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Tablet Memory, Tablet Cameras

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In this review:
  1. Cheap Tablets
  2. Tablet Reviews
  3. Cheap Android Tablets
  4. Tablet Memory, Tablet Cameras
  5. Tablet Deals
  6. Discount Cheap Tablets Features Comparison Table
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Tablet Memory, Tablet Cameras

Tablet Memory.

The amount of memory in budget tablets varies quite a bit.
Some models, such as the E Fun Nextbook Next3, have only 2 GB to 4 GB of built-in tablet memory. A few budget tablets, such as the Acer Iconia Tab A500, have 16 GB or 32 GB of internal RAM. The Apple iPad 2 comes in several versions with different levels of available storage, up to 64 GB. It's certainly nice to have a lot of built-in tablet memory, but almost all tablets have a microSD slot so you can add even more memory.

The Amazon Kindle Fire has 8 GB on board, which may not seem like much tablet memory. However, Kindle Fire users can save all their Amazon content online using Amazon's cloud storage service. The Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet has 16 GB of internal storage, but 15 GB of that is reserved for Barnes & Noble content, meaning users have only 1 GB leftover to store non-Barnes & Noble files. However, the Nook Tablet does have a microSD card slot that lets users store up to 32 GB more.

Ports/Connectivity.

Tablets are designed to be portable, handheld devices, so you won't find many ports for connecting them to other devices. A typical tablet has a headphone jack and perhaps an HDMI port for audio/video but not much else. A handful of tablets, such as the ViewSonic gTablet, do have a USB port.

Review continues below

What tablets lack in physical support they make up for in wireless support. All tablets should have Wi-Fi capability, and most support Bluetooth connections as well. You'll even find a few budget tablets, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab (starting at $298, Amazon), that can connect to a cellular 3G network via a wireless subscription. If you go the 3G route, you have to pay a mobile provider for the service. As with smartphones, if you buy your tablet from a cell provider and sign up for a service plan, the provider will cut the price of the tablet. However, tablets without 3G capability work just fine with a Wi-Fi connection and tend to be cheaper to begin with -- even before you factor in the monthly service plan. Besides, many would-be tablet buyers already have 3G smartphones.

Tablet Cameras.

Several tablets include not one but two cameras, one on each side of the device. The camera on the back of a tablet usually has a resolution of about 5 mp and is used to snap photos. The camera on the front of the device typically has only about 1.2 mp and is included for videoconferencing. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 and the Acer Iconia Tab A500 include both front- and rear-facing cameras, as does the Samsung Galaxy Tab. The Kindle Fire foregoes a camera of any kind, as does the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet, which helps keep the prices of those devices low. Most reviewers seem to think the tablets on our list snap decent photos, though they are not quite on par with photos taken using a dedicated point-and-shoot camera.

Tablet Battery Life.

As with smartphones and laptops, the amount of time you can use a tablet between charges depends heavily on how you use it. Most manufacturers claim 8 to 10 hours of tablet battery life with "typical" use. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer boasts up to 16 hours when connected to an optional docking station. In CNET testing, that translated to more than 10 hours of battery life and 7.3 for the tablet alone. The comparable Acer Iconia Tab registered 7.8 hours. However, Engadget reports disappointment in the performance of the Acer relative to other 10-inch Android tablets. It came up just short of 7 hours in the site's standard test of tablet battery life.

Review continues below

A CNET reviewer refers to the battery life of the Coby Kyros as poor but doesn't elaborate, and PCMag reports that the Nextbook Next3 runs for no longer than 5 hours. PCMag also tested the battery life of the Kindle Fire by playing video continuously, and the Amazon tablet lasted for nearly 5 hours on one charge, which the review says is average. MSNBC.com's Technolog found that the Nook Tablet beat the Kindle Fire in a test of tablet battery life. Remember that, despite their namesakes, the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet are not ereaders, which can last for days or even weeks on a single charge. If you use your tablet frequently throughout the day, expect to charge it in the evening.

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Read user comments below

Best Cheap Tablets

Amazon Kindle Fire
Gold Medal

Amazon Kindle Fire

 The Kindle Fire may not quite be the iPad killer some people were hoping for, but it has a great chance to redefine the tablet market, because it's super affordable and still delivers most of what users hope to find in a tablet. Its performance is solid, apart from occasional hiccups, but its real strength is the ease with which users can access and enjoy Amazon's vast content library. Read more »
Cheap Tablets Deals
Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet
Gold Medal

Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet

 The Nook Tablet is the Kindle Fire's closest competition in terms of price and ability. Its Android operating system is heavily customized to tightly integrate with Barnes & Noble's online services, including apps, so it has a bit of a different look and feel than other Android devices. Reviewers praise its overall performance and responsive, fantastic-looking touchscreen. Read more »
Cheap Tablets Deals

Good Cheap Tablets

Asus Eee Pad Transformer
Gold Medal

Asus Eee Pad Transformer

 TF101
The hardware on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 is about as good as it gets on an Android-based budget tablet. This model uses Google's Android 3.2 operating system and a Nvidia Tegra 2 processor. It also has a large, 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen that impresses reviewers. Read more »
Cheap Tablets Deals
Acer Iconia Tab
Gold Medal

Acer Iconia Tab

 A500
This Acer Iconia tablet is a solid Android 3.0 model with a large, 10.1-inch screen, a Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, an HDMI port, and Bluetooth support. Some reviewers note that it's a bit heavy compared with other tablets. Read more »
Cheap Tablets Deals
 
 
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Think Twice Cheap Tablets

Coby Kyros MID7015

The Kyros MID7015 has a shockingly low price, but that isn't enough to win the favor of user and expert reviewers. The biggest weakness of the Kyros is its resistive touchscreen, which requires a fingernail or stylus to use. Reviewers also note that the image quality isn't very good and the battery life is sub-par. This tablet also runs an older Android 2.1 operating system. Read more »

Nextbook Next3

Reviewers don't seem to have found the fun in the E Fun Nextbook Next3. It's a bargain-priced tablet with bargain-priced hardware. It uses a resistive touchscreen rather than the preferable capacitive screen and it doesn't support as much memory as other tablets. It also runs Android 2.1, an outdated version of the operating system. Read more »

 
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