Recommend me a budget tablet

[EasyPeez]

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. It looks like the Samsung and Kindle are coming out on top. I forgot to mention that we make a choice not to give money to Amazon, so that suggests the Samsung will be the best option.

With the 2 year warranty and my son's 12% John Lewis discount applied I reckon this might be the one to go for
https://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-g...a-android-7-0-8gb-wi-fi/p2589305?colour=Black

Just use your phone? (Assuming that you have a smartphone.)

...can all be done equally easily on even a basic smartphone, without the bulk.

I also forgot to mention that I am a complete luddite and have never owned a mobile phone, smart or otherwise. Work provides me with a Nokia 150 that I'm allowed to use whenever I like, but I don't think that's up to the job, somehow!

 

[ColinJ]

I am still getting on fine with the Mk 1 Samsung Galaxy Tab that I bought in 2012. The version of Android that it runs ('Ice Cream Sandwich' (Don't ask!)) is a bit old hat so there are some newer apps that won't run but it works perfectly well for general internet use, puzzle games, and for reading ebooks on.

It has an 8.9" screen which is quite a nice compromise size. I wouldn't want one much bigger than that because the bulk of the device starts to become significant - tablets are pretty light but after holding them up for an hour or two you do start to notice the weight. 7" or smaller would be a nice weight but text can sometimes be a bit small.

 

[EasyPeez]

@Rooster1 @meta lon @wonderloaf - do any of you know if the Samsung as a micro HDMI port, or if it can be connected to the TV via an adaptor of some sort?

Like one of these maybe?
https://tinyurl.com/y9j2hq5p

 

[ColinJ]

@Rooster1 @meta lon @wonderloaf - do any of you know if the Samsung as a micro HDMI port, or if it can be connected to the TV via an adaptor of some sort?

Like one of these maybe?
https://tinyurl.com/y9j2hq5p

I think you are out of luck with that!

Connectivity
It soon becomes obvious that the review sample is an entry-level model when looking at the configuration: With just 1.5 GB of RAM and only 8 GB of internal memory, it is rather fundamental especially since the user only has approximately 4.35 GB of storage for personal usage ex-factory. Fortunately, the tablet features a slot for micro-SD cards up to 200 GB that allows moving programs on it thanks to App2SD support.

The present interfaces are no surprise. Only the common ports are installed in the form of a 3.5 mm headset jack and micro-USB port. The latter supports USB OTG, but not video output via MHL. That is all the worse since Miracast - despite existing WiFi-Direct support - is not available, making it impossible to connect external monitors. Bluetooth 4.0 is incorporated for near field communication, but not NFC.

 

[MossCommuter]

@Rooster1 @meta lon @wonderloaf - do any of you know if the Samsung as a micro HDMI port, or if it can be connected to the TV via an adaptor of some sort?

Like one of these maybe?
https://tinyurl.com/y9j2hq5p

You might find a cable a deeply unsatisfactory way of viewing content on the telly.

I'd consider reserving 30 quid of your budget for a Chromecast.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

@Rooster1 @meta lon @wonderloaf - do any of you know if the Samsung as a micro HDMI port, or if it can be connected to the TV via an adaptor of some sort?

Like one of these maybe?
https://tinyurl.com/y9j2hq5p

No micro HDMI that I know of

 

[EasyPeez]

Bah, what a shame. Thanks for confirming, chaps.

I'd consider reserving 30 quid of your budget for a Chromecast.

The only thing I'd want to ping from the tablet to the telly is the odd football game and cricket/cycling highlights via Sky Go, but from what I can gather Chromecast and Sky Go are made incompatible for licensing reasons.

 

[MossCommuter]

Bah, what a shame. Thanks for confirming, chaps.


The only thing I'd want to ping from the tablet to the telly is the odd football game and cricket/cycling highlights via Sky Go, but from what I can gather Chromecast and Sky Go are made incompatible for licensing reasons.

I imagine you still mirror the whole screen when SkyGo is running, can you? That's kind of the same as what a cable would achieve?

Incidentally, NowTV is Chromecast compatible if that helps (I use it for Formula 1).

 

[pawl]

Aspirin. Oh hell got it wrong again.

 

[vickster]

[QUOTE 5109409, member: 9609"]I was looking at a galaxy samsung the day, it says capacity 8gb ? is that like the hard disk size? 8gb seems very small, i have a 32gb in my camera.[/QUOTE]
Yes it’s v small but you can store stuff in the cloud

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I've got a Lenovo Tab 4 8 inch which I'm pleased with.

s://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/tablets-and-ereaders/tablets/lenovo-tab4-8-tablet-16-gb-slate-black-10165601-pdt.html?awc=1599_1515484212_6a3bb8097fff811e82a6abdad10685d8&srcid=369&xtor=AL-1&cmpid=aff~yieldkit~Sub Networks~143466&awid=143466

 

[LeetleGreyCells]

I need to get two budget tablets for the kids for journeys. We've got two Tesco Hudl 1s which have had their day - you want to click the centre of the screen? Tap an inch to the left of centre. The Amazon Fire's look good and for £50, ideal. As long as I can expand the memory with a micro SD up to 32 GB - need to check this.

 

[welsh dragon]

I need to get two budget tablets for the kids for journeys. We've got two Tesco Hudl 1s which have had their day - you want to click the centre of the screen? Tap an inch to the left of centre. The Amazon Fire's look good and for £50, ideal. As long as I can expand the memory with a micro SD up to 32 GB - need to check this.

Yes. You can expand the memory up to far more than 32 gb. I think you can go as high as 250 gb.

 

[MossCommuter]

Even with SD cards expanding the storage 8GB really isn't enough. The operating system itself has to live in that 8Gb alongside any apps that you install; yes, some apps can be moved to SD but IME they often don't work well and many apps cannot be moved at all.

16Gb would be my minimum and if you want to keep stuff offline (movies mainly, I imagine) for playing on the go, use and SD card.

Edit to add: I am speaking of Android tablets.

 

[EasyPeez]

I imagine you still mirror the whole screen when SkyGo is running, can you?

From forums I've read last night it seems Sky have built in a blocker to their Sky Go app to prevent Chromecasting and mirroring, so it's not possible.

Even with SD cards expanding the storage 8GB really isn't enough. The operating system itself has to live in that 8Gb alongside any apps that you install; yes, some apps can be moved to SD but IME they often don't work well and many apps cannot be moved at all.

For most people I'm sure you're right, but as I would only want to stream radio/spotify and use bbc weather and sport webpages, the internal memory shouldn't affect those things running smoothly, should it?