Best Tablet under $100 ?

Click_It on 12/11/2015 - 10:50

Yesterday I bought a Pendo Pad 7 (Quad Core - Android) and while it mostly fits the bill for my daughter, it has a weak battery but most importantly doesn't have an IPS panel, so not good for her eyes long term. I'm taking it back today (OfficeWorks). It cost $69.

The Lenovo Tab 2 A7-10 for $97 fixes the screen (IPS) and improves battery (2500mAh -> 3450mAh)

But I'm wondering if eBay options push the value envelope further? Doesn't need to be a brand name, just components comparable or superior to the above options.

This is the Lenovo specs, can we beat it for $100?

  • Screen: IPS LCD
  • Resolution: 600 x 1024
  • CPU: Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 (Mediatek MT8382M?)
  • GPU: Mali-400MP2
  • Battery: 3450 mAh
  • RAM: 1GB (8GB Internal)

Resolution doesn't necessarily need to improve (its for a child), could always do with more grunt (though it's probably fair to say this tablet isn't a slouch?), more battery life is always a winner.

One thing with the Pendo Pad 7's battery was not only the 2500 mAh but it's inability to power save, ie: it has 2 modes, IDLE and MAX which in my opinion really hurts it. I'd like a tablet that can power manage properly, if possible in this price range.

In the past I've bought refurb Nexus 7s (original) sub $100 which would fit the bill well, though they have a real problem when running dead flat (something about the digitiser if mem serves)

Let me have your feedback :)

Computing

Comments

  • droodle on 12/11/2015 - 12:44

    In the same boat .. hoping for some good feedback

  • iChopstick on 12/11/2015 - 13:24
    +1

    Got nothing to offer, but this brings back memories of the $99 Optus MyTab. How far have we come in tablet technology.

    • Cheeper on 12/11/2015 - 14:23

      Chopstick. Got one of those optus mytabs sitting in my drawer here… virtually brand new. Thought it was such a bargain and that I would have a use for one. LOL. It's in there with all the other junk I thought would be handy … :-( but bargains are fun.. :-)

  • Cheeper on 12/11/2015 - 14:12
    +1

    The 7" Lenovo seems to be the best LOCAL bang for the buck 7" at the moment. There are 2 models on offer around $97, a -10 and a -20. Not sure of the difference though.

    Here is another hot offer … HP 8 G2 8" Tab, Android 4.4 free delivery $99 Telstra. Mixed reviews… seems ok for the $. https://www.telstra.com.au/tablets/tablets-on-a-plan/hp-8-g2…
    Specs more believable from here http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-8-g2-tablet---1411

  • ykwon10 on 12/11/2015 - 14:31

    Try Graysonline if you don't mind refurb or seconds

    • Click_It on 12/11/2015 - 16:06

      I've had good luck with refurb tablets so I'll take a look. Ta

  • protozeroxx on 12/11/2015 - 15:21
    +1

    I've had that Lenovo one for a few months now. It's pretty slow for most things but it works. I'm actually super happy with the thing, I used it on a trip to play some gba roms on it on the bus rides and it plays them great. It can be a little slow browsing chrome and with some video files it might be choppy but apart from that its cool. Youtube and podcasts play fine.

  • AirJordan6s on 12/11/2015 - 15:46
    +2

    I have both Pendo Pad 7 and Lenovo Tab 2.
    I lost interest in the Pendo ($49 from Coles) due to weak battery and screen. However decided to mod it with an LG 5000mAh battery ($15) and put in some laptop speakers($4). It's now a decent sounding media tablet with screen casting. The battery will last a week before a recharge.
    The Lenovo has a much better screen, specs and battery so helps with streaming/video playback. Had no issues with lag. Installed Nova launcher. Also handy to have bluetooth and GPS. Takes a 64GB mirco sd card but needs to be formatted to fat32.
    If you get the Lenovo do not update to Lollipop 5.0 - checking Lenovo's site it's buggy and drains the battery fast from forum comments.
    Got mine from HN, paid $97 (sticker price was $148) so it's bang for buck imo!

    • Click_It on 12/11/2015 - 16:11

      Wow, hats off for modding the battery on the Pendo Pad :)

      Question, what sort of average battery life do you get from the Lenovo? Comparing 2500 with 3450 mAh is only half the story, I presume the Lenovo is smarter with its power management compared to the Pendo (tends to be IDLE or MAX and nothing in between). People were claiming around 3hrs on the Pendo average use so hopefully the Lenovo puts some distance on that.

    • jkim on 12/11/2015 - 23:57

      Think the lollipop battery issue has nothing to do with Lenovo and something to do with Lollipop itself.
      My nexus 5 only goes for ~4 hrs full to 0 since Lollipop (improved again to ~6 hrs with Marshmallow), but was ~16 hrs just before the Lollipop update.

