized Android
When Amazon released its new Kindle Fire HDX lineup, it also gave its Kindle Fire HD a more powerful, 1.5GHz processor and a price cut to $139. Other than that, it’s not too much different from the 2012 version of the Kindle Fire HD, so check out our review of the earlier model.
4. Barnes & Noble Nook HD
Price: $129
Rating:
Operating System: Customized Android
Pros: Spectacular screen. Well built. Smooth performance. Memory card slot.
Cons: So-so battery life. The most locked-down of any tablet we’ve seen. Other than books, much less content available than on competing tablets.
Bottom Line: The Barnes & Noble Nook HD is a gorgeous little tablet, but outside of reading, there’s not enough you can do with it.
Rating:
Operating System: Customized Android
Pros: Spectacular screen. Well built. Smooth performance. Memory card slot.
Cons: So-so battery life. The most locked-down of any tablet we’ve seen. Other than books, much less content available than on competing tablets.
Bottom Line: The Barnes & Noble Nook HD is a gorgeous little tablet, but outside of reading, there’s not enough you can do with it.
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0
Price: $299.99
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Well-built, thin and light design. Android 4.2.2. Excellent display. Solid Wi-Fi. Acts as a universal remote.
Cons: Relatively expensive. Finicky touch screen.
Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 is an excellent Android tablet that can multitask and serve as a universal remote, but it doesn’t quite stand out.
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Well-built, thin and light design. Android 4.2.2. Excellent display. Solid Wi-Fi. Acts as a universal remote.
Cons: Relatively expensive. Finicky touch screen.
Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 is an excellent Android tablet that can multitask and serve as a universal remote, but it doesn’t quite stand out.
6. Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
Price: $359.99
($398.98 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Fast. Well-built with well-balanced weight. Excellent pen support. Acts as a TV remote.
Cons: Expensive. Battery life isn’t great. Poor cameras.
Bottom Line: If you want a tablet with a pressure-sensitive pen for writing or drawing, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is a top choice, but it’ll cost you twice as much as other leading small-screen slates.
($398.98 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Fast. Well-built with well-balanced weight. Excellent pen support. Acts as a TV remote.
Cons: Expensive. Battery life isn’t great. Poor cameras.
Bottom Line: If you want a tablet with a pressure-sensitive pen for writing or drawing, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is a top choice, but it’ll cost you twice as much as other leading small-screen slates.
7. Asus MeMO Pad HD 7
Price: $129
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Affordable. Sharp display. Good performance for price. MicroSD expandable. Useful Android customizations.
Cons: Cheap, glossy plastic build. LCD blooming around edges.
Bottom Line: The Asus MeMO Pad HD 7 is one of the most affordable tablets available, and offers solid features and performance for the price.
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Affordable. Sharp display. Good performance for price. MicroSD expandable. Useful Android customizations.
Cons: Cheap, glossy plastic build. LCD blooming around edges.
Bottom Line: The Asus MeMO Pad HD 7 is one of the most affordable tablets available, and offers solid features and performance for the price.
8. Hisense Sero 7 Pro
Price: $129
($130.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Very affordable. Sharp display with wide viewing angle. Mini HDMI out and microSD slot. Long battery life.
Cons: Somewhat chunky build. Last year’s performance.
Bottom Line: The Hisense Sero 7 Pro may not be a cutting edge Android tablet, but its unbeatable price and solid feature set make it an exceptional value.
($130.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Very affordable. Sharp display with wide viewing angle. Mini HDMI out and microSD slot. Long battery life.
Cons: Somewhat chunky build. Last year’s performance.
Bottom Line: The Hisense Sero 7 Pro may not be a cutting edge Android tablet, but its unbeatable price and solid feature set make it an exceptional value.
9. LG G Pad 8.3
Price: $350
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Slim and well-built. Solid performance. Good multitasking interface.
Cons: On the pricey side. Lousy front camera.
Bottom Line: The well-built 8-inch LG G Pad is a good smaller Android tablet, but it doesn’t do anything to stand out from the crowded pack. Especially given its high $350 price.
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Slim and well-built. Solid performance. Good multitasking interface.
Cons: On the pricey side. Lousy front camera.
Bottom Line: The well-built 8-inch LG G Pad is a good smaller Android tablet, but it doesn’t do anything to stand out from the crowded pack. Especially given its high $350 price.
10. Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8
Price: $269
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Sturdy aluminum construction. Useful kickstand. Feels weightless thanks to unique design.
Cons: Heavy-handed Android skin. Software bugs. Unimpressive performance.
Bottom Line: The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 is better than its 10-inch counterpart, but it isn’t the best small-screen Android tablet out there, and it’s more expensive than many competitors.
Rating:
Operating System: Google Android
Pros: Sturdy aluminum construction. Useful kickstand. Feels weightless thanks to unique design.
Cons: Heavy-handed Android skin. Software bugs. Unimpressive performance.
Bottom Line: The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 is better than its 10-inch counterpart, but it isn’t the best small-screen Android tablet out there, and it’s more expensive than many competitors.
11. Dell Venue 7 and 8
Price: $150 and $180, respectively
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating: Not yet rated
Operating System: Google Android
In October, Dell unveiled its Venue 7 and the Venue 8 Android tablets. What’s the difference between the two? Truth be told, not that much. Both tablets run Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), with an expectation that they’ll get the upgrade to Android 4.3 Kitkat in the immediate future. Both rock a 1,280-by-800 IPS display; as you’d expect, the Venue 7 does so on a 7-inch display, whereas the Venue 8 sports an 8-inch screen.
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)
Rating: Not yet rated
Operating System: Google Android
In October, Dell unveiled its Venue 7 and the Venue 8 Android tablets. What’s the difference between the two? Truth be told, not that much. Both tablets run Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), with an expectation that they’ll get the upgrade to Android 4.3 Kitkat in the immediate future. Both rock a 1,280-by-800 IPS display; as you’d expect, the Venue 7 does so on a 7-inch display, whereas the Venue 8 sports an 8-inch screen.
12. Lenovo Miix2
Price: $299
Rating: Not yet rated
Operating System: Windows 8.1
If you’ve been eyeing a Windows 8 device, the Lenovo Miix2 starts $299. It sports a 10-point multi-touch, 800-by-1,280 display with a 178-degree viewing angle. It includes a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and 2-megapixel front-facing cam.
Rating: Not yet rated
Operating System: Windows 8.1
If you’ve been eyeing a Windows 8 device, the Lenovo Miix2 starts $299. It sports a 10-point multi-touch, 800-by-1,280 display with a 178-degree viewing angle. It includes a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and 2-megapixel front-facing cam.
13. Acer Iconia W4
Price: $329.99 (32GB) or $379.99 (64GB device)
Rating: Not yet rated
Operating System: Windows 8.1
Last month, Acer debuted its 8-inch Iconia W4 tablet, equipped with the updated Windows 8.1 operating system, and new features for a sharper display, enhanced clarity, and faster performance.
Rating: Not yet rated
Operating System: Windows 8.1
Last month, Acer debuted its 8-inch Iconia W4 tablet, equipped with the updated Windows 8.1 operating system, and new features for a sharper display, enhanced clarity, and faster performance.
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Source link : https://www.pcmag.com/news/13-affordable-ipad-mini-alternatives