The BEST value for money tablet!

[Billy95Tech]

I think it is the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is the best value for money tablet which you can get for very cheap about 200 pounds/euros now days and that makes it a bargain and is better(and more powerful) then tablets like the Nexus 7 in many many ways.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.4 is a very powerful and high end Android tablet that been released in February 2014 which is nearly 2 years ago and has a Snapdragon 800 CPU and 2GB of RAM and Android 4.4 Kitkat(not upgradeable to Lollipop unfortunately ) with the great TouchWiz layer on and has extra features like multi windows that the Nexus 7 does not have and has a bigger sceen 8.4 inches compared to very cramped 7 inch sceen that the Nexus 7 has which is way better for everything and is as portable as the Nexus 7 and the star feature of the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is the very high resolution display of 2560x1600 which is just eye candy, the display it is just fantastic the videos, photos, text look soo soo good and the display is not as good on the Nexus 7 which is 1920 x 1200(still very good) and the build quality of the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is way better then the Nexus 7 and the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 only has 16GB of internal storage but you can have more storage up to 64GB by putting in a micro SD card and the Nexus 7 have 16 and 32GB of internal storage but does not allow micro SD card to have more storage.

Despite being nearly 2 years old the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 still manages to play all the games on the Google Play Store even the very heavy demanding games like Gangster Vegas, Asphalt 8, GTA San Andreas lots more very well and handles very heavy demanding tasks like video editing, Office Productivity very well which is awesome.

The only bad thing i say about the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is the battery life, to be honest it is poor the battery only last about 4/5 hours of sceen on time on normal use(web browsing, watching videos/movies, reading, lots more) and it will be even less if you are playing games it will be more like 3 hours on a single charge, i think it is because mostly is the CPU Snapdragon 800 is soo powerful and high resolution display(2560x1600) it drains the battery faster and if you leave it on standby then the battery will last a couple weeks. Which for the battery life i think the Nexus 7 has a better battery life because it has a less powerful CPU and not as high resolution display and for future software updates the Nexus 7 wins hands down!!

Overall if you are looking for a very powerful and high end Android tablet and you are on a budget and don't want to spend over more then 300/500 pounds, euros on a tablet then you can't go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 which is way better value for money(for 200 pounds, euros makes it a bargain) and way better(and more powerful) then the Nexus 7 in many many ways!!!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 along side(i think the) Nvidia Shield Tablet K1 and the Asus ZenPad S 8.0 are the best value for money tablets that you can buy at the moment!!!

I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 and i have been using since May 2014 and it is still in very good condition!


What do you think everyone?? What is the best value for money tablet do you think? Do you have a Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 or a Nexus 7??

 

[kasakka]

The iPad Air 2 is still the only tablet I'd consider worth it. Just has so much more tablet size optimized software for it and has an acceptable amount of RAM to run it all. I really wish the situation was better on the Android side.

 

[Lloydbm41]

The iPad Air 2 is still the only tablet I'd consider worth it. Just has so much more tablet size optimized software for it and has an acceptable amount of RAM to run it all. I really wish the situation was better on the Android side.

Having sold my iPad Air 2 for the Samsung Tab S2 (9.7" version), I can tell you with 100% certainty that the situation on the Android side is far better than that on the iOS side. The sheer amount of simple things that 'can't' be done on the platform has become obsurd!

 

[mrex]

oh well, it is way better in android world - high end android tablets are a lightyear ahead of ipads... ipads are good but when they are (=ios) trying to do things simple it becomes very complicated if you try do something else than browsing...

 

[navaira]

I got an Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact for less than 200 euro. Best money ever spent.

 

[ozaz]

How about Nvidea Shield K1?
($199 / €199 / £149)

Should have Marshmallow by the end of the month. This includes adoptable storage support which I think will greatly enhance the value of devices with low base storage

 

[Billy95Tech]

The iPad Air 2 is still the only tablet I'd consider worth it. Just has so much more tablet size optimized software for it and has an acceptable amount of RAM to run it all. I really wish the situation was better on the Android side.

This! I completely agree with you on the Ipad Air 2 being the BEST tablet all round!!

I all so have a Ipad Air 2 and a powerful 11.6 inch Windows 8 tablet Acer Iconia W700(I5 Core) and i prefer using the Ipad Air 2 and enjoy using the Air 2 the most out of the 3 because of that very nice 4:3 aspect ratio which is a better ratio for tablets then 16:9, 16:10 ratio and that gorgeous 9.7 inch (retrina)display and IOS(it is better then Android on tablets) and i love IOS and the Ipad has sooo much much more tablet size optimized software for it then Android and Windows for tablets and with Ipads especailly the Air 2 you WILL get the BEST tablet experience all round and all so the Ioad Air 2 is very powerful with the A8X chip and has 2GB of RAM aad has a way way better battery life then most Android tablets and Windows tablets/hybrids/2-1's!!

