One of the fastest-growing markets in recent years has undoubtedly been that of tablets, those little computers that are used with your fingers. This is mainly due to the fact that many users use it as a replacement for expensive notebooks, especially in those tasks in which the value of the latter does not justify the purchase of one of these notebooks.
It could be said that a tablet is what its operating system wants it to be, beyond the quality of the components with which they are built and the performance of its hardware, and that is why its use will vary around the OS it includes. . In this sense, there are three operating systems for tablets that dominate the market: Google’s Android, Apple’s IOS and Microsoft’s Windows. In this article we will see how to choose a good cheap tablet among this vast panorama of models and options, concentrating mainly on the world of Android tablets, Since this is the market in which we are going to find more candidates, since the free Android operating system makes it especially attractive to all kinds of manufacturers, which many times also do not ensure the quality that any Apple product can offer. or Samsung, to name just a few, which definitely lowers manufacturing costs and therefore prices in stores.
Contents
Myths and truths about inexpensive tablets
In principle, and contrary to what many say, we can find cheap tablets that offer excellent features and benefits at a really affordable price, it is just a matter of taking into account a few precautions, and that have to do more than anything with the benefits promised in the box of the product are fulfilled, that is why when deciding to buy a cheap tablet , it is best to do some small tests to verify that it is so.
As a first measure we have to keep in mind that we are going to buy an inexpensive tablet, that is, we should not expect IPS-type screens, multi-core processors or other advanced features of this type. But it is not a matter of settling for the first thing we see, that is why from this point we will find a series of points that will be very useful to make the purchase.
The screen
The general consensus regarding screens when talking about buying a tablet is that the resistive type should be avoided at all costs since they are not suitable for this type of device, the capacitive ones being much better and also allow us to put up to 10 fingers on it. This is not entirely true, and while most inexpensive tablets incorporate a capacitive multitouch type screen, this is not always of the best quality and they are quite prone to scratches and scuffs. In the market, we can find models that include high-quality resistive screens and are also very resistant to shocks and scratches. Also most of the time we operate the device with a single finger, with which it is certain that we will hardly miss the multi-touch function.
Build quality
Fortunately, this is one of the easiest things to check. Just by looking at the device we can tell if it was made with love or simply put together quickly. Also the materials with which it is built are a clue of what it can offer or last . For years things are no longer made of metal, but of plastic. But also plastic can offer many qualities, and as soon as we manipulate it we will realize its manufacture. Likewise, the paint, the chrome details and other elements can give us an indication of the quality of its manufacture.
Accessories included
Another aspect to consider are the accessories. The best thing is obviously all the cables, the relevant battery charger and connectors necessary for its operation are included in the package, that is, HDMI, USB adapter cables or even OTG adapters , which will serve us to connect 3g modems, keyboards and mice. .
Connectors
Another point to take into account when selecting a tablet for purchase is the number of connectors it includes. It must have at least an HDMI connector, a headphone output and a USB connection, preferably without any type of adapter. It is also not a bad idea to find out if it accepts OTG-type connectors. The more connectors, the greater the flexibility of use.
Android tablet features, apps, and updates
In this sense, it is a good idea to find out if the tablet offers access to Google Play, the main application store in the Android world since not all devices do. It is also important to know if the device can make use of external options such as 3G modems or GPS receivers.
However, the point in which we must emphasize the most is that the tablet can be updated to a higher version of Android, and in the event that this is not the case, reject the purchase of it, since with running Of the time the applications that run on operating systems like Gingerbread will sooner or later stop running, in addition to not being able to download and use new software such as Chrome, Keep and others.
That is why we must ensure that the tablet at least includes a version higher than ICS 4.0 as an operating system.
Tablets of china
The question that everyone asks themselves when buying a tablet is Is it safe to buy a tablet of Chinese origin ?, since there is the idea that devices built in that country have a lower quality. While it is true only in some aspects, the answer to this question is positive, since Chinese manufacturers have extensive experience in the technology sector and in the development and manufacture of electronic devices, which ensures a reliable and intelligent purchase. The biggest problem with Chinese mass manufacturers is the quality of the components they use, which perhaps in other more demanding markets would not pass a quality control in years, which does not mean that this product will necessarily fall apart in our hands.
A clear example of this is this tablet model, which after almost three years of intensive use in the hands of the writer is still in one piece and performing to the best of its abilities.
conclusion
In short, the best thing we can do before buying a cheap tablet is to find out the models available in the price range we want to pay, and then do an exhaustive search on the Internet to see what users and specialized sites think about them, and if possible, after that, see and test it on our own.