    • scrimshaw on 13/11/2015 - 00:39

      How did you mod it? Can you share some pics?

      • AirJordan6s on 13/11/2015 - 08:20
        +1

        I followed these instructions previously posted by Mickalot
        Order a 5000mAh 367596 LG Li-ion from DHgate.com. You will need a soldering iron. You have to unsolder and solder two small wires that are very easy to access. To take off the back cover remove SD card first. Use a blunt table knife to take the back off the tablet starting at opposite ends to the power/volume buttons. Be careful that you dont break or loose the plastic power/volume button assembly. When you want to take out the old battery lift it gently and use that knife going back and forth along the tape holding it down. You have to cut or lift a piece of tape holding a cable ribbon, so the cable/ribbon sits on top of the new battery and the new battery sits close up against the speaker. The single speaker is also soldered on, I put in fitted two small speakers as there was enough room. Don't hold me responsible for any breakages etc. Aprox time 20mins max.

  • AirJordan6s on 12/11/2015 - 17:50

    Good question and probably not that easy to answer.
    For example, from 11pm last night to 5.00pm today sitting idle the Pendo dropped 2% (Wifi on) and the Lenovo dropped 6% (Wifi, GPS on)
    The Lenovo sure exceeds expectations, about 2 days with typical usage - surfing, streaming, music.
    http://www.digitalcitizen.life/reviewing-lenovo-tab-2-a7-ave…

  • droodle on 12/11/2015 - 22:42

    I've been on a mission seeing whats around .. what about this one from Telstra @ $99 ?

    HP 8 G2 - can anyone say why this isn't a decent choice for bang for your buck ?

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121668116540

    • droodle on 12/11/2015 - 23:01

      Doh .. missed the post above somehow :(

    • Cheeper on 13/11/2015 - 01:41

      Done a lot of looking the last few days and ordered one of the $99 HP's from Telstra today. It's not perfect by some reports but will be fine for what I want it for.
      I wonder if our low exchange rate may cruel any chances of seeing bargain decent spec tablets for a while?

      • Click_It on 13/11/2015 - 10:09
        +1

        Yeah it's come down to this and the Lenovo Tab 2 for me. Both look pretty comparable other than screen size and battery rating. Am slightly leaning to the Lenovo due to ease of return should it be needed.

        • Cheeper on 13/11/2015 - 11:17

          Should be able to return the HP to your local Telstra shop if needed?
          The extra ram (16g vs 8g) and larger screen made me go with the HP.
          The Lenovos do get a good wrap for reliability and quality so should have no regrets.

        • Click_It on 13/11/2015 - 14:36
          +1

          @xywolap:

          True true

          The only thing that scares me a little about the HP is quite poor battery life claimed from some reviewers. I think the Lenovo may be the winner in that regard (yeah I know screen real estate differences but there's more than just that).

          I guess at the end of the day you're right, either fit the bill for the question I asked. May just flip a coin.

  • droodle on 13/11/2015 - 11:34

    Can you buy or see them in a Telstra shop?

    • Cheeper on 13/11/2015 - 22:42

      One Telstra shop I visited did not have any and said that they were not one of their stock items. Officeworks used to stock them but they don't appear on their site anymore. I have tried one out in OW some months ago and was impressed with it.

  • droodle on 15/11/2015 - 12:40

    Pulled the trigger on the hp.. Anyone know of a good screen protector?

  • Feeblely on 16/11/2015 - 00:22

    bought a $66 win8 tablet (pendo pad 8) during ebay promotion. runs ok. can play league of legends on it lmao.

    • iChopstick on 16/11/2015 - 22:45

      Lol on a 8 inch? Damn now I wanna try.

  • droodle on 18/11/2015 - 23:41

    So i got the HP 8 G2 today .. first play . looks ok .. its substantially heavier - compared to the 7' HD ASUS memopad which i lost.

    Also the Memo pad had a screen spec of : 7" LED Backlight WXGA (1280x800) Screen IPS Panel

    And this has a spec of 7.85" diagonal IPS multitouch-enabled (1024 x 768) so a worse resolution on a bigger screen.

    One issue i can see is the picture when playing Netflix is really pixalated - i didnt think it would be that much difference

    I have also just tried some of the kids movies (disney animations etc) and they play absolutely fine.

    Battery @ 71% from full charge - have updated all apps (30 odd about 700MB), run a system update, downloaded a further 10+ apps and played a couple of games, also copied some movies to it locally and played netflix for 1 + hr so seems not too bad considering i've done all that

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