Want the best budget Android tablet this Christmas? If you know an iPad costs just too gosh darn much, have a gander at these Google flavoured stocking filler slates instead, and weigh up your options.
Advent Vega
There’s no question that the Advent Vega is the best budget Android tablet yet. For just 250 smackers, you get a 10-inch capacitive touchscreen, Tegra 2 horsepower to burn through apps, and it’s easily hackle to add proper Google apps like the Android Market to it.
Unfortunately, it being the best budget Android tablet, it’s also sold out right now. your best bet is eBay, but unfortunately, they’re going for more than £350 at the moment. Makes the iPad a tad more tempting, doesn’t it?
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ViewSonic ViewPad 7
The ViewSonic ViewPad 7 might seem like a great idea on paper. It’s a 7-inch number just like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, so it’s seriously portable, and it has 3G and access to the Android Market for the full Google experience. But CNET found that the screen was a let down, with a 800×480 resolution stretched just too far, and found the lack of Flash (because the 60MHz CPU is too feeble) a real let down.
The ViewSonic ViewPad 7 is around £130 cheaper than both the 3G iPad and Galaxy Tab…But, while it has a good range of features, its low-resolution screen, relatively slow processor and lack of Flash support mean you’ll have to think carefully about whether it meets your requirements,” said Niall Magennis.
Elonex eTouch 1000ET
We said that Elonex’s line of Android tablets sure looked like iPad knockoffs when they were announced back at IFA, but surprisingly, they’re slightly more than cheap imitations. In fact, if you’re struggling to get hold of a Vega, at £159 the Elonex eTouch 1000ET might just be the best budget Android tablet to get this Christmas. It runs Android 2.1, so Flash is out of the picture, but the keyboard was pleasingly responsive, TechRadar found. For browsing the internet on a 10-inch screen without much hassle, that might be all you need.
Next 10-inch tablet
This one makes our best budget Android tablet roundup on price and nothing else – save perhaps that it’s readily available. £180 for a 10-inch Android tablet with Wi-Fi sounds like a great deal. But in practice, it’s not: the Beeb’s Rory Cellan-Jones described it thusly: “If this was a pair of jeans, you’d be taking it back to the shop.” Ouch. On the plus side, you can walk into your high street Next and pick one up.
And some other options….
These models haven’t been reviewed just yet – really, there are a lot of them about – but if you simply must have a budget Android tablet this Christmas, even if it isn’t the best budget Android tablet, you could try these:
Maplin 7-inch Android 2.1 tablet, £159.99
Doesn’t have a proper name, and since it’s got a resistive touchscreen, we highly doubt it’s multitouch as claimed either. But HDMI out and a 800MHz CPU aren’t so bad.
Elonex 7-inch Android tablet, £97
This is certainly the most budget Android tablet this Christmas. You can pick it up for under £100 at Asda, but be warned: it’s running Android 1.6, and ancient version of the OS.
