9+ Best Cheap Tablets | Unrivaled Guide 2022

In the last period you have decided that you want to buy a tablet, a hybrid device between a laptop and a smartphone, useful for work or for leisure. Excellent choice, but at the moment the budget for the purchase is not very high, so you would need advice on how and where to orient your choice.

No fear! Know that there are really many alternatives on sale, for all budgets. In this guide, I will therefore illustrate the main features to take into account at the time of purchase, then I will show you some of the best cheap tablets on the market. Know that with a few hundred euros you can take home tablets with really interesting features.

All you have to do is spend a few minutes of your precious time reading this tutorial. You will see that it is not necessary to be a computer technician to learn how to choose wisely among the countless alternatives on the market. I just have to wish you a good reading and a good choice!

Best Cheap Tablets | Comparison Table 2022

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How to choose a cheap tablet

In the next chapters, I will go to illustrate the main features to take into consideration when choosing the best cheap tablet. Based on my recommendations, you can decide which features to prioritize for purchase. Remember that before the price, it is important to focus on the real needs for which you want to buy a device such as a tablet.

Operating system

Tablets can be animated by different operating systems.The main ones are Android from Google and iPadOS from Apple, very similar to their smartphone counterparts.

The “third wheel”, in this case, is represented by the Windows 10 operating system , the same that is found in PCs and developed for those hybrid devices that allow the tablet to turn into a notebook. Below, I’m going to point out the main pros and cons of each operating system.

• Android – this is the most common operating system, which allows the user complete freedom of action. The pre-installed store is the Play Store, which allows you to download thousands of applications and games of all kinds. Often this operating system can have slight differences from model to model and therefore the update of the same is not unique for all devices. Note that the tablets of some brands, for example some HUAWEI models, do not have Google services and, therefore, even using the Android operating system they do not give access to the Play Store.
• iPadOS – this operating system is dedicated to iPads developed by Apple. Like iOS for iPhone, it is characterized by the possibility of downloading applications exclusively from the App Store, which guarantees their safety. Generally, iPad apps are also better optimized than Android. OS updates are available on day one for all iPads. The possibilities of integration with other Apple products make these tablets recommended for those who are already accustomed to using an iPhone or Mac.
• Windows 10 – hybrid tablets, that is, tablets that can be converted into notebooks through the use of a special keyboard, are characterized by the ability to install programs and applications typical of PCs with an operating system developed by Microsoft. Updates are continuous and the same for all devices.

Display size

The size of a tablet’s display is one of the first parameters to consider when buying. The standard size of tablet displays are generally 7 , 8 , or 10 inches. In some cases, there are tablets that even go up to 12 inches .

Tablets with smaller displays are suitable for those who need a device that can be easily transported (in this case, in fact, the dimensions and weight are also lower) and which is not mainly used for viewing multimedia content such as movies or Television programs.

Tablets with 10-inch dimensions are recommended for those who intend to use the tablet both for viewing multimedia content, and for typing texts and the most common daily activities. The 12 “ devices are suitable for those who want a real replacement for the notebook, and in fact they are often equipped with an external keyboard.

In addition to the size of the display, I recommend that you also pay attention to the type of screen installed. Displays with IPS LCD screens are the most common and the most convenient in terms of graphic rendering, but in some models Super AMOLED panels are used , with superior build quality but with a much higher cost.

An important aspect to take into consideration as regards the quality of the image is the resolution , which is expressed in pixels ; in a nutshell, the higher the resolution, the better you can see images and texts on the screen, so I suggest you look more at the resolution than at the size of the panel. For working and watching multimedia content with a certain quality, you should never go below Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels)

Internal memory and expansions

A primary aspect in choosing a tablet is the amount of internal memory present in the tablet’s internal hard disk. I advise you to choose tablets with an internal memory greater than 32 GB if you intend to store many movies, documents or photos within it.

