Recommend me a mid priced Android tablet?

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MikeB4

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#1438325 1-Dec-2015 09:31

timmmay: Yeah, the trick is finding one that's good the right combination of decent screen, fast enough to be worth the upgrade from my current one, and reasonable software/support. A lot of the cheap tablets seem to have hardware or software problems, or have really poor performance.

If you want a decent screen you are going to pay at least $500. I can't remember if it is DSE or WHS but one of them is selling the Samsung SA for circa $350

timmmay

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#1438415 1-Dec-2015 11:21

MikeB4:
timmmay: Yeah, the trick is finding one that's good the right combination of decent screen, fast enough to be worth the upgrade from my current one, and reasonable software/support. A lot of the cheap tablets seem to have hardware or software problems, or have really poor performance.

If you want a decent screen you are going to pay at least $500. I can't remember if it is DSE or WHS but one of them is selling the Samsung SA for circa $350

Samsung SA? There's the S, and the A. S are fast with great screens (and a price to match), the A lower res with a very low res screen (worse than my 3 year old) and midrange performance. Some do have good screen and good processor but poor hardware quality or support.

I might just keep the TF101 and learn to be patient.

timmmay

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#1438531 1-Dec-2015 13:28

timmmay: Based on a lot of reviews I think I've ruled out Lenovo tablets. Their laptops are great, but their tablets have problems and support is apparently really poor. Still looking, probably a brand with more experience in tablets, like my current Asus or Samsung. The Cube option still seems interesting, shame it's a hybrid with Windows and Android seems to be an afterthought and done poorly.

I happened to find the Lenovo Tab 2 A10 in JB Hifi, the one that a lot of people online said had quality issues. I'm sure they're right, but the one I tried had a nice screen, was really pretty fast, quite light, WiFi worked fine, and was well built. $400 in the store, NZ$300 from Amazon shipped. You have to stay with Android 4.4.4 for now because Android 5 isn't working well, but Android 4.4.4 is ok, and eventually someone will come out with a custom ROM for it.

I think we have a winner :)

MikeB4

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#1438535 1-Dec-2015 13:31

timmmay:
MikeB4:
timmmay: Yeah, the trick is finding one that's good the right combination of decent screen, fast enough to be worth the upgrade from my current one, and reasonable software/support. A lot of the cheap tablets seem to have hardware or software problems, or have really poor performance.

If you want a decent screen you are going to pay at least $500. I can't remember if it is DSE or WHS but one of them is selling the Samsung SA for circa $350

Samsung SA? There's the S, and the A. S are fast with great screens (and a price to match), the A lower res with a very low res screen (worse than my 3 year old) and midrange performance. Some do have good screen and good processor but poor hardware quality or support.

I might just keep the TF101 and learn to be patient.

The SA was a typo it's tabA or such like

timmmay

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#1438597 1-Dec-2015 14:07

MikeB4: The SA was a typo it's tabA or such like

Ah yeah, the tab A has lower resolution than my 3 year old tablet, and is 3X faster where most new tablets are 6-10X faster. Thanks for the suggestion though, appreciated.

MikeB4

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#1438602 1-Dec-2015 14:12

Huawei have some good 8" Tablets with the Media Pad M8 and Media Pad X2

Dairyxox

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#1438650 1-Dec-2015 14:57

I agree the Huawei tablets are quite nice. Miles better than lenovo.
But there's not many above 8 inch

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timmmay

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#1438656 1-Dec-2015 15:02

Yeah, the 8" seemed a little small to me, I could get by but 10" seems better for web. The modern 10" seem quite a bit smaller than my old TF101 because of the smaller bezel, and they 10" are quite light. The Lenovo build quality seems fine, but from my reading some people get duds. I'll get it, upgrade to Android 5, and if it doesn't work well I'll downgrade or return it - Amazon are good like that.

MikeB4

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#1438661 1-Dec-2015 15:09

timmmay: Yeah, the 8" seemed a little small to me, I could get by but 10" seems better for web. The modern 10" seem quite a bit smaller than my old TF101 because of the smaller bezel, and they 10" are quite light. The Lenovo build quality seems fine, but from my reading some people get duds. I'll get it, upgrade to Android 5, and if it doesn't work well I'll downgrade or return it - Amazon are good like that.

I used to think the same as you and have 10" tablets knocking around here, but I purchased a Samsung Tab 2 8.* tablet and find it great for email checking and Web browsing especially in bed in the mornings. Can hold it one handed for a long
time. Seldom have to pinch zoom. Great on a plane as well and fits snuggly in a pocket, again great in a plane or will I am using my wheelchair. It is the same form factor as the iPads, that is not wide screen so make web page reading more
natural.

For more in depth work and keyboard use I have/had a Surface 3

timmmay

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#1438851 1-Dec-2015 20:32

I use my phone all times other than being on the sofa, for example in bed, though I try not to use electronic devices in bed. Ditto for planes. My phone isn't that much smaller than an 8" tablet, only the S4 but still. I think I'm just used to a 10" form factor so will stick with it. Appreciate the suggestions though :)

timmmay

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#1455655 22-Dec-2015 20:46

I used the tablet for the first time today - the Lenovo A10-70, it turns out. It's light, it's solid, it's fast, it has a nice screen, good sound, only thing that's not perfect is closing tabs in Chrome can take a couple of taps - I'll probably get used it it though. Overall great value at US$180. It's faster than my S4, feels reaaaaly smooth, almost makes me want a new phone.... nah.

I'm not game to upgrade to Android 5 (4.4.4 is there) because of bad reports... but once I figure out how to root it and do a backup so I can restore I'll probably have a shot.

jonathan18

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#1455832 23-Dec-2015 09:46

I assume this is the same as the Lenovo A10 sold at places like Noel Leeming? (https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers/tablets/tablet-computers/lenovo-za000040au-10-1-full-hd-tablet/prod138940.html).

This is the model I've suggested my nephew buy, but US $180's quite a bit cheaper than NZ $400 - whereabouts did you buy it, and does that $180 include shipping? (or did you use Youshop or similar)?

Thanks for the info!

timmmay

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#1455839 23-Dec-2015 10:00

I got it from Amazon, US$197 / NZ$289 with middle speed direct shipping - arrived in a week or so. Yes it's the same tablet as is being sold in JB for around $400. Seems like a great tablet so far :)

jonathan18

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#1455864 23-Dec-2015 10:44

Cheers - that makes it a great deal; I've passed the link onto him.

alexx

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#1462064 6-Jan-2016 00:21

regius: How about this:

Nokia N1 $199US

http://www.expansys-usa.com/nokia-n1-wifi-tablet-black-32gb-279644/

I've been looking at these, but when I clicked the link and added to my cart it asked me to choose delivery to USA or Canada and there didn't appear to be any other options.

I've ordered now through an aliexpress.com seller for about USD $235. The trader was VC Mall, but they seem to changed their page and the link to the Nokia N1 is now broken.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/1818735

When I search I find the nokia n1 in another store in the USD $230 - 240 price range.

I'm now looking at USB C cables - it seems that not all cables meet the specifications and this can cause some problems with fast charging.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+BensonLeung/posts/LH4PPgVrKVN

Has anyone got one of these and found a good source of USB-C cables?
Perhaps I should start another thread when it arrives.

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