Cheap tablets that are worth a second look

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http://www.digitalone.com.sg/features/article/24735

Today's Android tablets can work like a basic desktop or notebook, yet may cost as little as $200.

Some of the functions these tablets can perform include word processing, movie playback and Web surfing.

Due to the rising popularity of such budget tablets, even the No.1 PC maker HP, which takes 29.4 per cent of the market here, according to research firm IDC's figures for the first quarter of this year, has identified the need to introduce its first affordable Android tablet, the HP Slate 7.

In the face of declining PC sales, traditional PC makers are targeting this new segment of budget tablets.

IDC estimates that the PC market here contracted 18 per cent from 2011 to last year. In contrast, there has been a 300-per-cent increase in demand for tablets under $400, rising from 13,700 in the first quarter of last year to 49,600 in the first quarter of this year, according to market research firm GfK Asia.

The Android tablet, said IDC analyst Melissa Chau, is the preferred choice for vendors who want to produce a low-cost device that moves fast on the market.

Cheap tablets that are worth a second look:

» Acer Iconia A1
» A.C. Ryan Tab 8
» Asus Fonepad
» Google Nexus 7
» HP Slate 7
» Kindle Fire
» Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)

What to note before buying

Design and weight

A manufacturer will often choose plastic over metal to lighten the cost and weight of a handheld device. While tablets with plastic bodies may not feel or look expensive, they are light and will not tax your arms and hands even with prolonged use.

Screen size and resolution

Typically, a budget tablet will have a display measuring between seven and eight inches, with a screen resolution of up to 1,280 x 800 pixels. Like its larger cousins, most have a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is suitable for viewing a widescreen movie.

But if you use a tablet mainly to read e-books, choose one with an aspect ratio of 4:3 and at least a resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels.

Processor

Dual-core processors are common in budget tablets. They are good enough for surfing the Web, reading e-books and watching an occasional movie.

Models such as the Google Nexus 7 use a more powerful quad-core processor, but you will have to settle for a smaller storage capacity to stay within budget.

Storage

Expect at least 8GB of internal storage. E-books are not huge space hoggers, but you still need to ration storage space. Watch out for apps with large file sizes and stream movies from the Web rather than download them to the tablet.

Alternatively, choose a tablet with a microSD slot and buy a microSD card to expand your storage capacity.

Ports

Basic connection ports, including a 3.5mm audio jack and a micro-USB port, are essential.

Choose tablets that support both data transfer and charging via the micro-USB port. Connectors such as an HDMI output are secondary.

For wireless connections, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options are standard. But if you need to be online 24/7, get a tablet with both Wi-Fi and 3G connections. It will cost at least $100 more than a Wi-Fi-only version.

Operating system

Budget tablets launched this year should be pre-loaded with the latest Android 4.1 operating system, Jelly Bean, while earlier models run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Avoid tablets using versions older than Android 4.0 as they are less likely to receive a software update.