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Been offered a tablet for Christmas. Just have to choose a cheap/reasonably price one, which I believe excludes most Apple products. Any advice of great prices for tablets and even what is actually good or bad about them?

Cheers.

Apple iPads really are the best going. They range from the expensive Pro, mid priced Air and cheapest iPad 8th gen. I’d still go for the cheapest iPad over any other tablet.

Looking online, a 128GB iPad 8th gen is £429.

256GB iPad Air is £729.

Buy an iPad with at least 64 GB if you want something to consume content only, like watching movies in long trips or playing. Or having something to type with insane battery life, like for all day conferences.

If you want to do standardized office work too, get a 360 windows convertible. Like the XPS 2 in 1, but that is expensive. Or a last gen Surface Pro that runs on an Intel chip, that has quite good battery life for a Windows tablet.

I got used to my windows convertible, and it's the only thing I travel with. But you cannot beat the battery of an iPad to manage mail and take notes on the go for 1 or 2 days without charging it.

Amazon Fire

Cheers for the tips so far, but I suspect a £400 Apple tablet is going to be way to much to ask for a Christmas pressie. Though I spotted a few 2nd hand on ebay for £100-£250 price range.

Surface Pros are pieces of shit. Just saying.

mr bungle wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:52 pm Apple iPads really are the best going. They range from the expensive Pro, mid priced Air and cheapest iPad 8th gen. I’d still go for the cheapest iPad over any other tablet.

Looking online, a 128GB iPad 8th gen is £429.

256GB iPad Air is £729.

Apple fans really do like to pay through the nose don't they. Stick to Android.

eldanielfire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:34 pm Cheers for the tips so far, but I suspect a £400 Apple tablet is going to be way to much to ask for a Christmas pressie. Though I spotted a few 2nd hand on ebay for £100-£250 price range.

Tell your ma not to be so cheap

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:32 pm Amazon Fire

I despise my kindle fire, though i bought the cheapest model i think

I don't buy Apple and I don't buy tablets.

I bought my wife an ipad mini, with case, 5 years ago and I have to say, it remains a beautifully crafted "object of desire" to this day.

You can pick up a 32gb, 10.2" tablet for £329. As long as you don't need a workhorse or a games machine, it will likely remain a very handsome "gift" for some years to come.

Fruit and Nutt wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:39 pm

mr bungle wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:52 pm Apple iPads really are the best going. They range from the expensive Pro, mid priced Air and cheapest iPad 8th gen. I’d still go for the cheapest iPad over any other tablet.

Looking online, a 128GB iPad 8th gen is £429.

256GB iPad Air is £729.

Apple fans really do like to pay through the nose don't they. Stick to Android.

Android is a dogs breakfast. You can argue the toss about the pros and cons of Samsung vs iPhone handsets, but iPads are the best tablet going.

I have used Windows and we had too many security problems. We are now an Apple household, and frankly if it costs a bit more upfront, the total benefits, tangible and intangible, are enormous.

wamberal wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:13 am I have used Windows and we had too many security problems. We are now an Apple household, and frankly if it costs a bit more upfront, the total benefits, tangible and intangible, are enormous.

It depends what you want to do with it.
I think from your spec, probably one of the 2019 Samsung Tab A. Either 10.1 or 8 inch.
Very much the best of the <£200 bracket with expandable memory for watching video. 10.1 would be my choice - but as say, it depends what you want it for. Use any spare change for a case/stand.
Apple shit if you're just after impressing other applistas. You aren't really going to get a work tool at that price, though. More for longer browser articles, e-reader or mainly video.

If you want something for work, then iPad pro is the best, but silly expensive, then Samsung S4 or S6

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 6:22 am

If you want something for work, then iPad pro is the best

You're impressing Applistas.

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:17 am

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 6:22 am

If you want something for work, then iPad pro is the best

You're impressing Applistas.

credit where it's due, but personally the difference is minimal between that and the Tab S4 for half the price.
Plus I hate iOS

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 9:37 am

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:17 am

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 6:22 am

If you want something for work, then iPad pro is the best

You're impressing Applistas.

credit where it's due, but personally the difference is minimal between that and the Tab S4 for half the price.
Plus I hate iOS

I really like iOS and find android a clunky, ugly, non intuitive mess.

I would never buy anything other than an iPad if I was buying a tablet. That’s the sector they truly dominate in. I wouldn’t buy an iMac, and I would accept arguments about Samsung v IPhone, but nobody is close to the iPad.