Can't wait to get my Ipad Air 2 back from repairs next year in January and use it again and i am missing my Ipad Air 2 quite a bit but it is not too long now!!

 

[apolloa]

In answer to the thread question it's currently the Nvidia Shield K1 hands down.

In relation to the thread title question, that has no one answer for everyone, the best value for money tablet will be different for everyone as everyone will have different experiences and needs.

 

[sracer]

"value for the money" is so subjective as to be meaningless.

Tell me what you want to do with a tablet and I'll be able to give you an informed answer, otherwise the answer is, "37".

 

[Billy95Tech]

Ok everyone i have updated the poll and added Nvidia Shield Tablet K1!

 

[jamesrick80]

Nvidia shield k1...you not losing any power...great cost, processor, and gpu...199.99 and microsd support....also will be updated do marshmallow at end of month

 

[maxsix]

"value for the money" is so subjective as to be meaningless.

Well said... I agree!

We are now operating in a mature tablet market that offers plenty of choices. The fundamental difference being choice of platforms. If one can make do with the limitations of iOS, Apple's pricier offerings are excellent. For greater functionality and lower cost, Android tablets are amazing.

I cannot imagine not having an Android tablet in hand.

 

[billy the fish]

The iPad Air 2 is still the only tablet I'd consider worth it. Just has so much more tablet size optimized software for it and has an acceptable amount of RAM to run it all. I really wish the situation was better on the Android side.

It is my friend. You obviously have No experience of the galaxy tab s/s2 range.. I have access to both and the air 2 in my household. And for 99% of real life uses, the tabs are equal or better in my humble opinion..

 

[billy the fish]

In response to the OP, its the Amazon fire HD tabs. Hands down.... 49 quid.. rediculous value..

 

[ozaz]

In response to the OP, its the Amazon fire HD tabs. Hands down.... 49 quid.. rediculous value..

The Kindle Fires should be in this discussion. But I didn't bring them up earlier because of lack of Google Play Store. I'd only recommend them to people who have very little interest in apps.

 

[ozaz]

It is my friend. You obviously have No experience of the galaxy tab s/s2 range.. I have access to both and the air 2 in my household. And for 99% of real life uses, the tabs are equal or better in my humble opinion..

I have both an iPad and Android tablet too. Even though I use an Android phone, I favour my iPad when it comes to tablet use. Main reasons are there are still a significant Android apps that have not been optimised for tablet, and there are a number of niche tablet apps I want to use that don't have Android versions at all. As much as I like Android, I can't get beyond the tablet app problem and I can't believe that 99% of tablet users are different in this respect.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I have both an iPad and Android tablet too. Even though I use an Android phone, I favour my iPad when it comes to tablet use. Main reasons are there are still a significant Android apps that have not been optimised for tablet, and there are a number of niche tablet apps I want to use that don't have Android versions at all. As much as I like Android, I can't get beyond the tablet app problem and I can't believe that 99% of tablet users are different in this respect.

If you happen to be in a specific field (like medical), then it is very true that you will want an iPad to use. There are simply way more apps specific to the iPad for that sort of job. I'm sure there are other niche areas as well, but for 99% of all the apps out, there are identical versions for Android. Are there some that haven't been optimized for Android tablets? Sure. Usually by smaller independent developers. But there are also many apps not optimized for the iPad as well. I ran into quite a few. And they look ridiculous when you have to turn the iPad into portrait mode and look at a pixelized app that has been scaled up x2 from the iPhone version.

Now, for the average Joe sitting at home, I want a tablet that allows me to download any file I want from the internet, I wan to be able to place that file where I want on my tablet, I don't want to lose data or files when I delete an app, I want to be able to email any sort of file I wish, I want one app to be able to share data with any other app... The list goes on. Is it really that difficult to understand that people want to use their tablet like any other PC, to be able to do very, very simple things and not be forced to only use mp4 or mov files to watch a video on their tablet? To not be forced to use a cable and iTunes just to change a damn ringtone? I mean seriously?!?

 

[mi7chy]

Galaxy Tab S2 for less than $300 via Best Buy trade-in offer was the best value for the best ARM tablet on the market.

