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7 Cheapest Android Tablet PCs in India
Tablet Wars
If you are looking for a cheap Android tablet PC in India, then you might have plenty of choices available currently. However, choosing the right feature-rich tab can be a chore, especially if you are looking for affordable products with specs that suit your browsing, reading or gaming choices.
With the emergence of high-quality entry-level Android tablet PCs like the Lenovo IdeaPad, Lava Xtron+ and Karbonn Smart Tab, the Indian tablet war is getting intenser than ever before. New entrants are targeting the less-than-10000 price bracket and offering exciting features like 3G support, latest Android OS versions, Wi-Fi, and a faster processor with a dedicated GPU. Here are some of the most affordable tablet PCs in India:
(To make things a bit easier for readers, I have included a "Tech Specs at a Glance" section at the bottom of this guide. It provides specifications for each tablet mentioned in this hub)
1. Lenovo A2107
The Lenovo A2107 is powered by 1 GHz processor and is one of the few best budget tablets with 3G and Wi-Fi support. On the downside, the A2107 lacks a GPU, which may be disappointing for gamers as the performance of graphic-intensive games will be poorer when compared with budget tablets with a dedicated graphics processing unit. Wi-Fi reception is pretty good, plus the 2G and 3G support makes it a perfect 7-inch portable Internet surfing device.
Design-wise, the A2107 is pretty well-built. It doesn’t give that plasticky feel, something which budget tablet PCs are notorious for. The rubber coating at the back ensures it does not slip off your hands. The 16 GB internal memory is great, given the price of the product. Dual speakers ensure solid stereo sound output. However the display is pretty okay, but then at such a price one really can’t expect the specs of a high-end tablet pc like Nexus 7. All in all, Lenovo A2107 is a good buy for those who are looking for a budget tab with decent specs.
2. Lava e-Tab X-Tron+
The e-Tab X-Tron+ is a worthy successor of the Xtron. It comes with an HDMI port and is powered by Android Jelly Bean OS. With a resolution of 1024x600 pixels, the tablet PC has an average display, but videos are viewable (can’t say for the text, as it can be difficult to view smaller fonts on this tablet pc. E-readers, stay away.)
Xtron+ can be a good budget tablet choice for gamers. It comes with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor with MALI-400 support. Users will have no problem multitasking as it won’t crash if two of more programs are open at the same time. Moreover, games like Temple Run, Dead Trigger and Asphalt 7 will run smoothly without any hiccups. It would however be a better idea playing games or reading books indoor, given the reflective screen and poor viewing angle.
For the price, which is around 7K INR, the e-Tab X-Tron+ is quite a steal. It boasts everything you would want in a budget tablet PC. The battery is okay and supports 3G (you will need to connect a 3G dongle to surf the Internet). Overall, it’s a good bet in the affordable table space.
3. Karbonn Smart Tab 8
Karbonn Smart Tab 8 is another Android Jelly Bean-powered cheap tablet PC in India. Armed with a dual core processor and GPU, the 8-inch tablet’s performance is pretty decent. With support for Google Play Store, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G, the Smart Tab packs a punch at a price less than Rs.10K.
Karbonn Smart Tab has an okay battery life as one needs to charge the tablet PC daily. However, you can play some of the most popular games on this tablet without any problem. The screen resolution is quite the same you have seen in budget tabs, so there’s nothing too spectacular about it. One can use this tablet for casual reading and surfing the Internet. The plus point is the big 8-inch screen size which makes playing, surfing and reading a pleasurable experience.
Like Lava’s Xtron+, the Smart Tab is not suitable for reading outdoors as the screen reflects sunlight, making it difficult to read, surf and play games. Also, the touch screen isn’t as responsive as other tablets, which may be a disappointment. However, there are other advantages that may overshadow some of its drawbacks. All in all, a good tablet PC with features as good as a RS. 10K tablet PC.
Which is the Cheapest Budget Tablet PC in India?
4. Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite Tablet
The Mediapad 7 Lite tablet PC from Huawei has a pretty good design and excellent sound output. However, it is good only for casual reading and web-surfing. One can’t multitask or even dream of playing high-end tablet-optimized games on it.
Powered by Ice Cream Sandwich, the tablet PC has a 1.2 GHz processor and 1GB RAM. You can insert a 3G Sim card into the tablet’s slot to enjoy surfing the Internet as well as making voice calls. It has two cameras – a 3.15-MP camera for taking pictures and a front-end VGA camera for making video calls. Like other affordable tablet PC, the screen resolution is low, but one can enjoy watching movies thanks to the awesome sound output.
