Best Tablets for the Money 2014
Traveling
to technology expos I've had the chance to see just about every good
tablet on the market. The future looks pretty bright as tablets become
more capable and continue to take space from the laptop and PC sector.
In this post I'll go over a few of my favorite tablets for the money and give you an idea of what you can expect from them in 2014.
In this post I'll go over a few of my favorite tablets for the money and give you an idea of what you can expect from them in 2014.
Kindle Fire HD vs. Google Nexus Tablet
Google Nexus Tablet Vs. Kindle Fire HD
Best 7 Inch Tablet for Late 2014?
Late 2014 there are two major new competitors in the 7 inch tablet space to consider. Here's a breakdown of each:Google Nexus 7 Tablet:
The new Google Nexus tablet is super fast with the new Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz processor. You can decide upon a 16 or 32 GB version and it comes with the latest Android OS 4.3 (Honeycomb) installed. The screen is a 1900 x 1200 IPS display which has a durable scratch resistant glass. With the Nexus you get access to both Amazon and Google Play's App stores.
Additional feature include; Microphone, NFC (Android Beam), Accelerometer, GPS, Magnetometer, Gyroscope, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, 1.2MP front-facing camera (Rear 5MP auto focus), and the battery life lasts up to 9 hours.
Google Nexus 7 Tablet (7-Inch, 32GB, Black) by ASUS (2013)
Asus Infinity Tablet
Best 10.1 Inch Android Tablet 2014
Asus Infinity TF700T-B1-GR
After having read a lot about the performance of the new Infinity tablet from Asus I decided to take the plunge and purchase the 32GB version. While you might not have heard of Asus before, they are certainly a quality manufacturer who has had success in the computer hardware industry for many years. They are a bestseller of both motherboards and computer monitors and continually push the limit with their products while always providing a fair price. The Asus Infinity TF700T-B1-GR is certainly no exception to the rule and for the money is my pick for the best 10.1 inch Android tablet for late 2012.High Resolution IPS Screen:
The screen is crystal clear with an incredible 1920 x 1200 IPS screen. If you use the IPS mode, then it's super easy to use even when you're outside in the daylight. The processor, a NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core T33@ 1.6GHz, makes applications and multitasking more smooth than I've experienced on any other tablet. The cameras, a 2 megapixel (front); 8.0 megapixel (rear), aren't quite as clear as a compact digital camera, but they are certainly clear enough to share with your friends and family.
Overall: This tablet is as good as advertised and I much prefer it to competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 in the same price range. I also like the flexibility I get and integrated flash support when compared to the New iPad.
What's the Best New Tablet of 2014?
New Tablets for 2012
Don't just take my word for it. Which is the tablet you'd like to own this year?
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
Older Budget Tablets - Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
For
those that need a tablet for business purposes, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1"
is a good choice. It's very comparable to the Ipad 2, but slightly less
expensive. If you're already using an Android phone, using this tablet
will enable you to sync with your phone so you don't have to re-download
all your apps and programs.
This tablet makes a great laptop replacement for those who need something super portable. While the 30-pin connector port makes things a little more difficult to transfer via cable or card, it doesn't seem to pose much of a problem. To me, it is a lot easier to transfer files via Wi-Fi and not fumbling around with micro SD cards.
The Samsung Galaxy Tablet's 10.1" widescreen display is impressive and boasts a 1280 x 800 HD resolution. At approximately 1.2 pounds it is lightweight and easy to hold. Users will love its strong, sturdy feel, which is surprising because it is so thin! The touch screen is easy to use and has just the right amount of sensitivity.
The Honeycomb operating system doesn't leave a very big footprint, so you have more room for storage. One of the best things about the Android/Honeycomb operating system is that it allows you to customize your tablet. You can add widgets, pick new browsers, add your own wallpaper, truly make it your own and to your own tastes. There is a lot more freedom on the Honeycomb than there is on the Ipad 2.
With two cameras, 3 MP rear-facing camera and a VGA front-facing camera, you can take HD video, 3MP stills or video chat with friends and family. The widescreen ratio of the Galaxy enables you to easily watch movies without all the wasted space at the top and bottom. This means the picture is larger and easier to see.
Overall: The Galaxy Tab 2 isn't the newest model out there but it still hangs in there as far as value is concerned. The New Asus Infinity Tablet has a higher resolution and better processor, but is considerably more in price.
This tablet makes a great laptop replacement for those who need something super portable. While the 30-pin connector port makes things a little more difficult to transfer via cable or card, it doesn't seem to pose much of a problem. To me, it is a lot easier to transfer files via Wi-Fi and not fumbling around with micro SD cards.