 

[billy the fish]

B

I have both an iPad and Android tablet too. Even though I use an Android phone, I favour my iPad when it comes to tablet use. Main reasons are there are still a significant Android apps that have not been optimised for tablet, and there are a number of niche tablet apps I want to use that don't have Android versions at all. As much as I like Android, I can't get beyond the tablet app problem and I can't believe that 99% of tablet users are different in this respect.

Browsing, YouTube, mail, music, movies..pictures.. these is what the vast vast majority do on a tablet, medical or music specific apps are what a niche do.. the ability to control your stuff with a working file manager means IMHO the tab s trumps the air 2 everyday of rhe week. It's just as thin, just.as light, and has a superior.screen, at a lower price. It's the brand loyalty, nothing else that makes folk.sway towards apple.

 

[sracer]

B

Browsing, YouTube, mail, music, movies..pictures.. these is what the vast vast majority do on a tablet, medical or music specific apps are what a niche do.. the ability to control your stuff with a working file manager means IMHO the tab s trumps the air 2 everyday of rhe week. It's just as thin, just.as light, and has a superior.screen, at a lower price. It's the brand loyalty, nothing else that makes folk.sway towards apple.

That's a silly gross oversimplification that conveniently overlooks the deficiencies of Android.

Without using additional software to override the way Android manages memory and other resources, Android tablets (at least every one that I've owned) becomes sluggish and heats up during prolonged sessions. To offer unqualified praise of the tab S or ANY Samsung tablet is puzzling. Samsung's bloatware is legendary. They make terrific hardware... love my Tab Pro 8.4... but their bloat ruins it. Once I rooted it and used an app to "freeze" their bloatware (and other apps that Android automatically loads simply because they are installed) did the tablet really shine.

Having access to the filesystem is terrific, but the average user who is not familar with Linux is not going to know where to look for their files... or the proper place to put them if they're moving them. This is all before installing apps like book readers, comic readers, etc. that all prompt the user for where to look for their libraries.

The file system mount points and names differ across tablet manufacturers. How they handle removable storage (like microSD cards) differs as well.

These are not issues that users need to deal with on iOS tablets. THAT is a reason why folks sway toward Apple.

I appreciate Android for what it does well, but I know that it doesn't do everything well.

 

[apolloa]

That's a silly gross oversimplification that conveniently overlooks the deficiencies of Android.

Without using additional software to override the way Android manages memory and other resources, Android tablets (at least every one that I've owned) becomes sluggish and heats up during prolonged sessions. To offer unqualified praise of the tab S or ANY Samsung tablet is puzzling. Samsung's bloatware is legendary. They make terrific hardware... love my Tab Pro 8.4... but their bloat ruins it. Once I rooted it and used an app to "freeze" their bloatware (and other apps that Android automatically loads simply because they are installed) did the tablet really shine.

Having access to the filesystem is terrific, but the average user who is not familar with Linux is not going to know where to look for their files... or the proper place to put them if they're moving them. This is all before installing apps like book readers, comic readers, etc. that all prompt the user for where to look for their libraries.

The file system mount points and names differ across tablet manufacturers. How they handle removable storage (like microSD cards) differs as well.

These are not issues that users need to deal with on iOS tablets. THAT is a reason why folks sway toward Apple.

I appreciate Android for what it does well, but I know that it doesn't do everything well.

You are confusing 'Samsung' with 'Android'. You can't post a thread complaining about Android in a generalistic view and the also complain about Samsungs bloatware at the same time. It's one or the other.

And FYI my Sony tablet that has never been rooted or custom rom installed or extra memory managagment software installed, has ever had any overheating or memory or slow down faults.
Also folk may go to Apple, but not all as Andriod has a bigger global market share.

In fact my iPhone 6S has crashed more often! It even has the bug where in Apples own SMS app, when the phone is rotated on its side it won't let you input text. A known Apple Bug....
Never had that with Android.

 

[sracer]

You are confusing 'Samsung' with 'Android'. You can't post a thread complaining about Android in a generalistic view and the also complain about Samsungs bloatware at the same time. It's one or the other.

No, I'm not confusing Samsung with Android. In part of my post I was responding to @billy the fish who claimed "the Tab s2 trumps the air 2 every day of the week". The rest of my post addressed the "only reason why people go Apple is brand loyalty".

Sorry that my less-than-glowing comments regarding Android acted as a dog-whistle that triggered your defense of Android.

 

[billy the fish]

No, I'm not confusing Samsung with Android. In part of my post I was responding to @billy the fish who claimed "the Tab s2 trumps the air 2 every day of the week". The rest of my post addressed the "only reason why people go Apple is brand loyalty".

