The best cheap tablets are not just affordable; they’re also extremely useful in a variety of situations. School, fieldwork, office work, inventory, advertising, or even for wasting a little extra free time. The problem, however, is that a lot of people turn their noses up at low-cost tablets. Fake, fragile, outdated, ugly – these are just some of the negative labels that stuck to anything that’s doesn’t have Apple or Samsung slapped on its cover.
This is why it’s important to bust a few myths about cheap tablets:
1. Cheap Tablets Are Fake Rip-offs – There is a world of difference between fake tablets and budget tablets. Fake tablets do their best to copy the look and feel of a major brand. Budget tablets don’t bother with that nonsense. Manufacturers such as Teclast, Onda, and Cube sell tablets under their own brands. It is worth noting, though, that other manufacturers sell unbranded or ‘white-label’ tablets. Retailers can slap their own brands over these tablets, with the full consent of the original manufacturers. This explains why some tablets with identical specs and appearances fall under different brands.
2. They Are Slow And Unreliable – True, there are budget tablets that keep the specs on the low side so that they can stay under the $50 mark. However, cheap tablets above the $100 range come with some pretty beefy specs. Take the Chuwi Hi12 Tablet PC. It’s got a dual OS (Android 5.1 and Windows 10), has a 1.92 GHz processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal memory. It also has an 11,000mAh battery supporting a 12-inch display with a resolution of 2160 x 1440. Not bad for a tablet that hovers around the $245 mark and was released in April 2016.
3. You Can Only Use Android – Did you notice that the Chuwi Hi12 Tablet PC has two operating systems? Many of the best cheap tablets on the market let you switch between multiple operating systems. You have Android tablets, Windows tablets, even Phoenix tablets at your disposal. This gives you more options, especially if you pick the dual-OS approach as it lets you work with a much wider array of productivity apps.
4. Cheap Tablets Break Down Fast – Some entry-level tablets use cheaper plastic frames and regular glass screens with acrylic covers. In this case, yes – they’ll get knocked out after a bad bump or long fall. However, even branded tablets with reinforced frames and Gorilla Glass screens are designed to become obsolete after around 4 to 5 years. Compare the price points between similarly specced tablets, and you can see a price difference of up to 50% in some cases. The best cheap tablets can last surprisingly long – the same 4 to 5-year mark – if you take good care of them. This is where warranties and customer support come into play. More on that in a bit.
5. You Don’t Get Customer Support – This largely depends on where you buy your cheap tablets from. Don’t expect much when you grab your tablets from a dodgy reseller on eBay selling branded iPads or Galaxy Tabs at ridiculous discounts. A legit retailer with a long history of being in business, however, is another story. Even wholesalers offer robust customer support on top of warranties that have you covered for at least one year. These manufacturers may not be as well-known as the leading brands in the tablet industry. But they know how important good customer care is for keeping them in business for the long run.
Chinavasion is a Hong Kong-based gadget wholesaler sourcing its products straight from Shenzhen, the manufacturing heart of China. It offers a wide array of gadgets and gizmos, from the best cheap tablets and phablets in the market to nifty smartwatches and up-to-date car DVD players.
Totally agree on 2,3,4 because I tried to find some cheap tablets / smartphone for school project (app dev) and based on experience some are quite sturdy and smooth. I got mine at second hand price of 1500 pesos for cherry mobile tablet.