Recommendations for a c. 10" Android tablet please

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jonathan18

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#215514 30-Jun-2017 14:46

So I'm keen on buying a tablet so I don't need to complete with my wife and one of the boys for our iPad; I'm not at all averse to the iOS universe for a tablet, but hoped to find something a bit cheaper than an iPad in the Android world.

Key requirements: screen around 10";a decent-ish battery life; decent resolution too, but not at the cost of battery life.

Main use: reading magazines/websites/news sites (hence the screen size requirement). Intense gaming not likely!

Ideal budget: ideally < $600

Prefer to source it from NZ, for warranty reasons

I've read the Where are all the powerful and light Android Tablets? thread, which didn't fill me with hope of finding something ideal; many of the tablets mentioned on that are also well below 10", so too small for me.

The Galaxy S2 9.7 seemed potentially the best option, but a comment on that thread specifically points out issues if using it for books etc (blue tinge issue). Also the price isn't that much shy of a 128GB iPad ($699), especially allowing for an SD card to boost the storage to something similar (unless I go with a parallel-imported one).

I'd welcome anyone's recommendations as to whether there's anything out there that ticks the above boxes. Otherwise, I guess it could be a matter of saving a bit more for an iPad...

Thanks!

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#1809694 30-Jun-2017 16:30

I'm sort-of keen on one too, but it has to be 4:3 ratio that's great for reading online content, magazines etc.

jonathan18

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#1809805 30-Jun-2017 18:26

That would be my preference too, which is one of the reasons the iPad is still in the running. The Galaxy S2 is the same ratio I believe.

I read a lot of magazines on the iPad via the local library's services like Zinio, and couldn't see the feasibility of going smaller or a radically different ratio.

No other options out there?

Or other opinions on the Galaxy S2, good or bad?

Yabanize

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#1809830 30-Jun-2017 19:24

Android tablets do seem dead right now.
The iPad is the current model, Tab S2 is from 2016
Samsung don't have a great track record for providing updates, Our 2012 iPad went up to iOS 10 which is the current version until iOS 11 comes out later this year.

1eStar

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#1809901 30-Jun-2017 22:07

It is a bit depressing looking around at tablets

Here is something reasonable and cheap from Noel. But not that up to date.

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers-tablets/tablets/android-tablets/huawei-t2-a01w-mediapad-t2-10-1-tablet/prod159506.html

smalltrader

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#1809939 1-Jul-2017 06:25

1eStar: It is a bit depressing looking around at tablets

Here is something reasonable and cheap from Noel. But not that up to date.

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers-tablets/tablets/android-tablets/huawei-t2-a01w-mediapad-t2-10-1-tablet/prod159506.html

If are are spending $500 on an android tablet you might as well go Apple's. Much better quality and support. You will be lucky if youcan get one major OS upgrade with an Android tablet even with Samsung. My iPad 4 still receives latest iOS update 4 years later and no Android tablet can remotelymatch that.

Personally I regretted buying a Samsung Android tablet earlier this year on price as I was not aware Apple was going to release a new iPad a few months later. As of now, I believe Apple's tablet proposition is hard to beat at the mid range level..

timmmay

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#1809941 1-Jul-2017 06:36

I have one of these Lenovo tablets, from Amazon.com, also sold at JB. It's plenty fast, good weight, all round I can't fault it for sofa web browsing. Happy to answer questions.

jonathan18

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#1810859 3-Jul-2017 12:55

1eStar: It is a bit depressing looking around at tablets

Here is something reasonable and cheap from Noel. But not that up to date.

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers-tablets/tablets/android-tablets/huawei-t2-a01w-mediapad-t2-10-1-tablet/prod159506.html

Thanks for this; yeah, right on budget but I'm wary of Huawei product now, given their reluctance to provide software updates (I have a Huawei phone and doubt I'd buy another for this reason). Also, the ratio of this tablet's not ideal for the magazine format; this is where the 3:4 ratio of the iPad (and Tab) is ideal.

timmmay:

I have one of these Lenovo tablets, from Amazon.com, also sold at JB. It's plenty fast, good weight, all round I can't fault it for sofa web browsing. Happy to answer questions.

Thanks, Tim; I have a feeling this is the model (or very similar to) the one I suggested my nephew buy; he still really likes it and says he uses it a lot.

How do you find the battery life, ie how many hours would you typically get between charges?

I assume it's still on Android 5.1?

And do you find the 1GB RAM is enough?

My concern is that as a model it's been around a while already, so to buy it now I'm not necessarily going to get many years of use out of it. As a comparison, our iPad Air is now 3.5 years old, and will still receive the new iOS update if we want it (whether it's a good match for aging hardware is another matter!), and it is still performing completely adequately.

So, yeah, the decision looks like it's between
a reasonably-priced Android tablet that's getting old in the tooth (eg the Lenovo)
an iPad that I know will do the job for many years to come but a couple of hundred bucks over budget, or
a similarly-priced Android tablet that probably doesn't offer many advantages over the iPad (ie, Tab 2).

A related question: I understand that the Wifi-only iPad models still don't have GPS chips. How useable is Google Maps or similar on an iPad without GPS, ie relying on wifi-based location? I'd imagine it's ok in urban areas, but fairly poor in rural?

Thanks...

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robfish

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#1810863 3-Jul-2017 13:13

I bought a Galaxy Tab S3 soon after release (this year).

In my opinion it is the first decent Android tablet since the last Nexus 7.

I love it. Most reviewers suggest that it rates similar to the 2016 iPad. (I agree with those reviews - my wife has the iPad)

Rob

timmmay

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#1810864 3-Jul-2017 13:20

jonathan18:

Thanks, Tim; I have a feeling this is the model (or very similar to) the one I suggested my nephew buy; he still really likes it and says he uses it a lot.

How do you find the battery life, ie how many hours would you typically get between charges?

I assume it's still on Android 5.1?

And do you find the 1GB RAM is enough?

My concern is that as a model it's been around a while already, so to buy it now I'm not necessarily going to get many years of use out of it. As a comparison, our iPad Air is now 3.5 years old, and will still receive the new iOS update if we want it (whether it's a good match for aging hardware is another matter!), and it is still performing completely adequately.

So, yeah, the decision looks like it's between
a reasonably-priced Android tablet that's getting old in the tooth (eg the Lenovo)
an iPad that I know will do the job for many years to come but a couple of hundred bucks over budget, or
a similarly-priced Android tablet that probably doesn't offer many advantages over the iPad (ie, Tab 2).

I don't know how long the battery lists. I use it for 30 - 90 minutes in the evening, I charge it every week or so. I have no battery life concerns.

I think I still have it on Android 4.x. When it was new there were reports the Android 5 was unstable, so I didn't bother upgrading. All I do is browse the web, I don't much care what OS is on it.

RAM, it seems to have plenty.

I might look to see if they have an updated model. If I had to buy right now I'd probably try to find newer, but this one is great value.

openmedia

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#1811153 3-Jul-2017 17:52

I'm hoping we'll see the Lenovo Tab4 soon.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

jonathan18

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#1811242 3-Jul-2017 19:36

openmedia:

I'm hoping we'll see the Lenovo Tab4 soon.

I hadn't seen these before, so thanks for the heads-up. They do seem to be fairly-well spec'd - well, the "Plus" models anyway with the better resolution (I'm not keen on a 10" device at 1200 x 800!) and additional ram. I wonder what difference the "Atmos" speakers will provide!

Given some of the main retailers here stock Lenovo tablets I'm sure these will turn up at some point; it'll be interesting to see at what price point, however. I'm not in any real hurry, so it may be worth waiting for them to arrive.

SepticSceptic

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#1813127 5-Jul-2017 11:20

Seems like you are looking for an affordable A4-sized Colour E-book reader, that has web browsing capabilities ?

Sigh, I wish ...

shk292

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#1813176 5-Jul-2017 13:13

Asus Zenpad 3s 10? A but under $300 US on Amazon. I bought the slightly smaller S8 as a gift last Christmas and it has been very good. For some reason, the Asus tablets don't get officially imported into NZ

kryptonjohn

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#1813183 5-Jul-2017 13:15

What about Amazon Fire HD tablet? Cheap as chips, designed for media/ebook use?

SepticSceptic

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#1813839 6-Jul-2017 14:00

Hmm, I do like the look of the Asus ZenPad3 - Excellent res and PPI.

The Fire is a tad too small @ 7.9", and there is the 10" FireHD, but the resolution is 1/4 that of the ZenPad.

I'll have to make a submission to the accounting dept.

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