While there is no shortage of 9.7” to
10.1” tablets from which to choose, with Apple’s vaunted iPad still reigning
supreme, over the year or so another tablet category has been quickly gaining
prominence – the 7”-8” device.
Indeed, this category has particularly
become a force to be reckoned with, as the tablets offer the functionality and
power of their larger bed and couch-dwelling 10.1” counterparts, while beating
those tablets when it comes to portability. Here are our top four pick:
iPad Mini
Apple’s iPad Mini may not boast the Retina
display that graces the 9.7” iPad, but it is nonetheless a worthy contender.
While its specs may more closely resemble the ancient-in-Apple’s-terms iPad 2,
with its 1024 x 768 resolution and A5 CPU, the 7.9” size makes it more travel
friendly that the larger iPads. Furthermore, the screen has been made the focus
of the device, thanks to a trimming of the side bezel. However, its real
strength is the fact that it too is backed up by the same army of apps that
account for the other iPads’ popularity, making it a formidable portable tablet
in its own right. RRP: From $365.
iPad
Mini
Nexus 7
Easily a budget darling, the Google’s Nexus
7 (manufactured by Asus) does not look, feel or perform as though it is a
cheapie alternative. While it can be picked up for $304, Google’s effort is a
fast and responsive masterpiece thanks to its Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core
processor (at 1 .3 G-Hz), 1 GB of memory and stock Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2.
The latest version has not only bumped up its storage capacity to 32 GB, it has
also received the 3G cellular treatment as well. The Nexus 7’s LED backlit IPS
screen, which offers a resolution of 1280 x 800 (216 ppi), is still more than
adequate for reading eBooks, playing games and web-browsing, all encased in a
solid product that feels closer to a premium device in the hand rather than a
budget offering. RRP: $304.
Nexus
7
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
The largest tablet on this list and billed
as the creative ’s companion, at 8”, the Galaxy Note 8 also packs something the
others do not - a dedicated S Pen stylus, which makes drawing and writing on
the device a pleasure. Factor in a spacious screen with a 1280 x 800 resolution
(189 ppi), a 1.6 G-Hz A9 quad-core processor, 2 GB of memory powering superb
performance, and a microSD card slot for expandable storage, and you have a
real contender. Add to this some genuinely useful features, such as the ability
to open two apps side by side, and Reading mode, which offers softer side
lighting, and you have a tablet that should not be overlooked. It’s the most
expensive going for R7 200.
Samsung
Galaxy Note 8
Asus FonePad
The second seven-incher on this list, Asus’
FonePad similarly boasts superb quality build, Android Jelly Bean and an
affordable $304 price tag. It also differs in some important ways. Rather than
a Tegra 3 processor, the device sports Intel’s Atom Z Series SoC and 1 GB of
memory which left us with no complaints with regards to its performance. Also
to its credit, a microSD card slot to expand its storage is onboard.
Additionally, it is possible to use the device as a voice-supporting smartphone
if that takes your fancy. Rounding it off was a glossy and contrasty screen
with a familiar 1280 x 800 HD (216 ppi) resolution, while echoes of being a
somewhat smaller version of the excellent Transformer Prime, secured it a place
on our list. RRP: $304.
Asus
FonePad
