Tablet Suggestions

[mundane]

Hi All.

TL;DR: Looking for an 8.0"+ Android tablet in the 200-250 range, suggestions welcome.

Details:
My old tablet (MemoPad) gave up the ghost - terrible battery life, SD card corruption, frequent reboots. I've since started using a Paperwhite for e-books and my phone for browsing, streaming video, and the occasional game.

I was hoping the rumors of Taimen indicated a mid-range tablet from Google, but those have since been dashed (both mid-range and tablet aspects).

After going really cheap on my previous tablets, I was looking for candidates in the $200 range. I've since revised that upwards closer to $250. I may have to bump it up a bit more.

I'd like something 8" or better, Android, with a good screen. I used to enjoy graphic novels on my tablet, but the 7" screen was a tad too small. I'm currently looking at the following, even though they are beyond my initial budget:
* Asus ZenPad 3S 10 ($270)
* Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8 ($300)
* MediaPad M3 8 ($300)

Does anyone have feedback on those three devices? Are there candidates I'm missing in the 200-250 range? I could hold off for a few months, if a new tablet is anticipated (whether in this range, or would coerce previous generation prices to drop).

Thanks in advance.

 

[mundane]

*bump*

 

[lupi]

Depending on how soon you need, if you watch for sales you can get the S2 in the low 200 range.

 

[lopri]

Xiaomi Mi Pad 3

Reviews are scarce but Xiaomi is a known quality at this point. I believe the SOC is the same one used in the ASUS tablet you listed. I would go with the Tab S2 because I am tired of LCD screens, but that is a rather personal criterion and I would not expect others to share my sentiment. But then again you are tired of budget tablets, and often times their subpar display panels are what ruins the experience, so you might want to take a chance at a higher quality display. The Tab S2 is known to have poor battery life, though.

 

[XMan]

I'm interested to know as well. A friend recommended the Shield K1 but they seem to be out of stock everywhere. The Xiaomi got kind of a mediocre review here:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/tablet-reviews/xiaomi-mi-pad-review/

 

[mundane]

Thank you for the responses.

 

[mundane]

Went with the S2 on sale - thank you, it is a great choice.

 

[FeuerFrei]

I just got an ASUS Zenpad 8. Replaces my water-killed Nexus 7. Hope I didn't make too many concessions on hardware.
I didn't realize it was older than the Zenpad S8.
Buuut, I don't think the S8 has a GPS chip, which eliminates it from consideration, whether it's newer or no.

These 7"-8" tablets are great due to their pocketability. If I just wanted one for around the house, I would opt for a 10".

 

[Roland00Address]

Let me start with saying I am a huge android fan, but android tablets is just not a good market anymore, with good competition and good features for the price.

At the same time getting good ipad hardware is now cheap. The 32 gb 9.7" ipad (5th gen aka the current one) is $329 MSRP, and $299 at several places not on sale (such as Walmart.com) and $269 on sale.

And if you need more than 32 gb storage for you want localized movies, or lots of big games files getting the 128 gb model means you do not have to deal with the hassle of microSD and so on.

----

Remember the 5th gen ipad model has the same soc that the iphone 6s, 6s plus, and iphone SE uses which is a damn nice soc / cpu / gpu.

 

[lupi]

I got my 10" s2 cheaper than that with a case and sd card, plus I don't have to use ios.

 

[mundane]

I actually did struggle with the Apple decision - the bulk of my coworkers (software development) are immersed in the Apple ecosystem, but all of my existing hardware / accounts / purchases reside elsewhere. If I were running the Macbook + iPhone, the decision would be obvious.

I am *really* liking the 8" form factor, especially with the screen.

 

[Roland00Address]

I got my 10" s2 cheaper than that with a case and sd card, plus I don't have to use ios.

Using iOS are you referring to the OS or the software stack separate from apple.

Lots of great tablet apps that are developed for iOS Tablet but not iOS Phone, but also android either Phone or Tablet. So if you state comparing software with tablets Apple vs Android, I actually see that as a pro Apple thing, even though I prefer Android OS to the Apple OS.

 

[Rottie]

I thought all Android tablets any size is slowly dying. I was looking 10.1 tablet to replace my crappy LG Pad F 8.0 and also I already have 12.9 IPad Pro. I don't want to hear about Samsung tablet.

 

[MichaelJD]

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8 ($300) is a bit overpriced. At least it is not in your budget range, but it is absolutely something if you ask me.

You could go for Asus Zen Pad 7-inch tablet. It is a relatively cheap tablet with some premium features, including a two-year 100 GB Google Drive Storage, light control, personal and work content customization.

 

[core2slow]

Get a used/refurbished pixel C.

 

[Oyeve]

I havent touched my Samsung Tab Pro 8.4 in at least 16 months. Its suck on Kitkat and will never go higher. While I pretty much despise apple and their ecosystem they make the best tablet. IF you know how to bypass their horrible non-file system. My tablet needs are pretty much watching movies I rip from my collection. I use SendAnywhere from my PC, android devices and send to the ipad and watch my movies on that. I occasionally web browse and read books but I dont do any serious work on it because its not a laptop/desktop capable device. And I dont do casual gaming, only serious gaming, and no tablet will ever replace that unless its a Switch type of system.

 

[artless1]

have to go with others here, the Tab S2 is an ecellent choice, both for the superior
screen resolution as well as what's under the hood, and Android offers more control over YOUR device