In any case, many tablets offer the opportunity to increase the amount of internal memory through microSD cards . My advice, in any case, remains to focus on tablets that offer support for memory expansions .

Some tablets offer the opportunity to connect external devices, through Micro or Mini USB ports , so you can play multimedia content from other connected devices, if there is support for OTG ( USB On-The-Go ) technology. In some cases, there is even a Micro or Mini HDMI connection type , which allows connection to TVs and monitors .

Data network and Wi-Fi

If you want to connect your tablet to the Internet through a mobile network offer, know that there are devices available to which you can install data SIMs . This feature, however, in most cases, does not include the ability to make phone calls with your tablet, so you will not be able to use it to replace your smartphone, in case you intend to do so.

Tablets that offer the 3G or LTE / 4G network support function have above average costs, so I advise you to consider them only if you have a real need to keep an Internet connection always active, even when away from home in the absence of Wi- Fi.

At the moment, tablets that offer support for 5G technology are available for sale , but they are often reserved for high-end devices.

Another aspect to take into consideration is obviously the quality of the connection to the Internet via Wi-Fi . I advise you to buy tablets with support for dual-band networks , therefore also at 5GHz, possibly of a high class (eg wireless ac ), to take advantage of all the power of modern Wi-Fi networks.

CPU

A not secondary feature in choosing a tablet concerns the type of processor (CPU) installed. This component is what affects the speed with which the device is able to perform basic operations such as opening applications and games or running system processes. Its power is measured in GHz.

RAM

RAM, on the other hand, affects the number of applications and games open at the same time and the tablet’s ability to manage multiple processes at the same time (multitasking). The size of a RAM is expressed in GB and the more there is, the more the tablet will be able to manage the use of multiple apps at the same time (or the use of single more “demanding” apps).

The amount of RAM is not always indicative of the real performance of the tablet, as on Apple-branded tablets, for example, there is better optimization of the operating system, which reduces the need for RAM installed on the device.

Battery

The tablet battery size is expressed in milliampere hours (mAh) . The higher the amperage, the longer the tablet will charge. The actual duration of a recharge, however, may also vary depending on the use made of the tablet and its degree of software and hardware optimization.

Tablet chargers

Tablet chargers often come with a USB -C or Micro USB connection, but there is no shortage of proprietary connection types. This happens, for example, for Apple tablets, which in the non-Pro versions are characterized by a type of charging cable with a Lightning connection.

Camera and audio

Camera and audio sensors are components to consider if you want to use the tablet to record university lectures, videos or take photographs. The cameras installed on tablets do not shine for build quality and image rendering , but in some price ranges it is possible to find excellent alternatives to those of smartphones.

My advice in this regard is to evaluate according to your needs based not only on the Megapixel resolution communicated by the manufacturer, the presence of flash and the ability to zoom , but also examples of photos and videos found on the Net : in short, look for reviews and “touch” the photographic performance of the model of your interest.

As for the audio sector, in the input there is almost always a microphone , which however, as for the camera , is hardly comparable to those installed on smartphones. On the other hand, given the nature of a multimedia player typical of the tablet, there are often several good quality stereo speakers , which allow you to enjoy movies, TV series and other contents in comfort.

The Bluetooth connection, present on almost all tablets on the market, allows you to choose to also connect the tablet to keyboards, mouse, and Bluetooth speakers capable of improving listening quality.

Accessories included

Lastly, any accessories included should be considered, such as keyboards, mice , ergonomic covers that act as a support for the tablet or pens capable of interacting with the touch surface, excellent for those who intend to use the device also as a graphics tablet or for taking notes (taking into account that the passive pens typical of budget tablets do not offer performance comparable to that of active pens, for example the Apple Pencil from Apple).

FAQs

Conclusions and final considerations

In short, choosing the best cheap tablet can be very difficult, but thanks to a general overview and knowing the various details to consider during the purchase, you can do the same in a more targeted way.