Best Budget 7-inch Tablets

Samuel J Tan Personal Technology, Tablets, Technology 0

The 7-inch tablet market segment is just heating up. Originally led by Google Nexus 7 first and now second generation, competition in this segment is not slowing down in 2014 even with the introduction of slightly bigger devices such as the 8-inch tablets.

This year, we see more compact and grip friendly 7-inch tablets with super narrow bezels, lightweight and compact design making single hand and long duration use bearable. Leading the way with narrow bezel design is last years Google Nexus 7 second generation.

However, apart from Amazon, other manufacturers have taken this new profile one step further, pushing for even smaller bezel, lighter and solid body as well as added premium touches.

As competition is fierce among manufacturers, this has helped keep the price tags low.

Table of Contents

Top 5 Best Budget 7-inch Tablets Compared

Also consider;

Let’s look at a spec-by-spec comparison between these tablets.

Processor & Memory

Asus MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX: Intel Atom Z3745 1.33GHz quad-core processor (up to 1.86GHz) with 6x graphics and 8x CPU performance compared to its predecessor, 1GB RAM, 16GB Storage expandable with up to 64GB micro SD card. [FASTEST CPU]

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB Storage, no micro SD slot

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch: 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB RAM, 8GB Storage expandable with up to 32GB micro SD card [MORE MEMORY]

Lenovo S5000 7-inch: MT 8389 quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB Storage expandable with microUSB and USB On-The-Go (OTG) support that lets you connect USB flash drive with an adapter.

Google Nexus 7 2nd Gen: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 PRO 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage [BIGGEST MEMORY]

Gallery: Asus MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX

Display & Screen Resolution

Asus MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX: 7″ IPS (in-plane-switching) technology with 170-degree viewing angle, 1280 x 800 high definition (216ppi), anti-fingerprint coating

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: 7″ HD display 1280 x 800 touchscreen (216ppi) IPS (in-plane switching) technology, advanced polarizing filter, and anti-glare technology.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch: 7″ HD display 1280 x 800 touchscreen (216ppi)

Lenovo S5000 7-inch: 7″ HD display 1280 x 800 touchscreen (216ppi) with IPS wide-view technology at 178-degree viewing angle

Google Nexus 7 2nd Gen: 7-inch 1920 x 1200 Full HD display (323ppi) 1080p on Scratch Resistant Corning Glass [HIGHEST RESOLUTION]

Dimensions & Weight

Asus MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX: 113.9 x 189 x 9.6 mm and 295 grams [SHORTEST]

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: 191 X 128 X 10.6 mm and 345 grams [HEAVIEST]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch: 186.9 x 107.9 x 9mm and 276 grams [NARROWEST]

Lenovo S5000 7-inch: 190.5 x 116.8 x 7.9 mm and 245 grams [THINNEST & LIGHTEST]

Google Nexus 7 2nd Gen: 114 x 200 x 8.6 5mm and 290 grams [THINNER]

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch

Battery Life

Asus MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX: 9 hours (15Wh Li-Polymer)

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: 10 hours

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch: 10 hours (4000 mAh)

Lenovo S5000 7-inch: 8 hours

Google Nexus 7 2nd Gen: 9 hours (3950 mAh)

Camera(s)

Asus MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX: 2MP rear facing, 0.3MP front facing with a bag load of camera and picture enhancing features

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: NONE

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch: 3MP rear facing, 1.3MP front facing

Lenovo S5000 7-inch: 5MP rear facing, 1.6MP front facing [BEST CAMERAS]

Google Nexus 7 2nd Gen: 5MP rear facing, 1.2MP front facing

Gallery: Lenovo S5000

Design & Colour Options

Asus MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX: Slim, thin and lightweight design. Thin bezel at 9.75mm for better grip and slender look, with no physical home button. Choice of 5 colours; black, white, red, yellow and blue. [COLOURS]

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: Uninspiring and dated, available in black only. No physical home button.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch: Narrow bezel, chrome surround around edges and home button gives it premium feel. Slim and lightweight, Available in Black or White.

Lenovo S5000 7-inch: Premium feel in Silver Gray Metal with a super slim and super lightweight design. No physical home button. [SOLID & PREMIUM DESIGN]

Google Nexus 7 2nd Gen: Narrow bexel, thin and lightweight design with no physical home button. Soft touch matte back plate. Available in black only.

Sound

Asus MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX: Sonic Master with carefully-engineered dual speakers direct sound the listener.

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch:Dolby Audio, Dual Stereo Speakers at the back on either sides.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch: Single rear facing speaker.

Lenovo S5000 7-inch: Single front facing embedded speaker.

Google Nexus 7 2nd Gen: Stereo speakers and Surround Sound powered by Fraunhofer 3.

Gallery: Google Nexus 7 2nd Generation

Our Line-up

Here is a quick look at our line-up again. For the most up to date prices, please click on the links below:

Also consider;

Final Thoughts

ASUS MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX replaces the ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7 (ME173X) is the only tablet that bears the Intel Inside logo, also happens to be the most affordable tablet in our line-up. But don’t expect the price to stay low as demand increases. ASUS’s new MeMO Pad 7 does look promising with its custom ZenUI enhancements and Camera Software features, although the camera resolution may be limiting.

Lack of cameras is not the only disadvantage for Amazon Kindle Fire HD. It’s out dated design, bulky body and heavy package as well as un-inspiring design makes it the ugliest tablet among the tablets here. Its saving grace is probably the Dolby Stereo Speakers and Amazon’s Fire OS.

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch may not be the cheap or the fastest, it does come with some useful applications such as Samsung Link that lets you sync between your Samsung devices, Group Play for sharing content and Hancom Viewer for viewing Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. It also comes with multi tasking and multi window system with Samsung Multi Window function.

If you are all about the looks, Lenovo S5000 tick all the right boxes. This is the only premium looking tablet with a metallic body. It also doesn’t disappoint when it comes to specs.

Launch back in 2013, Google’s second generation Nexus 7 is still the yard stick for most manufacturers. Originally sold as a high end small tablet, price has since dropped and now sits nicely among our budget 7-inch tablets. However, don’t be deceived as there is still plenty of life in the Nexus 7.

As you can see, all the tablets listed here are rated equally high by existing users and you can’t go wrong with any of these. It then becomes a matter of preference; brand, look and feel, cpu or memory. We leave this to you.