Performance-wise, the tablet is not as amazing as a Smart tab or Xtron. The internal memory is low. (Only 4GB and it comes with bloat ware, which takes up half of the internal memory space.) The build quality is pretty good, with looks to die for and the camera takes pretty good pictures. If you are not a gamer and are looking for a tablet pc for watching movies or listening to music, then the Mediapad 7 might be a good choice.
5. BSNL Penta IS701C
In the list of low-cost budget tablets, BSNL Penta is one of the cheapest feature-rich Android tablet PCs in India. It is powered by a 1 GHz processor and has 512 MB RAM with screen resolution as good as any HCL tablet PC. In case of playing videos and music, the Penta IS701C does not disappoint at all. The sound output on a pair of earphones is pretty good, but users should consider using third-party earphones for optimal sound.
With 3G support and good battery life, the BSNL Penta is something one shouldn’t miss if he/she is looking for tablet PCs less than 5K. You can watch a full movie as it assures at least 4 hours of continuous video playback. The Penta sports a mini USB port as well as a standard port which can connect to any pen drive. All ports and volume keys are logically placed to ensure easy access. With a price tag of Rs. 4000, BSNL Penta IS701C is quite a good buy in the budget tablet PC space.
6. HCL Me X1
The HCL Me X1 comes with a 1 GHz processor and sports a 7-inch display. It runs on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). While the memory and storage space is pretty okay (512 MB RAM and 32 GB maximum storage space), the device is best for playing full HD movies (1080p).
In spite of these good features, the HCL tab might be a turn-off because of its decision of putting up its own proprietary HCL ME App Store instead of the Google Play Store. However, this device is great for playing good old Android 3D games, though the visuals aren’t sharper than the ones on Reliance.
Office-goers, however, can rejoice because the device comes with a Quick Office app, which can be use to create and edit documents. All in all, the ME X1 is a great Android device and since it runs one of the latest mobile processors, it’s suitable for students and office-goers alike.
7. Reliance 3G Tab
The Reliance 3G Android tablet PC is the priciest of the lot, but packs in loads of excellent features. This Android Gingerbread device has a 7-inch capacitive touch screen display, and this well means that multi-tasking is possible. Users can open up multiple apps because of the multi-touch input.
One of the highlights of the Reliance 3G Tab is the battery. The device can last for up to 9 hours, and has a battery life closest to the Apple iPad. The device runs on an 800 MHz processor, which is lower than an HCL.
The device also sports a dual camera; though the front-facing one is a VGA (the rear camera supports 2 megapixels). The Reliance 3G tab is feature-rich and supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is why I would definitely recommend this device for users who prefer a good tablet PC with high battery life.
(Note: The sale of this tablet PC has been discontinued by most online shopping sites, but you may still find it on Reliance Mobile Store or Reliance World.)
Tech Specs at a Glance
Tablet PC
| Android OS Version
| Processor
| Memory
| Graphic Processing Unit (GPU
| Display
| Connectivity
| Battery Life
| Google Play Store Support
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lenovo A2107
| 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
| MediaTek 6575 1.0GHz Cortex A9 processor
| 512 MB (Wi-Fi)/1 GB (3G)
| No
| 7.0" (1024x600)
| Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/
| 10 Hours Internet Browsing
| Yes
|
Lava e-Tab Xtron+
| 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
| 1.5 GHz Cortex-A9 Dual Core
| 1 GB
| Mali 400 Quad Core GPU
| 7.0" (1024x600)
| Wi-Fi/
| 3-4 Hours of continuous usage
| Yes
|
Karbonn Smart Tab 8
| 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean)
| Same as Above
| 1 GB
| No
| 8.0" (1024x768)
| Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
| 6-7 Hours of Video
| Yes
|
Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite
| 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
| 1.2 GHz Cortex-A8
| 1 GB
| No
| 7.0" (1024x600)
| Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/USB
| 5 Hours of Video
| Yes
|
BSNL Penta IS701C
| Same as Above
| 1 GHz Cortex-A8
| 512 MB
| No
| 7.0" (800x480)
| Wi-Fi/USB
| 6 Hours Internet Surfing
| No
|
HCL Me X1
| 2.3.3 Gingerbread
| Cortex A8 1GHz Processor
| 512 MB
| No
| 7.0" (800x480)
| Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/USB
| 3-4 Hours
| No
|
Reliance 3G Tab
| 2.3 Gingerbread
| 800Mhz Processor
| 512 MB
| No
| 7.0" (800X480)
| Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
| 9 Hours Talk Time. 300 Hours Standby Time
| No
|
Wrapping it Up
So which Android tablet PC would you love to buy? Do you find this list interesting? Do you have any suggestions or have your own list of cheapest Indian tablet PCs? Share with us by posting your comments.