What happened to midrange Android tablets?

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Kookoo

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#277325 8-Oct-2020 00:52

Does anyone know what happened to the entire category of sub-$500 10 inch tablets? There used to be at least 4-5 models from Lenovo, Huawei, Acer, Samsung... Now all there is left, is the 2019 Samsung Tab A 10.1. No alternatives from mainstream retailers. What happened?!

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#2580995 8-Oct-2020 01:24

The tablet market, or more specifically the Android tablet market tanked. It started with phablet phones becoming the norm (> 6"), turns out most people didn't need tablets any more when they already had large screen phones. I observed this first-hand at my previous company, we had iPhones and iPads issued to the staff (this was years ago) - couple of years after the rollout we realised that most of the iPads were unused, sitting in a cupboard somewhere. We ended up getting rid of the iPads and no one complained.

To further exacerbate the problem on Android, Android has a very limited number of tablet-optimised apps - most apps just run in enlarged mode and don't take advantage of the big screen, which can make them awkward or cumbersome to use. Devs don't spend time optimising for tablets because the user base doesn't justify it. It becomes a chicken-and-egg problem.

Personally, I think Google is to partially blame for this, first they killed the awesome Tablet UI after Honeycomb, but even then things were mostly fine whilst we still had the Nexus line of tablets. Then the tablet market died pretty much after the Nexus line died, IMHO. Xiaomi made some decent tablets (Mi Pad), but sadly the last one was released two years ago and there's no sight of a new one. As for Samsung, their tablets are overpriced, under-specc'd and frankly not worth it.

Google's answer to the tablet situation appears to be Chromebooks - and to be fair, Chromebooks are doing pretty well and since they can also run Android apps now and have a much better interface, they're a good alternative.

As an Android enthusiast, I can't really recommend any Android tablet on the market now - either get a Chromebook, or if you're really keen on the tablet form-factor you're better off buying an old second-hand iPad.

Handle9

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#2581005 8-Oct-2020 03:41

Android on tablet sucks. Developers never made tablet apps so you are largely stuck with blown up phone apps.

If you want a tablet buy a surface or an iPad. Both are good for different use cases.

jarledb

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#2581008 8-Oct-2020 03:48

If you are ok with buying Apple and want something in the $500 range, then look at the new iPad. The 32GB version is $569 and is a decent device. Just got myself the 128GB version and even though the screen isn't as flash as the new iPad Air or iPad Pro screens, it is still plenty good. And it has Apple Pencil support.

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gcorgnet

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#2581017 8-Oct-2020 06:35

What about this?

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/phones-and-gps/mobile-phones/lenovo-za4g0030au-m10-10-1-hd-snapdragon-black/prod191982.html

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/TABLEN10901/Lenovo-Tab-M10-HD-2020-TB-X505F-101---IPS-HD-800x1

1eStar

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#2581018 8-Oct-2020 06:43

I guess the OP is talking about mid range tablets. I have a Samsung Tab S4, so a flagship Tab from 3 years back. I couldn't be happier with it. I'd consider a TabS7 if they still came with a AMOLED screen, but alas only the TabS7+ does. I'm not sure why so many are salty about the Android Tablet experience in general, I quite like my device thanks.

Handle9

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#2581026 8-Oct-2020 08:00

1eStar: I guess the OP is talking about mid range tablets. I have a Samsung Tab S4, so a flagship Tab from 3 years back. I couldn't be happier with it. I'd consider a TabS7 if they still came with a AMOLED screen, but alas only the TabS7+ does. I'm not sure why so many are salty about the Android Tablet experience in general, I quite like my device thanks.

I had a Tab S3. The hardware was great, the software is just junk compared to an iPad. Apple has nearly 60% market share despite their relatively higher prices. Samsung is the only other major oem making any sort of effort but Google aren't offering any sort of optimised tablet experience at all.

I have an Android phone, a windows gaming pc and an iPad, I'm not an apple zealot. I just sold a Surface pro as I'm not traveling much anymore so don't need it but it was a good device. I just can't see any reason to buy an Android tablet other than price. The experience is really inferior compared to the alternatives.

If you like your device then enjoy it. OP was asking why there aren't Android devices available.

