The number of Android tablets
available now is bewildering,
and at times confusing for
consumers. From the high-end
devices from the likes of Samsung to
the very cheap budget models from
companies you have never heard of,
a purchasing decision can be full of
potential pitfalls. It would be easy to
advise against budget tablets from
no-name brands, but they can also
offer uses that still make them value
for money. For example, if you have a
child who wants a tablet to help
them with basic tasks such as web
browsing, watching movies and
playing games, the cheapest tablets
may suffi ce for their needs. If they
are unaware of speed issues and the
occasional glitch, a small outlay can
offer plenty of use for the right
individual.
The pitfalls tend to come
in reduced performance, often very
poor battery life and screens that are
diffi cult to read in bright conditions
or diffi cult to tap due to a lack of
sensitivity. Overall build quality can
also be compromised, especially on
the very cheap models under £100,
so you should try to use one fi rst
before buying if that is possible.
Ultimately, if you want a tablet for
yourself and intend to use it for a
variety of tasks indoors and
outdoors, you would be better paying
the extra for a higher-end tablet. You
will get better quality components
throughout, a better screen and
battery performance which does not
get in the way of daily usage.
Your
potential usage will determine how
much you should spend, but there
are very good quality tablets
available at budget prices (Galaxy
Note 8, Nexus 7 etc) so don’t
presume that cheap – or small –
always means poor performance.
There are some real bargains
available in the Android tablet world
at the moment.
Asus Fonepad
The Fonepad – not to be confused
with Asus’ other brand, Padfone – is
essentially a tweaked version of the
Asus-built Nexus 7. With similar size
and screen res it has upgraded build
quality, the rare sighting of an Intel
processor and, like the Note 8, it can
also be used to make calls.
Sony Xperia Tablet Z
At just 6.9mm thick – a whole 2.5
slimmer than the iPad – Sony’s Tablet
Z can stake a claim to being the most
desirable tablet around. It’s among
the most powerful too, with a ten-inch
screen with 1,920 x 1,200 pixels,
1.5GHz processor and 2GB of RAM.
And, like the phone, is fully waterproof.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Filling in the gap between the Note II
phablet and the full-sized Note 10.1 is
the 8. It comes with the trademark
stylus, but also has a new feature for
eight-inch tabs: you can use it to make
phone calls. Ideally you’d do this using
a Bluetooth headset, but you can hold
it to your ear if you really wish to.
HP Slate 7
Veteran PC-maker HP has delved into
the world of Android tablets with a
device that wants to go head-to-head
with the Nexus 7. It’ll be priced slightly
lower – around £129 or $169 – and
couples decent build quality, Beats
Audio and reasonable specs with the
inevitable compromises.
Best combinations
Which phone and tablet go together best?
Budget
Nexus 4 + Nexus 7
The dual Nexus setup gives
you almost unrivalled
power and extreme
portability in a package
that is also mind-blowingly
cheap. Buy from the Play
store and you can pick
them both up for the price
of a single fl agship phone.
Media
Sony Xperia Z + Nexus 10
For media use, resolution
is the key. The 1080p
display on the Xperia Z
and the better-than-
1080p display on the
Nexus 10 tab will provide
you with the best
on-the-go movie
experience you can get.
Workhorse
Samsung Galaxy Note II +
Asus Transformer Pad Infi nity
If power is your priority then
the best-selling phablet, the
stylus-equipped Galaxy Note
II, and the high-end hybrid
from Asus will give you a
phone, smartphone,
sketchpad, tablet and laptop
in just two devices.
Source : Android Magazine UK Issue 23 2013
