Personally, I find iPad Air a perfect tablet for its specifications, processing power and screen but, in terms of pricing I don't find it suitable for my next purchase. I'm looking for an alternative of iPad Air under $250, please do not recommend Nexus7.
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Good alternative for iPad Air?
- Thread starter rosiejones
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Tie our hands, will you?
There are not a lot of sub-$250 tablets I'd recommend aside from the Nexus 7.
The Kindle HDX is very nice - I've used it - but you are deeply rooted in the Amazon ecosystem. If you're cool with that, it's a nice device.
The Nook HD+ is $179 for a 32GB 9" device with full Play Store access. It doesn't have a camera, but it has a micro SD slot. I have one (the 16GB version, which cost me $149). I think it's the best tablet money can buy in that size and for under $250.
There's a reason why you haven't had luck finding a comparable alternative for under $250. Here aren't any.
Your only option would be to pick up a used older generation device but you'll obviously have to make compromises in specs.
Looks like 16GB 3rd gen iPads are going for roughly $275-300 on eBay.
Nexus 7 is pretty much it. Best alternative to that size tablet would be a Nexus 10. But that'll run you about $400 new if I'm correct.
A good alternative for under 250 dollars isn't going to happen. You can have a mediocre alternative though. I think refurbished iPad minis are 250 dollars. They're decent if you don't mind the low pixel density. You'll get used to it. It might even come with iOS 6 if iOS 7 isn't your thing. I wouldn't even bother with cheap android tablets other than the N7. They'll probably be lagging up a storm with their ****** specs and outdated OS.
I was actually serious with my recommendation of the Nook HD+. It's can be had for $149 (16GB), it has a micro SD slot so you can add up to 64GB at a time, it works pretty well, and it can dual-booted (add Android 4.x to an SD card and boot, remove the SD card to boot into the default OS).
It's not state of the art, granted. But... it's 9", has a very high-res screen, handles media very nicely, works great as a browser/e-reader, and can handle most apps.
Is it perfect? Hell no. But it is $149. That's just an insanely low price for what it does. You're just not going to find something over 7" in that price range or, really, for pretty much twice that.
It's not state of the art, granted. But... it's 9", has a very high-res screen, handles media very nicely, works great as a browser/e-reader, and can handle most apps.
Is it perfect? Hell no. But it is $149. That's just an insanely low price for what it does. You're just not going to find something over 7" in that price range or, really, for pretty much twice that.
I guess that means regardless of price too. Oh well.
I hate samsung tablets personally versus their smartphones and I rather not go with a Win 8 tablet either. The Kindle hdx tablets look interesting for the price if one is into amazon's ecosystem.
An alternate to the Air at $250 though? I could only dream, I have tried my share of android tablets at even higher prices.
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Well my Nexus is at home so that's not a problem. Double the storage and similar specs for less money.
Good luck.. Maybe you can pick one up in a couple years after the price has dropped. But you won't be finding something similar anytime soon. At least not at that price.
Save your money until you CAN buy an iPad Air. I'm not trying to be a smartass but you know that the iPad Air is the perfect tablet for its specs, why settle for anything less? You will be happier if you wait and save.
The nexus 7 is the only thing in that price range. I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up though. Its an excellent tablet. Posted this from a nexus 7.
People seem to be missing this part of your post.
If you find the iPad Air perfect in those regards, you likely won't find anything comparable.
Well other than size the nexus 7 pretty much fits the bill. The screen looks just as good if not better than the ipad Air screen. Its just smaller but at that price range thats a given.
Yes, it does fit in his budget. However, he clearly said he wanted a tablet with a screen size similar to the iPad Air. He even more clearly said he is not interested in the Nexus 7.
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Stop being a cheapskate and cough up the money for an iPad Air. There is no alternative at that price point you're looking at. You get what you pay for and in the end the Air is worth every bit you put into it. The app store is unrivaled by any other OS.