• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Good tablet for less than 300?

JnEricsonx

Android Enthusiast
Jun 1, 2011
470
15
Just wondering, I mean, I know its not Android, but I saw a sale in which a 32 gig Blackberry PLaybook was going for under 200, so, I'm just curious. Obviously, if its a good tablet no matter what I'll probably like it, my first and only smartphone to date is still my HTC Thunderbolt and I love that sucker.
 
No, fair enough, Im just looking for ideas at the moment, I guess I was suprised since the Playbook said it was marked down from like 350 to 180 so I was curious. What about the Kindle Fire, since thats in the 200 range also? The onboard storage doesnt bother me on these tablets as long as I can stick in a microSD for extra.
 
Upvote 0
No, fair enough, Im just looking for ideas at the moment, I guess I was suprised since the Playbook said it was marked down from like 350 to 180 so I was curious. What about the Kindle Fire, since thats in the 200 range also? The onboard storage doesnt bother me on these tablets as long as I can stick in a microSD for extra.

well then you will not like the fire hd as it does not have a micro sd card slot.....so that rules that out....lol

i really think you will like the nexus 7......best 7" out in the market.

there was a reason why the BB playbook has been marked down so much...lol
 
Upvote 0
Now, Im also guessing the screen is a bit smaller obviously, though my sister got one of the new Ipads, and while cool to see, it is kinda big, I'd be worried about something that big.

yeah it is a 7" tablet its a tad smaller then the ipad mini. and yeah it is available online. but i had no idea it was at staples and office max. you should take a trip out there and try it out and see how you like it.
 
Upvote 0
Well, I also, if I get lucky, I see there's the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, thats 10 inches, anyone have any experience with that?

its a dual core processor....not too bad actually. it feels a little clunky and slow at times. but you can't beat the price. samsung still makes the 7" and the 10.1" but soon they will go eol and you will probably not see them around any more. the note 10.1 is better, since it has a quad core processor, but more expensive.
 
Upvote 0
If you're OK w/ICS,the XYBOARD 8.2 by MOTOROLA could probably be found as a refurbished tablet for somewhere near your price range.

It has the size you may be most content with,@ 8.2",but,don't buy it w/the expectation of ANDROID 4.1.1 ever making the scene,whether via MOTOROLA or community development.

Might wanna check here for the diehard MOTOROLA tablet enthusiasts,if this piques your interest:

http://www.xoomforums.com
 
Upvote 0
All right, so, it looks like part of my decision of what type to get partially depends on if, as Verizon unlimited data user with a Thunderbolt, I can still get unlimited hotspot so I can use my phone to piggyback the internet for my tablet-now some have said I can still get that, if anyone knows what to do, let me know. If not, then I'm either stuck with wifi, or if I get a Xoom or the like that already has the 4g upgrade and maybe get the 30 bucks 2 gig data plan which I think still exists, so, any suggestions would be good, such as do most of you tablet users rely on wifi alone?
 
Upvote 0
All right, so, it looks like part of my decision of what type to get partially depends on if, as Verizon unlimited data user with a Thunderbolt, I can still get unlimited hotspot so I can use my phone to piggyback the internet for my tablet-now some have said I can still get that, if anyone knows what to do, let me know. If not, then I'm either stuck with wifi, or if I get a Xoom or the like that already has the 4g upgrade and maybe get the 30 bucks 2 gig data plan which I think still exists, so, any suggestions would be good, such as do most of you tablet users rely on wifi alone?

i think the hotspot will be a separate plan. i think it is $30 a month or something like that. it would be nice if it fell under the unlimited plan. the only way you might be able to get around that is if you root your phone.
 
Upvote 0
http://phandroid.com/tablets/

There's quite a few good Android tablets for under $300. You have choices based on what matters to you.

I prefer the N7 because of the screen (viewing angles are great) and it's a Nexus device (more updates). I got the 32gb so I don't think I would need an expandable memory slot.

So it really depends on your wants and needs.

Here's a list of tablets so you can decide. I'd suggest to stick with Acer, Asus, Moto and Toshiba when buying a tablet. That's strictly my opinion though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ocnbrze
Upvote 0
Yeah, seems like my main looks are the Nexus 7, the Xoom, and the Galaxy Tab 2 all in terms of cost. I just wish I could find out about if people under the unlimited data still got unlimited hotspot barring calling up Verizon themselves. I mean, Im just wondering how much I'd want to need direct internet access on this thing, assuming I even am able to get it.
 
Upvote 0
as for the BlackBerry, i had a Curve once, and it was pretty useless. thing locked up often (RIM invented 'battery pulls' as a term) took ages to reboot afterwards, and the app store had very little compared to Apple's and Android's app markets. while sure, i could have Facebook, Pandora and the like, there was zero Netflix, zero Angry Birds, hardly any games (and many of them lousy ripoffs), required a BIS account, well let's say it had less than 1/3 the apps i use daily available. that is what counted me out of the Playbook and other RIM offerings. RIM has an older business model, their smartphones and tablets are for the type who edit and write documents, share stuff online via Facebook and Twitter, may listen to some internet radio, and tap out sms texts a lot. they're not for the demographic set by Android or Apple's iOS. quite honestly, i do believe RIM is pretty dead. they are like dead last on the list of mobile OS users, behind Apple and Android
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones