Tablets have the capabilities of computers and smartphones combined, but are still portable. When it comes to tablets, iPad is the leading product and it serves as the standard in this area. Apple designs and markets these tablets. The latest version is the iPad Pro, which was released in November 2015. It has the largest screen at 12.9-inch screen compared to other iPad models. Other models are smaller with iPad Air having a 9.7-inches display and iPad Mini with 7.9-inch. The cost of iPad Pro ranges from $799 to $1079 depending on the model. If you’re on a budget, there are other cheaper tablet alternatives that you can find.
MediaPad M2 8.0
Huawei is a multinational networking and telecommunications equipment company that is headquartered in China. They produce and sell various products including different models of tablets. MediaPad M2 8.0 is one of them and the price starts at around $255. This is fraction of the cost of iPad Pro. It has a SIM slot and it’s 7.8mm slim making it easy to hold and carry around. This tablet is made of 99.5% metal making it sturdy. It was also designed in such a way that it would look luxurious. This model does not just look good, but it would also not disappoint when it comes to its features and specifications. It has 8.0 inches display with 1200 x 1920 pixels resolution, making it a breeze to watch videos. Internal memory is 16 GB, 2 GB RAM or 16 GB, 2 GB RAM giving you enough space to save files and apps. If you need more storage, you can insert an external microSD memory that’s up to 128 GB. It’s multi-touch up to 10 fingers and its primary camera is 8 MP with auto focus and LED flash.
Nexus 7
Its price starts at $230 for the 16 GB model and $270 for the 32 GB model. It has 7 inch display with 323ppi. Its sharpness and brightness are some of the best features that you would immediately notice on this model. That being said, it makes it a great device for watching high definition videos as you’ll enjoy the quality of the graphics. The sound is also of top quality as it uses Fraunhofer Cingo mobile audio technology. It uses WiFi and 4G LTE that makes browsing super-fast anytime, anywhere. Nexus 7 has a slim design at 8.65mm and it weighs 290g making it lightweight and portable. With 2 GB RAM and Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, using it would be smooth as it would response quickly to your actions. Its primary camera is 5 MP with auto focus. The battery can also stay up to 10 hours with moderate usage.
Nook HD+
This tablet is from Barnes & Noble and it has a larger screen compared to the older models that had 7-inch display. Nook HD+ has a 9-inch display and it costs $269 for the 16 GB version and $299 for the 32 GB version. It may not be the best when it comes to aesthetics, but if you don’t mind its basic look, you’ll be able to appreciate the other areas that it’s strong at, aside from its low price. The tablet weighs 510g or 18oz, which may not be as light as Nexus 7, but it’s still light enough to hold even with just one hand. It has a physical home button like the iPad, although it’s shaped like an inverted “n”, instead of the circular home button of the latter. Its 1920 x 1280 resolution makes viewing of videos a joy combined with its wide screen. The battery has 9-hours video playback.
Amazon Kindle Fire
You can get this model at $199. This tablet doesn’t have all the powerful features as its competitors, but with its price, it’s a good option to consider, especially if you’re after entertainment. It gives access to biggest collection of digital contents such as magazines, e-books, videos and music. Kindle Fire is user friendly and browsing is also fast. Thousands of apps are available including Pandora, Hulu Plus and Netflix. It has 8 GB internal memory and 512 MB RAM, but it doesn’t have a slot for external memory.
If you’re planning to get a tablet, but can’t afford or prefer not to spend several dollars for an iPad Pro, consider these alternatives. You’ll find one that suits your budget and your needs.