{"id":981,"date":"2016-05-31T12:03:13","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T12:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/?p=981"},"modified":"2016-05-31T12:03:13","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T12:03:13","slug":"best-budget-tablets-available-to-buy-in-the-uk-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/best-budget-tablets-available-to-buy-in-the-uk-today","title":{"rendered":"Best budget tablets available to buy in the UK today."},"content":{"rendered":"
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A couple of years ago, a good budget tablet cost about \u00a3120. It had the words \u201cTesco\u201d and \u201cHudl\u201d on the box and you could get one for half that price if you had enough Tesco Clubcard vouchers. Clearly the Hudl didn\u2019t make enough money, so Tesco made a swift exit from the tablet business.<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

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In 2016, the new budget king is Amazon. The 7in Amazon Fire costs \u00a349.99<\/a>, and it has been on sale for \u00a335 and even lower a few times. Those are crazy prices for a tablet, let alone one that has a decent screen, a microSD slot for adding more storage, and an easy-to-use operating system.<\/p>\n

It would be easy to say you\u2019re a fool for buying another tablet, but the Fire has one sticking point: it\u2019s not an Android tablet. This isn\u2019t a problem for a lot of people, but the fact that everything Google is conspicuous by its absence is a deal-breaker for others.<\/p>\n

You can find out more about the pros and cons of Amazon Fire OS in our Fire review.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n

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Android tablets<\/h3>\n

If you do decide that the Fire isn\u2019t for you, the alternative is an Android tablet. iPads don\u2019t fall into the budget category, so you\u2019ll only find those in our Best Tablets roundup.<\/p>\n

Android is a great operating system, but it doesn\u2019t follow that all cheap Android tablets are great.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of no-name brands out there, but as with most tech, you can\u2019t buy one based on specifications alone.<\/p>\n

Quad-core CPUs and \u201chigh definition\u201d screens might sound great, but what counts is how they perform in the real world. That\u2019s where our reviews come in, as we run benchmarks to assess performance and battery life, and test a screen\u2019s brightness, viewing angles and colours: none of which you can do by looking at an ebay listing or Argos catalogue.<\/p>\n

However, it does help to know what to look for when narrowing down your search.<\/p>\n

Screen<\/h3>\n

First, decide on screen size. Do you want a portable tablet with a 7in screen, or do you want something larger (and trade off portability)? We can\u2019t tell you what\u2019s best for you, but in general, a 7- or 8in screen is best if you\u2019ll take the tablet everywhere, while a 9-10in screen is good if you only need to carry it around occasionally.<\/p>\n

Look for an IPS screen, as this technology is almost a guarantee that it will have good colours and viewing angles. It doesn\u2019t say too much about brightness and contrast, but we\u2019ve seen few IPS-screened tablets that we didn\u2019t like.<\/p>\n

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\"Best<\/a><\/p>\n

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Resolution isn\u2019t as important as you might think. Pixel density is a better guide: you need fewer pixels on a smaller screen and vice versa. Look for at least 250 pixels per inch.<\/p>\n

Storage<\/strong><\/p>\n

You won’t get much storage in a budget tablet, but that’s fine if your chosen model has a microSD slot for adding more. Amazon’s (old) tablets don’t, which is one big black mark against them. The new range does, which is why we rate the \u00a349 Fire so highly.<\/p>\n

Consider 16GB a minimum:<\/strong> 8GB without a microSD card is just too restrictive because half (or more) of this can be taken up by the operating system and pre-installed apps which you might not be able to delete.<\/p>\n

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\"Best<\/div>\n
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Cameras<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most tablet cameras (let alone budget models) are relatively poor compared to the best smartphones. Don’t expect great quality photos or videos from any budget tablet, but if this is important to you always check reviews to see which tablet has the least worst cameras.<\/p>\n

Processor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don’t pay any attention to GHz numbers or even RAM. It’s easy to be fooled into believing a tablet will – or won’t – perform well based on numbers alone. Read our reviews to find out how each tablet performs in the real world.<\/p>\n

Software<\/strong><\/p>\n

As we\u2019ve said, pretty much every budget tablet around today runs Google\u2019s Android operating system.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t a bad thing though, as it\u2019s very easy to use and just as good as Apple’s iOS found on iPads.<\/p>\n

It’s rare to find out without the Google Play store these days, but do check as it’s a pain if you buy something and find out it’s not approved by Google and you can’t access Google’s apps.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Best<\/a>The operating system determines not just which apps are pre-installed, but also which you can download and use. The Google Play store has a massive selection and it\u2019s rare to find an app that\u2019s only on iPad and not available to Android users. But it does happen, particularly with apps for gadgets and smart home accessories.<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n

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Best budget tablets of 2016 UK<\/h2>\n

They may be over a year old, but you can now pick them up for less than their original price, making some a better deal.<\/p>\n

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12. Vodafone Tab Prime 6<\/a><\/h4>\n

\"Vodafone<\/a>This isn’t a bad attempt at a budget tablet with decent build and almost stock Android. If you want 4G data on the go for simple tasks then the Vodafone Tab Prime 6 isn’t a bad choice with the PAYG option. However, if you’re not going to make use of the 4G then you’re much better off going for a tablet like the Tesco Hudl 2 which is cheaper and offers much better specs. It’s the screen which is the biggest let down here.<\/p>\n

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11. Acer Icona Tab 10 A3-A20<\/a><\/h4>\n