Sorry that my less-than-glowing comments regarding Android acted as a dog-whistle that triggered your defense of Android.

Sorry that my less-than-glowing comments regarding Apple reacted as a dog-whistle that triggered your defense of Apple.

Ps, I'm sure I put IMHO. .. bit of a disclaimer.

 

[Lloydbm41]

That's a silly gross oversimplification that conveniently overlooks the deficiencies of Android.

Without using additional software to override the way Android manages memory and other resources, Android tablets (at least every one that I've owned) becomes sluggish and heats up during prolonged sessions. To offer unqualified praise of the tab S or ANY Samsung tablet is puzzling. Samsung's bloatware is legendary. They make terrific hardware... love my Tab Pro 8.4... but their bloat ruins it. Once I rooted it and used an app to "freeze" their bloatware (and other apps that Android automatically loads simply because they are installed) did the tablet really shine.

Having access to the filesystem is terrific, but the average user who is not familar with Linux is not going to know where to look for their files... or the proper place to put them if they're moving them. This is all before installing apps like book readers, comic readers, etc. that all prompt the user for where to look for their libraries.

The file system mount points and names differ across tablet manufacturers. How they handle removable storage (like microSD cards) differs as well.

These are not issues that users need to deal with on iOS tablets. THAT is a reason why folks sway toward Apple.

I appreciate Android for what it does well, but I know that it doesn't do everything well.

TBH, I was really worried about my Tab S2 being a RAM hog that was full of bloat before I bought it. Luckily, Samsung appears to have bucked their current trend and made a tablet worth buying. Sure there is still some bloat, but is it any different than Apple's 30+ bloat apps that are forced upon every user and can't be deleted? (Tips, Apple Watch, Calculator, Newsstand, etc?)

And considering the graphically intense games I play, I have yet to deal with a single force close or overheating issue, (same couldn't be said for my iPad Air 2!)

As for file management, you can't honestly believe that "the average user who is not familar with Linux is not going to know where to look for their files.."??? First off, Android only used the Linux kernel when it first came out, but was written in C/ C++ and is more Unix like (just like OSX and Windows by the way.) Second, please explain how people have managed to deal with file systems for the last 4 decades? Just because someone doesn't use an iPad, they all of a sudden can't figure out how a file system works? If so, then these theoretical people must not be able to buy Mac's since they couldn't figure out how to use it.

 

[sracer]

TBH, I was really worried about my Tab S2 being a RAM hog that was full of bloat before I bought it. Luckily, Samsung appears to have bucked their current trend and made a tablet worth buying. Sure there is still some bloat, but is it any different than Apple's 30+ bloat apps that are forced upon every user and can't be deleted? (Tips, Apple Watch, Calculator, Newsstand, etc?)

Are you actually attempting to draw an equivalence between "preloaded apps" and "bloatware"? There is a world of difference between "apps that are preloaded, cannot be deleted, and sit dormant unless used" with "apps that are preloaded, cannot be deleted, and run threads/processes in the background using up system resources that cannot be disabled".

Neither case is preferable, but with Samsung's bloatware it affects the performance of the system.

And considering the graphically intense games I play, I have yet to deal with a single force close or overheating issue, (same couldn't be said for my iPad Air 2!)

I won't claim that you didn't experience what you did, so by the same token don't claim that your first-hand experience is universal.

As for file management, you can't honestly believe that "the average user who is not familar with Linux is not going to know where to look for their files.."??? First off, Android only used the Linux kernel when it first came out, but was written in C/ C++ and is more Unix like (just like OSX and Windows by the way.)

To the non-techie there is no difference between UNIX and Linux. I challenge you to find a non-techie person who is only familiar with OSX or Windows, give them an Android tablet that contains an SD card and instruct them to create a folder on the SD card and place a file in the folder. I'll even be gracious and allow you to preinstall ES File Explorer before handing it to the person.

How many non-techie computer users place all of their files on their desktop (or within folders placed on their desktop)?

Second, please explain how people have managed to deal with file systems for the last 4 decades? Just because someone doesn't use an iPad, they all of a sudden can't figure out how a file system works? If so, then these theoretical people must not be able to buy Mac's since they couldn't figure out how to use it.

Sigh. Your Android defense shields are up. Many people DON'T know how to properly manage files on their desktop/notebook computer. Those people would prefer not to have to fumble around on their tablet to do so. For others, THEY KNOW HOW TO MANAGE FILES BUT CHOOSE NOT TO.

I don't know why it is so difficult for you and others to understand that there are things OTHER THAN "brand loyalty" that drive people to Apple. Are you seriously denying that those other reasons exist?