As of today, best bang for buck 7" tablet???

[TRM1963]

Hi all:

With Black Friday (etc) sales on the horizon, I'm thinking of picking up a 7" Android tablet. Its primary purpose would be just to be an entree into the Android world (I'm a mac guy with ipad and iphone). IOW, it doesn't have to be a 'productivity' device, just something small that allows me to read the news, run pandora, blah blah. I'm thinking the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7". It regularly retails at $149, but the deal season will have it much lower. Asus and others also have a 7" tablet. Is the Galaxy Tab A 7" the best bang for buck in the sub $200 7" market?

Thanks!

 

[belodion]

Hmm, no replies. Pity you don't live in the UK, where the Nexus 7 2013 can still be bought new, and cheap at that. I own one....it's an excellent device in spite of its age. Not available where you are I suppose?

 

[chanchan05]

Re: As of today, best bang for buck 7" tablet???

I'd take the Tab A too. Unless you can get a Lenovo, LG, Asus, or Acer tablet. Those are the only guys I trust to make a decent one.

Haven't encounteted Huawei or Oppo making 7 inchers.

 

[Geodude074]

Amazon's Fire 7 is $33 today, you can't beat the price for it. I just bought the Fire HD 8 for $60. The Fire 7 for $33 only has 8 GB, if you want 16 GB it's $53. Hence why I think the Fire HD 8 is the better deal, it already has 16 GB, has a bigger better screen, has 512 MB more RAM, and has a 12 hour battery life.

You have to keep your expectations low with the Fire HD 8 of course. It's a budget tablet, I don't expect to do anything more than web browse and watch YouTube.

 

[chanchan05]

Amazon's Fire 7 is $33 today, you can't beat the price for it. I just bought the Fire HD 8 for $60. The Fire 7 for $33 only has 8 GB, if you want 16 GB it's $53. Hence why I think the Fire HD 8 is the better deal, it already has 16 GB, has a bigger better screen, has 512 MB more RAM, and has a 12 hour battery life.

You have to keep your expectations low with the Fire HD 8 of course. It's a budget tablet, I don't expect to do anything more than web browse and watch YouTube.

The problem with it is it's running Amazon's own fork of Android, as opposed to simply being skinned Android. Plus AFAIK no Google Store. The Amazon Store is great for free stuff, but seems to me the selection isn't as complete, plus updates are slower.

 

[Geodude074]

The problem with it is it's running Amazon's own fork of Android, as opposed to simply being skinned Android. Plus AFAIK no Google Store. The Amazon Store is great for free stuff, but seems to me the selection isn't as complete, plus updates are slower.

You can install Google Play on them.

How to Install Google Play on Fire Tablets the Super Easy Way, No PC or Root (Video) | The eBook Reader Blog

 

[dianehelen]

You can install Google Play on them.

How to Install Google Play on Fire Tablets the Super Easy Way, No PC or Root (Video) | The eBook Reader Blog

I just ordered one. I had an Amazon $10 courtesy credit, so for 23 bucks could not resist. This is an early bday present for my son, and the instructions for adding Google play seem easy enough. My question, and I can't seem to get a clear answer on its, after getting Google play set up, is there a way to be able to cast (Chromecast) from Netflix, Hulu, etc, from this tablet.

Thanks for any clear answer on this

 

[Nakrohtap]

The Galaxy Tab A is currently $95 on Amazon. It doesn't say Sale, so not sure if this is their everyday price or not.

 

[Geodude074]

The problem with it is it's running Amazon's own fork of Android, as opposed to simply being skinned Android. Plus AFAIK no Google Store. The Amazon Store is great for free stuff, but seems to me the selection isn't as complete, plus updates are slower.

I just got my Fire HE 8. Here it is, I have Chrome, YouTube, and the Play Store. It was as simple as installing 4 apks.

 

[Geodude074]

I just ordered one. I had an Amazon $10 courtesy credit, so for 23 bucks could not resist. This is an early bday present for my son, and the instructions for adding Google play seem easy enough. My question, and I can't seem to get a clear answer on its, after getting Google play set up, is there a way to be able to cast (Chromecast) from Netflix, Hulu, etc, from this tablet.

Thanks for any clear answer on this

I'm not sure actually, I don't have a Chromecast so I wouldn't be able to help you, sorry.

 

[dianehelen]

I'm not sure actually, I don't have a Chromecast so I wouldn't be able to help you, sorry.

No problem. I think I've exhausted all research and apparently the answer is no for Netflix & Hulu, & Pandora. Yes for YouTube, and Google play music. Still for 33 (or in my case 23 ) a great little tablet. Getting google play store on it was a cake walk, as was getting nova launcher.

 

[dianehelen]

I'm not sure actually, I don't have a Chromecast so I wouldn't be able to help you, sorry.

No problem. I think I've exhausted all research and apparently the answer is no for Netflix & Hulu, & Pandora. Yes for YouTube, and Google play music. Still for 33 (or in my case 23 ) a great little tablet. Getting google play store on it was a cake walk, as was getting nova launcher.


View attachment 246933

 

[Geodude074]

Here's my Fire HD 8 with a different launcher. I haven't rooted it yet so it's kind of buggy, might just flash a ROM later this week if I have time.