The Samsung Galaxy Tablet's 10.1" widescreen display is impressive and boasts a 1280 x 800 HD resolution. At approximately 1.2 pounds it is lightweight and easy to hold. Users will love its strong, sturdy feel, which is surprising because it is so thin! The touch screen is easy to use and has just the right amount of sensitivity.
The Honeycomb operating system doesn't leave a very big footprint, so you have more room for storage. One of the best things about the Android/Honeycomb operating system is that it allows you to customize your tablet. You can add widgets, pick new browsers, add your own wallpaper, truly make it your own and to your own tastes. There is a lot more freedom on the Honeycomb than there is on the Ipad 2.
With two cameras, 3 MP rear-facing camera and a VGA front-facing camera, you can take HD video, 3MP stills or video chat with friends and family. The widescreen ratio of the Galaxy enables you to easily watch movies without all the wasted space at the top and bottom. This means the picture is larger and easier to see.
Overall: The Galaxy Tab 2 isn't the newest model out there but it still hangs in there as far as value is concerned. The New Asus Infinity Tablet has a higher resolution and better processor, but is considerably more in price.
Kindle Fire vs. iPad 2
Kindle Fire vs. Ipad
iPad 2 Vs. the 1st Generation Amazon Kindle Fire
Apple's Ipad has long been the world's most popular tablet. The Kindle Fire is about to give it a run for its money. With a low $199 price tag, most families will be able to afford this amazing tablet. It is very comparable to an Ipad 2; the Fire is only missing a few of the less frequently used functions.Screen
The Kindle Fire is smaller than the Ipad 2. The Fire's touch screen is 7" compared to the Ipad's 9.7". Many people prefer the Fire as the smaller size makes it more portable and easier to hold in one hand. Also in its favor is the screen resolution. At 169 pixels per inch compared to the Ipad's 132, the Fire gives you a much clearer picture and sharper image.
Storage
The Fire's storage capacity is 8GB compared to the Ipad's 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB. Amazon deals with this by giving you 5GB of free storage on their Cloud servers. If you need more space, you can buy extra storage plans that work out to $1 per GB per year. On the Cloud you can store books, movies, pictures, mp3's, etc and access them from your Fire or any other computer with Internet connection. This is a very cheap way to back up some of your most important files.
What about Applications?
Also important to note is the difference in available apps. The Fire can use apps from the Amazon market. There are approximately 15,000 apps available. However, the Ipad 2 has over 90,000 apps available from the Apple store. The most popular apps like Hulu+, Netflix, ESPN ScoreCenter are available on the Fire. Also available are fun games like Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies. If you don't use too many apps or only use the most popular ones, the Kindle Fire would be perfect for you and cost $300 less than the Ipad 2. There is some speculation that with the release and popularity of the Fire, more developers will be releasing apps onto the Amazon market, so watch for an increase in available apps.
Camera
Lastly, there is no camera available on the Kindle Fire like there is on the Ipad 2. This means no video chatting and no picture taking. If this is not a feature you need, you can easily get by without it. Some people don't need it and saving $300 is worth it to them.
iPad 2 and Kindle Fire Similarities
Those are the ways in which the Apple Ipad 2 beats out the Kindle Fire. Now lets talk about ways they are equal. They are both backlit like a regular computer. The Fire differs from the other Kindles in this manner. This could potentially strain your eyes if you are staring at the Fire or Ipad 2 for extended periods of time.
They both have a fast, dual core processor. They both have Wi-Fi capabilities and can quickly browse the web. There is an option to buy an Ipad 2 that is 3G capable, but it is going to add an additional $130 to the price. The battery on the Fire can last about 8 hours; the battery on the Ipad 2 can last about 7.5 hours. They both do a great job playing movies and mp3's. While the screen resolution on the Fire is better, that's not to say that the resolution on the Ipad 2 is bad. With a Kindle app available on Ipads, downloading books from Amazon is quick and easy for both tablets. Apple is now offering iCloud, which is practically the same thing as Amazon's Cloud. It lets you store your movies, mp3's, pictures, word documents, etc on Apple's server. They also give you 5GB of free storage. However, if you would like to purchase more storage, it works out to $2 per GB per year.
Overall
In conclusion, if you're looking for a tablet that will let you use media (streaming videos, books, movies, music, word documents, etc) plus some fun games and apps, the Kindle will be perfect for you. Its low cost makes it easily accessible and fun for the whole family to use. The Ipad 2 has a few extra functions that make it a smaller computer; only you can decide if it's worth the $300+. If you need apps that are only available on the Apple store or if you need a more portable computer and you can afford the higher price, the Ipad 2 is probably a better choice for you.