SFBB wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:24 am I would never buy anything other than an iPad if I was buying a tablet. That’s the sector they truly dominate in. I wouldn’t buy an iMac, and I would accept arguments about Samsung v IPhone, but nobody is close to the iPad.

I obviously disagree. The samsung tabs are as close as makes no fifference. It's a question of whether you fork out twice the price for a dodgy operating system that you're comfortable with.

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:25 am

SFBB wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:24 am I would never buy anything other than an iPad if I was buying a tablet. That’s the sector they truly dominate in. I wouldn’t buy an iMac, and I would accept arguments about Samsung v IPhone, but nobody is close to the iPad.

I obviously disagree. The samsung tabs are as close as makes no fifference. It's a question of whether you fork out twice the price for a dodgy operating system that you're comfortable with.

There are two Android tablets in this house, one Samsung and one cheap one from whoever, and both are shit and unused. It’s just not a good experience to use it.

SFBB wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:27 am

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:25 am

SFBB wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:24 am I would never buy anything other than an iPad if I was buying a tablet. That’s the sector they truly dominate in. I wouldn’t buy an iMac, and I would accept arguments about Samsung v IPhone, but nobody is close to the iPad.

I obviously disagree. The samsung tabs are as close as makes no fifference. It's a question of whether you fork out twice the price for a dodgy operating system that you're comfortable with.

There are two Android tablets in this house, one Samsung and one cheap one from whoever, and both are shit and unused. It’s just not a good experience to use it.

I evidently disagree, But there re multiple different machines running android and one running iOS. If you buy a shit box running windows and blame windows - you're an applista.

PLus - iTunes!!! WTAF!!

I have already gave my opinion, but I did not cover Android tablets: they are fine to surf a bit and watch movies. But in the long term, all Android tables (and most phones) devices suffer from the same issue: unnecessary software added by the manufacturers that kills update cycle of the software.

If you buy the latest gen cheapest iPad, it will probably receive updates for 5 years or more.

So, the options are:
-Have a kid that wants to watch movies and play some games on trips? Do you want to have something to read the news on the couch from time to time? Buy a cheap Android device.
-Want to consume content, you are really sure you want a tablet for that, and you want it to last? Want to do some basic office work on the go connected to mobile Internet? Buy an iPad.
-Do you want to have full work capabilities, and spend a lot? Buy a Surface Pro last gen with Intel CPU (not the ARM one).

SFBB wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:24 am I would never buy anything other than an iPad

This is not an open mind.

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:14 am

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 9:37 am

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:17 am

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 6:22 am

If you want something for work, then iPad pro is the best

You're impressing Applistas.

credit where it's due, but personally the difference is minimal between that and the Tab S4 for half the price.
Plus I hate iOS

I really like iOS and find android a clunky, ugly, non intuitive mess.

I don't find android a mess, but IOS is genius in how instinctively easy it is to use. Plus Apple make physically superior, better built products.

Luciano wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:41 am I have already gave my opinion, but I did not cover Android tablets: they are fine to surf a bit and watch movies. But in the long term, all Android tables (and most phones) devices suffer from the same issue: unnecessary software added by the manufacturers that kills update cycle of the software.

If you buy the latest gen cheapest iPad, it will probably receive updates for 5 years or more.

So, the options are:
-Have a kid that wants to watch movies and play some games on trips? Do you want to have something to read the news on the couch from time to time? Buy a cheap Android device.
-Want to consume content, you are really sure you want a tablet for that, and you want it to last? Want to do some basic office work on the go connected to mobile Internet? Buy an iPad.
-Do you want to have full work capabilities, and spend a lot? Buy a Surface Pro last gen with Intel CPU (not the ARM one).

That's really good advice, thanks. I'd probably use a tablet casually, surf, films, read, the odd game. It won't be used for work, except to test the odd app that I can use in teaching. So basically casual weekend use with online connectivity. I think I'm floating between your first two points at the moment.

eldanielfire wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:15 pm

Luciano wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:41 am I have already gave my opinion, but I did not cover Android tablets: they are fine to surf a bit and watch movies. But in the long term, all Android tables (and most phones) devices suffer from the same issue: unnecessary software added by the manufacturers that kills update cycle of the software.

If you buy the latest gen cheapest iPad, it will probably receive updates for 5 years or more.

So, the options are:
-Have a kid that wants to watch movies and play some games on trips? Do you want to have something to read the news on the couch from time to time? Buy a cheap Android device.
-Want to consume content, you are really sure you want a tablet for that, and you want it to last? Want to do some basic office work on the go connected to mobile Internet? Buy an iPad.
-Do you want to have full work capabilities, and spend a lot? Buy a Surface Pro last gen with Intel CPU (not the ARM one).

