Recommend a Rootable Tablet

brettule on 12/02/2019 - 20:51

Hi there OZB hive mind, I'm wondering if you can recommend me an Android tablet or two for me. I've long been too tight to buy a tablet, "my 5" Google Pixel is fine for watching movies on" I'd say. I still love my Pixel but I think its time I add to my devices. So, what I'm after is:

  • It will only be for use in the house to use instead of the work laptop, so only needs wifi.
  • I want to be able to watch HD movies on it while I'm lazing about, so a GPU that can handle that.
  • Min 10" screen. I want to be able to lay on the couch or bed and watch some netflix or an mkv file without squinting.
  • Aside from that, I'm not really into tablet gaming so the only other thing I'd use it for are web surfing and reading PDFs/news sites/etc.
  • Something I can root and ROM so that it can last. I love keeping my old hardware going by breathing new life into it with firmware and ROMs.

Cheers

Computing Tablet Android

Comments

  • nocure on 12/02/2019 - 21:02
    +20

    Viagra

    nocure on 12/02/2019 - 21:02 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
    • pegaxs on 12/02/2019 - 22:48
      +5

      Came here for this comment, and was not disappointed…

  • stratbargain on 12/02/2019 - 21:03
    +6

    As a die hard Android user and advocate my advice would be to get an iPad or if you must, get a Surface or similar.

    The Android tablet range are kind of sucky.

  • dylo on 12/02/2019 - 21:06
    +4

    Something I can root

    I just came for the inappropriate comments.

    dylo on 12/02/2019 - 21:06 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • Pecan on 12/02/2019 - 21:11
    +3

    For those seeking the tl;dr version:
    Looking for something rootable, min. 10".

    Pecan on 12/02/2019 - 21:11 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
    • bobbified on 12/02/2019 - 22:42
      +1

      min. 10"

      …around?

  • Pecan on 12/02/2019 - 21:17
    +4

    I am an android user through and through but there just aren’t any worthwhile android tablets out there, I’m afraid. I bought an iPad Pro 11” and it’s been great for pretty much everything you’ve mentioned. (Except for rooting, 11” is just….too much)

  • psyren89 on 12/02/2019 - 21:18

    The only thing I can think of is an old Nexus 10.

  • aussieprepper on 12/02/2019 - 21:43
    +1

    Just in time for valentines day?

  • Switchblade88 on 12/02/2019 - 22:11
    +3

    I'll change tack on you, and suggest a convertible Chromebook.

    E.g. the Acer R11 C738T, or the Spin 11.

    • 12"
    • Wifi
    • 10 hour battery life
    • REALLY good longevity for updates
    • Android app compatible
    • Touchscreen
    • Folds 360 to tablet mode
    • And the most important OzB feature - it's cheap! $420 delivered for my last R11 (I've bought quite a few now…).

    The other best alternative is an iPad on an Optus bundle - but that means $35ish a month with data you may or may not need, so YMMV.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 13/02/2019 - 08:40

      Another vote for convertible chromebook here. Far more useful.

  • bobbified on 12/02/2019 - 22:41
    +4

    a rootable tablet

    But I've never seen a tablet with a hole in the middle…

    bobbified on 12/02/2019 - 22:41 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
    • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2019 - 23:05
      +3

      Lifesavers?

    • John Kimble on 12/02/2019 - 23:38
      +1

      Perhaps the OP is female and needing the opposite…

    • psyren89 on 13/02/2019 - 01:28

      You haven't seen the Fleshlight bolt-on?

    • Nugs on 13/02/2019 - 06:33

      did you just assume OP's genitalia?
      it's 2019 don't you know….
      .

  • [Deactivated] on 13/02/2019 - 00:45
    +1

    I want to be able to lay on the couch or bed and watch some netflix or an mkv.

    Make sure you don't get anything heavy for this. I guess most, are fairly light these days.
    The amount of times I woke to having falling asleep watching someone on original ipad1, and then wake to it thwacking me in the face. Lol. I guess things like the surface pro are still heavy like this.
    If you never fall asleep with it, no issue though. Similarly not an issue, for those that enjoy being woken with a heavy smack to the face :)

  • eug on 13/02/2019 - 01:39
    +2

    I'd suggest a used Tab S3 for its really nice AMOLED screen, slim design, and light weight, but it's a 4:3 screen.

