Any suggestions for an 8" Android tablet with Android 12?

[dj54321]

I'd like to buy an 8" Android tablet with Android 12 or 13 for less than $250.

Any suggestions for a reputable model please?

 

[B. Diddy]

I have a Galaxy Tab A7 lite, which is decent, and the 3 GB RAM/32 GB storage version is $109 at Best Buy right now. If you can spend more, I would recommend the 4 GB RAM/64 GB storage version (which I have) -- that one is $199 at Best Buy (which is too much, in my opinion, but you might find it for sale elsewhere cheaper).

The display is good and stereo speakers are nice. Mine just updated to Android 13. Performance is so-so -- don't expect to play high-powered games like Asphalt 9 on it. But it'll be better than a Kindle Fire.

Unfortunately, no one really makes flagship-level small tablets any more, in the 7-8" range. I wish someone did, because it's the perfect size for media consumption on the go, especially when relaxing on a couch or bed. Whatever you do, avoid the off-brand or no-name tablets that are direct-from-China. Those will uniformly be terrible.

 

[mustang7757]

I have a Galaxy Tab A7 lite, which is decent, and the 3 GB RAM/32 GB storage version is $109 at Best Buy right now. If you can spend more, I would recommend the 4 GB RAM/64 GB storage version (which I have) -- that one is $199 at Best Buy (which is too much, in my opinion, but you might find it for sale elsewhere cheaper).

The display is good and stereo speakers are nice. Mine just updated to Android 13. Performance is so-so -- don't expect to play high-powered games like Asphalt 9 on it. But it'll be better than a Kindle Fire.

Unfortunately, no one really makes flagship-level small tablets any more, in the 7-8" range. I wish someone did, because it's the perfect size for media consumption on the go, especially when relaxing on a couch or bed. Whatever you do, avoid the off-brand or no-name tablets that are direct-from-China. Those will uniformly be terrible.

A fold 3 or 4 great size for tablet but not in OP price range lol

 

[B. Diddy]

You can probably find a 1st gen Microsoft Surface Duo for <$250 these days. Woot has it for $240 (new, not refurb), but it's locked to AT&T. If you're just going to use it as a wi-fi device, that shouldn't matter (although it probably has a bunch of AT&T bloatware preloaded that you can't get rid of). computers.woot.com/offers/microsoft-surface-duo-dual-screen-tablet-8?ref=w_cnt_wp_5_1

 

[mustang7757]

You can probably find a 1st gen Microsoft Surface Duo for <$250 these days. Woot has it for $240 (new, not refurb), but it's locked to AT&T. If you're just going to use it as a wi-fi device, that shouldn't matter (although it probably has a bunch of AT&T bloatware preloaded that you can't get rid of). computers.woot.com/offers/microsoft-surface-duo-dual-screen-tablet-8?ref=w_cnt_wp_5_1

Another good option

 

[L0n3N1nja]

I don't think what you're looking for exists, most manufacturers no longer make Android tablets since Google abandoned the platform years ago in favor of ChromeOS.

Samsung has a low end 7" Tab or you step up to 10.5"

Lenovo and TLC each have a budget 8" Tab, but neither have one with Android 12/13.

 

[B. Diddy]

I don't think what you're looking for exists, most manufacturers no longer make Android tablets since Google abandoned the platform years ago in favor of ChromeOS.

Samsung has a low end 7" Tab or you step up to 10.5"

Lenovo and TLC each have a budget 8" Tab, but neither have one with Android 12/13.

Although just as you might expect from Google, they're circling back and trying to revive tablets again. I'm sure I'll be nabbing the Pixel Tablet when it comes out later this year! (Although it'll be a 10" tablet, not 7-8".)

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Although just as you might expect from Google, they're circling back and trying to revive tablets again. I'm sure I'll be nabbing the Pixel Tablet when it comes out later this year! (Although it'll be a 10" tablet, not 7-8".)

11" according to any specs I can find. Either way, Googles first Android tablet in 8 years after they announced in 2019 they would no longer work on tablet hardware and canceled the successors to their Chrome OS tablets.

I really don't expect Google to revitalize the market or even release a product that's competitive with Samsung or Apple. They either need to undercut the competition on price or drastically improve their software experience.

 

[B. Diddy]

11" according to any specs I can find. Either way, Googles first Android tablet in 8 years after they announced in 2019 they would no longer work on tablet hardware and canceled the successors to their Chrome OS tablets.

I really don't expect Google to revitalize the market or even release a product that's competitive with Samsung or Apple. They either need to undercut the competition on price or drastically improve their software experience.

It sure sounds like it'll essentially be a detachable Nest Hub, so I'm sure there will be some interesting functionality related to that.

I actually laid hands on a prototype during a Google UX research study late last year, where they wanted feedback on certain UI features. It's quite nice, although I didn't have a chance to do anything with it apart from what they were testing.

 

[dj54321]

B.Diddy... in my thread about miniature icons embedded in my home page icons, you wrote that you have my current tablet -- a Lenovo M8.

How much better is the Samsung tab A7 lite tablet that you also own and recommended above? My M8 is 3 GB RAM/32 GB storage, and that's what I'd purchase in an A7 lite as I don't play games or do anything else that's not basic. My M8 is Android 10.

 

[B. Diddy]

B.Diddy... in my thread about miniature icons embedded in my home page icons, you wrote that you have my current tablet -- a Lenovo M8.

How much better is the Samsung tab A7 lite tablet that you also own and recommended above? My M8 is 3 GB RAM/32 GB storage, and that's what I'd purchase in an A7 lite as I don't play games or do anything else that's not basic. My M8 is Android 10.

On balance, I like the Samsung better. It's been a while since I used the Lenovo, but performance on that could be oddly janky -- it'd be running smoothly, and then have major hiccups. The Samsung seems slower in general, but it's more consistent. Apps run well, but the One UI interface can be sluggish (e.g., there can sometimes be delays of up to a second from doing a gesture and having it execute, like a Home swipe). I primarily use it for e-books/e-comics (Kindle, Hoopla, Libby), media consumption (Twitch, Netflix, Amazon Prime), and browsing. For Netflix, it's L1 Widevine, which means full HD capable (although the screen is 720p).

It has good stereo speakers, which is a big advantage over the mono Lenovo. Samsung's update policy is clearly much better, with the Samsung on Android 13 now, and pretty much zero chance of the Lenovo going beyond Android 10.

Probably the main advantage of the Lenovo over the Samsung is the display -- I recall the Lenovo's display being brighter and more vivid.

I think I'll fire up the Lenovo again, now that you remind me of it, and see if there's anything else I notice.

 

[dj54321]

B. Diddy... Please let me know. But from what you just wrote, I plan on holding off on buying an A7 until Android 10 on my M8 is effectively obsolete.