That's really good advice, thanks. I'd probably use a tablet casually, surf, films, read, the odd game. It won't be used for work, except to test the odd app that I can use in teaching. So basically casual weekend use with online connectivity. I think I'm floating between your first two points at the moment.

I totally disagree with the first one (unless you live in the states). Apple are the only manufacturer that have been caught actively building in redundancy - they use software updates to slow older models down or reduce battery life. The EU are trying to legislate against it.
The Tab A 10.1 is the one you're after for about £150. Try it out. Or you could buy a 20 year old multiple refurb ipad mini for twice that price that will be .... 20 year old hardware.

It’s not just Apple devices that slow...

https://www.howtogeek.com/183004/why-a ... d-them-up/

Android are also subject to a painfully slow update cycle which seems driven by the ineptness of Samsung.

That Tab A10.1 looks pretty good.

Good luck finding a 20 year old iPad

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:39 pm It’s not just Apple devices that slow...

https://www.howtogeek.com/183004/why-a ... d-them-up/

Android are also subject to a painfully slow update cycle which seems driven by the ineptness of Samsung.

I don;t know what you mean by update cycle. Samsung have their own UI and are dependent on Android development cycle, when google bring out a new android version, Samsung have to develop to match their own different devices plus legacy devices, which takes time, then probably beta testing in some market or other etc. Imagine the damage to reputation if they released a duff update.

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:31 pm

eldanielfire wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:15 pm

Luciano wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:41 am I have already gave my opinion, but I did not cover Android tablets: they are fine to surf a bit and watch movies. But in the long term, all Android tables (and most phones) devices suffer from the same issue: unnecessary software added by the manufacturers that kills update cycle of the software.

If you buy the latest gen cheapest iPad, it will probably receive updates for 5 years or more.

So, the options are:
-Have a kid that wants to watch movies and play some games on trips? Do you want to have something to read the news on the couch from time to time? Buy a cheap Android device.
-Want to consume content, you are really sure you want a tablet for that, and you want it to last? Want to do some basic office work on the go connected to mobile Internet? Buy an iPad.
-Do you want to have full work capabilities, and spend a lot? Buy a Surface Pro last gen with Intel CPU (not the ARM one).

That's really good advice, thanks. I'd probably use a tablet casually, surf, films, read, the odd game. It won't be used for work, except to test the odd app that I can use in teaching. So basically casual weekend use with online connectivity. I think I'm floating between your first two points at the moment.

I totally disagree with the first one (unless you live in the states). Apple are the only manufacturer that have been caught actively building in redundancy - they use software updates to slow older models down or reduce battery life. The EU are trying to legislate against it.
The Tab A 10.1 is the one you're after for about £150. Try it out. Or you could buy a 20 year old multiple refurb ipad mini for twice that price that will be .... 20 year old hardware.

Interesting comment. Let's clarify what Apple did, and that doesn't do anymore, at least without your authorization.

All batteries degrade after time. A couple of years ago Apple decided that when batteries reached a certain level of degradation, that the processing speed on its iOS devices would slow down in order to maintain battery life. Apple did the mistake of not explaining this, and when some tech guy revealed it, Apple got some stick. But too much for what it was. I am sure this happened with iPhones, but I don't know if the case involved iPads too.

Anyway, Apple then decided to make that slow down optional, and in a PR move, offered super cheap battery replacements. End of the issue.

What the EU is trying to legislate about is the so called "planned obsolesce". I would say that what Apple did does not classify in that category. But yes, Apple, in it's "we don't put too many settings as our clients are dumb" philosophy, made a mistake for making the functionality non-mandatory.

Apple gives much better support to its software -iOS- by far, than the Android devices manufacturers. Almost all manufacturers put extra software on top of Google's version of Android (or the open source one), and they don't have a great record updating it. The exceptions, AFAIK, are Google's devices (the few phones that are available), and probably Nokia phones.

In Android tablets, you have basically two main players: Amazon (Fire OS!?) and Samsung (with it's horrible skin). But if you want to mostly use the Netflix app and use the browser, you really don't care much about the latest version of Android, apart from security reasons.

A couple of years ago Apple decided that when batteries reached a certain level of degradation, that the processing speed on its iOS devices would slow down in order to maintain battery life. Apple did the mistake of not explaining this, and when some tech guy revealed it, Apple got some stick.

Yeah. And of course we all believe that ??

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:06 pm

A couple of years ago Apple decided that when batteries reached a certain level of degradation, that the processing speed on its iOS devices would slow down in order to maintain battery life. Apple did the mistake of not explaining this, and when some tech guy revealed it, Apple got some stick.