Motorola Xoom
Motorola Xoom
This
amazing tablet operates on Android's user-friendly Honeycomb OS. The
interface offers 5 customizable home screens, a virtual keyboard, voice
commands, and pinch to zoom.
It offers Google Maps, Mail, Talk and YouTube. You can play music, watch videos, take pictures, surf the web-all things you can do on most tablets.
What makes this tablet special? Well for starters, the Honeycomb operating system is not only customizable, but offers you so much freedom. You don't have to do everything through iTunes. You can transfer what you want. The mini USB port can plug you're your computer and the tablet acts like a hard drive; just move your files where you want them. You can pick your preferred programs by downloading certain apps. Widgets and personalized wallpaper make your tablet "space" your own.
With a 10.1" wide screen, this tablet allows a better movie watching experience than the Ipad 2. On the Ipad, the ratio is more like a TV screen, so any widescreen movie you watch will be smaller. The weight of the Xoom is 730 grams, which is a little heavier than the Ipad 2, but it's not noticeable unless you try to hold it in one hand for an extended period of time. The battery can get 8-9 hours of heavy use. The Ipad 2 gets about 10.
The Xoom has an easy to use multitasking feature. With the touch of a button you can see the five most recently used apps and can switch back and forth. The Chrome browser allows you to have multiple tabs open in one window. You can also search directly from the address bar. Searching the web is fast and straightforward.
It offers Google Maps, Mail, Talk and YouTube. You can play music, watch videos, take pictures, surf the web-all things you can do on most tablets.
What makes this tablet special? Well for starters, the Honeycomb operating system is not only customizable, but offers you so much freedom. You don't have to do everything through iTunes. You can transfer what you want. The mini USB port can plug you're your computer and the tablet acts like a hard drive; just move your files where you want them. You can pick your preferred programs by downloading certain apps. Widgets and personalized wallpaper make your tablet "space" your own.
With a 10.1" wide screen, this tablet allows a better movie watching experience than the Ipad 2. On the Ipad, the ratio is more like a TV screen, so any widescreen movie you watch will be smaller. The weight of the Xoom is 730 grams, which is a little heavier than the Ipad 2, but it's not noticeable unless you try to hold it in one hand for an extended period of time. The battery can get 8-9 hours of heavy use. The Ipad 2 gets about 10.
The Xoom has an easy to use multitasking feature. With the touch of a button you can see the five most recently used apps and can switch back and forth. The Chrome browser allows you to have multiple tabs open in one window. You can also search directly from the address bar. Searching the web is fast and straightforward.
Acer Iconia 7-Inch
Acer Iconia 7"
For
those who like the size and portability of the Kindle Fire but would
prefer a customizable interface and access to the Android App market,
this tablet is the perfect fit.
You can easily fit this tablet into your purse, you can use it for all your media needs: music, videos, ebooks, etc. The Honeycomb operating system lets you add widgets, customize your wallpaper, move folders and apps and choose your own function apps. For example, if you don't like the browser app that comes standard, you can easily download another.
This tablet has 8GB of hard drive space like the Fire. Unlike the Fire, you can get up to 32 more gigs with a micro SD card. Use as many of these cards as you like and you don't have to pay for extra storage space every year.
The cameras on this tablet are quite impressive. The rear camera boasts a 5MP auto focus camera with LED flash. The front camera boasts 2MP for clear video chats.
It has a 1ghz dual core processor and 512mb of ram, making it a very fast and very responsive tablet. It is competitively priced; more affordable than the bigger, fancier tablets, but it really gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
There are only a few downsides to this tablet. First, the battery doesn't seem to last very long with high usage-approximately five hours. Second, there is no kickstand. Besides that, this tablet is worth every penny.
You can easily fit this tablet into your purse, you can use it for all your media needs: music, videos, ebooks, etc. The Honeycomb operating system lets you add widgets, customize your wallpaper, move folders and apps and choose your own function apps. For example, if you don't like the browser app that comes standard, you can easily download another.
This tablet has 8GB of hard drive space like the Fire. Unlike the Fire, you can get up to 32 more gigs with a micro SD card. Use as many of these cards as you like and you don't have to pay for extra storage space every year.
The cameras on this tablet are quite impressive. The rear camera boasts a 5MP auto focus camera with LED flash. The front camera boasts 2MP for clear video chats.
It has a 1ghz dual core processor and 512mb of ram, making it a very fast and very responsive tablet. It is competitively priced; more affordable than the bigger, fancier tablets, but it really gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
There are only a few downsides to this tablet. First, the battery doesn't seem to last very long with high usage-approximately five hours. Second, there is no kickstand. Besides that, this tablet is worth every penny.
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