    A Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 would be nice too. 16:9 with longer battery life and standby time.
    Huawei doesn't officially give out bootloader unlock codes anymore, but you can obtain them from third parties, or cheap from dc-unlocker if it's running on an old ROM.

  • Seraphin7 on 13/02/2019 - 09:11

    You'll need one with a multi-port docking station.

    Seraphin7 on 13/02/2019 - 09:11 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • MiniMoo on 13/02/2019 - 10:54
    +1

    Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Plus from an overseas seller.
    https://www.mi.com/mipad4/specs/ (Chinese only. Try google translate.)
    https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_pad_4_plus-9295.php (English)
    Relevant:
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/xiaomi-mi-pad-4
    https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/2734829

  • [Deactivated] on 13/02/2019 - 15:22
    +1

    This one is a rootable.

    [Deactivated] on 13/02/2019 - 15:22 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • [Deactivated] on 13/02/2019 - 19:29

    Lenovo has a decent tablet range. Check it out here and see which one suits your needs.

  • NeBlackCat on 17/02/2019 - 16:52
    +1

    There are any number of decent and cheap (especially if you wait for flash sales) chinese 10.1" tablets available from the usual Chinese etailers (gearbest, banggood, etc), with 2560x1600 IPS displays, that can do what you want and more. I'd start off looking at the reviews of alldocube, teclast and chuwi products on techtablets.com (and his youtube channel) and mynexttablet.com.

    For example here's one for AU$280. Ten inch 2560x1600 (16:10 - what tablets should always be) Sharp IPS display, hexacore 2.1ghz CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB flash, Android 7, 2G and 5G wifi, HDMI output, fingerprint reader, GPS (but no h/w compass), good build quality. I assume it's rootable as their 8.4" version is. Video review here.

    BTW 10 inch tablets are really hard to hold for any length of time. I find 8.4 inchers much easier to hold (oooeeer matron), and mine works great for bedtime viewing too (which is important as I'm an insomniac) - I simply stand it on a short edge on my bedside table, facing the bed, and watch it lying on my side from about a foot away. Works really well and doesn't disturb the missus.

    And keep in mind that Chinese tablets typically lack the DRM necessary to show Netflix in HD. But on a 10" screen, SD is fine.

    Also keep in mind that being rootable doesn't mean there are ROMs available from 3rd parties. I frankly wouldn't bother, for a tablet that you're just using for content consumption.

    • NeBlackCat on 17/02/2019 - 19:44

      A similar but cheaper (AU$250) one which also has phone/LTE & Android 8 is this, reviewed here

  • eug on 17/02/2019 - 17:15

    The Tab S5e will be out soon. It's an expensive midrange tablet at US$399, but it does come with a nice 16:10 2560x1600 Super AMOLED screen, 5.5mm thickness, and long battery life.

    https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-tab-s5e-takes-on-ap…

    • NeBlackCat on 17/02/2019 - 17:22

      Good price/performance for a Sammy, but what exactly justifies paying twice as much for it compared to the Teclast T10 that I linked to above?

      There are no real huge advantages imho. Sure everything about it is a bit better, but imho that doesn't justify double the price if, for half the price, what you get is more than good enough.

      I am an utter tightwad though.

      • eug on 17/02/2019 - 18:41

        but what exactly justifies paying twice as much for it compared to the Teclast T10 that I linked to above?

        As with everything it's subjective as it depends on how you use it, but looking at the specs:

        • S5e has a Super AMOLED screen - very good for media consumption. Black is black, which is especially noticeable if you're watching in bed with the lights off.
        • Processor and GPU is 2 generations newer - good for games
        • Android 9 instead of Android 7
        • Will get Android 10 without having to fiddle with custom ROMs
        • Will get security updates for at least 2 years
        • No Widevine DRM issues so Netflix can run at full res - you will see a difference on a 2560x1600 screen when it's only 10" away from your face
        • Slimmer, more modern design
        • 37% lighter weight - 400g vs 550g

        Of course, if the Teclast does everything you need it to do, then that's better as it's cheaper. The Mi Pad 4 Plus is another alternative which would sit in between the Teclast and S5e.