Yeah. And of course we all believe that ??

I see your point, and I thought similarly at first, but I don't think that Apple would risk millions in a Class Action and/or administrative sanctions and ruining their reputation for something that actually gave them no benefit. The device would be slower, or get it's battery depleted faster. Both things are not ideal. In the end, the real issue is that most phones/tablets don't have easily replaceable batteries anymore

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:46 pm

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:39 pm It’s not just Apple devices that slow...

https://www.howtogeek.com/183004/why-a ... d-them-up/

Android are also subject to a painfully slow update cycle which seems driven by the ineptness of Samsung.

I don;t know what you mean by update cycle. Samsung have their own UI and are dependent on Android development cycle, when google bring out a new android version, Samsung have to develop to match their own different devices plus legacy devices, which takes time, then probably beta testing in some market or other etc. Imagine the damage to reputation if they released a duff update.

From 5 days ago

https://www.androidcentral.com/unbeara ... gs-updates

Another pointless PR argument

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sun Nov 15, 2020 12:20 am

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:46 pm

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:39 pm It’s not just Apple devices that slow...

https://www.howtogeek.com/183004/why-a ... d-them-up/

Android are also subject to a painfully slow update cycle which seems driven by the ineptness of Samsung.

I don;t know what you mean by update cycle. Samsung have their own UI and are dependent on Android development cycle, when google bring out a new android version, Samsung have to develop to match their own different devices plus legacy devices, which takes time, then probably beta testing in some market or other etc. Imagine the damage to reputation if they released a duff update.

From 5 days ago

https://www.androidcentral.com/unbeara ... gs-updates

2018?

As I said, and as remarked in the article, Samsung have their own software to develop. 95% of android updates are incremental anyway. Very few added features when a new 'version' is released.

Anyway, as it's a Christmas pressie and beggars can't be choosers, it has to be a cheap Tablet, we aren't all rich.

I'll use it for weekend surfing and streaming and on the odd journey at the most. I prefer laptops so I'll never use it for work. Ideally a Black Friday deal of some kind. How does something like this look?:

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing ... 8-pdt.html

eldanielfire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:24 am Anyway, as it's a Christmas pressie and beggars can't be choosers, it has to be a cheap Tablet, we aren't all rich.

I'll use it for weekend surfing and streaming and on the odd journey at the most. I prefer laptops so I'll never use it for work. Ideally a Black Friday deal of some kind. How does something like this look?:

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing ... 8-pdt.html

I think you'd need to get the tablet too - which isn't a cheap one.

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing ... 2-pdt.html

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 12:08 pm

eldanielfire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:24 am Anyway, as it's a Christmas pressie and beggars can't be choosers, it has to be a cheap Tablet, we aren't all rich.

I'll use it for weekend surfing and streaming and on the odd journey at the most. I prefer laptops so I'll never use it for work. Ideally a Black Friday deal of some kind. How does something like this look?:

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing ... 8-pdt.html

I think you'd need to get the tablet too - which isn't a cheap one.

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing ... 2-pdt.html

. That price is alright

eldanielfire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:19 pm

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 12:08 pm

eldanielfire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:24 am Anyway, as it's a Christmas pressie and beggars can't be choosers, it has to be a cheap Tablet, we aren't all rich.

I'll use it for weekend surfing and streaming and on the odd journey at the most. I prefer laptops so I'll never use it for work. Ideally a Black Friday deal of some kind. How does something like this look?:

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing ... 8-pdt.html

I think you'd need to get the tablet too - which isn't a cheap one.

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing ... 2-pdt.html

. That price is alright

That;s not the price for the tablet you'd need for that keyboard you posted.

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:52 pm

eldanielfire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:19 pm

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 12:08 pm

eldanielfire wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:24 am Anyway, as it's a Christmas pressie and beggars can't be choosers, it has to be a cheap Tablet, we aren't all rich.

I'll use it for weekend surfing and streaming and on the odd journey at the most. I prefer laptops so I'll never use it for work. Ideally a Black Friday deal of some kind. How does something like this look?:

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing ... 8-pdt.html

I think you'd need to get the tablet too - which isn't a cheap one.

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing ... 2-pdt.html

. That price is alright

That;s not the price for the tablet you'd need for that keyboard you posted.

I knwo, hence the laughter.

Still I appear to be getting a refurbished iPad 6. Apple have knocked £90 off them so their £200 right now for 32GB.

https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/yoga-smart-tab

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7699452