\"Acer<\/a>There’s little to get excited about with the Acer Iconia Tab 10 but that’s fine with a very affordable price tag of \u00a3179. It’s plain in appearance and quite heavy but apart from a few too many pre-loaded apps, the tablet offers good performance and decent storage plus a handy microHDMI port. Overall it’s a good choice if you’re looking to spend under \u00a3200 on a large Android tablet.<\/p>\n

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10. Asus Memo Pad 8<\/a><\/h4>\n

\"Asus<\/a>Asus’s Memo Pad 8 tablet is stylish, well-built and plenty powerful enough for most users looking to play casual games, browse the web and carry out basic productivity tasks. It is well-worth considering at \u00a3120 (you’ll find it for that price on Amazon) if display and camera quality aren’t top of your priority list.\u00a0If you want to save a bit of extra cash and aren’t worried about loosing an inch off the display, we’d recommend opting for the smaller but very similarly specced Asus Memo Pad 7, which you’ll find for under \u00a3100 if you shop around.<\/p>\n

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9. Asus Memo Pad 7 (ME176CX)<\/a><\/h4>\n

\"Asus<\/a>For just \u00a3120, we’re really impressed with the Asus Memo Pad 7. In addition to a good-looking design and sturdy build, it also boasts hardware that rivals tablets with much higher price tags. A higher-resolution screen and front-facing speakers would add even more appeal, but if you’re looking for a budget tablet and have been considering the Tesco Hudl, Kindle Fire HD or even the Nexus 7, it’s worth investigating the Asus Memo Pad 7, too.<\/p>\n

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8. Asus ZenPad C 7.0<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Asus<\/a>The Asus ZenPad C 7.0 is a fine tool for carrying in your bag wherever you go and using to check emails and social media and browse the web. Beyond that its functionality is limited, but what more can you expect from an \u00a380 tablet? If you can stretch to the \u00a399 Hudl 2 you will find a noticeable jump in performance, but the Asus is the more portable of the two.<\/p>\n

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7. Chuwi Hi12<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Chuwi<\/a>At under \u00a3200 the Chuwi Hi12 is a fantastic Windows 10 tablet with a large, high-resolution screen and capable \u2013 if not fast \u2013 performance.\u00a0Battery life is excellent and the design is mostly good, but if you plump for the optional keyboard consider yourself warned about the trackpad.<\/p>\n

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6. LG G Pad 8.3<\/a><\/h4>\n

\"LG<\/a>The G Pad 8.3 is undoubtedly LG’s best tablet to date and at \u00a3199 it’s a bit of a steal. A nice selection of hardware and software make this a great choice for a small tablet. However, occasionally laggy performance means the Nexus 7 might be a better choice.<\/p>\n

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5. Chuwi HiBook<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Chuwi<\/a>At \u00a3143.42 it’s difficult to find fault in a 10in tablet that can handle most tasks and offers both Android and Windows operating systems. We strongly recommend you purchase the optional keyboard for the extra functionality it affords, including two full-size USB ports, but even without it the Chuwi HiBook is a very decent budget tablet, with acceptable performance and a decent screen.<\/p>\n

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4. Amazon Fire HD 6<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Amazon<\/a>It isn’t perfect, but the HD 6 is really good value. Performance is well above the level you’d expect at this price, as is the quality of the screen. Some might find the 6in screen too small, though, so it’s worth trying to track one down before buying.<\/p>\n

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3. Nexus 7 (2013)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Nexus<\/a>The 2013 flavour of the Nexus 7 is no longer available from Google. But shop around and you can find it in various online stores, at a great low price. Arguably the Hudl 2 offers a similar blend of value and quality, and may even be a bit faster. But you are unlikely to notice, and although the Nexus 7 is still lacking a microSD card slot, for many people will be the best 7in tablet around. It may even be the best value tablet there is.<\/p>\n

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2. Tesco Hudl 2<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n

\"Tesco<\/a>One of the best budget Android tablets to date, Tesco has done the unthinkable and stopped selling its Hudl 2. It’s still a great deal where available, but be warned that many people are selling it at almost double its \u00a399 price at Tesco – just because they can. If you can find one, and even with the complaints about charging and cracked screens, we can still recommend the Hudl 2. Tesco will continue to support its tablet, and the great screen, decent processor and microSD card slot make this an excellent tablet.<\/p>\n

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1. Amazon Fire<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Amazon<\/a>It’s certainly not perfect, and the lack of Google apps will still put some people off, but the Fire is excellent value at under \u00a350. The latest Fire OS is so Android-like that it’s easy to use, and the Fire for Kids app makes it possible to limit what you kids can do and how long they can use the tablet. For some people it’s well worth paying double for the Kids Edition version as you get the bumper case and the great warranty. There are some sore points: the poor cameras, the sluggish performance at times, and the long charging time. But at this price it’s hard to complain. And you certainly won’t find a better tablet for the same money.<\/p>\n

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A couple of years ago, a good budget tablet cost about \u00a3120. It had the words \u201cTesco\u201d and \u201cHudl\u201d on the box and you could get one for half that price if you had enough Tesco Clubcard vouchers. Clearly the Hudl didn\u2019t make enough money, so Tesco made a swift exit from the tablet business. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[22],"class_list":["post-981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-tablets"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=981"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":984,"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/981\/revisions\/984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cameraexchangestore.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}