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mudguard

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#2581039 8-Oct-2020 08:26

I have the Nexus 7 and it is JUST still going. I'd love another one, I use it between my phone and laptop. I agree there is a bit of a void now for them, nothing against apple, I just want another android tablet. My battery is down to about a few hours now but it's been a real trooper, no idea which version of android it's stuck on either!

I'd probably have to replace it with a Tab of some kind, as long as the specs were similar, with the same form factor and mobile data I'd be happy.

Kookoo

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#2581044 8-Oct-2020 08:45

Context - Android tablets are used in my household as kids gaming devices. We've got a couple of Lenovo Tab 2-70f units which are struggling, so was looking for something to replace them with. Not keen on iPads because happy with Google Family link setup I have across mobiles, Chromebooks and tablets.
There's the Lenovo FHD Plus with a Helio p22, 4GB RAM and Android 9 Pie for some reason, but might just work.

@d3Xt3r describes the situation pretty succinctly though, makes sense. Still, a bit of a shame really.

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tripper1000

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#2581288 8-Oct-2020 12:41

Tablets seemed to be a 1 season flash in the pan. They were going to replace PC's if you believed the hype, but as it turns out, most people prefer PC's. Tablets only seem to be used for kid's watching wiggles video's now days.

Quinny

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#2581293 8-Oct-2020 12:51

I have just looked at this for my work for an online rollout for staff. I started at android tablets and ipads but in the end after much testing and playing we have gone for the Surface Go. Allows us to put anything on them. I did up the budget a bit going for the 128gb over the 64 but very happy so far (yeah had to add pens and hard cases too lolz). So far can do everything we wanted from multiple sources (inc Chrome Remote Desktop), online drives, link to online forms which was the goal.

Depends if for home and kids or for business really but I have quickly found that for business android tablets just have too many issues

dafman

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#2581294 8-Oct-2020 12:54

1eStar: I guess the OP is talking about mid range tablets. I have a Samsung Tab S4, so a flagship Tab from 3 years back. I couldn't be happier with it. I'd consider a TabS7 if they still came with a AMOLED screen, but alas only the TabS7+ does. I'm not sure why so many are salty about the Android Tablet experience in general, I quite like my device thanks.

Me too. I use a Surface Laptop 3 during the day, but happily switch to my 10" Android tablet for use on couch in evening. The form factor is great, all the apps I regularly use work great, Brave browser in desktop mode is excellent.

Disappointing that Samsung have dropped AMOLED from the S7 as I don't want to go bigger than 10". Am half tempted to purchase the outgoing S6 which is selling for around $1,100 to grab the form factor and AMOLED - but now is a year old and Samsung typically don't update software after a couple of years, which makes it not so attractive.

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Bung

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#2581332 8-Oct-2020 14:02

I bought the S7 to replace a broken S. Considered the S6 but the price seemed to have gone up in run out. Unless you were A/B comparing I don't think you'd notice the screen. Some of the display menu options though are 7+ only.

dafman

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#2581527 8-Oct-2020 17:23

Bung: I bought the S7 to replace a broken S. Considered the S6 but the price seemed to have gone up in run out. Unless you were A/B comparing I don't think you'd notice the screen. Some of the display menu options though are 7+ only.

I know the screen size difference between the S6 and S7 is marginal, but I prefer the slighter smaller size of the S6.

mattwnz

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#2581533 8-Oct-2020 17:33

Apple have effectively killed android tablets, due to how successful the ipad has been with app support and development, which now comes in at most price points. Android is still good for phones, but the tablets didn't have enough dedicated apps like the ipad. Lack of apps and developer support is what kills devices. Surface tablets as productivity devices also haven't helped, because what market does an android tablet now serve, apart from being low cost for kids? The amazon tablets still seem ok and are cheap. If google had put more resources into their tablets, it may have been different IMO.

everettpsycho

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#2581542 8-Oct-2020 17:49

I had a couple back in the day, my Asus transformer and smaller 7 inch tesco Hudl back in the UK definitely had their uses, the smaller one I mainly used to read on the train as a more universal ereader. The apps we mostly crap though, things like Twitter Facebook and email apps were just the phone versions but bigger, and not bigger as in getting more on screen just bigger text. I've considered picking up another 7 inch one mainly for YouTube watching but I just can't see me using it, my phone tends to be good enough and has a great oled screen, I have a surface pro 2 and a Dell venue i got given and I don't use either of those for it.

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