        • NeBlackCat on 17/02/2019 - 19:32

          Like I said, everything is a bit better (for double the price), but nothing is individually 200% better, and the sum total certainly isn't (imho). The Sharp IGZO IPS screens are at least as good as the SAMOLEDs, btw.

          • eug on 17/02/2019 - 22:15

            @NeBlackCat:

            Like I said, everything is a bit better

            Yes, like I said, "better" is subjective. I would happily pay an extra $280 or so to get a tablet that's 2 generations newer, running the latest OS with 2 years of guaranteed updates, 37% lighter weight, nicer build, no DRM issues, etc.

            I'm not trying to change your mind - I understand that cheaper tablets can be totally suitable for some people's use cases. But you need to understand that some people might value certain features a lot more than you might. Someone who uses their tablet in bed every single night might highly value the 37% lighter weight of the S5e for example, and be willing to pay an extra $280 just for that alone.

            Otherwise everybody would be using a Nokia 8 instead of a Pocophone/OnePlus/Mi/Samsung etc.

            • NeBlackCat on 17/02/2019 - 22:55

              @eug: The OP wants something >=10" for watching movies, web browsing and reading PDFs in the house. No gaming or desktop experience. You'd have to be mad to wait until April to pay AU$600 for that, when you could pay AU$250 now for something now that's still > what you need.

              • eug on 17/02/2019 - 23:15

                @NeBlackCat: Don't forget the other things the OP mentioned too - HD movies and a tablet that can last. With the Teclast OP would be stuck with SD Netflix and Amazon video. And buying a 2-generation old tablet now means it wouldn't last as long as buying a current-generation tablet.

                I've used many tablets for PDFs and can tell you that many tablets are pretty awful at it. Jerky, stuttery scrolling and zooming isn't uncommon. If I were looking for a tablet for PDFs I'd definitely be getting the most powerful I can afford as I really dislike jerky interfaces.

                I wasn't telling the OP that the S5e is the tablet to get, I was just providing options. I even mentioned outright that it's expensive.

                • NeBlackCat on 20/02/2019 - 18:03
                  +3

                  @eug: True, Chinese tablets don't have the DRM for HD Netflix, but I defy you to spot the difference (over SD) on a mobile device at anything greater than nose length. MKVs will of course display at full resolution.

                  Here's a speadsheet I recently did for looking at tablet options for myself. Look at the TechTablets Youtube channel reviews (links in "Revs" column). He's thorough, and usually checks PDF reading (something that's important to me). They generally do it fine - the CPUs have enough grunt, and the displays (generally fully laminated 2560x1600 IPS, some even Sharp IGZOs) do a great job on the detail.

                  Look at the best prices. Around a third to a fifth of big name brands, when you pounce on one of the neverending flash sales. You could update to the latest model every year and still spend less than upgrading a big name unit every 4 or 5 years. Not that you'd need to, unless your requirements had shot upwards.

                  Excellent buys on that list, as of today's prices, are shown in bolded red, though I'm mainly interested in 8.4" models. I've found that size an ideal compromise for everything, including media consumption in bed (or even, when there's cricket on from overseas, in the bath with the judicious use of a medium size glad bag to protect against steam and water).

                  These devices aren't 2 generations old at all. They're cheap because of the 80/20 rule. They do 80% of everything the expensive ones do, while compromising on only 20% of component specs (mainly CPU performance, flash rw performance, power efficiency, fast charging, DRM licensing, speakers, tracking new Android releases). Displays, battery capacity, memory and flash size are more or less at parity.

                  And I'd still rather have an IGZO screen than a SAMOLED. Build quality is generally comparable (well, China makes everything anyway). In fact, I looked with horror at a Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 at $1400 with double sided glass that shatters if you drop it, and gets covered in oily crap if you don't. None of the Chinese tablets are that bad.

                  Don't get me wrong, the Samsung you mention looks like a great product at (for once, for them) a reasonable price. But the OP still doesn't need to spend anywhere near even that.

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